Original scientific paper
Is the Old Testament Ethnocentric? Israel’s self-Perception and the Attitude to Stranger
Boris Havel
orcid.org/0000-0001-7809-9408
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The Old Testament was written from the perspective of the people of Israel and as such can be considered ethnocentric. Israel was described as holy and separate nation chosen by God to receive revelation. Inasmuch as revelation is the only method by which sinful man can know holy God, Israel’s knowledge of God is unique and the only correct, while other nations’ and religions’ perceptions of the divine are by default erroneous. At the same time, biblical text directs much criticism towards Israel, and contains much praise to foreigners, particularly in issues regarding righteousness, veracity, faithfulness, humility and mercy. Thus, comparing ethnos and revelation we may assert that the Old Testament is much more revelation-centric than ethnocentric. Such discourse also continues and is amplified in the Gospels.
Keywords
Bible; ethnocentricity; gentiles; Israel; Jews; revelation; revelationcentricity
Hrčak ID:
228406
URI
Publication date:
25.11.2019.
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