Transcript 14 Theistic Judaism

Judaism
There is a distinction between Judaism
and Jewish people since many Jewish
people do not believe in Judaism
Judaism: A Chosen Nation’s
Tradition
• Judaism became a religion of tradition, not the Word
• Judaism became a religion of the rabbis (not of the priesthood)
around 200 BC and solidified at 70 AD.
• New institutions arose at that time such as…
• The synagogue (the house of worship and study)
• The office of the rabbi (leader holding religious authority)
• The yeshivot (religious academies for training rabbis)
• In 70 AD when the Temple was destroyed and sacrifices
ceased the priesthood came to an end, and the rabbis
became the authorities
• The rabbis wrote the Talmud, encyclopedic compendium of
Jewish laws, interpretations and traditions from 1st-5th Cent AD
Judaism’s origin and
development
• Though God revealed Himself to
Abraham, monotheism not practiced
until post-exilic period due to apostasy
• In exile the synagogue system was
developed
• Despite corruption and fragmentation of
Judaism, it was far superior to heathen
religions
The Intertestamental
Period
• Alexander the Great conquered Israel (332 BC),
beginning hellenization
• Septuagint (LXX) translation of OT into Greek 250
BC by Jews in Alexandria and the philosophical
writings of Philo
• The merging of Greek philosophy with Bible
resulted in the sect of the Sadducees, which
modified revelation with Greek rationalism
• Out of the Maccabean revolt against Antiochus
Epiphanes’ repression came the Hasidim, which
developed into the Pharisees
• By Christ’s day the Herodians, the Zealots and
the Essenes had developed rival sects
The Great Dispersion and the Talmud
• The failure of the Jewish revolt against Rome in 66
AD and the destruction of Jerusalem threatened
survival of Israel
• Only the sect of the Pharisees survived
• Rabbi Zakkai wrote down the oral traditions and laws,
which developed into the Palestinian Talmud
(Mishneh) by 220 AD
• After failure of revolt of 135 AD, Babylon became the
center of Jewish population and scholarship, resulting
in the Babylonian Talmud by the 5th Cent AD
• 63 volumes of tradition have become central to
Jewish survival
Medieval Persecution
• “Christian” treatment of Jews deteriorated after
Constantine
• Jews prospered in Baghdad until 11th Cent
• In Spain, under the Moors, Jews prospered in the
“golden age” of science, religion and philosophy
• There the Karaite movement developed to return to
follow the OT
• Moses Maimonides, systematized the Mishneh into 13
cardinal principles, now in the Jewish prayer book
• Crusades revived the persecution of Jews forcing them
East: expelled from Britain (1290), France (1394) and
Spain (1492)
Modern Persecution
• Luther at first favored winning the Jews, but
later hardened his attitude resulting in
persecution in Germany
• Cossack pogroms (mob riots) in Poland
slaughtered 500k
• The Enlightenment of 1848 saw the release of
Jews from the ghettos
• Reform Judaism, repudiated Talmud and
Messianism, flourished in the West
• Anti-Semitism caused Theodore Hertzl to
advocated Zionism in 1896
• British Balfour Declaration in WWI recognized
Palestine as national home for Jews
• After Nazi holocaust the UN recognized State of
Israel in 1948
Contemporary Jewish
Doctrines
•
Since the 18th cent, three main branches of Judaism
developed:
1. Orthodox Judaism: hold to divine inspiration of the OT,
esp. the Torah (Pentateuch). Observe traditional Jewish
law. An ultra conservative group is the Hasidic movement,
which adheres strictly to the law of Moses and is a
separatist group.
2. Reform Judaism is the liberal wing. Founded in Germany
around 1850 by Abraham Geiger. He was influenced by the
Enlightenment so he viewed reason and science as
authority. He rejects revelation, messianic hope and the
promise land. The primary focus is the ethical teaching of
the Jewish law.
3. Conservative Judaism is an intermediate position founded
by Zacharias Frankel around 1850. They seek to practice
the Law and the traditions, but reinterpret the Law and
adapt their practices to contemporary culture.
Contemporary Jewish
Doctrines
• Torah essential the books of Moses, considered all
Jewish teaching, legislation, practices and tradition
• OT not seen as more authoritative then bulk of rabbinic
teachings or Talmud, included the Mishnah (legal
rulings from around 200 AD) and Gemara (elaborates
the Mishnah from around 550 AD). Most consider the
Mishnah helpful but not inspired.
• They reject the doctrine of the Trinity and teach a
unified monotheism or Unitarian, emphasizing His
singleness, though misunderstanding the “composite
unity” of Dt 6:4
• Teaches that man is created in the image of God, but
does not see humanity as fallen, emphasizing original
righteousness—though acknowledging evil inclination
and individual sins, they reject original sin. Study of the
Torah can overcome our inclination to evil.
• Sin is a deficiency that can be remedied by study.
Contemporary Jewish
Doctrines
• Without a sacrificial system, repentance, prayer and
active kindness are substitutes
• A proper relationship with God can come through
repentance, prayer and obedience to the law. Jews do
not need Salvation since they already have a relationship
with God through their heritage. Conservatives and Reform
Jews view salvation as the betterment of self and society.
Jews inherit heaven by right through the covenant with
Abraham
• Some see the suffering of Israel fulfilling the suffering of
the Messiah
• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the focal point of
repentance and confession of sin
• Present Life is precious gift, but life after death is vague with
little notion of resurrection
Practices of Judaism
• Majority of 20 million Jews today are non-religious
• Religious Jews in three categories:
• Orthodox– religion of Talmud and tradition
• Reform—Modernizing Talmud, as Liberals
• Conservative—attempts compromise between
• Synagogue is center for worship
• Home is key to Sabbath and Passover Seder (order)
rituals
• Circumcision on the eighth day for boys
• Bar Mitzvah for boys/ Bat Mitzvah for girls which
celebrates the thirteenth birthday
• Jewish wedding
• Funeral service and mourning for seven days
Practices of Judaism
•
Focus on Festivals of Jewish sacred year. They memorialize key events in
the history of the Jewish people and honor their unique heritage:
1. Passover (Pesach) – Commemorates God’s deliverance from Egypt -March or April
2. Pentecost seven weeks after Passover, celebrates the giving of the
law at Mt. Sinai
3. Tabernacles (Succoth) Fall – celebrates the 40 years wandering in
the desert
4. New Year (Rosh Ha-Shana), in September-October – marks the
beginning of a ten-day period known as High Holy Days. Climaxes on
the tenth day called…
5. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippor)– everyone fasts, attends the
synagogue, recite prayers asking God for forgiveness of their sins
6. Dedication (Hanukkah) – honors the victory of the Maccabees over
the Syrian armies of Antiochus Epiphanes and the rededication of the
second Jerusalem Temple in 165 BC. The lighting of the eight
branched menorah is themain feature of this celebration. When Israel
was reestablished as a nation in 1948, the menorah became a national
symbol.
7. and Purim – February/March – celebrates the deliverance of the Jews
by God told in the story of Esther.
Witnessing to the Jews
• First build friendships with Jews and learn from them
• Understand the Jewish perception of Christians and Christianity
• To become a Christian he must reject his/her heritage and
distinctiveness
• He feels he must become a Gentile
• Many feel resentment for mistreatment by Christians and gentile
nations
• After building trust, encourage them to read their own
Scriptures. Few study OT or messianic prophecies
• Refer to Isa 53 – they are taught this refers to Israel, but a
review of context points to Jesus
• Refer to Dan 9 – when properly calculated, predicts
accurately the Messiah in Jerusalem in AD 33.
• Encourage them to read Matthew, written for Jewish reader
Witnessing to the Jews
• Images in the OT and festivals that point to Jesus
• “Lamb of God” – sacrificed and its blood painted on
the door to identify and protect the Israelites from
Angel of Death
• Num 9, the Passover Lamb was without blemish, no
broken bones when sacrificed (Num 9:12)
• This foreshadowed Christ, the unblemished Lamb
of God, lived a sinless life, who shed his blood to
cover the believer and deliver us from sin and death.
• The Romans were going to break Jesus’ leg, but He
was already dead, thus meets the requirements
• Acknowledgment of Jesus as Messiah, but also one
must trust exclusively the atoning work of Jesus’ death
as full payment for their sins for a right relationship with
God
Promises for the Chosen
•
Are the Jews God’s chosen people? What is their role in
God’s plan for the world? -- the answer in the covenants
1. Abrahamic Covenant (Gen 12): promises he will be the
father of a great nation– descendents will own Canaan
forever– those who bless Israel will be blessed– the world
would be blessed through Israel—but her disobedience
warped her purpose
2. Land Covenant (Deut 30) were warned if they were not
obedient, they would be scattered from the land, then
would be regathered when they return to the Lord.
3. Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:11) – a descendent of David
would establish an eternal rule of peace and righteousness.
This is the basis of the hope of Israel who will deliver Israel
from the rule of the Gentiles and fulfill the Abrahamic
covenant.
Promises for the Chosen
4.
•
New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) promised to put the law of
God in their minds and hearts. Israel was unable to obey
because they depended on their own strength. What they
needed was a new heart and empowerment to live the
law.
Several aspects of the covenants have been fulfilled
•
Abraham’s descendents have become a nation
•
Christ was the descendent of David and fulfilled the
law making it possible to know God
•
Israel has yet to possess the land in peace and a
Davidic kingdom is yet to be established
•
God remains faithful to fulfill His promises at an
appointed time. We can trust Him.
Messianic Judaism
date from mid-19th century
• Membership made of ethnic/cultural Jews
• Accept Yeshua of Nazareth as the expected Messiah
• Consider themselves fully Jewish
• Maintain Jewish lifestyle, celebrate all Jewish
holidays
By 2000 there were 200 Messianic congregations in the
US
About 50 more in Israel and other countries
Messianic Judaism
date from mid-19th century
• Range of beliefs within Messianic Judaism
• Evangelical Protestant wing
• Adapted theology of Evangelicals
• Added criteria of maintaining Jewish symbolism, heritage,
culture and holidays
• Christian Jew Foundation is very evangelical
• Jewish Christian wing
• Group of Reform-minded Jews who are followers of Yeshua
• Jerusalem group led by James from 30 AD in Early Jewish
Church
• Offered sacrifices, circumcised male children, followed
festivals, Jewish dietary laws
• Jews for Jesus (JFJ) – one of the largest Messianic groups
• Evangelical outreach to Jews
• Seeks to convert them to Messiah and many evangelical
beliefs