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 April2. Pentecost seven weeks after Passover, celebrates the giving of the

law at Mt. Sinai3. Tabernacles (Succoth) Fall – celebrates the 40 years wandering in the

desert4. 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

holidaysBy 2000 there were 200 Messianic congregations in the

USAbout 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