Jesus the Messiah in Messianic Jewish

Thought

The Shaping of Messianic Jewish Christology

Introduction

• Nerel’s corporate identity

• Taylor’s “Five Selfs”

•Jacob Jocz’s dividing line

Key Questions

• What is the Messianic Movement?

• What is Messianic Jewish thought?

• What are the sources and methods of Messianic Jewish thought?

Creeds in Messianic Judaism

• Michael Schiffman’s review• MJAA’s Basis of Belief• Esther Dorflinger’s revelation• Joseph Shulam’s reluctance• David Stern’s request• Hugh Schonfield’s refusal

Stages in the Development of Messianic Jewish Thought

• Interpretation of Scripture• Use of Jewish tradition• Use of Jewish mysticism• Biblical criticism• Postmodern engagement

Messianic

Five Emerging Christologies

• Arian Christology and Unitarianism

• Messianic Kabbalah• Recontextualising Nicaea• Theocentric Christology• Postmodern Messianic Jewish

Christology

Arian Christologies linked to Unitarian Views of God

• Rejection of– Tri-unity of God– Deity of Messiah– Hellenistic thought– Idolatry

• Juster’s critique• Jocz’s evaluation

Yochanan 1:1-4

In the beginning was the Torah,and the Torah was with G-d,and godlike was the Torah.

It was with G-d in the beginning. All things came to be through it and without it nothing made had being.

In it was life, and the life was the light of mankind.

Christologies Using the Jewish Mystical Tradition

• Pico della Mirandola – “No science can better

convince us of the divinity of Jesus Christ than magic and the Kabbalah”

• Kemper• Pauli

Pauli - How Can Three Be One?

• Three-fold nature of God • Identity of the Memra• Angel of the Covenant • Metatron as Son of God • Divinity of the Holy Spirit

Varner’s Critique

“Although their motives may have been sincere, their hermeneutical methodology was so defective that they did more harm than good in its implementation. Their writings serve to warn Christians today about how not to conduct the Jewish-Christian discussion”

Sadan’s method

“If I can sum up my methodological assumption it will be this: anything a Jew needs to know about the Messiah (Yeshua) can be found within the Jewish tradition. This is a bold assumption but nevertheless, one that can be substantiated without violating this very tradition that stresses its incompatibility with Jesus.”

Messianic Jewish Christologies Recontextualising Nicaea

• Louis Goldberg• Daniel Juster• Elazar Brandt• David Rudolph

• Arnold Fruchtenbaum

• Robert Fischer• David Stern• Joseph Shulam

Theocentric Christology

• Baruch Maoz’ s critique• God’s unity• Y ’shua’s deity• Judaism not Jewish?

Postmodern Messianic Christology

• Kinzer’s concern• Kinzer’s approach• Torah Incarnate• Y ’shua as Shekinah• 1st century worship

Conclusion

•UMJC statement•Listen!•Talk!•Pray!•Worship!