Anti-Judaïsme in ‘n Joodse teks? Die geval van Openbaring

This article offers a critical discussion of Peter Tomson's approach to Anti-Judaism in the New Testament (see his 'If this be from Heaven...' from 2001). Tomson rightly defines Anti-Judaism as hatred of Jews and characterizes key passages in John's Gospel as anti-Jewish, but he assesses similar passages in Revelation differently because, in his opinion, Revelation would be a Jewish text and a Jewish text cannot be anti-Jewish. All relevant passages in Revelation are surveyed and a re-reading of two key passages, Rev 2:9 and 3:9, is offered. Tomson's argument about Revelation is refuted - also with the help of modern analogies, which suggest that a Jewish text can be anti-Jewish. The article ends with a brief personal note that calls for a reading of Revelation in Christian communities that is not hurtful for Jews.