The "History of Usage" of Matthew 27:25 in the Ante-Nicene Period (100 CE – 325 CE)

Justin M. Smith

The purpose of this study is to explore the usage of Matthew 27:25 in Christian literature in the Ante-Nicene period (100 CE – 325 CE). Of special interest is how this passage was interpreted by the early Church Fathers and to what extent it may have been used to cast Jews in a disparaging light. The understanding of this verse in this formative period of Jewish/Christian relations is vital as a means of appreciating the later and more volatile anti-Judaism of the subsequent Christian era. Through examining the works of Tertullian and Hippolytus, as well as the anonymous works of The Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs, The Gospel of Nicodemus and The Passing of Mary the objective is to ascertain the usage of Matthew 27:25 and to ascertain its effect on the Christian tradition as it relates to the current issues surrounding Jewish/Christian interaction.

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