Comments on: Can We Use Jewish Sources to Study Jesus?

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:30:25 +0000

In reply to Karole Fedrick. I think the verb you want to use is "compose" rather than "write." The Oral Torah began to be composed before Jesus' time, and personally, I think that some of what it says was influenced by his teachings.

By: Karole Fedrick

Karole Fedrick — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 23:40:41 +0000

The Mishnah was not codified until the 3rd century, but Jesus was a student of the oral law as well as the written. Many things He said reflected those oral laws which were most likely at least partially written during His lifetime. It’s hard to wrap my head around the oral law being written, but I have settled on understanding the written law was the Torah/Tanaka – the law and the prophets – the Hebrew Bible – and the oral law, the Mishnah, was commentaries on it.

Does that sound right to anyone besides me?

God bless you all.

By: Deborah Bray

Deborah Bray — Sun, 21 May 2023 11:46:35 +0000

I am more interested in how helpful the Rabbinic sources might be in gaining insight into the Temple and its ministry, as well as how the Jewish people actually observed the Law during New Testament times as these writings are the only sources we have for those in-depth views.

By: John Michael Hart

John Michael Hart — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 20:20:11 +0000

Hi Lori, I am a gentle, one of many who have not come from a traditional christian back ground but from a Hebraic background. Although I do understand the anti zionism of the church history. It is great to see Christians embracing the Hebraic roots of Yeshua, and coming to the realisation that as gentiles you have been grafted into a Jewish understanding of, The Way, G-ds Way, not mans traditions. The Yerushalmi is worth a look too, and if you look at Orthodox sites too you can see a lot of Yeshuas thoughts there too, Chabad.org as an example. A great read thank you Sister 🙂

By: LW

LW — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:41:36 +0000

Lois, good post! It’s nice to see context as to how so much more is being connected these days about his (Jewish) context.

John: “…Jewish and Christian Zionists who want to venerate the OT and discount the NT”

I’m not sure I’ve ever heard of this with Christian Zionists, but after years of focusing my reading on the NT, I began to study the story forward instead of backwards and focused on the “Old” Testament.

Since the OT was Jesus’ bible, and based on my Protestant education, everything in the NT must be grounded in the OT.

Is this what you’re talking about?

By: John Kleinheksel

John Kleinheksel — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:40:40 +0000

Appreciated your presentation in the Class this morning. Very interesting to think of the Marcion heresy of wanting to eliminate the OT in favor of the NT; in distinction from the Jewish and Christian Zionists who want to venerate the OT and discount the NT. You didn’t say that, but I was thinking it as you spoke.
Thank you. I would like to get your monthly mailing. John

By: Don Johnson

Don Johnson — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 15:06:33 +0000

I see the Mishnah as essential to understanding parts of the New Testament, but it does need to be used with care.

By: MIke Davis

MIke Davis — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 02:01:31 +0000

Lois,

Nice article!

I think you gave a good balance on the use of rabbinic material.

Glad to hear that Neusner is coming around.

And Instone-Brewers work is top notch -I would highly recommend his work on the dating of the rabbinic literature. I have volume 1 and will soon purchase volume 2.

Again great article!!