Adult Shabbat School... Good News for Jews & Gentiles
The Theme of Galatians Good News for Jews and Gentiles More than any other writing in the New Covenant Scriptures, the letter to the Galatians helps Jews and Gentiles learn how to appreciate the good news of Messiah and live together in harmony. This harmony is not based merely on a live-and-let-live downplay of doctrine or ethnic distinctions but an accurate understanding of God s salvation plan to include Gentiles as Gentiles a plan revealed already in the Torah and fulfilled through the work of Messiah Jesus. 2
Outline of Galatians Good News for Jews and Gentiles The Truth of the Good News Defended (Gal. 1-2) Biographical explanations: divine vs. human authority The Truth of the Good News Reaffirmed (Gal. 3-4) Doctrinal expositions: works of Law vs. faith in Jesus The Truth of the Good News Applied (Gal. 5-6) Practical exhortations: works of flesh vs. fruit of Spirit 3
Historical Context and Concerns Good News for Jews & Gentiles
Common Perceptions OT Jews Synagogues Judaism NT Gentiles Churches Christianity
Jewish History Leading Up to the Time of Jesus and Paul The Assyrians: 722 BC The Babylonians: 586 BC The Persians: 538 BC The Greeks: the Intertestamental Period Alexander s conquests: 331 BC The Seleucids and Ptolemies
Jewish History Leading Up to the Time of Jesus and Paul The Assyrians: 722 BC The Babylonians: 586 BC The Persians: 539 BC The Greeks: the Intertestamental Period Alexander s conquests: 333 BC The Seleucids and Ptolemies Maccabean Revolt: 165 BC (quasi-independence) The Romans General Pompey enters the Holy of Holies: 64 BC Herod the Great secures Judea: 37 BC
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Torah The crisis of the Babylonian Captivity was understood as a failure to study/obey Torah. After the return from the Exile, there was an increased focus on textual interpretation. By the first century AD, the Law had come to occupy the central place within Judaism. It was a privilege not a burden!
A Torah Scroll
A Scribe copying a biblical text
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Apocalypticism The present age is controlled by the forces of evil, but they will be destroyed at the end of time when God intervenes in history to bring about his kingdom, which is imminent. An apocalypse is a genre in which the author reports dreams or visions, given through an angelic mediator, which reveal heavenly mysteries that explain earthly realities. NT apocalypticism has its roots in Judaism.
Apocalypticism Divine Intervention NOW: Times are wicked THEN: Justice restored
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Messianism In the early first century AD, the term Messiah ( Anointed One ) was fluid in meaning. Messianic expectations were diverse. Jews were not universally expecting a single military figure to bring deliverance. The concept of Messiahship came to have concrete meaning in the New Testament interpretation of as well as in the rabbinic and political reaction to the person of Jesus of Nazareth.
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Israel vs. the Diaspora In the first century AD, as many as 2/3 of Jews did not live in the Holy Land. Jews of the Diaspora were more open to the Hellenistic world. Israeli Jews who spoke Aramaic and/or Hebrew tended to be more conservative. A Diaspora Motto: When in Rome, do as the Romans do. -- Rabbi Meir, Genesis Rabbah 48
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Pharisees Sadducees Qumranites/Essenes Parties and Sects
The caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found
Key Beliefs in Emerging Judaism Parties and Sects Pharisees Sadducees Qumranites/Essenes Zealots Rabbis of the Synagogues after 70 AD
Torah Ark from a 1 st century AD Synagogue
The Synagogue at Sardis (3 rd cent) The Bema Outer court
Throne of Moses Seat of the archisynagogos or Synagogue-Ruler from a 1 st century BC synagogue
Matt. 23 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Key Questions of Emerging Judaism How to be faithful in exile? How to be faithful with no temple?
Key Questions of Emerging Judaism How to be faithful in exile? Diet Circumcision Festivals How to be faithful with no temple? Temple Table
Paul s Opponents in Galatia A. The problem was not between Jews and non- Jews, but between two different Jewish- Christian interpretations of the gospel. See Richard B. Hays, Galatians, in The New Interpreters Bible XI (Nashville: Abingdon, 2000), 185-186. B. The problem was related to being straightforward about the gospel (2:14). 30
For Discussion & Application A. How is Judaism different from what God revealed to Moses at Sinai? B. Is there a difference between Messianic Judaism and a Messianic Jewish congregation? 31
Adult Shabbat School... Good News for Jews & Gentiles