Did second-century Jews provide an apology or polemic against Celsus?

C

camin1o

New member
I am gathering info for a doctoral thesis. Celsus ridiculed Christians of his time by calling them second-rate Jews. I am aware of Origen’s defense in behalf of Christians, but did any Jewish writer weight in? I am aware that Jewish sources of that era are scarce.
Because Celsus used a lot of print denigrating Jews, and the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud present aggressive arguments in defense of Judaism, but they don't address Celsus.
Apologetics are not so much for outsiders, but to encourage and comfort adherents. If you look closely, it's in the Talmud. Heard of Yeshu'a ben Panthera?

You catch my drift.
 
I'm afraid your knowledge of the talmud is appalingly inaccurate! It does not "present aggressive arguments in defense of Judaism"- in fact, the Talmud doesn't bother to defend Judaism at all. The Talmud consists of two section: Mishnah- the oral law and Gemorrah- commentary on the oral law. There is no need to defend Judaism in the Talmud since it is not addressed to a non-Jewish readership but to those studying Jewish law to know the practicalities behind it!

As such, you don't find responses to any of the various polemics levelled against the Jews; you don't find anything discussing the accusations of Justin or any of the other Church fathers who attacked Judaism since the Talmud does not concern itself with countering attacks on Judaism. It also does not bother mentioning Celsus since he was irrelevant to the discussion of Jewish Law.

Even in the various collections of Midrashim from that era- you will not find them defending Judaism. Writings tended to be far more concise since they were all hand written- and they stuck to the topic at hand, discussing Judaism and its beliefs. The one place where other beliefs are discussed in the Talmud is masechta Avodah Zara- but then it is not a defense or comparison, but how Jews should behave around the Pagan festivals, the prohibitions related to them etc. No defenses or comparative religious statements- but discussion of Jewish law

edit; Its always funny when people try to claim the Talmud says something it does not- Yeshu (NOT Yeshu'a)ben Pandera in the Talmud lived approximately 100 years AFTER Jesus had died! The two are NOT related though people frequently try to equate the two ignoring little issues like the fact that the Rabbi's named in the incident lived a mere 100 years after Jesus died- and the fact that they could not have lived at the same time since the title Rabbi did not exist until two decades after the destruction of the Second temple i.e. 60 years after Jesus had died! feel free to misinterpret as you wish- it gives those who know better a bit of amusement. You catch my drift?
 
I have never heard of any.

But, why would one expect there to be any?

Christians are a different religion. Why would Jews step in and weigh on Christianity or Buddhism or Hinduism?
 
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