What had the Jewish people been taught for almost 2000 years about their identity and separation from other nations?
For almost 2000 years, the Jewish people had been taught that they were special, God's covenant people, set apart from the rest of the world. They were told not to intermarry with other nations and to stay within their tribes, reinforcing their distinct identity and separation from Gentiles.
Les explains that for almost 2000 years the Jewish community had heard that they were special, that they were God's covenant people, and that they had been set apart from the rest of the world. They were taught not to intermarry with other nations and to stay within their tribes. This sense of identity and separation made Paul's message that Gentiles were just as good as Jews, and that there is no difference now between Jew and Gentile, deeply offensive. It sent them into orbit and infuriated them, so they plagued the Apostle every step of his way, following him from city to city and trying to defeat him until his death.