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...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Elkins, Kathleen Gallagher (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2023
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
RelBib 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
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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.
ISSN:1568-5152
Contains:Enthalten in: Biblical interpretation
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15685152-20221716