A Comparative Study Of Martin Luther And John Calvin’s View Of Jews

Martin Luther and John Calvin are the core figures of the Reformation.Their theological ideas and pious beliefs have influenced people from generation to generation.There are a vast array of academic research works on Luther and Calvin’s theological theories,but there are relatively few studies on the Jewish views of the two.However,the exploration of Luther and Calvin’s Jewish views is an indispensable work for studying the history of the Reformation.Although Luther and Calvin were also advocates of Protestant doctrine,their views on Judaism had polarized evaluations.Later generations often associate Luther’s Jewish view with the Nazi anti-Semitism,thinking that it is a strict Jewish view,while Calvin’s Jewish view is gentle and tolerant.What is the actual situation?What kind of Jewish views did Luther and Calvin hold? Why did it lead to a completely different evaluation?There are five chapters in this article,divided into four parts to discuss the issue of“Luther and Calvin’s Jewish View”.The first part is the first chapter,which mainly elaborates the specific content of Luther and Calvin’s Jewish view.Luther and Calvin believed in the commentary on the Bible that all human beings were created equal,but fell together,and the Jews have a special status in the plan of salvation.Luther’s Jewish view in his Jewish monographs changed from friendly to severe due to the occurrence of specific events.Calvin’s attitude is still to oppose Judaism’s justification by action from the perspective of defending Protestantism,and against Judaism’s slander of Jesus Christ.In terms of their views on contemporary Jews,both Luther and Calvin treated Jews and Jews who had converted to Christianity with Christian friendship.On the issue of financial Jews,Luther held a negative attitude,while Calvin held a positive attitude.The second part is Chapter Two and Chapter Three.Mainly compares the similarities and differences between Luther and Calvin’s Jewish views.On the same point,both Luther and Calvin’s views on Judaism carry the Christian view of equality for everyone,both recognize the Jewish electorate,both oppose Judaism’s justification by virtue of the practice.They condemned the folly of Jews not knowing Jesus Christ as Savior.Luther and Calvin’s Jewish views moved separate in the understanding of the salvation of the Israeli family,the attitude towards Hebrew traditions,the views of financial Jews,and the shaping of the Jewish image.The third part is the fourth chapter.Mainly analyze and explore the factors that influence the differences between Luther and Calvin’s Jewish views,precisely because of the differences in personality and language style,the differences in eschatological views and experiences,the different focus of theological structure and interpretation methods,and the different stages of the religious reform.Making Luther and Calvin’s Jewish views separate on the issue of detail,extending the two different paths of severity and tolerance.The last part is Chapter 5,which mainly reveals the different influences of Luther’s and Calvin’s Jewish views.When Luther’s Jewish view was removed from theology,and divorced from The Times,was brought to the political field to interpret and play,caused the misunderstanding in Luther Jewish and Nazi Jewish relations,because the Lutheran and Protestant Church of Lutheran Jewish long silence,did not respond to the controversy,further the cracks in the relationship between Christianity and Judaism.Calvin’s Jewish outlook had a positive influence after retaining theologicity and not being politically played.Post-Holocaust scholars mixed with political factors and public opinion criticized the Jewish views of Protestant Christians such as Luther and Calvin,and more associated with anti-Semitism.Since the 21 st century,Lutheranism,in the context of facing age and theologism,declared the “Jewish view of Luther”,only theologically,not ethnicity,and declared the rejection of Luther’s theological heritage to the Jews.This may be a new era of breaking through the barriers of anti-antisemitism and opening reconciliation for two religious relations.