Intersecting Faiths: Exploring Judaism, Christianity, And More With Expert Biblical Scholars
Apr 24, 2024
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Expert biblical scholars Marc Brettler and Amy-Jill Levine discuss Judaism, Christianity, Rabbinic Literature, the New Testament, anti-Semitism, Hebrew language history, and interpreting ancient Hebrew texts. They explore the intersection of faiths, differences between Rabbinic and Biblical Hebrew, and the importance of understanding historical context in interpreting religious texts.
Rabbinic literature offers insights into first-century Judaism and enhances understanding of the New Testament.
The evolution of the Hebrew language post-destruction of the temple reveals its adaptability and role in preserving Jewish history.
Deep dives
Mark Bretler's Background and Experience in Jewish Studies
Mark Bretler, a distinguished professor of Jewish Studies at Duke University and former Chair of the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University, shares his journey into studying Hebrew texts. Growing up in a Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn, Mark's exposure to Hebrew in school sparked his interest. Despite initially focusing on economics, a course on Psalms introduced him to a captivating study of Jewish texts, leading him to a major in Hebrew studies.
Amy Jill Levine's Transition to Professorship in New Testament and Jewish Studies
Amy Jill Levine, a distinguished professor in New Testament and Jewish Studies, shares her unique path to academia. Raised in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighborhood, she began questioning religious beliefs from a young age. Her academic journey led her to graduate school at Duke, where she delved into Old Testament studies and later integrated rabbinic literature to enhance her understanding of the texts. Overcoming challenges of anti-Semitic remarks, AJ's deep dive into Jewish and New Testament studies propelled her into her current roles.
Exploring Rabbinic Literature Interplay with New Testament Studies
AJ elaborates on the significance of rabbinic literature in understanding first-century Judaism and the New Testament. Rabbinic texts, including the Mishnah and Talmud, provide insights into legal principles, social history, and interpretations of biblical texts. By contextualizing rabbinic writings, scholars can refine interpretations of New Testament passages and correct misconceptions originating from cherry-picked excerpts.
Impacts of Hebrew Language Evolution on Interpretations
Discussion revolves around the evolution of Hebrew language post-destruction of the temple. Hebrew continued to be spoken and used in various contexts, including liturgically and in commentary literature. The influences of Greek and other languages introduced new vocabulary, shaping the linguistic landscape of Hebrew across centuries. Understanding Hebrew's adaptability and usage sheds light on its role in preserving Jewish history and facilitating communication among diverse Jewish communities.
In this episode, we sit down with Marc Brettler and Amy-Jill “AJ” Levine to discuss the Jewish faith, Rabbinic Literature, the New Testament, Christianity, Anti-Semitism, and more. How do Judaism and Christianity intersect? These two experts are certainly the people to enlighten us on this intriguing subject…
Marc is a biblical scholar and the Bernice and Morton Lerner Professor in Judaic Studies at Duke University. His research interests include a vast array of topics, including biblical metaphors, the Bible and gender, biblical historical texts, the book of Psalms, and the post-biblical reception of the Hebrew Bible. He is a co-founder of the website thetorah.com and the author of several books, including The Bible With and Without Jesus, which he co-authored with AJ.
AJ is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace. She works in biblical studies – and is a well-known critic of antisemitic, sexist, and homophobic theologies. AJ is a self-described "Yankee Jewish feminist who teaches in a predominantly Protestant divinity school in the buckle of the Bible Belt."
Dive in now to explore:
What Rabbinic Literature is, and how it fits into Old and New Testament studies.
The captivating history of the Hebrew language.
The difference between Rabbinic Hebrew and Biblical Hebrew.
How Christians and Jews understand their respective historical texts.
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