Bible Study—John 2:22 “They believed the Scripture.” What Scripture?
Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking concerning the temple of His body. Therefore, when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them. And they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.
John 2:20-22 MEV, the story of the cleansing of the Temple
The books of the New Testament were written decades after Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. John, the author of the Book of John, was not quoting the New Testament. The author was quoting from the Old Testament.
Some Examples of the New Testament based on the Old Testament
- Matthew 1:23 from Isaiah 7:14
- Mark 1:3 from Malachi 3:1
- Luke 1:17 from Malachi 4:5-6
- John 1:23 from Isaiah 40:3
- John 2:17 from Psalm 69:9
- John 6:31 from Exodus 16:4, Exodus 16:15, Nehemiah 9:15, Psalms 78:24-25
- John 6:45 from Isaiah 54:13
- Romans 1:17 from Habakkuk 2:4
- Revelation 2:27 from Psalm 2:9
In the early decades of Christianity, the Holy Scriptures marked the legitimacy of the New Testament. These Holy Scriptures were from the Old Testament.
The Fallacy of Replacement Theology
Replacement Theology-also called Supersessionism-typically holds that the Christian Church has fully and permanently replaced Israel in God’s plan. According to proponents of this view, God’s covenant promises to Israel now find their exclusive fulfillment in the Church. While various streams of historical theology have introduced different nuances to this idea, the central claim remains that the Church, as the “new Israel,” has superseded national Israel’s role in the divine covenantal relationship.
John 19:24, John 19:28, John 19:36 clearly reveal God’s plan to fulfill His grand plan for the universe.
After this, Jesus, knowing that everything was now accomplished, that the Scripture [the Old Testament] might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst.”
Historical Markers
God chose the Israelites
For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be His special people, treasured above all peoples who are on the face of the earth.
The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all the peoples. But it is because the Lord loved you and because He kept the oath which He swore to your fathers. The Lord brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8 MEV Circa 1407 BC
A Symbol of Israel’s Choosing and Election by God
God “planted” Israel in the Promised Land and lovingly tended her growth through the Law and the Prophets (Psalm 80:8-11). He provided everything needed for her spiritual fruitfulness as His “choice vine” (Jeremiah 2:21).
When Israel obeyed God, she produced the rich spiritual fruit of righteousness and justice. But when Israel turned away, God lamented that His precious olive tree had turned “wild” and “worthless” (Jeremiah 11:15-16).
The olive tree beautifully illustrates God’s intentional choosing and election of Israel to be His special possession. Out of all the nations of the world, God selected Israel like the choice olive—set apart through His sovereign grace (Deuteronomy 7:6-9).
He planted her in the Holy Land, a place of abundant olive orchards flowing with milk and honey (Deuteronomy 8:7-8). Just as the olive tree receives meticulous care—pruning, fertilizing, grafting—so God faithfully tended to Israel’s covenant needs to make her spiritually fruitful.
Her “olive oil” was to radiate the light of salvation to all nations (Isaiah 42:6).
This horticultural metaphor helped communicate God’s amazing grace to recalcitrant Israel. Though they often strayed, He lovingly wooed them back like a master gardener tends a choice olive tree. God longed for reconciliation and bountiful fruit from his precious plant.
Christian Guide: What Does The Olive Tree Represent In The Bible?
11 So I ask, did they [the Jews] stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. 12 Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion [Greek: their fullness] mean!
13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry 14 in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? 16 If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root [Greek: root of righteousness] of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.
Historical Note on the Jewish Diaspora
- All of the very first Christians were Jewish converts. Jesus and his disciples were Jews. On the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on thousands of Jews commemorating the God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian captivity, Jews and Jewish proselytes were baptized by Holy Spirit.
- The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman ecclesia [the church, the ‘called out ones’] addressed Jewish converts to Christianity.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God—severity toward those who fell, but goodness toward you, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23 And these also, if they do not remain in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Romans 11:17-24 MEV circa 57 AD
Summary
Jews and Christians follow the teachings and God’s laws recorded in the Old Testament. The New Testament books were not written or compiled quickly. It took decades after the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for them to be completed. The only Bible the early followers of Jesus Christ had was the Old Testament. Please remember to refer to the section above titled “Some Examples of the New Testament based on the Old Testament.”
God has not forsaken the Jews, and Christians do not replace the Jews. Christians are grafted into “the root and the richness of the olive tree.” Reference: Romans 11:17-24, Galatians 1:11-24, Ephesians 2:11-22
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 
Funny in a non humorous manner how the term “the Jews” always comes across as somewhat odious in the way the Bible delivers it, don’t you think?
Makes you wonder sometimes just who was the first to espouse anti Semitism and hatred for Jewish people.
Ironic when you consider the most famous Jew of the lot.
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Calling my Jewish friends “the Jews” is by no means derogatory. In fact, Jesus was a Jew, along with all the prophets in the Bible. Christians are not replacements for Jews. The Olive Tree mentioned in the Bible represents the faithful Jews who originally comprised the nation of Israel. Christians are grafted into the Olive Tree.
The Russians, the Chinese, the Hawaiians, the Arabs, are terms that point to distinct ethnic groups.
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John’s gospel is widely acknowledged by most scholars to be anti-Semitic.
The text purposely paints “the Jews” in a negative fashion, almost absolving Pilate and the Roman authorities in an attempt to distance Jesus from the Jews and put the blame for his death squarely at their feet.
It is one reason cited for so much of the persecution and hatred they have suffered over the millenia.
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Despite your gross misunderstanding, I only describe Jews in the most favorite light. You see, your atheism blinds you to the truth of the Holy Bible. The Jews are God’s chosen people. He represents faithful Jews as an olive tree. While a few of the branches of that olive tree have fallen away, God has grafted Christians into the olive tree.
I encourage you to read the Holy Bible. The Old Testament will make sense to you after you read the New Testament that sources its history and truths from the Old Testament.
Thank you for your welcome comment.
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I did not mention his you describe them
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Post by accident.
I did not mention or refer to YOUR understanding, but was referring to the gospel of John being recognized as anti Semitic and being one of the reasons Jews have been persecuted for millenia.
Christians have a lot to answer for in this respect.
I have read the bible cover to cover on two occasions and at one point regularly consulted the gospels, and still do from time to time.
I encourage you to read outside of your theological framework and research such subjects from a secular historical point of view to get a more balanced understanding.
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Please satisfy my genuine curiosity.
What text, specifically, in the Gospel of John do you identify as antisemitic?
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The gospel is regarded by critical scholarship as anti Semitic in the way it regards Jews. I truly cannot believe that as a Christian you gave never one across this during any sort of serious bible study?
This is from the very first link that popped up after a Google search.
“His gospel also is laced with anti-Semitism, referring to Jesus’ enemies, clamoring for his execution, simply as “the Jews.” Hill notes that at the time it was written, John’s community of Jesus-following Jews was being expelled from their synagogues, as Judaism and Christianity finally sundered into separate religions. ”
There are a number of such links.
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John was a Jew. All 12 of Jesus’ disciples were Jews. All the authors of the New Testament were Jews, except Luke.
I became a believer in Jesus Christ in August 1974. I read and study the scriptures in English, Spanish, and Latin. Why Spanish? My life’s ministry has been devoted to Spanish-speaking people in South America, Central America, Mexico, and Cuba, the latter over many years of short-term missions.
I study the Latin Vulgate to gain deeper meanings of English words in the Bible. Latin and Greek are very similar, giving deeper meanings to words, particularly verbs.
My associations include personal close relationships with Jews in Rockwall County, Texas. I am a member of American Jewish Conservatives in Dallas, Texas.
All worldviews feature distinct limits. This is true of me and you. In fact, this is true of everyone. God recognizes our worldview differences and limitations. Isaiah 1:18 dates to 739 BC. God set the model for interactive worldviews. The first sentence of this verse in the Modern English Version says, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord.”
The online dictionary, WordReference defines the verb ‘reason’ “to think or argue in a logical manner, to form conclusions or judgments from facts.”
I attribute most of my knowledge as products of reasoning with others.
Over the last 50 years, I have enjoyed and benefitted from Bible studies as a student and as a teacher. Frankly, I learn more as a teacher than as a student. When I teach any subject, I prepare my lessons long in advance through personal studies. It has been said that before you can teach a dog tricks, you must know more than the dog.
In my later years, my studies dig deeply into the founding of the United States of America. In this respect, I am what is known as an originalist. My Bible studies and my legal/historical studies are from an originalist point of view.
I never assume a member of any organized body politic, whether governmental or ecclesiastical, is fully aware of history.
Now retired, I have taught engineers and salesmen/women essential skills and knowledge. My method never assumes others know what I know and neither do I know what others know.
Two things that work harmoniously together are specific historical knowledge and application-specific knowledge.
In the case of Jews and Christians distancing themselves, this is due to absence of historical and application-specific knowledge.
Jews who are truly knowledgeable of their history and the Holy Scriptures become welcoming of Christians who are truly knowledgeable of their history and the Holy Scriptures.
God’s symbolic representation of his terrestrial ‘garden’ is the Olive Tree, the people wholly aligned with His will and purpose for all creation.
The ‘branches’ of His Olive Tree are the people groups who align with God’s will and purpose for His creation. He chose the Jews as a role model for all mankind. Unfortunately, at times past, some of the chosen people groups turned from God and fell as dead branches. Faithful Christians are engrafted branches of the Olive Tree.
Throughout human history, there have been incalculable numbers of people who have fallen away from God’s “Big Idea” becoming dead branches.
When you have lived as long as I have lived, you learn how not all mechanics are competent. This is true of engineers, classroom teachers, carpenters, plumbers, historians, and government people.
Our Founding Fathers of this nation were scholars, not experimental-minded. The studied history, theology, and governments.
This is why our republican form of government was stipulated for all the states in Article IV, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution.
The Judiciary, the least of the three branches of government serve as places of reason, based on the laws and the facts before a court of law.
As church-going Christians dig deeply in the Bible, they discover how they do not replace the Jews but are engrafted branches of God’s chosen people. This is happening with Jewish people who follow suit.
A very powerful tool in God’s “tool box” is miracles.
When anyone experiences a miracle outcome in their lives, that miracle remains a constant reminder of the reality and the awesome power of the Living God, the Creator of the Universe.
No one talked me into becoming a Christian. A miraculous healing got my attention. I was what an evangelist would describe as a “hard case.” The Apostle Paul, a high-ranking Jew, was a “hard case” as was also the Apostle Peter. Millions of times each year, Muslims come to faith in Jesus Christ through dream and/or visions of God confronting them. I know many such Muslim-background Believers (MBB) that became followers of Jesu Christ in this way.
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The gospel authors are unknown and they certainly were not Jewish.
I encourage you to study outside of your limited apologetic perspective.
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Your opinion is at odds with factual history.
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https://www.bu.edu/articles/2013/beauty-and-anti-semitism-the-gospel-of-john/#:~:text=His%20gospel%20also%20is%20laced,finally%20sundered%20into%20separate%20religions
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The author of this article is not as expert on history, Christianity, and the Bible as he claims.
I encourage you to find a local Bible study where you can read, debate, ask questions, and learn for yourself what the Bible teaches.
My favorite Rabbi is Pesach Wolicki, local to Dallas, Texas. He is a prolific author who is not an enemy of Christians. In the YouTube.com search bar, enter Rabbi Pesach Wolicki to hear from him. A pertinent video titled “Rabbi: Christianity is Good for the world! Rabbi Pesach Wolicki” https://youtu.be/IHHqUWTYoaM?si=CUu4O_U–QFbY_lB
I also recommend Pastor Josh Howerton on his church’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@LakepointeChurch and his podcasts on his YouTube channel
Resurge with Josh Howerton & Josh McPherson https://www.youtube.com/@resurge_podcast
This young (41 years of age) pastor, unlike a typical megachurch pastor does not exalt himself, but, just like Jesus, he is a public individual easily engaged in a public place or at his church.
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Thank you for reading my posts and commenting. I truly appreciate you.
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You should also consider the discourses from Crysostom and Luther, drawing on gJohn and their highly anti Jewish rhetoric.
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The last place I would seek historical information would be antisemitic sources.
I appreciate you and I are engaging one another through polar-opposite worldviews.
I became a believer in Jesus Christ in August 1974. My experience was not due to preachers or evangelists attempting to persuade me. My life was such as to describe me as a hard case.
On a Sunday evening in August 1974, I had a personal encounter with Jesus. The physical evidence was miraculous healing of my hypertension that blocked me from employment. My blood pressure was 196/96. After that amazing personal encounter, a doctor found my blood pressure at 120/70 the following Monday morning. In addition, I was liberated from alcohol. Neither of these two issues were under my control.
Throughout my adult life, I naturally followed the scientific method, testing everything. I became an engineer with an aerospace company without a college degree.
Never was I against Christianity or Judaism, or any other religion. I wanted proof. In a moment in time, Jesus Christ became solidly real to me when I was miraculously healed.
Daily, I study the Bible, often in three languages. My principle language is American English. My secondary is Spanish. Latin is the third. Latin, like Greek, gives deep meaning to the Bible.
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“The last place I would seek historical information would be antisemitic sources.”
Crysostom and Luther are both considered pivotal in the history of the Christian church.
If you eschew anti Semitic sources why do you hold so much stock in the gospel of John?
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I suggest you learn the history of the compilation of the Bible. At the time of Jesus, Paul, John, Peter, and Matthew, the ONLY Bible was the Tenach written by Jews. The Old Testament is the Tenach plus a few other books. the ONLY Bible was the Tenach. The hundreds of scripture references in the New Testament are from the Old Testament.
John the Baptist/Baptizer was a Jew born of elderly Jewish parents.
The Apostle John and his brother James were Jews in the lineage of the Levites. Their mother and father were Jews.
What specific text of the New Testament suggests to you that the Apostle John, a Jew himself, was antisemitic?
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I am aware of its history and your tone is bordering on being patronizing.
The gospel of John (author unknown) is regarded as anti-Semitic in its terminology /treatment of the term “the Jews”.
I suggest you read any critical scholar on the subject.
I have already provided a link for you to consult but you rejected it.
Consider Bart Ehrman or even the Britannica.
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