Posted on 03/12/2012 7:21:33 PM PDT by marshmallow
Jewish scholars provide insights that could advance knowledge, dialogue between the Church and Judaism
Over the years I have used many different commentaries, study Bibles and related reference works. The majority of these helpful texts have been written by Catholic scholars, with numerous others produced by Protestant publishers, along with a few from Eastern Orthodox writers. And in my studies of the Old Testament, I have used several works by Jewish scholars. But until now, there hasnt been a volume quite like The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford University Press, $35), a work, as the co-editors note in their preface, that marks the first time that Jewish scholars have annotated and written essays on the complete New Testament.
Reason for writing
The co-editors are Amy-Jill Levine, who teaches New Testament and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt University, and Marc Zvi Brettler, professor of biblical studies at Brandeis University. Brettler co-edited the Jewish Study Bible (Oxford University Press, $45), which inspired the idea of a similar work focusing on the New Testament. Writing from Jerusalem, where he is on sabbatical, Brettler told Our Sunday Visitor that he adopted the same format: Jewish contributors would provide annotations and short essays on background material. Since I work primarily in the Scriptures of Israel (the Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible), I needed a co-editor with expertise in Christian origins.
Levine was the ideal candidate, he said, because of her knowledge of the New Testament, her familiarity with early Judaism and its writings, and her involvement in Jewish-Christian relations.
Levine is the author of The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus (HarperSanFrancisco, $13.99), and is very active in Catholic-Jewish dialogue. She is a member of the Catholic Biblical........
(Excerpt) Read more at osv.com ...
Paul Was Not a Christian:
The Original Message of a
Misunderstood Apostle
by Pamela Michelle Eisenbaum
Kindle Edition
An older scholar in this area is Geza Vermes, now 87 years old. He was born in Hungary in 1924 to Jewish parents. At the age of 7 he was baptized a Catholic along with his parents. Both parents were killed in the Holocaust. After WWII he became a Catholic priest and received a doctorate in sacred theology, but in 1957 returned to Judaism. He has written a large number of books and was one of the first scholars to publish on the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Isn’t this also known as the “new perspective on Paul” (NPP)?
bfl
Amazon:
Pamela Eisenbaum is the associate professor of biblical studies and Christian origins at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. Eisenbaum is a national media expert on early Christianity and, as a practicing Jew teaching in a Christian seminary, has a unique perspective on the origins of Christianity.
Wikip:
Iliff is one of thirteen United Methodist Church seminaries in the United States. It also has close connections with the United Church of Christ, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Metropolitan Community Church, and others. Iliffs student body represents more than forty faith traditions.
Iliff alumni:
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President Obama met with us after the prayer breakfast in February. He is very sincere, personable and clearly committed to community, Chavez said. I was both curious and flattered that my work and experience would have drawn the interest of the President of the United States, Chavez said. I came to understand that my current work at Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), my involvement with the Latino community, and the church and community work before and after Iliff, all came into play. Chavez is the president and CEO of MACC in San Antonio, TX and has more than twenty years in a variety of ministries including teacher, youth minister, chaplain to incarcerated youth, community after-care programs, community organizer, activist, author, and national speaker.
MACC was the first center for Hispanic Ministry after Vatican II that incorporated the gospel, and celebrated the culture of the people. The new model for the church encourages pastoral centers, theological and cultural studies, and a commitment to social justice.
In the 60’s and 70’s, it was known as Liberation Theology and was considered to be borderline heresy by the Church. They helped spread communism throughout North and South America. It didn’t go away, as we plainly see...
This might be a bit useful for background on Jewsih culture during the 1st century. I certainly wouldn’t use it for any theological or exegetical insights.
Have read the book. It is marred by their acceptance of liberal Protestant biblical scholarship. Really stumble around with the birth narratives. Did learn a useful Hebrew term: Shekhinah, which means the human manifestation of the Lord. Not too far removed from the Christian doctrine of the Incarnation. Matthew and John get good treatment. Does NOT look at it in the same way as liberal Protestants, but sees it rooted in Jewish history and practice of the time.
Your report confirmed my initial fears. I’ll pass on this. Plenty of good Christian sources around to get 1st century Jewish historical and cultural background.
Shekhinah doesn’t simply mean the human manifestation of the Lord, it refers to any true manifestation, or presence of the Lord. The manifestation of God above the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant was called the Shekhinah Glory, and it was not human.
Thanks, I will look at the text again.
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