Figure of Abraham in John 8

In the Gospel of John, the character of Jesus repeatedly comes into conflict with a group pejoratively designated as ''the Jews''. In chapter 8 of the Gospel this conflict could be said to reach a head, with Jesus labeling the Jews as children ''of the devil'' (8:44) - a verse often cited as epitomizing early Christian anti-Judaism.

Using methods derived from modern and post-modern literary critici...