Digital Commons Network^™

Jewish Culture In The Christian World, James Jefferson White

History ETDs

Christians constantly borrowed the culture of their Jewish neighbors and adapted it to Christianity. This adoption and appropriation of Jewish culture can be fit into three phases. The first phase regarded Jewish religion and philosophy. From the eighth century to the thirteenth century, Christians borrowed Jewish religious exegesis and beliefs in order to expand their own understanding of Christian religious texts. This phase came to an end as Jews and Christians came into increasingly close contact in the twelfth and thirteenth century. This led to a backlash by Christians in power. The second phase ran concurrent with the end of …