Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism

This article presents a detailed analysis of the different forms of anti-Jewish interpretations of Psalm 1 by M. Luther and in Modern German Protestantism (as exemplified by W. M. L de Wette, E. W. Hengstenberg, H. Hupfeld, B. Duhm, R. Kit...

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Main Author: Uwe F. W. Bauer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta Library 1999-12-01
Series:Journal of Hebrew Scriptures
Online Access:https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5999
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author Uwe F. W. Bauer
author_facet Uwe F. W. Bauer
author_sort Uwe F. W. Bauer
collection DOAJ
description This article presents a detailed analysis of the different forms of anti-Jewish interpretations of Psalm 1 by M. Luther and in Modern German Protestantism (as exemplified by W. M. L de Wette, E. W. Hengstenberg, H. Hupfeld, B. Duhm, R. Kittel, H. Gunkel, A. Weiser, and H. -J. Kraus). These commentaries reviewed fall into three models of interpretation. The first model is marked by positive interpretation and Christian appropriation. In this model the Jews are deemed incapable of attaining the theological level of the Psalm, because—and reducing what these interpreters say to its essence—the Jews in their strict adherence to nomism cut themselves off from the Christian truth. The second model is that of religio-historical degeneration. The distinguishing feature of this model is that the Psalm is seen as the product of a “decayed post-prophetic Judaism.” The third model is that of religio-historical progression. In contrast with the Hebrew-Jewish level of religious development, which is characterized as external and superficial, Christian religiousness is seen as more spiritual, more inward, and thus it is considered higher on the religious scale. If one were to look for a common basis of the anti-Jewish statements of these exegetes, a decisive factor, in my opinion, is Christology, more specifically, the Reformation’s justification-Christology with its exclusivist, anti-Jewish configuration.
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spelling doaj.art-71a99b048cf64801977a405c751012262023-03-24T20:46:11ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryJournal of Hebrew Scriptures1203-15421999-12-01210.5508/jhs.1998.v2.a2Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German ProtestantismUwe F. W. Bauer This article presents a detailed analysis of the different forms of anti-Jewish interpretations of Psalm 1 by M. Luther and in Modern German Protestantism (as exemplified by W. M. L de Wette, E. W. Hengstenberg, H. Hupfeld, B. Duhm, R. Kittel, H. Gunkel, A. Weiser, and H. -J. Kraus). These commentaries reviewed fall into three models of interpretation. The first model is marked by positive interpretation and Christian appropriation. In this model the Jews are deemed incapable of attaining the theological level of the Psalm, because—and reducing what these interpreters say to its essence—the Jews in their strict adherence to nomism cut themselves off from the Christian truth. The second model is that of religio-historical degeneration. The distinguishing feature of this model is that the Psalm is seen as the product of a “decayed post-prophetic Judaism.” The third model is that of religio-historical progression. In contrast with the Hebrew-Jewish level of religious development, which is characterized as external and superficial, Christian religiousness is seen as more spiritual, more inward, and thus it is considered higher on the religious scale. If one were to look for a common basis of the anti-Jewish statements of these exegetes, a decisive factor, in my opinion, is Christology, more specifically, the Reformation’s justification-Christology with its exclusivist, anti-Jewish configuration. https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5999
spellingShingle Uwe F. W. Bauer
Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
Journal of Hebrew Scriptures
title Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
title_full Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
title_fullStr Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
title_full_unstemmed Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
title_short Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Psalm 1 in Luther and in Modern German Protestantism
title_sort anti jewish interpretations of psalm 1 in luther and in modern german protestantism
url https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5999
work_keys_str_mv AT uwefwbauer antijewishinterpretationsofpsalm1inlutherandinmoderngermanprotestantism