Christianity and Judaism: Two Covenants
Overview
This book comprises three successive chapters from Yehezkel Kaufman’s Golah ve-Nekhar which, though intrinsically related to the central topic of that work, constitute a distinct unit of its own. The basic difference between Judaism and Christianity is here defined as two forms of covenant being in conflict with each other.
The writings of Yehezkel Kaufman, late Professor of Bible at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, fall into three main categories:
- Bible studies, of which the four-volume History of the Religion of Israel is the magnum opus
- Socio-historical analysis of Jewry’s fate and existence as a diaspora-nation community, with the two-volume Golah ve-Nekhar (Exile and Estrangement) being his most outstanding scholarly undertaking
- Topical articles dealing with immediate socio-political problems of Zionism and the emerging State of Israel
Top Highlights
“Justified as it is, however, the effort of Christian scholarship to expose the pagan roots of Christianity has gone too far. Christianity is sometimes viewed as basically paganism with a ‘monotheistic’ facade, the pagan component as primary and the Jewish as secondary and extrinsic.” (Page 3)
“The apostles also wrought gevuroth and ‘miracles’ in order to authenticate their message” (Page 20)
“Jesus whom the best of Christian scholars describe as ‘Jewish’ and not ‘Christian’; who, for all his call for ‘love’ and ethical purity, continued to observe the whole of the Law and commandments.” (Pages 18–19)
“‘a people that shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.’” (Page ix)
“The essential was whether Jesus was the messiah foretold of the prophets” (Page 20)
- Title: Christianity and Judaism: Two Covenants
- Author: Yehezkel Kaufmann
- Translator: C.W. Efroymson
- Publisher: Magnes Press
- Publication Date: 1995
- Pages: 230
Yehezkel Kaufmann was modern Israel’s foremost biblical scholar and has written extensively on Bible studies, socio-political problems of Zionism and the emerging State of Israel. He was the recipient of the Israel Prize in Jewish Studies.