The Rabbis vs Jesus- overview

JEWISH STUDIES - THE RABBIS VS JESUS - AN OVERVIEW OF THE DEBATE

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1. CLASSIC TEXTS

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A. Babylonian Talmud - Sanhedrin 96b-99a

1. The coming of the Messiah heralded by times of trouble

2. People may calculate the time, but may be disappointed

3. World history divided into three ages

4. The condition of Israel, either sinful or sinless, determines time of Messiahís coming.

5. Messiah will be from the house of David

6. Other refs., BSan 43a, 106a, 107b, JTaanith 65b,

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ìThe conception of the Messiah...now invited to serve as the principal teleological justification of the rabbinical system.î (Jacob Neusner, Messiah in Context, Fortress, 1984, p228)

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B. Toldot Yeshu (Eisenstein,Ozair Vikkuhim,1903; H.J. Schonfield, According to the Hebrews(1937); NTS13 (1966-67), E. Bammel,p317-335)

1. Miriam seduced by Joseph Pandira

2. Yeshu (Yimmach shímo uzicharon) steals name of God

3. Practices sorcery and proclaims himself Son of God

4. Judas employed to rescue name of God

5. Yeshu stoned and hung on cabbage stalk

6. Body taken by gardener and thrown in ditch

7. Disciples invent new religion

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ìAn unseemly record of evil days.....if it bears witness against those who wrote it, it does so no less against those whose cruelty drove them to write it.î (Travers Herford, Christianity in Talmud and Midrash)

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C. Nizzahon Vetus (edited and translated as The Jewish-Christian Debate in the High Middle Ages,, JPSA, Philadelphia, 1978)

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1. Introduction - sets scene of 13th century debates between Jews and Christians

2. Text- All the major arguments against Christianity, with anti-Christian exegesis of Old and New Testament

3. Commentary- Concise history of each argument

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D. Disputation at Barcelona (1263) (translated by Dr. Charles Chavel, Shilo, NY, 1983)

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1. Biased account by Ramban (Moses ben Nachman) of his disputation with Paulus Christiani

2. First response to new missionary strategy

3. Interpretation of prophecy (Gen. 49:10, Daniel 9:26) bolstered by appeal to rabbinic agadoth

4. Led to expulsion of Ramban, censorship of Talmud, development of apologetics, Raymundus Martiniís Pugio Fidei (1270)

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ìCriteria for successful missionising: (1) the allocation of significant resources to the missionising enterprise; (2) the establishment of permanent mechanisms for confronting the targeted group with the truth of Christianity; and (3) the development of argumentation aimed specifically at the targeted group and based on a realistic knowledge of that groupís religious thinking.î (Daggers of Faith, Robert Chazan, Univ California Press, 1989, p160)

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E. Faith Strengthened (Chizzuk Emunah), Isaac Troki, Hermon Press, NY, 1970.

1. Troki was a Karaite using non-rabbinic methods

2. Part 1 ìrefutesî divinity of Jesus and ìprovesî he was not Messiah. ie Gen 49:10, Micah 5:2 NOT MESSIANIC!

3. Part 2 ìexposesî inconsistencies and contradictions of NT

4. Latin translation in Wagenseil fuels anti-Christian rationalism in Europe

5 English translation by Moses Mocatta, 1850, with detailed response by A. Lukyn Williams, Christian Evidences for Jewish People

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ìHe was not the Messiah is evident:-1st, from his pedigree; 2ndly, from his acts; 3rdly, from the period in which he lived; and 4thly, from the fact that during his existence, the promises were not fulfilled which are to be realised on the advent of the expected Messiahî

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F. Modern Works

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A. Jews and ìJewish Christianityî, David Berger and Michael Wyschogrod, KTAV, 1978

B. ìYou take Jesus, Iíll take Godî Samuel Levine, Hamoroh Press, L.A., 1980

C. We Jews and Jesus, Samuel Sandmel, 1965, Oxford Univ. Press.

D. Faith and Fratricide, Rosemary Ruether, Search Press, NY, 1974.

E. Revolution in Judaea, Paul The Mythmaker, The Sacred Executioner, The Judas Myth, Hyam Maccoby, 1973-1993

F. The Jew and the Christian Missionary, Gerald Segal, NY 1981

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2. CLASSIC TACTICS

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1. Misrepresentation of position - HJ Schoeps ìJewish-Christian argumentî

2. Misapplication of scripture to fit rabbinic system

3. Ridicule of Christian doctrine - esp Trinity, Incarnation, Original sin

4. Character assasination of Yíshua, first Christians, Church

5. Guilt trip and emotional blackmail

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3. CAREFUL RESPONSE

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1. Arguments never brought anyone into the kingdom

2. Refutation literature stems from bad feeling, not just bad theology

3. Either Yíshua is Lord of all, or not Lord at all

4. You can be Jewish and believe in Yíshua!

5. Some Rabbis say yes! Lichtenstein, Wertheimer

6. The Jewishness of the NT and our faith

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4. CALLING THE QUESTION

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1. Yíshua, the Jewish Way to Say ìJesusî, Moishe Rosen

2. Messiah, a Rabbinic and Scriptural Viewpoint, Burt Yellin,1984, Denver

3. Paul and Palestinian Judaism, W.D.Davies, Harper, NY,1948

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