The Bible With & Without Jesus: Understanding Jewish and Christian Interpretations - w/ Amy Jill Levine

How Jewish and Christian communities read the same scripture differently, and how embracing these distinct interpretations can deepen both scholarship and spiritual formation. Mike Erre and Tim Stafford sit down with renowned Jewish New Testament scholar Dr. Amy-Jill Levine to discuss themes from her book, “The Bible With and Without Jesus,” co-authored with Marc Brettler. AJ brings warmth, brilliant storytelling, and scholarly insight as they dive into how texts like Genesis, Isaiah 53, and Jonah have been interpreted historically and theologically by Jews and Christians alike.

Key Takeaways: • Understanding Contextual Lenses – How the way we read scripture is shaped by the “glasses” we wear—our religious traditions, cultural assumptions, and theological expectations. • The Bible as a Multi-layered Text – Why the Bible supports multiple interpretations and how that opens doors to richer understanding, not confusion. • Reframing Original Sin – Exploring the Jewish view of Genesis 3 as an “original opportunity” rather than a catastrophic fall, and what that tells us about human nature and divine relationship. • Why Sacrifice Isn’t Always About Sin – How the ancient Jewish sacrificial system was about more than atonement, and how Second Temple practices differed from Christian readings in Hebrews. • Wrestling as Worship – How wrestling with scripture—through community, conversation, and study—is how Jews and Christians can both approach the divine.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Amy-Jill Levine – World-renowned Jewish New Testament scholar, Vanderbilt professor, and co-author of “The Bible With and Without Jesus.” AJ’s unique perspective bridges faith traditions, helping Christian audiences rediscover the Old Testament while honoring its Jewish roots. With equal parts depth and humor, she offers a liberating vision of how interfaith learning can lead to deeper faithfulness.

Resources Mentioned: • “The Bible With and Without Jesus” by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler – [Link] • “The Jewish Annotated New Testament” – [Link] • Luke Commentary by Amy-Jill Levine & Ben Witherington III – [Link] • “Short Stories by Jesus” by Amy-Jill Levine – [Link] • Genesis 1–3, Isaiah 53, Jonah (referenced throughout) – Bible Gateway

Dive deeper into the practice of wrestling with scripture and embracing the tensions that arise from differing views—and discover how that journey can actually lead to a stronger, more resilient faith.

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