I only ask this because I have a small tattoo in Theban and I have had people whom I know to be devout Catholics crowd around me and tell me that Jesus was a Jew too. I'm not Jewish.
They pointed to my arm and asked what it said in Hebrew.
If Christians believe Jesus was Jewish, then shouldn't Chritians have to learn to read Hebrew?
2007-08-27 12:25:32 · 17 answers · asked by Moonlit Hemlock 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christians don't need to know. They have no obligation to study. There is no moral code they have to obey. All they need is the Holy Spirit and they are set. A Jew, on the other hand, is spiritually driven to know G-d and His Commandments. A Jew is obligate to learn and there is no upper limit on that learning. A Jew has G-d's love and His Torah and his own hard work and commitment. A Jew does not expect G-d to do the Jew's work. It is the Jew's spiritual growth and resolve that is at stake and his responsibility. Of course, G-d will help, but the Jew has got to put his hand to the task.
The Jews were standing at the edge of the Yom Suf [the Sea of Reeds] with the Egyptian army right behind them getting ready to attack. Moses raised his staff and commanded the Yom Suf to split. Nothing happened. Moses commanded, over and over, again and again and still, nothing happened. Then a Jew walked into the water and kept walking until the water came to his knees and then his waist and then his neck and finally until it was over his nose and then THE YOM SUF SPLIT and the Jews walked through it as if they were on dry land. It was not good intentions or the right belief or any emotional commitment. G-d did not act until the Jew acted. It was action that made the difference. Learning G-d's will from G-d's Torah is the 1st action a Jew is to take. And it can only be learned in the langauge that G-d used, not a translation.
2007-08-27 17:30:11 · answer #1 · answered by emesshalom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jesus WAS Jewish. He is and always will be the Jewish people's Messiah. The only thing a person has to do to be accepted by God is believe in and have faith in Him. So no, we dont need to learn Hebrew, though i (and a lot of Christians i know) would love to so we would be able to read the OT in the original language. Same with learning greek..
God bless
2007-08-27 19:44:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
It was not a requirement when I was in seminary. Greek was required...so was Latin. I think it's much more important for a Christian to understand New Testament Greek than Hebrew. The New Testament documents are in Greek....
Besides...I've been in ministry for 15 years...and I've never needed any more Hebrew than that which I could get out of a decent Hebrew Lexicon and a good ol' Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
2007-08-27 19:32:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think this is a wonderful idea! I hope I will get the chance to learn Hebrew! I wonder if it will be harder to learn than Hungarian? My mother's side of the family! LOL! Anyway, I have been considering this for a while now!
2007-08-28 15:36:41 · answer #4 · answered by Marie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have no idea how much you're missing by not studying the Torah in Hebrew! The Jewish interpretation is much different from the Christian version.
.
2007-08-27 22:29:15 · answer #5 · answered by Hatikvah 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have learned some hebrew. But it isn't at this time at the top of my list on things to learn, not because it isn't something I want to do. But to do it correctly will mean a college course for me.
And as a Christian it would be nice to know but it isn't linked to salvation, so it for this time as taken a back seat in my life.
2007-08-27 19:37:44 · answer #6 · answered by Kathy H 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I doubt many Jews can read/write/speak Hebrew outside of the prayers.
2007-08-27 19:30:29 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No.
I grew up in an atheist/Christian/Jewish family. It was something different, I can tell you.
I can read and write some Hebrew, some Arabic and some Greek without using references. I know other Christians who can.
Understanding of scripture does not come from study. We study to stay focused on God. Understanding of scripture comes from the Holy Ghost. You need not learn any specific language to gain understanding, you need only commit your life to Christ and receive the Holy Ghost.
2007-08-27 19:39:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Ol' Doc
-- I guess that would not be including six million Jews that live in Israel, who speak/read/write in Hebrew.
Not to mention most Orthodox and some secular Jews.
2007-08-27 19:32:49 · answer #9 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Have to? No. When was learning the language of Jesus imperative to Christianity?
2007-08-27 19:31:29 · answer #10 · answered by BtM 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋