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'''The Jews''' is a phrase used 182 times in the [[Bible]] ([[ESV]]), in both the [[Old Testament]] (54 times) and [[New Testament]] (128 times).  The [[Gospel of John]] uses it by far the most often (60 times), but even the [[Gospel of Matthew]] uses this phrase.  [[Paul]] uses it only 4 times. According to the Jews for Jesus, a prominent [[Messianic Judaism]] organization, the phrase "the Jews" used in the Gospel of John was in reference to the Jewish leadership, likely the [[Pharisees]] and scribes,<ref>The Synoptic Gospels mostly clarify that Jesus was specifically denouncing the Pharisees and scribes, unlike the Gospel of John much more frequently using the phrase "the Jews."</ref> rather than referring to Jewish people ''en masse''.<ref>Damato, Catherine (April 23, 2018). [https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/is-the-new-testament-jewish Is the New Testament Jewish?] ''Jews for Jesus''. Retrieved December 24, 2022.</ref>

'''The Jews''' is a phrase used 182 times in the [[Bible]] ([[ESV]]), in both the [[Old Testament]] (54 times) and [[New Testament]] (128 times).  The [[Gospel of John]] uses it by far the most often (60 times), but even the [[Gospel of Matthew]] uses this phrase.  [[Paul]] uses it only 4 times. According to the Jews for Jesus, a prominent [[Messianic Judaism]] organization, the phrase "the Jews" used in the Gospel of John was in reference to the Jewish leadership, likely the [[Pharisees]] and scribes,<ref>The Synoptic Gospels mostly clarify that Jesus was specifically denouncing the Pharisees and scribes, unlike the Gospel of John much more frequently using the phrase "the Jews."</ref> rather than referring to Jewish people ''en masse''.<ref>Damato, Catherine (April 23, 2018). [https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/is-the-new-testament-jewish Is the New Testament Jewish?] ''Jews for Jesus''. Retrieved December 24, 2022.</ref>

At the time of [[Jesus]] there was a sharp split between the [[Samaritans]] and Judeans, and [[John]] tended to be more sympathetic to the Samaritans. John's frequent references may have been based on that tension.

At the time of [[Jesus]] there was a sharp split between the [[Samaritan]]s and Judeans, and [[John]] tended to be more sympathetic to the Samaritans with several favorable references to them. John's frequent references may have been based on that tension.

Throughout history, antisemites have taken negative references to "the Jews" entirely out of context and out of character with the nature of the New Testament. In contrast to their vile distortions of Scripture, the New Testament demonstrates God's love for the Jewish people and His desire to bring them to salvation, particularly emphasized in the Pauline Epistles:<ref>[https://biblehub.com/romans/1-16.htm Romans 1:16]. ''Bible Hub''. Retrieved December 24, 2022.</ref>

Throughout history, antisemites have taken negative references to "the Jews" entirely out of context and out of character with the nature of the New Testament. In contrast to their vile distortions of Scripture, the New Testament demonstrates God's love for the Jewish people and His desire to bring them to salvation, particularly emphasized in the Pauline Epistles:<ref>[https://biblehub.com/romans/1-16.htm Romans 1:16]. ''Bible Hub''. Retrieved December 24, 2022.</ref>