For centuries, supersessionist assumptions in higher education led generations of academics to assume that Jesus came to abolish the Mosaic Law. Today, a new generation of professors and researchers is producing rigorous, meticulously cited work arguing for a different perspective—that Jesus kept the Torah, valued the Torah, and instructed his disciples to keep the Torah and keep practicing Judaism. We’re joined today by Dr. Logan Williams and Dr. Paul Sloan, who have recently inaugurated a podcast of their own, called Jesus and Jewish Law, where they demonstrate how their research has led them to this pro-Torah view of Jesus.

— Takeaways —

► Jesus' relationship to the Torah is a complex issue with varied interpretations. The traditional view that Jesus came to abolish the law is being challenged by a new generation of scholars who argue that Jesus was Torah-observant.
► Studying ancient Jewish sources like the Mishnah and Tosefta is important to properly understand the legal and cultural debates in Jesus' time. Misunderstandings arise from a lack of familiarity with these sources and the nuances of Jewish law.
► A Torah-observant view of Jesus can have a transformative impact on Christian faith and practice. The Torah contains life-giving principles . They believe that understanding Jesus within his Jewish context can help to overcome negative stereotypes about Jewish law and enrich Christian spirituality.

— Chapters —

(00:00) Meet Our Guests
(01:52) Diverse Perspectives in Academia on Jesus and Jewish Law
(07:41) Jesus and Jewish Law Podcast Perspective Summary
(16:36) Personal Journeys into Biblical Studies
(30:36) Using Rabbinic Literature in Academic Contexts
(39:58) New Testament as Jewish Literature
(42:23) Healing on the Sabbath: Jesus' Perspective
(44:51) Experiencing the Commandments as Life
(01:03:36) Upcoming Books and Research

— Resources —

Jesus and Jewish Law Podcast on Apple Podcast

Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel within First-Century Judaism by Paul T. Sloan

Jesus and the forces of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal of Ritual Impurity within First-Century Judaism by Matthew Thiessen

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

Paul's relationship with Jewish law is notoriously difficult to grasp. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Novenson joins the podcast and proposes a new interpretive framework to make sense of the prolific apostle—Paul saw himself as a Jew, not at the end of Judaism, but at the end of history. Dr. Novenson is a Professor of New Testament at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of “Paul and Judaism at the End of History.” In this conversation we will examine Paul's views on justification, legalism, and chauvinism, as well as his criticism of Jewish conversion for Gentiles. These perspectives help explain some of the tensions and seeming contradictions in his letters as he addressed communities he believed were on the cusp of a radical transformation to a new era of human history.

— Takeaways —

► Paul's view of himself and Judaism: Paul considered himself a Jew and did not see his teachings as a departure from Judaism but rather as a part of its historical progression.

► Paul's imminent eschatology and its implications: Paul's belief in the imminent end of the age and the coming of the new creation heavily influenced his views on the law, justification, and conversion.

► The interpretation of "justification": The concept of justification in Paul's letters is interpreted as a "transfer term" referring to the transfer into the new creation rather than merely a forensic declaration of righteousness.

► Paul's opponents: Contrary to the common assumption that Paul's opponents were Jewish, Dr. Novenson suggests that they were actually Gentile converts advocating for proselyte circumcision.

► Paul's "legalism": Dr. Novenson challenges the traditional view of Paul as being anti-legalistic by pointing out instances in his letters where he sets strict standards and prohibitions, indicating a form of "legalism."

— Chapters —

(00:00) Introduction to Dr. Matthew Novenson

(06:30) Galatians 1:3 – Did Paul abandon Judaism?

(11:28) How Imminent Theology Informed Paul’s View of Justification

(16:57) Paul’s Opponents Regarding Circumcision and Conversion

(26:29) Legalism: Paul as a Legalist

(30:57) Paul’s Ethnic Perspective and Chauvinism

(38:20) Perspectives that Emerge from a World Steeped in Idolatry

(40:37) Romans 10:4 – Paul’s View of the Law Based on the End of History

(48:52) Imminent Eschatology and Its Implications

(58:30) Reception of Paul’s Eschatology in Contemporary Scholarship

(01:04:56) Methodological Approaches to Jewish Texts in New Testament Studies

— Resources —

Paul and Judaism at the End of History, by Dr. Matthew Novenson

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.

The Soviet Union suppressed Judaism and Jewish identity for decades. Atheism was enforced by the state. But our guest today, Pinchas Shir, knew there was more to life than the material world. In the era of perestroika, he fled to the United States, and today, he’s a Messianic Jewish rabbi. Join us as Rabbi Shir unpacks his academic work on Jewish literature, meals and food in antiquity, and the impact of texts like 1 Enoch, Letter of Aristeas, and Wisdom of Solomon on our understanding of the New Testament. Whether you’re new to Second Temple studies or a seasoned scholar, this episode will give you a fresh perspective on the historical and spiritual context of early Judaism and Christianity.

– Takeaways –

• The Suppressed Jewish Identity in the Soviet Union: Rabbi Shir shares firsthand accounts of how Jewish identity was hidden and discouraged under Soviet rule. Many Jews in Russia grew up without religious education or knowledge of their heritage due to the state’s suppression of religion.
• A Spiritual Journey of Discovery: Growing up in an atheistic society, Rabbi Shir felt an inner pull towards spirituality. His first encounter with the Bible came from American missionaries, leading him on a long journey of faith that intertwined with his Jewish identity.
• The Unique Culture of Russian Jewish Communities Today: Whether in Israel, America, or Europe, Russian Jews tend to maintain a strong sense of community. Many still speak Russian, preserve distinct cultural habits, and have a unique approach to Judaism and Messianic faith.
• Interpreting the Bible in Its Historical Context: The importance of understanding Scripture through its original Jewish and historical setting cannot be overstated. Engaging with Second Temple literature helps modern readers grasp the cultural and theological ideas that shaped early Jewish and Christian beliefs. Rabbi Shir highlights how 1 Enoch, Letter of Aristeas, and other Jewish texts offer helpful context for understanding New Testament thought.

– Chapters –

(0:00) Episode Introduction
(1:24) Growing up Jewish in the Communist Soviet Union
(4:20) Encountering the Evangelical gospel
(12:42) Journey to recover Jewish identity
(15:40) Becoming a Bible teacher
(17:14) Challenges of being a Rabbi
(20:17) Russian Messianic Jewish Community
(27:02) Doctoral Dissertation on Ancient Foods
(31:57) Academic exploration of Second Temple literature
(35:09) Diversity of thought in intertestamental Jewish writings
(42:38) Influential streams of Judaism
(45:34) Best books of Second Temple literature
(51:21) Unheard voices of Hebrew kings and prophets

– Resources –

Rabbi Pinchas Shir Online

Unheard Voices of Hebrew Kings and Prophets, by Pinchas Shir

– Who is Messiah Podcast? –

Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.

Messiah Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our First Fruits of Zion Friends. FFOZ Friends help advance our mission while gaining access to exclusive Messianic Jewish teachings and resources. If you want to partner with us in spreading the message of the kingdom to all nations, become an FFOZ Friend today.