Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus

by Brad H. Young

Publisher:

Hendrickson

, 2007

Overview

Meet the Rabbis explains how rabbinic thought was relevant to Jesus and the New Testament world—and how it should still be relevant today. Rabbinic literature explores the meaning of living life to its fullest while in right relationship with God and humanity. However, many Christians are not aware of rabbinic thought and literature. Most individuals in the Western world today—Christians, atheists, agnostics, secular community leaders, or some other religious and political persuasions—are more knowledgeable of Jesus’ ethical teachings from the Sermon on the Mount than the Ethics of the Fathers found in Jewish prayer books. The author seeks to introduce the reader to the world of Torah learning. It is within this world that the authentic cultural background of Jesus’ teachings in ancient Judaism is revealed. Young uses parts of the New Testament, especially the Sermon on the Mount, as a springboard for probing rabbinic method. The book is an introduction to rabbinic thought and literature and has three main sections in its layout:

• Introduction to Rabbinic Thought
• Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
• Meet the Rabbis—a biographical description of influential Rabbis from Talmudic sources

The Logos Bible Software edition of this volume is designed to encourage and stimulate your study and understanding of Scripture. Biblical passages link directly to your English translations and original-language texts, and important theological concepts link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. In addition, you can perform powerful searches by topic and find what other authors, scholars, and theologians have to say about the Word of God.

Key Features

• Provides an overview and bolsters the importance of rabbinic literature
• Utilizes parts of New Testament Scripture to help introduce and compare rabbinic literature
• Includes detailed study aids in the form of bibliographies, indexes, and a glossary

Contents

• Part I: Introduction to Rabbinic Thought
  • Introduction to Rabbinic Thought
  • Master Teachers and Their Disciples
  • Torah Is More Than Law
  • The Great Sanhedrin
  • Parallel Rabbinic and New Testament Texts
• Part II: Introduction to Rabbinic Literature
  • Introduction to Early Jewish Writings
  • Ethics of the Fathers
  • The Amidah Prayer
  • Maimonides’ Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith
  • Hillel’s Seven Principles of Bible Interpretation
• Part III: Introduction to the Rabbis
  • Meet the Rabbis
  • Both Torahs Were Revealed on Mount Sinai
  • Utopia or Plan of Action?

Praise for the Print Edition

An informative and highly readable volume that will serve its target audience well.

—Biblical Theology Bulletin

This book represents part of a growing collection of works written specifically for a lay Christian audience that seek to identify the Jewish context of the New Testament and early Christianity. In this volume, Young presents an independent introduction to rabbinic literature and history that highlights aspects of rabbinic Judaism that are instructive for understanding early Christianity. It also seeks to reverse a long-standing negative attitude toward Judaism (particular Pharisaic-rabbinic Judaism) displayed in many popular and scholarly discussions of the background of the New Testament. Young offers an overwhelmingly positive image of Judaism and its role in shaping early Christianity. Young places particular emphasis on the history and character of the rabbis, the corpus of rabbinic literature and the idea of an oral Torah, and rabbinic thought. This work is most successful in its treatment of points of contact between rabbinic thought and early Christianity, and analysis of where these commonalities diverge.

—Religious Studies Review

This text presents insights to both interest and challenge students of the Bible with the hope that they might choose to pursue a closer study of the Jewish sources and resources that are available for study. This book is of value for all students, particularly undergraduate students.

—Theological Book Review

Product Details

• Title: Meet the Rabbis: Rabbinic Thought and the Teachings of Jesus
• Author: Brad H. Young
• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Publication Date: 2007
• Pages: 256

About Brad H. Young

Bradford Humes Young, also known as Brad Young is a Professor of Biblical Literature in Judeao Christian Studies at the Graduate Department of Oral Roberts University. He is also founder and President of the Gospel Research Foundation, Inc. After receiving his B.A. from ORU, Dr. Young departed Tulsa for Israel. At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he pursued graduate studies in early Christianity and ancient Judaism.