The Jews as “Children of the Devil” (John 8:44) in Nazi Children’s Literature
Biblical interpreters have long wrestled with the vicious anti-Jewish rhetoric of John’s gospel including, mostly famously, when Jesus calls Jews “children of the devil” (8:44). Post-Shoah, the anti-Jewish rhetoric of John’s gospel is even more horrifying. This article seeks to highlight the use of...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Brill
2023
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In: |
Biblical interpretation
Year: 2023, Volume: 31, Issue: 3, Pages: 374-390 |
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Johannesevangelium 8,44
/ Jews
/ Childrens' literature
/ Antisemitism
/ National Socialism
/ Germany
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IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KBB German language area ZC Politics in general |
Further subjects: | B
Jews in the New Testament
B Gospel of John B children’s literature B Nazi Germany B Antisemitism |
Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
Summary: | Biblical interpreters have long wrestled with the vicious anti-Jewish rhetoric of John’s gospel including, mostly famously, when Jesus calls Jews “children of the devil” (8:44). Post-Shoah, the anti-Jewish rhetoric of John’s gospel is even more horrifying. This article seeks to highlight the use of John 8:44 and other anti-Jewish rhetoric from John’s gospel in children’s literature from Nazi Germany. The children’s books under consideration show a progression from advocating for forced displacement of the Jews to advocating for murder. Seeing the intensification and advancement of this rhetoric, even in something seemingly harmless like children’s literature, is a warning to biblical scholars who may try to downplay or overlook the hateful language of John’s gospel. |
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ISSN: | 1568-5152 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15685152-20221716 |