Do you study your Jewish roots as a Christian?

Question

I have just begun a Hebraic class which teaches studying the Word of God from the Hebraic culture, history, and context. I am finding out many things I've been taught as a Christian have been misinterpreted because I studied with a Western Thinking. I am looking for resources to help with these studies. I have a Jewish Study Bible and use the Complete Jewish Bible, but I would like some online sources also. I am really looking for a Bible or reference book that references the NT scriptures back to the Torah/Tenakh scriptures.

Answer 1

There is an excellent magazine that comes out every two months that can help. It is called "Israel My Glory." You can preview some articles to get a feel for it, and subscribe at the following link:

http://sites.silaspartners.com/CC_Content_Page/0,,PTID306608|CHID556140|CIID,00.html

They really help to get a Jewish perspective of the Christian faith, and its Jewish roots.

Also, if you'd like, Alfred Edersheim was a biblical scholar who write four excellent resources. Many Christian bookstores carry his works as a four-volume set. He was Jewish, and had converted to Christianity. His works can help you along those lines as well.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Yes I do. Remember when doing this (it is a wonderful thing to do as there would not be Christianity with out the Jewish faith - The Jewish are the natural branches of the olive tree, Gentiles -all non-Jewish Christians - are the un-natural branches,) God has blinded the Jewish people (Romans 11:7-10) in part to the identity of Messiah, until the full number of gentiles have come in, then all of Israel will be no longer blind and know Messiah and be saved. (check in Romans 11:25-26) So, how they interpret some things will be different as they do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, therefore scripture will be interpreted differently, as they can not see or hear yet (in part). Keep that in mind.

God has a special job for his people of Israel (The Jewish) during end days time and after he takes the Gentile believers off the earth. Israel will survive as always and God is always with them.

Answer 3

Try the New Jerusalem Bible. It has all those references in the margins. For instance, when you read of the virgin birth, or Christ's crucifixion, or any little thing whatsoever, the margin cites all the OT passages that draws from. You wouldn't believe how much of that there is! Also, when there are passages for which the translation is uncertain, it has footnotes giving you the original text and possible interpretations. Best Bible I've ever used, and it was given to me expressly because it was good at studying the older Jewish texts with the new Christian ones. Also, I congratulate you on taking the time to know your Jewish roots and educate yourself about your religion! If only everyone were as dedicated.

Oh, as for online sources, you might try www.crosswalk.com . Go to Faith then 'Online Bible Study Tools.'

Answer 4

If you go to a Christian book and Bible store, you can see various "study Bibles" which often have annotations of cross-reference to Torah and most of what Christians call the "Old Testament." For example, when Yeshua was asked which is the Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22: 36), he quotes Moses (Deuteronomy 6:5), a note on that page refers to it. This might help. The Christian bookstore may even have better resources than this. Shalom!

Answer 5

Grafted in, I am! I love learning of the Jewish culture, and it certainly helps to understand the Gospel and the epistles if you have an understanding of the Jewish roots. There is so much that seems to bring understanding through the backdoor as well. It is only after understanding something in the gospels that the types and shadows of the OT become clear! A peculiar people, we are. Teaching that comes through Messianic Jews has been the most helpful for me. However, I am not looking for a midpoint between Jewish and Christian, I am looking for all things that bind us together into one sheepfold.

Answer 6

I think these videos I found on the net will help you out.
They seem to be 3 episodes divided each into several parts and put on YouTube.

Here you go (these are the playlists that connect the parts up automatically, you just gotta hit the play all button to watch the whole episode).
1) http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=96C475D62233572E
2) http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=2A6BF3B9914A37A8
3) http://www.youtube.com/my_playlists?p=888F791C510E6C1B

I should tell you that these videos are loaded with information. The videos are called the Jewish Roots of Catholicism, even though it was intended for a catholic audience, mostly everything is very general to all denominations of Christianity. regardless its a good watch for anyone interested in this. I was very curious as Jewish people don't live in this part of the world and I was just curious till I found this.

Hope it helps you out.

Answer 7

Good luck on finding a book like that. It would be interesting, but because Jews don't believe in the NT (and it is not part of their religion) it will be hard to find a Jewis perspective on the NT and how it relates to the OT. If you do, it will probably be by a Christian author, and then it will still have a western twist to it.

I enjoy studying Judaism, and it definitely helps understand and put in perspective Christianity. Good luck.

Answer 8

I mostly have just read the bible through a few times. I do have a Complete Jewish Bible, An English Version by David H Stern.

Answer 9

That would be interesting. So would I.

But also to consider that Israel rejected Yeshua as the Messiah. So also, in classes that teach also rejection of Yeshua Messiah, you need to recognize that element.

The old testament prophesies of the Messiah came to pass when Jesus came to earth born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah prophesied of this and that He would be called Emanuel. Though some Hebraic classes would teach that Isaiah never wrote she needed to be a virgin. Though, the Son of God had to be born of a virgin conceived of the Holy Spirit to be born like the 1st Adam without the sin nature. To be tempted like the first Adam to overcome satans lies. He had to die for us, sinless to raise from the dead. For the wages of sin is death. Jesus was without sin, so raised from the dead. Eye witnesses of this believed it so much, they were martyred because they wouldn't deny Jesus Christ & His Resurrection.

I have studied my Jewish roots, whenever I read the Bible. And I have a Jewish Calendar. Jesus fulfilled all the Holy Days also.

Answer 10

I would suggest buying Jewish books that were written from an Orthodox perspective and then, on your own, drawing parallels between what true Judaism believes/teaches and the NT. www.artscroll.com