(January 23, 2015 at 12:17 pm)watchamadoodle Wrote:(January 23, 2015 at 11:44 am)Davka Wrote: I once had a conversation with an Orthodox Jewish gentleman about the teachings of Jesus. He challenged me to come up with a single teaching that Jesus didn't simply take from pre-existing Jewish teachings. I thought for a minute and said "he told us to love our enemies."
The gentleman was silent for a moment and then said "OK, I'll give you that one, that's original. But it's stupid!"
Are you sure that teaching doesn't exist in Judaism? It is similar to the golden rule which I have heard exists in many cultures.
Similar, but not the same. The Golden Rule tells us to do (or not do) to others what we would have them do (or not do) to us. It doesn't address how we feel towards our enemies. That was a new concept.
Paul actually illustrates this with his "heaping hot coals on their heads" line - treat them as you want to be treated because that'll show the bastards!
