"Ett prydligt monument på en grav". Anton Fridrichsen, Fyrahanda sädesåker och den judisk-kristna dialogen

Authors

• Åke Roxberg

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30752/nj.69559

Keywords:

Fridrichsen, Anton, 1888-1953, Christianity and Judaism, Dialogue (Theology), Antisemitism in literature, Sweden, Jesus Christ -- Relation to Judaism

Abstract

Anton Fridrichsen is one of the most famous Swedish New Testament scholars of the 20th century. He was professor of New Testament studies at the University of Uppsala for almost twenty-five years until his death in 1953. Fridrichsen’s thinking has still a great influence on biblical scholars and ministers of religion, who often read his works in preparation for their sermons. Fridrichsen had a great interest in the Jewishness of Jesus and the Jews at large. He describes them however mostly in a negative way. Fridrichsen frequently makes the Jews responsible for the death of Jesus. The old covenant with the people of Israel has been exchanged with a new, and the people of God have been replaced with a new people, the church. A comparison with documents from the post-war Jewish-Christian dialogue shows that Fridrichsen contributes to much of what is now considered stumbling-stones in promoting a better understanding between Christians and Jews.