Two Messianic Jews
By Two Messianic Jews
Two Messianic JewsJul 15, 2022
The Shema in the New Testament
The Shema is central to the New Testament. Jesus says the Shema is the most important commandment and uses the Shema to make claims about his identity. He also wears ritual objects associated with the Shema, like tzitzit. The Shema is also central to Paul's theology about the community of Messiah and it was used in early liturgy of the Jesus-following community. For more on this topic: Lori Baron, The Shema in John's Gospel
Erik Waaler, The Shema and the First Commandment in First Corinthians
Richard Bauckham, “The Shema and 1 Corinthians 8:6 Again,” in One God, One People, One Future: Essays in Honor of N.T. Wright
Brury Eko Saputra, The Shema and John 10: The Importance of the Shema Framework in Understanding the Oneness Language in John 10
Joel Marcus, “Authority to Forgive Sins Upon the Earth: The Shema in the Gospel of Mark,” in The Gospels and the Scriptures of Israel
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Is the New Testament Antisemitic? (Inspiring Philosophy interview)
Michael Jones, from one of the largest Christian apologetics YouTube channels, Inspiring Philosophy, interviewed us on the topic: "Is the New Testament Antisemitic?" This message is particularly timely, given the increasing prevalence of Jew-hatred worldwide. Sadly, Christian antisemitism is also a reality, and in this interview, we address the challenging passages that antisemites cite to argue that the New Testament promotes Jew-hatred. We cover Matthew 27:24–26; John 8:44; Revelation 2:9; 3:9; Matthew 23:33; 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16; and Philippians 3:2.
Make sure to check out Inspiring Philosophy! It is an excellent channel that we have been watching for years. To watch the interview on YouTube, click here.
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Was Jesus Like Jonah? A Yom Kippur D'rash
What similarities and differences can we notice when comparing the story of Jonah with Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8? How does making this comparison show that Jesus was recognized as the Messiah? Join us for this Yom Kippur D'rash!
Jonah 1:1-6 (1) And the word of the Lord came to Jonah, the son of Amittai, saying, (2) “Get up and go[1] to the great city of Ninevah and cry out against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” (3) But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord and he went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish and he paid his fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish, [away][2] from the presence of the Lord. (4) And the Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was at risk[3] to break into pieces. (5) And the sailors were afraid, and each man cried out to his god and they threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the load from upon them[4] and Jonah went down to the innermost parts[5] of the ship and he laid down and fell into a deep sleep. (6) And the captain came to him and said to him, “What are you doing sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps your god will give a thought to us so that we do not perish.” 1 NIV and NRSV translate קוּם לֵךְ as “Go at once” and this could be translated as ‘Arise’ (BDB, 877). But I chose ‘Get up and go’ to contrast the prophetic call more clearly with the ironic remarks of Jonah ‘going down’ to Tarshish (1:3), into the ship (1:3, 5) in his disobedience. 2 I chose to insert “away” to draw out the movement of the ship going the opposite direction the Lord called Jonah to go. 3 BDB recommends translating הָאֳנִיָה חִשְּׁבָה לְּׁהִשָבֵֵֽר as “the ship was about to (minded to) be broken up” (363). Considering חִשְּׁבָה is in the piel, and thus intensive, I said “at risk” because it communicates the high stakes of the moment more effectively. NET notes that this would be translated literally as “the ship considered breaking up” but considering it is an idiom, I translated it to communicate its meaning, rather than word for word. 4 NIV translates לְּׁהָקֵל מֵֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם as “to lighten the ship.” I wanted to bring out more fully the sense of מֵֵֽעֲלֵיהֶם so I followed BDB which recommends, “make light from upon one” (886). 5 NIV translates יָרַד אֶל־יַרְּׁכְּׁתֵי הַסְּׁפִינָה as “had gone below deck” and NRSV translates it as “had gone into the hold of the ship.” I chose the more literal “went down to the innermost parts” because, once again, it emphasizes the movement downwards/away from Jonah’s call to “get up and go” (1:2). I think reminding the reader of this theme is more crucial to the message of Jonah than accurately describing the ship.
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Paul's Name NEVER Changed
Have you ever heard the claim that Saul's name was changed to Paul on the road to Damascus? Do Christians tell you that this name changed symbolized not only a dramatic personal transformation but also Paul's turn away from Judaism in favor of Christianity? I read through Acts 9 and Acts 13 to show that Paul's name was never changed from Saul and give an alternative explanation for why Luke shifts to use "Paul" after Acts 13:9. Thanks for joining and share it with your Christian friends!
Christian's who debunk this myth:
Got Questions
Gary Manning Jr.
Dr. Greg Lanier
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Jesus Did NOT Declare All Foods Clean | Messiah Conference 2023
At the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) Messiah Conference 2023, Jonathan gave a presentation addressing the standard interpretation of Mark 7.15–19. He presents three reasons why it is implausible that Jesus abrogated Israel's dietary laws and then offers a reading of the text that makes better sense of Jesus's argument in its Jewish context. Special thanks to Dr. Logan Williams for sharing his research with us on Mark 7.18–19 for this presentation! Dr. Williams won the 2022 Paul J. Achtemeier Award for New Testament scholarship for this paper and it will be published as an article in the peer-reviewed journal, New Testament Studies. ___________________________ You can also listen on our podcast: https://anchor.fm/two-messianic-jews Follow us on Social Media: Facebook Instagram If you are looking for a way to support us and gain early access to our content, you can become a monthly supporter here:
We also have: PayPal ___________________________ Works cited: Daniel Boyarin, “Mark 7:1-23 – Finally,” in Taylor G. Petrey, et al., eds., Re-Making the World: Christianity and Categories – Essays in Honor of Karen L. King (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2019), 19–34. David Rudolph, "Jesus and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Mark 7:19b," Evangelical Quarterly, 74 (2002): 291–311. Jodi Magness, “What’s the Poop on Ancient Toilets and Toilet Habits?”, Near Eastern Archaeology 75 (2012): 80–87. Jonathan Klawans, Impurity and Sin in Ancient Judaism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000). Logan Williams, "The Stomach Purifies All Foods: Jesus’ Anatomical Argument in Mark 7.18–19." Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting. Denver, CO. November 2022. Matthew Thiessen, Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020), 187–195. Shlomo Naeh, "Jesus, the Pharisees, and the Oral Torah", Te’udah 31 (2021): 229–248. Yair Furstenberg, “Defilement Penetrating the Body: A New Understanding of Contamination in Mark 7.15,” NTS 54 (2008): 176–200 ______________________ Music: https://www.bensound.com
Reaching Our People Panel at Messianic Conference 2023
At the MJAA Messiah Conference, Erik presented on a panel entitled, "Reaching Our People" with David Brickner, Janet Forman, and Chantel Winograd. Erik shared stories of how he has shared the gospel with young people who care about truth and those who don't. He finishes his speech by sharing an important way the Messianic Jewish community can not only reach our people, but keep our people. Enjoy!
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Did Jesus Declare All Foods Clean? (Mark 7)
Did Jesus do away with the Jewish dietary laws? Many Christians point to Mark 7.15-19 to say that he did, which is understandable, considering the common translation of Mark 7.19, “Thus he [Jesus] declared all foods clean.” In this video, I present five reasons why it is implausible that Jesus eliminated the Jewish dietary laws and then offer a reading of Mark 7.15-19 that makes better sense of Jesus’s argument in its Jewish context.
Note: Between 25:03 and 25:24, I mention that "pork is not in itself unclean" and that defilement comes through a Jew's disobedience to God's command not to eat pigs. In Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, pigs are not ontologically unclean; they are not unclean period. They are unclean for Israel, the Jewish people, because God declares them to be such. Jewish disobedience to the food laws, in particular, is a matter of intention. For more on this, along with the references to this perspective in Jewish literature, see Dr. David Rudolph's essay "Paul and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Romans 14.14, 20"
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Video on Matthew 5:17 (Did Jesus End God’s Covenant with Israel? | Live at MJAA Messiah Conference 2022)
Does Colossians Teach Against Jewish Practices? (Colossians 2.16-17)
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Works cited: Daniel Boyarin, The Jewish Gospels: The Story of the Jewish Christ (New York: The New Press, 2012), 102-128.
David Rudolph, "Jesus and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Mark 7:19b," Evangelical Quarterly, 74 (2002): 291-311.
John MacArthur, “The Inside Story on Defilement (Mark 7.14-23),” June 12, 2012.
Jonathan Klawans, Impurity and Sin in Ancient Judaism (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000).
Matthew Thiessen, "Abolishers of the Law in Early Judaism and Matthew 5,17-20," Biblica 93, no. 4 (2012): 543-56.
Matthew Thiessen, Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020), 187-195.
Yair Furstenberg, “Defilement Penetrating the Body: A New Understanding of Contamination in Mark 7.15,” NTS 54 (2008): 176-200
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Hebrew Roots Are WRONG About Acts 15
Are non-Jews expected to become Torah-observant? Is this what the Jerusalem Council of Acts 15 teaches? Many Hebrew Roots and One Law teachers read the Jerusalem Council as a decision to give non-Jewish Jesus-followers a Torah "starter pack" and expect them to become more and more observant as they learn the Torah in the synagogue each Shabbat. Is this the best way to read Acts 15? We don't think so.
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Did Jesus End God’s Covenant with Israel? | Live at MJAA Messiah Conference 2022
At the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) Messiah Conference 2022, Jonathan gave a presentation responding to arguments for replacement theology put forth in Pastor Andy Stanley’s book, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World.
Questions this presentation covers include:
- What does replacement theology mean for the Jewish people?
- Did Yeshua teach that he came to end God’s covenant with Israel, to make the Torah obsolete in Matthew 5.17?
- Did the destruction of the Temple signal the end of Judaism and God’s covenant with Israel?
- Why did Yeshua have to die?
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Works cited:
Anders Runesson, Divine Wrath and Salvation in Mathew: The Narrative World of the First Gospel (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016).
Craig S. Keener, The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009).
Daniel Boyarin, “Semantic Differences; or ‘Judaism’/‘Christianity’.” in The Ways that Never Parted: Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, eds. Annette Yokisho Reed and Adam H. Becker, (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007), 65-85.
David J. Rudolph, A Jew to the Jews: Jewish Contours of Pauline Flexibility in 1 Corinthians 9.19-23, WUNT 2/304 (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2011).
Geza Vermes, “Redemption and Genesis XXII – the Binding of Isaac and the Sacrifice of Jesus,” in Scripture and Tradition in Judaism (Leiden: Brill, 1961).
Helen K. Bond, The Historical Jesus: A Guide for the Perplexed (London: T & T Clark, 2012).
Matthew Thiessen, "Abolishers of the Law in Early Judaism and Matthew 5,17-20," Biblica 93, no. 4 (2012): 543-56.
Nicholas Schaser interview – “I Did Not Come to Abolish but to Fulfill”
Shaye J. D. Cohen, From the Maccabees to the Mishnah, 2nd ed. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006).
Ulrich Luz, Matthew 1-7: A Commentary (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007).
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Was Paul Torah-Observant or Spirit-Led?
Did Paul Teach Against Torah in Acts 21?
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Passover and the Resurrection of Jesus: A Response to Rabbi Michael Skobac
In Deuteronomy 13, we learn that false prophets can perform miracles. From this point, counter-missionary, Rabbi Michael Skobac reasons: “miracles don’t prove anything.” If he is right, then Jesus’s resurrection does not prove he is the Messiah. But is Rabbi Skobac right? In this video, I argue that when we understand Deuteronomy 13 in light of Passover and with the help of Maimonides, we see that contrary to what Rabbi Skobac says about it, Deuteronomy 13 is actually the foundation for why Jesus’s resurrection would be evidence that he is the Messiah!
For a presentation of Orthodox Jewish scholar, Dr. Pinchas Lapide’s case for Jesus’s resurrection click here
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Other videos like this one:
A Case for Messianic Judaism (Live at YMJA Virtual Messiah Conference 2020)
Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection
"Why Messianic Judaism Is Fake" [REACTION]
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Full videos where I get the clips of Rabbi Michael Skobac:
THE MYTH OF RESURRECTION
CHRISTIANITY CHANGED MY LIFE: Can Miracles Prove Anything?
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What is a Messianic Jew?
What do Messianic Jews believe? How do Messianic Jews live and worship? Join us on Two Messianic Jews as we share with you the definition of a Messianic Jew, the core beliefs of the Messianic Jewish community, and the common ways Messianic Jews live and worship. In the end, I share how we view ourselves within the Jewish community and within the Body of Messiah.
00:00 - Definition of 'Messianic Jew'
5:18 - What a Messianic Jew is NOT
7:52 - What Messianic Jews believe
12:12 - How Messianic Jews live and worship
About some key New Testament texts for Messianic Jews, Dr. David Rudolph says, "Messianic Jews referred to their religious tradition as 'Messianic Judaism,' a term that implicitly called into question the traditional narrative of the first-century parting of the ways between Judaism and 'Christianity.' It is important to recognize that Messianic Judaism challenged fundamental theological assumptions about the nature of the ecclesia and argued on the basis of New Testament texts - primarily Acts 15; 21.17-26; and 1 Corinthians 7.17-24 - that Yeshua-believing Jews had a continuing responsibility before God to live as Jews. Messianic Judaism took exception to eighteen hundred years of Gentile Christian theology and exegesis that precluded reading the New Testament in this way." From Introduction to Messianic Judaism, 27 (emphasis his).
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Bibliography:
Adat Hatikvah Messianic Synagogue Statement of Faith
Baruch Hashem Messianic Synagogue Statement of Faith
David Rudolph, "Messianic Judaism in Antiquity and in the Modern Era," in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations, 21-36.
Jacob Rosenberg, "History and Practices in the Messianic Jewish Movement," in Messianic Jewish Orthodoxy: The Essence of Our Faith, History and Best Practices, 225-40.
Richard Harvey, Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology: A Constructive Approach.
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Definition of Messianic Judaism
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations Statement of Faith
International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues Statement of Faith
Yaakov Ariel, "Messianic Judaism," in Jewish Annotated New Testament, 2nd. Ed. 756-59.
Yaakov Ariel, “A Different Kind of Dialogue?: Messianic Judaism and Jewish-Christian Relations,” in CrossCurrents 243 (September 2012): 318-327.
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"Why Messianic Judaism Is Fake" [REACTION]
Recently, we were sent a Times of Israel blog by its author, Rabbi Joel Hoffman, entitled, "Why Messianic Judaism is Fake." We thought this was a good opportunity to try our hand at doing a live reaction as we read it for the first time! There is much more that could have been said, and much that we could have said more clearly. Hopefully, it is edifying and entertaining nonetheless!
If you'd like to see more content like this let us know! If you'd like to hear a more careful presentation of what we discussed here, check out our videos "Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection" and "Did Jesus Replace Judaism? A Messianic Jewish Response to Andy Stanley"
Link to article: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-messianic-judaism-is-fake/ [Accessed Dec. 30, 2021]
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0:00 – Intro
0:58 – Predicting what Rabbi Hoffman means by “Messianic Judaism is Fake”
5:40 – Reacting to Rabbi Hoffman’s comments on a Messianic rabbi praying in Jesus’s name at Mike Pence’s prayer rally in tribute to the eleven Jews murdered in Pittsburgh
10:33 – Reacting to Rabbi Hoffman’s “refutation of Christianity and Messianic Judaism in just 30 seconds”
13:11 – Was Jesus Torah observant?
17:51 – How can Jesus be the Messiah even though he did not fulfill the major criteria/requirements of the Messiah?
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Is Christmas Pagan? with InspiringPhilosophy
While Christmas is not part of the Messianic Jewish calendar we affirm the Church's celebration of this tradition as a wonderful way to celebrate the birth and incarnation of the Messiah. There are many Hebrew Roots channels that argue Christmas is steeped in paganism and that the Church should not celebrate the holiday. For this episode, we are joined by Michael Jones of Inspiring Philosophy--a channel that has had a lot of influence on us--and he shares with us his research that Christmas does not have pagan roots and even if it did, it wouldn't matter. Enjoy!
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0:00 – Introduction
1:41 – What was your position before doing this research?
3:14 – What primary and secondary sources are most relevant to this discussion?
6:09 – How does the anti-Christmas crowd use the term “pagan”?
6:52 – Does Jeremiah 10.2-4 condemn Christmas trees?
9:52 – Does Isaiah 44.14-15 condemn Christmas trees?
10:42 – Does Jeremiah 3.13 condemn gifts under the tree?
12:10 – If the anti-Christmas logic holds, what other things should we give up because they are apparently pagan?
14:35 – What if Christmas does have pagan roots? Is abandoning it the right response?
15:50 – What do you think causes the anti-Christmas crowd to take such a dramatic leap in logic?
16:53 – What is the origin of the myth that Christmas is pagan?
18:10 – When did Protestants come to accept Christmas as their own and why was it deemed ok?
19:26 – What are your thoughts on Protestant leader, Charles Spurgeon’s view of Christmas? 22:45 – Was Saturnalia celebrated on December 25?
23:58 – Was Sol Invictus celebrated on December 25?
25:44 – Did Jewish festivals take place on pagan holidays?
27:26 – Were any pagan holidays celebrated on December 25?
28:23 – Why was December 25 chosen by the Church?
29:38 – Do you think Jesus was born on December 25?
32:15 – When did the Christmas tree become part of Christmas celebrations?
34:35 – Is kneeling before a Christmas tree like pagan worship?
38:15 – Is singing the carol, “O Christmas Tree” tantamount to pagan worship?
39:11 – Do you have issues with the Santa Clause practice?
40:36 – Is Santa Clause derived from pagan gods?
45:40 – What do you think of Monte Judah’s view that Christmas is idolatry?
48:03 – Do wreaths come from paganism?
49:47 – What are your thoughts on 119 Ministries' documentary, “The Christmas Question”?
52:41 – What is your advice for people easily susceptible to conspiracy theories to think more rationally and critically about something like "if you celebrate Christmas you are participating in paganism"?
55:09 – Closing
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What Is A Messianic Gentile?
Not many people understand or have even heard of, Messianic Gentiles. Who are they? Who are they not? In this video, I define Messianic Gentiles as are non-Jewish members of Messianic synagogues who affirm the teachings of Messianic Judaism and live according to the Jewish norms of their synagogue. I then distinguish them from many groups with which they might be easily confused, particularly Hebrew Roots/One Law adherents. I also offer tips for how non-Jews can determine if God is leading them to join a Messianic synagogue. Enjoy! _____________________________
00:00 – Introduction
1:56 – Definition of a Messianic Gentile
5:04 – What a Messianic Gentile is NOT
7:19 – Distinguishing from Hebrew Roots/One Law
13:00 – Other Hebrew Roots Errors
25:26 – Unhealthy and Healthy Messianic Gentile Attitudes
33:09 – Are you led to join a Messianic synagogue as a non-Jew?
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Works Cited:
Dan Juster, Jewish Roots: Understanding Your Jewish Faith
Dan Juster, “The Annual Vilification of Christmas,” https://loveforhispeople.com/2019/12/17/the-annual-vilification-of-christmas-dan-juster/
David Rudolph and Elliot Klayman, “Messianic Jewish Synagogues,” in Introduction to Messianic Judaism.
David Rudolph, “One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology”
https://collective.tku.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/One-New-Man-Hebrew-Roots-Replacement-Theology.pdf
International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues, “One Law, Two Sticks: A Critical Look at the Hebrew Roots Movement”
Jeff Adler, “Gentiles Within The Messianic Jewish Community,” in The Borough Parks Papers: Symposium III.
Joel Liberman, “Grappling with Christmas as a Messianic (Jewish) Believer,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp-fZXX9_cM
Joseph Culbertson, “Rediscovering My Gentile Roots,” in Kesher: A Journal For Messianic Judaism 36.
Rich Nichol, “The Unique Place of Gentiles in Messianic Jewish Congregational Life,” in The Borough Parks Papers: Symposium III.
Russ Resnik, “Defining Messianic Judaism,” in Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism.
Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, “Defining Messianic Judaism,” https://www.umjc.org/defining-messianic-judaism
References:
Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan Myths? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWMISSOT_vU&t=5s
Non-Jews in Synagogues
Conservative: https://www.timesofisrael.com/conservative-synagogues-pass-proposal-allowing-non-jews-as-members/
Reform: https://reformjudaism.org/reform-jewish-life/youth-family-community/interfaith/interfaith-couples-reform-judaism-welcomes-you
Reconstructionist: https://archive.md/JnsC
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Does Colossians Teach Against Jewish Practices? (Colossians 2:16-17)
Many Christians read Colossians 2.16-17 as validation that the Torah is obsolete, specifically the observance of Shabbat, Jewish festivals, and kosher laws. But is this Paul’s point? I don’t think so. In this video, I explain why through a careful analysis of the Greek text in its literary and historical context. I argue that Paul is exhorting the Colossians to not let ascetic critics who emphasize self-denial judge them for eating and drinking, celebrating Shabbat and Jewish festivals instead of fasting and afflicting themselves. He is telling the Colossians to not consider the judgment from the critics, but instead, they should consider the Messiah’s body, keeping their minds focused on Jesus and what he did for them. To translate the text, I rely on much of the arguments and translation decisions from Brian Allen’s article, “Removing an Arrow from the Supersessionist Quiver: A Post-Supersessionist Reading of Colossians 2.16-17,” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 8 (2018) 127-146.
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References:
Brian Allen, “Removing an Arrow from the Supersessionist Quiver: A Post-Supersessionist Reading of Colossians 2.16-17,” Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters 8 (2018) 127-146.
David Rudolph, “Was Paul Championing a New Freedom from — or End to — Jewish Law?” in Understanding the Jewish Roots of Christianity: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Essays on the Relationship between Christianity and Judaism, ed. Gerald R.McDermott (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2021), 33-50.
Troy Martin, By Philosophy and Empty Deceit: Colossians as Response to a Cynic Critique, JSNTSup 118 (Sheffield: Sheffield Academic, 1996).
Troy Martin, “But Let Everyone Discern the Body of Christ (Col 2.17),” JBL 114 (1995): 249–55.
Susannah Heschel, Introduction, in Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath (New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2005), vii-xvi.
Daniel T. Lancaster, From Sabbath to Sabbath (Marshfield, MO: First Fruits of Zion, 2016).
David H. Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary (Clarksville, MD: Jewish New Testament Publications, 1996).
Sang-Won Aaron Son, “τὸ δὲ σῶμα τοῦ Χριστοῦ in Colossians 2.17,” in History and Exegesis: New Testament Essays in Honor of Dr. E. Earle Ellis for His Eightieth Birthday, ed. Sang-Won Aaron Son (New York: T&T Clark, 2006), 222–38.
Shaye J. D. Cohen, The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties (Berkley: University of California Press, 1999).
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What is the Role of Torah and Spirit for Messianic Jews? Rabbi Josh Lessard and Dr. Jen Rosner
How should Messianic Jews understand the role of Torah, rabbinic tradition, and the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives and communities? There are multiple Messianic Jewish answers to this question and today we had on Messianic Jewish scholar, Dr. Jennifer Rosner and Messianic Jewish rabbi, Joshua Lessard to discuss their book "At the Foot of the Mountain: Two Views on the Torah and Spirit" where they explore these issues from different perspectives.
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00:00 - Introduction
1:53 - Rabbi Josh's opening Comments
6:10 - Dr. Rosner's opening Comments
11:02 - Is one of the purposes of the Torah to maintain the distinction between Israel and the nations? If so, does the New Testament affirm or overturn this purpose?
30:00 - What place does rabbinic tradition have in the life of a Messianic Jew? Is there an inherent tension between tradition and the Spirit?
45:58 - What might Messianic Judaism look like if it adopted your perspective?
1:03:27 - Can a Messianic Jew be called to church membership rather than the Messianic synagogue?
1:08:10 - How do you understand the New Testament passages that seem to speak harshly about the Torah?
1:17:53 - How does one ensure they are being led by the Spirit? Might the Spirit lead one to not follow a particular Torah commandment?
1:26:36 - Rabbi Josh's parting comments
1:30:02 - Dr. Rosner's parting comments
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Music: https://www.bensound.com
Should Christians Celebrate Sukkot? A Messianic Jewish Response to Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Roots and One Law teachers like Lex Meyer of Unlearn the Lies and Tim Hegg of Torah Resource frequently argue that Christians should celebrate Sukkot and all other Jewish Festivals because of the prophecy found in Zechariah 14:16-19. This is contrary to the Messianic Jewish position. I argue that Christians do not have this responsibility and appeal to Messianic Jewish leaders like Dr. David Rudolph, Dr. Daniel Juster, and Rabbi Russ Resnik in support of this position. Christians are not deficient for not observing distinctly Jewish customs.
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References:
Lex Meyer from Unlearn the Lies clip from his Sukkot video
Tim Hegg's articles:
"Are the Festivals (Moedim) for Today"
"One Law Movements: A Response to Russ Resnik & Daniel Juster"
Dr. Daniel Juster and Rabbi Russ Resnik article:
"One Law Movements: A Challenge to the Messianic Jewish Community"
Dr. David Rudolph:
Joshua Lessard and Jennifer Rosner, At the Foot of the Mountain: Two Views on Torah and Spirit, xxiv, n29.
"One New Man, Hebrew Roots, Replacement Theology"
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Music: https://www.bensound.com
Did Jesus Replace Judaism? A Response to Andy Stanley
Did Jesus oppose Judaism and come to replace it with his brand-new religion of Christianity? Was ancient Judaism a legalistic religion of works-righteousness? Did Jesus make the Law obsolete? Many people assume the answer to all these questions is yes. But is that true? In this video, we tackle these questions, building the case that the way Jesus teaches, lives, and debates situates him within Second Temple Judaism. Pastor Andy Stanley precisely articulates the way many Christians answer the questions above. So, in this video, we interact with some of the points he makes in his book, Irresistible: Reclaiming the New that Jesus Unleashed for the World.
0:00 - Intro
2:54 - What did "Judaism" mean during the time of Jesus?
4:33 - The fundamental problem with the idea that Jesus opposed Judaism
6:54 - Jesus teaches the heart of the Torah (Mark 12.30-31)
13:57 - Jesus wears tzitzit and tefillin (Matt 9.20; 23.5) 15:25 - Jesus observes Jewish traditions
16:13 - Jesus debates with Pharisees on what is lawful on the Sabbath (Matt 12.11-13)
28:11 - Was ancient Judaism a legalistic religion of works-righteousness?
35:38 - Did Jesus make the Law obsolete? (Response to Pastor Andy Stanley's reading of Matt 5.17)
46:06 - Summary 47:07 - Current scholarship on Jesus within Judaism
49:31 - Conclusion
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"The Shema's Impact on the Gospel and Replacement Theology"
"Did Jesus Come to Destroy the Law? Responding to Rabbi Tovia Singer"
Dr. Nicholas Schaser's interview on Matthew 5
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Noted works:
Boyarin, Daniel. “Semantic Differences; or ‘Judaism’/‘Christianity’.” In The Ways that Never Parted: Jews and Christians in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, edited by Annette Yokisho Reed and Adam H. Becker, 65-85. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007.
Flusser, David. Jesus. 3rd ed. Jerusalem: The Hebrew University Magnes Press, 2001.
Levine, Amy-Jill. A Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus. New York: HarperCollins, 2006.
Runesson, Anders. Divine Wrath and Salvation in Mathew: The Narrative World of the First Gospel. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2016.
Sanders, E. P. Paul and Palestinian Judaism: A Comparison of Patterns of Religion. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1977.
Thiessen, Matthew. "Abolishers of the Law in Early Judaism and Matthew 5,17-20." Biblica 93, no. 4 (2012): 543-56.
---. Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels' Portrayal of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2020.
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Music: www.bensound.com
Did Jesus Say Anything New? With Rabbi Matt Rosenberg
Many people believe that Jesus came to replace Judaism and its Torah with something brand new. His teachings then stand in stark conflict with his Jewish contemporaries. Rabbi Matt Rosenberg essentially says, “I beg to differ” in his newly released book, Jesus Never Said Anything New. In this interview, he tackles this important subject that affects how Jews and Christians understand Jesus and live out his teachings today. Enjoy!
0:00 – Intro
0:42 – What do you mean by “Jesus never said anything new”?
11:38 – How do you respond to Pastor Andy Stanley’s claim that Jesus’s new command in John 13.34 replaces all of the Torah’s commandments? 20:35 – scholars, pastors, and Jesus-believing Jews discovering the Jewishness of Jesus
31:16 – Reframing our view of “the Pharisees” through Jesus’s parables in Luke 15
37:57 – What is the relationship between loving God and keeping His commandments?
40:55 – Are Gentiles also obligated to keep the commandments?
46:27 – A word from Rabbi Matt’s for the Messianic community
49:01 – Conclusion
You can purchase Rabbi Matt's book on Amazon
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Matt Rosenberg is the Rabbi at Restoration, a Messianic synagogue in Seattle, Washington. He is ordained by the International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) and serves as its Northwest director. He has a B.A. in Religion from Nyack College and completed course work towards an M.A. at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York. For five years, before moving to Seattle, Matt served as Associate Rabbi alongside his father, Rabbi David Rosenberg, at Shuvah Yisrael on Long Island, NY, and in Manhattan. Matt is passionate about sharing the message of Yeshua with his Jewish people in Seattle and all over the world. Matt is a thinker, reader, dreamer, and leader among his generation in the Messianic movement. He has been a featured speaker at many Messianic conferences and was raised in a Messianic home. His family has been involved in the Messianic movement for more than thirty years. Matt and his wife Laura have three children and live in Seattle.
Restoration Seattle:
Website: http://shalomseattle.com/
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxj58p6-Y6Pmq2ZO12cPHUg
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Music: bensound.com
Why was the Temple destroyed? Should Jewish Believers follow Jewish tradition? [Subscribestar Mailbag!]
Thank you All-Stars for your support and your questions! If you want to become an All-Star and submit questions for the mailbag episodes, follow this link and subscribe at any tier for early access to content and the ability to ask questions for the mailbags!
For these mailbag episodes, we want to feel the freedom to give experimental answers and test out ideas that may become future "lecture-style" videos. Because of this, we would especially like to hear your feedback! If you disagree, have anything to add, or want to pitch us to make a fuller treatment of a topic, please let us know! You can message us at twomessianicjews@gmail.com.
These mailbag episodes will generally live on Subscribestar [early access] and on the podcast. If we want a topic to be covered on the YouTube channel, we will probably spend more time researching and writing a script for it to ensure clarity and precision. Even our more formal videos are always up for debate, but we want these mailbags to be even more freeform and experimental. Thanks for joining us!
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00:00 - Introduction to the Mailbag
2:27 - Why was the Temple destroyed? What about the sacrifices after Yeshua's crucifixion and resurrection?
19:58 - Bad and Good Reasons to be a Messianic Gentile [Bonus Question!]
30:13 - Should Jewish Believers follow Torah? What about Jewish Tradition?
Videos mentioned:
The Shema's Impact on the Gospel and Replacement Theology
Did Jesus Come to Destroy the Law? (Jonathan's Treatment of Matthew 5)
Did Paul Teach Against Torah in Acts 21?
Christmas is Not Pagan - Inspiring Philosophy
Easter is Not Pagan - Inspiring Philosophy
Articles mentioned:
Anders Runesson, “Saving the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel: Purity, Forgiveness, and Synagogues in the Gospel of Matthew,” Melilah 11 (2014), 8-24.
Russ Resnik, "Messianic Jewish Ethics," in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations
Stuart Dauermann, "Messianic Jewish Outreach," in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations
Joseph Culberson, "Rediscovering My Gentile Roots," in Kesher Journal
Was Jesus a White Racist? A Messianic Jewish Response to Brandan Robertson and Miguel De La Torre
Earlier this year, Reverend Brandan Robertson came out with a Tik Tok video claiming that Jesus was a racist. In a later YouTube video with Dr. Miguel De La Torre, he elaborates that Jesus inherited his racism from his Jewish community. De La Torre makes these same claims in this video and in his sermon, “Was Jesus a Racist?” Their teaching is not just historically and exegetically wrong; it fuels anti-Semitism, which is unfortunately on the rise today. This is my response.
0:00 – Introduction and Thesis Statement
4:22 – Gentiles as animals in Peter’s vision (Acts 10.11-16)
8:07 – Jews and Gentiles as animals in the Tanakh (Jeremiah 50.6; Psalm 79.13; Isaiah 11.6)
9:25 – Jesus calls Jewish people animals (Matthew 15.24)
9:56 – Jews and Gentiles as animals in 1 Enoch 90
12:46 – Gentiles as animals in Mark 7.27
13:34 – Why did Jesus prioritize ministering to Jews during his earthly ministry?
15:52 – Why did Jesus call the Gentile woman a dog?
16:22 – Brandan Robertson’s and Dr. Miguel De La Torre’s claim that Jesus inherited his racism from his Jewish community
18:00 – Dr. Miguel De La Torre’s sermon, “Was Jesus a Racist?”
20:30 – Was Jesus white?
22:35 – Did Jesus exclude Gentiles from God’s plan of salvation?
25:18 – Was Jesus’s Jewish community racist?
31:22 – Conclusion
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Reverend Brandan Robertson's original Tik Tok video - "Was Jesus Racist?"
Dr. Miguel De La Torre's sermon - "Was Jesus a Racist?"
Brandan Robertson's and Dr. Miguel De La Torre's video defending their views
See other responses to Brandan Robertson:
Mike Winger: "When You Throw Jesus Under the Bus For Your Social Agenda"
Whaddo You Meme?? "Pastor Teaches Jesus was a Racist!"
Noted works:
Oliver, Isaac. “Torah Praxis After 70 C.E.: Reading Matthew and Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts.” PhD diss., University of Michigan, 2012.
Thiessen, Matthew. “Gentiles as Impure Animals in the Writings of Early Christ Followers.” In Perceiving the Other in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, edited by Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, Wolfgang Grünstäudl, and Matthew Thiessen, 19-32. WUNT Series 1/394. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2017.
Rudolph, David. "'To the Jew First' Paul's Vision for the Priority of Israel in the Life of the Church." Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 37 (2020): 11-25.
Music: bensound.com
The Shema's Impact on the Gospel and Replacement Theology
For centuries, scholars have argued that Paul thought the Church replaced Israel as God's chosen people and that Jewish identity is erased upon the acceptance of Jesus's Gospel message. Here, I argue that when you carefully read Paul's use of the Shema in Romans 3.27-31 and use the Tanakh, Josephus, and later rabbinic literature to expand your interpretative imagination, you find Paul understood God remained the God of Israel and that Jewish Jesus-followers were to maintain their Jewish identity.
00:00 - Introduction and Thesis Statement
3:10 - The Shema as a Pledge to the God of Israel in Deuteronomy 6.4
6:40 - The Shema abbreviated to 'God is One'
8:13 - The Shema in Zechariah 14.9
12:40 - The Shema in Josephus 16:12 - Josephus, Paul, and Gentile Conversion
20:31 - Paul's Use of the Shema in Romans 3.29-30
26:17 - The Shema in Rabbinic Tradition
30:24 - The Shema and the Gospel
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Key Citations:
Josephus was about 19 and active in the Jewish world around when Paul wrote Romans (~55 CE). See The Life of Josephus 10-11. And, F. B. A. Asiedu, Paul and His Letters: Thinking with Josephus (Lanham: Lexington Books/Fortress Academic, 2020), xxv.
Paul and Josephus Claimed to be Pharisees. See The Life of Josephus 10–11; Phil. 3:4-5. And, Asiedu, Paul and His Letters, xxiii.
Paul and Josephus are writing to Gentiles. For example, Against Apion 1.1–3, 314; 2.1, 65–67, 147, 296; cf. Rom. 1:6, 13; 1 Cor. 12:2; Gal. 5:1-2.
Josephus's comments on Gentile conversion. For neutral to positive reactions, see Antiquities of the Jews 18.81–84; 20.17–96. For a negative reaction, see The Life of Josephus 111–112.
Noted works:
Mark Nanos, “Paul and the Jewish Tradition: The Ideology of the Shema.” In Celebrating Paul: Festchrift in Honor of Jerome Murphy-O’Connor, O.P., and Joseph A. Fitzmyer, S.J., edited by Peter Spitaler, 62–80. Washington, DC: The Catholic Biblical Association of America, 2011. Also found in Reading Paul Within Judaism by Mark Nanos.
Christopher R. Bruno, “God Is One”: The Function of “Eis Ho Theos” as a Ground for Gentile Inclusion in Paul’s Letters. (London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2014).
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Music: https://www.bensound.com
Does a Divine Messiah Fit Within Judaism? Messianic Jewish and Traditional Jewish Scholars Discuss
Traditional Jewish scholar, Dr. Zev Garber and Messianic Jewish scholar, Dr. Mark Kinzer participate in a discussion on whether a divine Messiah fits within Judaism and how Messianic Judaism's view of Jesus's incarnation affects its relationship to the broader Jewish world. This discussion took place at the 2020 Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting to interact with the ideas presented in Dr. Kenneth Hanson’s and Dr. Zev Garber’s book, Judaism and Jesus, a book analyzing the historical Jesus and Messianic Judaism.
00:00 - Introduction
1:43 - Dr. Mark Kinzer
22:26 - Dr. Zev Garber
50:04 - Outro
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Judaism and Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Jesus-Kenneth-Hanson-Garber/dp/1527555259
Dr. Mark Kinzer is Senior Scholar and President Emeritus of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, a graduate school preparing leaders for service in the Messianic Jewish movement. Dr. Kinzer received his PhD in Near Eastern Studies from the University of Michigan (1995), and his rabbinical ordination from the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (2001). He is author of Jerusalem Crucified, Jerusalem Risen: The Resurrected Messiah, the Jewish People, and the Land of Promise (Cascade, 2018), Postmissionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People (Brazos, 2005), Israel’s Messiah and the People of God: A Vision for Messianic Jewish Covenant Fidelity (Cascade, 2011), and Searching Her Own Mystery: Nostra Aetate, the Jewish People, and the Identity of the Church (Cascade, 2015). Dr. Kinzer has served on the Theology Committee of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) since 1996, and was a member of the subcommittees which drafted the UMJC’s Defining Messianic Judaism document (2005) and the revised UMJC Statement of Faith (2012). From: https://www.markkinzer.com/bio
Zev Garber is Professor Emeritus and Chair of Jewish Studies at Los Angeles Valley College and has served as Visiting Professor in Religious Studies at the University of California at Riverside and as President of the National Association of Professors of Hebrew (NAPH). Author of many academic articles and reviews, his book publications include Methodology in the Academic Teaching of Judaism (1986), Methodology in the Academic Teaching of the Holocaust (1988), Teaching Hebrew Language and Literature at the College Level (1991), Shoah: the Paradigmatic Genocide (1994), Perspectives on Zionism (1994), Peace, In Deed: Essays in Honor of Harry James Cargas (1998), Academic Approaches to Teaching Jewish Studies (2000), and Double Takes: Thinking and Rethinking Issues of Modern Judaism in Ancient Contexts (with Bruce Zuckerman, 2004), Shoah and Israeli Writing (2005), and The Impact of the Shoah in America and in Jewish American Life, Casden Annual, vol.6, USC ( 2008). From: https://lavc.edu/Philosophy/Zev_Garber.html
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Did Jesus Claim To Be God? Traditional and Messianic Jewish Scholars Discuss
Traditional Jewish scholar, Dr. Kenneth Hanson and Messianic Jewish scholar, Dr. David Rudolph participate in a discussion on whether Jesus claimed to be God and the impact these readings of the New Testament have on Messianic Judaism's relationship to the broader Jewish world. This discussion took place at the 2020 Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting to interact with the ideas presented in Dr. Kenneth Hanson’s and Dr. Zev Garber’s book, Judaism and Jesus, a book analyzing the historical Jesus and Messianic Judaism.
00:00 - 1:54 - Introduction
1:54 - 21:04 - Dr. Kenneth Hanson
21:04 - 41:25 - Dr. David Rudolph
41:25 - 42:07 - Outro
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Judaism and Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/Judaism-Jesus-Kenneth-Hanson-Garber/dp/1527555259
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Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan gods? The Historical Odds | Part 3
One of the primary arguments a prominent Jewish counter-missionary gave us for why we should leave Messianic Judaism is that Jesus was a copy of pagan myths and never existed as a historical figure. In this final video of the three-part series, we show why this argument is historically implausible based on what our sources tell us about first-century Jewish views of paganism and the fact that the early Jesus movement was a sect within Judaism.
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Translations:
The Wisdom of Solomon – NRSV
1 Maccabees – NRSV
Tacitus, Histories – https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Tacitus/Histories/5A*.html
Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews – William Whiston (1987)
Dr. Isaac Oliver's dissertation - Torah Praxis after 70 C.E.: Reading Matthew and Luke-Acts as Jewish Texts
Recommended videos:
Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan gods? Testing the Logic | Part 1
Jesus a Copy of Pagan gods? Testing the Sources | Part 2
Did Paul Teach Against Torah in Acts 21? Responding to Rabbi Michael Skobac
Dr. Mike Licona, “Did the Early Christians BORROW from Pagan Myths?”
Inspiring Philosophy, “Was Jesus a copycat Savior?”
Whaddo You Meme?? "Was Christianity Copied From Pagan Myth? (Mary Jo Sharp)"
Mike Winger, “Jesus Wasn’t a Pagan God: Debunking Zeitgeist and Religulous”
Podcast episode: Capturing Christianity, Featuring Mary Jo Sharp
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Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan gods? Testing the Sources | Part 2
One of the primary arguments a prominent Jewish counter-missionary gave us for why we should leave Messianic Judaism is that Jesus was a copy of pagan myths and never existed as a historical figure. In this second video of the three-part series, we go directly to the primary sources. Long story short, this counter-missionary is wrong about the parallels between Jesus and Osiris and Dionysus.
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Translations:
New Testament: ESV
2 Maccabees: NRSV
Sibylline Oracles: George W. E. Nickelsburg, Jr., Resurrection, Immortality, and Eternal Life in Intertestamental Judaism, Harvard Theological Studies 26 (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1972), 94.
Plutarch, Isis and Osiris: https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Plutarch/Moralia/Isis_and_Osiris*/A.html
Recommended videos:
Dr. Mike Licona, “Did the Early Christians BORROW from Pagan Myths?”
Inspiring Philosophy, “Was Jesus a copycat Savior?”
Whaddo You Meme?? "Was Christianity Copied From Pagan Myth? (Mary Jo Sharp)"
Mike Winger, “Jesus Wasn’t a Pagan God: Debunking Zeitgeist and Religulous”
Podcast episode: Capturing Christianity, Featuring Mary Jo Sharp
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Music: https://www.bensound.com
Is Jesus a Copy of Pagan gods? Testing the Logic | Part 1
One of the primary arguments a prominent Jewish counter-missionary gave us for why we should leave Messianic Judaism is that Jesus was a copy of pagan myths and never existed as a historical figure. In this episode, we show why his argument suffers from a logical fallacy, and even if this argument were true and sound, it would mean that one of Judaism’s greatest heroes never existed. It’s a weak argument, and we as Messianic Jews should not be bothered by it.
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Translations:
Talmud: https://www.sefaria.org/texts/Talmud
New Testament: ESV
Recommended videos:
Dr. Mike Licona, “Did the Early Christians BORROW from Pagan Myths?”
Inspiring Philosophy, “Was Jesus a copycat Savior?”
Whaddo You Meme?? "Was Christianity Copied From Pagan Myth? (Mary Jo Sharp)"
Mike Winger, “Jesus Wasn’t a Pagan God: Debunking Zeitgeist and Religulous”
Podcast episode: Capturing Christianity, Featuring Mary Jo Sharp
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Music: https://www.bensound.com
How Our Faith Survived College [Podcast Exclusive!]
Listen in as we share our story of how we navigated conversations with atheist professors, atheist and agnostic classmates, and Jewish counter-missionaries while in college! We hope you find encouragement, entertainment, and empowerment as we give you a sneak peek into parts of the journey that has led to us launching Two Messianic Jews! Enjoy!
You can listen to more content on our YouTube channel
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References mentioned in the podcast:
*we don't endorse every view of each one of these thinkers, but they each have extremely valuable content in their libraries that have helped us tremendously*
YouTube channel Recommendations:
Book Recommendations:
Introduction to Messianic Judaism
David Stern - Jewish New Testament Commentary
Case for the Resurrection in Jesus
Music: https://bensound.com
Did Paul Teach Against Torah in Acts 21? Responding to Rabbi Michael Skobac
Does Acts 21 confirm that Paul taught against Torah-observance for Jews? According to Rabbi Michael Skobac of Jews for Judaism, Acts 21 shows Paul's "real position" was that Jews should stop obeying the Torah. I walk through the whole account of Acts 21.17-26 to demonstrate that it says the exact opposite! Acts 21 shows that Paul was a Torah-observant Jew himself and taught other Jewish followers of Jesus to do the same.
00:00 - Introduction
1:26 - Rabbi Michael Skobac's Objection in Acts 21
2:38 - Responding to Rabbi Michael Skobac's Objection in Acts 21
12:05 - Was Paul just 'becoming a Jew to the Jews'? (1 Corinthians 9)
16:54 - Deeper Analysis of Acts 21.17-26
19:54 - What does 'zealous for the Law' mean?
23:20 - What is a Nazirite vow?
26:48 - How did the rumor about Paul in Acts 21 start?
32:10 - Summary and Conclusion
Covenantal responsibility is as Rabbi Russ Resnik says, “to live as members of a people chosen by God and given in Scripture a unique set of instructions and obligations; to live in a way that contributes to the survival and destiny of the Jewish people.”
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________________________________
Full video where I get the clip of Rabbi Michael Skobac
Dr. David Rudolph's website and book on 1 Corinthians 9
Dr. Mark Nanos's website
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Did Jesus in Fact Come to Destroy the Law? Responding to Rabbi Tovia Singer
Rabbi Tovia Singer argues that in Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus claims that if one is even tempted to commit adultery, then they have already committed the sin. Jesus's point, therefore, is that the Torah is impossible to follow. In this video, we respond to this argument and show why Rabbi Singer is misunderstanding Jesus.
Note: The argument made in this video is that the Torah is possible to keep, and Jesus expects his Jewish followers to observe it. There are other questions that are certainly worth addressing. Which commandments are exclusively for Jews? Which commandments are possible to observe today? If Gentiles are required to follow the commandments not to covet or commit adultery, why are they not obligated to keep the Sabbath? These and many more questions will be discussed in future videos!
0:00 – Intro
0:48 – Rabbi Tovia Singer’s Argument
3:08 – Reading in context – Matthew 5:17-20
4:06 – What does “abolish” mean?
5:05 – What does “fulfill” mean?
7:37 – What is the purpose of Matthew 5:17-20?
8:15 – Is Jesus contradicting the Torah?
11:04 – Presentation of Dr. Jason Staples’s reading of Matthew 5:27-28
11:15 – Jesus is pointing back to the tenth commandment.
12:54 – What did "lust" mean in the first century?
13:45 – A better translation of Matthew 5:28
16:12 – What is Jesus saying?
17:11 - Conclusion
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Dr. Jason Staples's blog article - "'Whoever Looks at a Woman With Lust': Misinterpreted Bible Passages #1"
The Gospel of Matthew: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary by Dr. Craig Keener
Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven by Dr. Amy-Jill Levine
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Did Jesus in Fact Come to Destroy the Law? - A Response to Rabbi Tovia Singer
What Did Paul Say About Jesus? Responding to Rabbi Michael Skobac
Rabbi Michael Skobac claims Paul did not mention "literally anything whatsoever" about the life and teachings of Jesus. If true, this casts doubt on whether Paul knew anything about Jesus's life and teachings. For some (not Rabbi Skobac), they make this claim to support an argument that Jesus did not exist! We explore Paul's letters to show that Paul does mention Jesus's life and frequently echoes, alludes to, and even quotes Jesus's teachings.
00:00 - Introduction
00:59 - Rabbi Skobac's Objection
5:00 - Where Rabbi Skobac was right
5:36 - Why doesn't Paul tell us more about Jesus?
7:36 - What does Paul tell us about Jesus's life?
12:54 - Why doesn't Paul quote Jesus more?
17:02 - Does Paul mention the Sermon on the Mount?
19:25 - Does Paul mention Jesus's parables?
21:44 - Does Paul ever quote Jesus?
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Some other echoes and allusions to Jesus's teachings in Paul:
1 Corinthians 7:10-11 cf. Mark 10:9-12; Matt. 5:32
1 Corinthians 9:14 cf. Luke 10:7; Matt. 10:10
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 cf. Matt. 24:30-31
Some resources saying Paul talked about Jesus:
James Dunn, "Jesus Tradition in Paul," in Studying the Historical Jesus: Evaluations of the State of Current Research, ed. Bruce Chilton and Craig Evans.
Paul Eddy and Gregory Boyd, "The 'Silence' of Paul," in The Jesus Legend.
Seyoon Kim, "Jesus, Sayings of," in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters.
Some resources saying Paul did not talk about Jesus:
E. Doherty, The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ?
G. A. Wells, The Historical Evidence for Jesus.
Music: https://www.bensound.com
200 YouTube Subscribers! Future Plans and How to Support
We are thrilled to reach 200 YouTube subscribers! Thank you to those who have subscribed! This channel started during the summer and it is amazing to see the impact that it is having. Check out the video to hear some exciting updates!
0:00 – Thank you!
0:39 - Feedback we have received
1:46 – How you can support us
2:19 – Plans for the future
4:05 – Who can benefit from this channel?
5:09 – We want to hear your feedback!
7:02 - Conclusion
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Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? | Rabbi Tovia Singer vs. Orthodox Jewish scholar
Did Jesus rise from the dead? Rabbi Tovia Singer says "absolutely not." He argues that there is no evidence this event took place. In this video, w ask question - how would an Orthodox Jewish scholar who affirms that Jesus rose from the dead respond to Rabbi Singer? He presents the arguments from the late Dr. Pinchas Lapide and puts them up against Rabbi Singer's!
Rabbi Tovia Singer and Reverend Jim Cantelon Debate clip - 1:04:32
0:00 - Introduction
0:34 - Rabbi Tovia Singer’s objection
4:46 – Problems with Rabbi Singer's approach to the New Testament
5:22 – Jewish scholarship on the New Testament (Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, Dr. Marc Brettler, Dr. Pamela Eisenbaum, and Dr. Daniel Boyarin)
8:29 – Dr. Pinchas Lapide’s perspective on the resurrection of Jesus
9:32 – Evidence for the empty tomb
15:49 – Evidence for the disciples’ experiences of seeing the risen Jesus
19:06 – Were the disciples experiencing hallucinations?
20:19 – Dr. Lapide’s conclusion
20:44 – Conclusion
Document with the quotations and citations
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Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? | Rabbi Tovia Singer vs. Orthodox Jewish scholar
What Do Jews Think of Messianic Jews?
Jews do not all speak with one voice on their views of Messianic Jews. Some view Messianic Jews as Christians masquerading as Jews, trying to convert Jews to Christianity. There are perceptions that are neutral, positive, and everything in between. While some view Messianic Jews as members of the Jewish community, others do not. In this video, we go over these perceptions and conclude by offering some takeaway messages for what the Messianic community should react to them.
0:00 - Introduction
3:32 - Negative Perceptions
3:32 - Deceptive
7:25 - Not Jews
12:15 - Un-Jewish Beliefs
15:46 - Experiences of Messianic Jews
19:37 - Highly Negative Perceptions
23:04 - Violence
26:28 - Neutral Perceptions
29:52 - Positive Perceptions
40:32 - Thoughts on the negative
48:11 - Thoughts on the positive
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Document with the quotations
The footage of Dr. Amy-Jill Levine's comments come from the following video - Chosen People Ministries. "Topic 9: A Response To 'A Messianic Jewish Perspective on Luke-Acts' AJ Levine, Q&A with Mark Kinzer," Youtube.com, February 18, 2020
YouTube Video: "Israelis: What do you think of Messianic Jews?"
YouTube Video: "12 Guidelines for Tough Conversations"
Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection
Can an Orthodox Jew believe that Jesus rose from the dead? Even if this event happened, does Deuteronomy 13 show that this would just be God testing Israel? Do miracles prove anything? These are the kinds of questions addressed in this video. We present Jewish responses to Jesus's resurrection from Orthodox rabbis, counter-missionaries, and even Ben Shapiro. We give our own Jewish response to this epic event.
The argument for his response comes from his article "The Resurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective." This will be published in the upcoming summer/fall issue of Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism.
0:13 - Objection: Jews don't believe that Jesus rose from the dead
1:04 - Objection: God raised Jesus from the dead, but that does not mean he is the Messiah
7:26 - God raised Jesus from the dead to show Israel that Jesus is the Messiah
29:26 - Objection: Even if God resurrected Jesus, it would just be to test Israel
33:47 - Objection: A Messiah who frees Israel from the responsibility to follow the Torah is not the Messiah
37:08 - Objection: Jesus is not the Messiah because he did not fulfill all the messianic prophecies when he arrived
39:04 - Conclusion
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Link to subscribe to Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism: https://www.kesherjournal.com
Primary sources referenced in the video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J8GFF2RaOcMI1P_6Zqe8kAfajOv6wQiu/view?usp=sharing
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Does the Resurrection Prove Jesus is the Messiah? A Jewish Response to a Jewish Objection
12 Guidelines for Tough Conversations: Abridged (Live at Congregation Sha'arei Shalom)
This is the abridged version of our 12 guidelines for tough conversations we presented live at Sha'arei Shalom on July 4, 2020.
Here is the list:
1. Pursuing truth is a greater goal than merely proving your point.
2. “Assume that the person you are listening to knows something you don't." - Dr. Jordan Peterson
3. Seek to understand before being understood.
4. Understand that feeling uncomfortable is often a good sign.
5. Know that you can passionately hold to an opinion while still listening, understanding, and being open to the contrary.
6. Do not assume anything about your conversation partner’s moral character or intellectual position based on hearsay or stereotypes. Listen to the individual, it's nearly guaranteed they do not fully live up to their stereotype.
7. Recognize that everyone has biases and pointing out their bias does not make them wrong.
8. Remember that talking is thinking.
9. Understand how easy it is to be wrong.
10. Know that admitting you are wrong is not a display of weakness, but of courage.
11. State what you believe as precisely as possible.
12. Communicate what you believe to be true in love.
Original video - 12 Guidelines for Tough Conversations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJU2s...
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12 Guidelines for Tough Conversations: Abridged
A Case for Messianic Judaism (Live at YMJA Virtual Messiah Conference 2020)
At the Young Messianic Jewish Alliance (YMJA) Virtual Messiah Conference 2020, we presented a case for Messianic Judaism! This involved sharing evidence for what we consider to be its three central claims:
3:24 - Yeshua (Jesus) is the Jewish Messiah
31:22 - Jewish followers of Yeshua have a covenantal responsibility to live as Jews (i.e. observe Torah) to preserve Israel’s distinct identity among the nations
47:27 - Participating in Jewish worship and ways of life is a legitimate option for Gentile followers of Yeshua
(This event was recorded live on July 2, 2020)
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Here is the link to subscribe to Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism - https://www.kesherjournal.com/
Article, “The Resurrection of Jesus: Another Jewish Perspective” will be published in the upcoming issue.
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A Case for Messianic Judaism | A Case for Messianic Judaism
Pursue Truth: A D'rash on Parsha Korach (Live at Congregation Sha'arei Shalom)
The foundational principle of our podcast is "pursuing truth is more important than merely proving your point." This is a recording of the d'rash we gave at Sha'arei Shalom on June 27, 2020. We explore how the rabbis saw this foundational Jewish principle in Parsha: Korach: "an argument for the sake of heaven" as opposed to "an argument not for the sake of heaven." We also share stories from our own lives on the effectiveness and beauty of putting this principle is in action.
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What is Messianic Judaism? A Brief History of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America
Do you ever find it difficult to explain what Messianic Judaism is? Have you ever wondered about the history of modern Messianic Judaism? Are you frequently asked, “So aren’t you a Christian?” These are the crucial questions we discuss in this video!
0:00 - Introduction
5:11 - Definitions of “Messianic Judaism” by Messianic organizations
9:58 - Definitions by Messianic Jewish scholars
11:32 - Definitions by Social Media followers
14:38 - Definitions of a “Messianic Jew” by Messianic Jewish scholars
22:06 - Why is there such a diversity of opinion for what “Messianic Jew” means?
24:05 - The history of modern Messianic Judaism
36:12 - Why do we call ourselves Messianic Jews rather than Christians?
40:58 - The definitions of "Messianic Jew" and "Messianic Judaism" we currently hold to
A pdf of key quotations from the episode
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Top 12 Guidelines for Tough Conversations; Motivations for the Show
The issues we tackle on this show are controversial and if there is one thing we hope to produce in ourselves and those who listen to us is the ability to have tough conversations with others. In this video, we discuss what we consider to be the top 12 guidelines for having tough conversations:
0:00 - Introduction
1:45 - Pursuing truth is more important than proving our point
4:39 - Seek to understand before being understood
6:01 - “Assume that the person you are listening to knows something you don't." - Dr. Jordan Peterson
7:27 - Do not assume anything about your conversation partner’s moral character or intellectual position based on hearsay or stereotypes
10:31 - Recognize that everyone has biases. Pointing out their bias does not make them wrong
15:08 - Remember that talking is thinking
20:00 - Understand that feeling uncomfortable is often a good sign
24:40 - Know that you can passionately hold to an opinion while still listening, understanding, and being open to the contrary
25:51 - Understand how easy it is to be wrong
40:25 - Know that admitting you are wrong is not a display of weakness, but of courage
48:18 - State what you believe as precisely as possible. The only way to be understood is to be understandable
50:11 - Communicate what we believe to be true in love
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For further guidelines see the papers written by Dr. David Rudolph https://rabbidavid.net/papers