[trisham]

“The Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God and are contrary to all men: forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins always: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” (l Thessalonians 2.14-16)

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Due to time constraints, I am going to address only the above. (Btw-my bible is The New American Bible and has a different translation than yours).

Briefly, if I understand it correctly, this particular passage is not directed at Jews as a group, but at particular Jews who were in conflict with the first Christians. It was probably only natural that this conflict came into being, given the history of the Church. Paul was simply stating his frustration with the antagonism of some to the birth of this new religion.

[ArrogantBustard]

The Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets ...

"The Romans, who crucified Jesus and slaughtered Christians in the amphitheatre ..."

"The Protestants, who murdered Catholic Priests by hanging, drawing and quartering .."

"The Russians, who threatened America with nuclear annihilation ..."

To interpret these statements as other than condemnations of malfeasant leadership (possibly supported by the rabble) is idiocy.