At the Feet of Rabbi Gamaliel: Rabbinic Influence in Paul’s Teachings

by David Friedman

Publisher:

Messianic Jewish Publishers

, 2013

Overview

The influence of Rabbi Gamaliel upon Shaul (Paul), his student, has neither been fully appreciated nor adequately analyzed, until now. There can be no doubt that the influence of the Rabbi would have been a large one, given the historical circumstances surrounding the life of Paul. Did Paul continue following the influence of Rabbi Gamaliel or did he turn against the instructions of his teacher? Did he continue to value the Torah and Pharisaic tradition? The results of the research within these pages and the conclusion, may surprise you.

Contents

Top Highlights

“‘Questions, questions, questions, without questions, how are you going to learn!?’” (Page 35)

“Case in point: Paul did not ‘trash’ his identity as Pharisee or Jewish person when coming to salvation in covenant with Yeshua (cf. Phil. 3:7–8). Rather, Paul’s vocational dream changed from aspiring to be more like his mentor, Gamliel the Elder, a statesman, halakhic scholar, Sanhedrin judge or even Nasi (Vice President). The ‘changed’ Paul aspired, instead, to be more like Yeshua, a humble bondservant, who poured out his life in sacrificial love for the well being of Yeshua’s faithful. Ironically, the born-again Paul would do all that Gamliel had modeled for him. Paul would plant and care for communities, write responsa to settle issues, and even advise the powerful to treat their slaves as beloved members of their households.” (Page 2)

“To learn the Torah, one is encouraged to ask many questions, to be aggressive in taking a text apart and learning the nuances of every word and every possible angle of understanding a portion of Torah.” (Page 34)

“Josephus informs us that there were 6,000 Pharisee party members in the late 2^nd Temple period” (Page 17)

“Clearly, Shaul advocates the lifestyle that Gamliel, Shemaiah and Avtalyon also advocated, where a profession was combined with Torah study and its application. Shaul insists that even as their teacher, he and his entourage did not rely upon his students to support them. Instead, they carried out the dictum of Shemaiah and Avtalyon (and later of Rabban Gamliel ben Yehudah), to support themselves. As an example of a proper lifestyle, Shaul studied and taught the Torah while also working and earning his own finances. This is in keeping with (and even went beyond) the Pharisaic teaching on this matter. Further, Shaul taught: ‘… when we were with you, this is what we instructed you: that if anyone is unwilling to work, neither will he eat (2 Thess. 3:10, author’s translation).” (Page 26)

Product Details

• Title: At the Feet of Rabbi Gamaliel: Rabbinic Influence in Paul’s Teachings
• Author: David Friedman
• Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publishers
• Print Publication Date: 2013
• Logos Release Date: 2016
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Paul, the Apostle, Saint
• ISBNs: 9781936716753, 1936716755
• Resource ID: LLS:TFTRBBGMLL
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T03:18:52Z

About David Friedman

David Friedman former academic dean of King of Kings College in Jerusalem, holds a Ph.D. in Judaic studies and an M.A. in Arabic.

In 1941, The United States is drawn into World War II. During that same year, Dr. Henry Einspruch publishes his classic book, The Yiddish New Testament, a breakthrough in evangelistic literature for Jewish people. Over the following decades, the publications of Lederer/Messianic Jewish Communications have been widely used to impact thousands of Jewish people with the Good News of Messiah. These books and tracts have been distributed in the Orthodox Jewish community, have been given out to Jews in the former Soviet Union, and have been used by Messianic congregations and Jewish outreaches all over the world. Messianic Jewish Publishers mission is two-pronged: Reaching out to Jewish people with the message of Messiah and teaching the non-Jewish spiritual family about their Jewish roots.