Jewish Philosophical Polemics Against Christianity in the Middle Ages: With a New Introduction

Daniel J. Lasker is Norbert Blechner Professor of Jewish Values (Emeritus) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. In addition he has taught at many institutions of higher learning, including Yale, Princeton, the University of Toronto, Ohio State University, the University of Texas, and the University of Washington. His publications include Jewish Philosophical Polemics against Christianity in the Middle Ages (2nd edn., Littman Library, 2007) and From Judah Hadassi to Elijah Bashyatchi: Studies in Late Medieval Karaite Philosophy (2008).

• Introduction to the Second Edition1 Introduction General Principles Philosophical Arguments Exegetical Arguments • Historical Arguments • Rational Arguments Procedure to the Followed 2 Sources The Various Methods of the Polemicists Exegesis of the Hebrew Bible • Exegesis of Rabbinical Literature • Attacks on Christianity • Comparisons of Christian Doctrines with the New Testament • Attacks on the Articles of Christianity • Comparisons of Christianity with the Principles of Philosophy The Literary Style of the Polemics Other Sources of Jewish Philosophical Arguments The Christian Sources 3 The Use of Reason in Religious Debates Explanations of Christian Belief in Irrational Doctrines Maimonides’ Guidelines The Polemical Approach of the Jewish Averroists Criteria for Determining Logical Impossibility Conclusions 4 Trinity Trinity Implies Matter The Divine Attributes Are Not Persons Jewish Kalamic Refutations of the Trinity • Aristotelian Refutations Generation Disproves Unity The Specific Generation of Jesus • Eternal Generation of the Son Syllogistic Logic Refutes the Trinity Images of the Trinity Conclusions 5 Incarnation God is Incorporeal God’s Incorporeality Precludes Incarnation • God Cannot be Limited in Place God is Immutable God’s Simple Unity Precluses Incarnation A Union of Divinity and Humanity is Impossible Types of Physical Union • The Person of Jesus Conclusions 6 Transubstantiation The Interpenetrability of Bodies How Could the Body of Jesus Enter Bread? • How Could Jesus’ Large Body Fit into Smaller Dimensions? • How Could Jesus Pass Through the Heavens Without Damaging Them? The Concepts of Number and Place Simultaneity of Jesus’ Body on Many Altars Remaining One • Simultaneity of Jesus’ Body Being in Many Places The Concept of Motion Motion in No Time is Impossible • One Body Cannot Be in Motion and Rest at the Same Time The Problem of Accidents How Can Accidents be Without Subjects? • The Senses Must Not Be Deceived • Substance Cannot become Accident, nor Accident Substance Miscellaneous Arguments Conclusions 7 Virgin Birth The Interpenetrability of Bodies Images of the Virgin Birth Conclusions 8 Conclusions Jewish Knowledge of Christianity The Sources of Jewish Arguments The Role of Philosophy in Jewish–Christian Relations The Significance of the Medieval Jewish Philosophical Polemics Against ChristianityList of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography Index of Citations General Index

'A valuable contribution to this field of research because of its very precise, detailed, and competent study of the themes involved in the disputation and the polemics.'European Journal of Jewish Studies