“The Samaritan-Jewish Commentary on John” is a historic contexts commentary on the Gospel of John written from Israel and contributed via comments to by scholars and students from all around the world.
Jewish Studies for Christians is a study group, designed as an educational resource for Christian believers worldwide. Therefore, the purpose of this web-based study group is to explore, together with Christians the Jewish context of Christian faith; and in this way to contribute to ongoing Jewish-Christian dialogue and relations.
* Pay special attention to the articles marked with this –
Introduction
- Who are “the Jews” in the Gospel of John?
- For Whom, by Who, from Where and When John’s Gospel was authored?
- Judean Christian Mission to the Israelite Samaritans
- Rethinking Israelite Samaritans and their Diaspora
- A Niche Market for John’s Gospel
- Authority as the key characteristic of “the Jews” in John
Further Study:
ReDating the schism between the Judeans and the Samaritans (Prof. Alan D. Crown)
Chapter One
- John 1.1-3 (Logos Theology in Pre-Christian Jewish Tradition?)
- John 1.4-5 (The Themes of Darkness and Light: Is There a Connection with Qumran?)
- John 1.6-9 (Hebrew Names – Should We Translate It?)
- John 1.10-12 (He Came Unto His “Own”: What Can We See in Greek That We Can Not in English?)
- John 1.13-15 (What Does it Mean to be God’s Son in the Light of Old Testament?)
- John 1.16-18 (Law and Grace: Have We Made Enemies Out of Friends?)
- John 1.19-24 (Jerusalem’s Inquiry into John Baptist)
- John 1.25-27 (John,Who Do You Think You Are?!)
- Jn. 1.29-31 (Passover and Easter: What Do They Have in Common?)
- Jn.1.32-34 (The King, the Dove and the Spirit)
- Jn.1.35-42 (Why Does John Often Translate and Explain Words?)
- Jn.1.43-46 (What Was Wrong with Nazareth?)
- Jn.1.47-51 (Nathaniel, You Have Not Seen Anything Yet)
Chapter Two
- Jn.2.1-12 (Are “the Jews” really “Judeans”?)
- Jn.2.13 (Why Passover of the Jews? Where there also other Passovers?)
- Jn.2.14-17 (Cleansing the Temple: Why is John so Different from Synoptics?)
- Jn.2.18-25 (ReInterpreting “If You Are the Messiah, Tell Us Clearly?!”)
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
- John 5.2-5 (Who will heal You? A Greek or a Jewish god?)
- John 5.6-9 (Understanding Ancient Copyists of Scriptures)
- John 5.10-17 (What was the real reason for the persecution of Jesus by “the Jews”?)
- John 5.18 (Why would “the Jews” want to kill Jesus?)
- John 5.19-30 (Was the Gospel of John “simply” written or carefully designed?)
- John 5.19-30 (How to interpret this chiasm?)
- John 5.31-38 (How does Jesus know He is right?)
- John 5.41-42 (I do not receive glory from People of the Land)
- John 5.43-46 (If another comes in his own name)
Chapter Six
- John 6.1-15 (Jesus as second Moses)
- John 6.16-25 (Jesus and his strange movements around the Sea of Galilee)
- John 6.26-28 (Are we preconditioned to read New Testament in an anti-Jewish Way?)
- In Progress
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WEEKLY UPDATES
I always wondered about how this Gospel can be so Jewish and Anti-Jewish at the same time. Look forward to learning together!
Reading this Gospel outside of its original context is like watching the part of the movie that comes in the middle or even at the end of the film. You do clearly see what is going on, but you do not know why. N.T.Wright once said about the importance of the original languages: “Reading the Bible without knowing the original languages is like listening to someone playing Bach on the harmonica. You may just get the tune if you’re lucky, but you won’t get much else.” The same I believe is true about the historic background of the New Testament whether Jewish or Greco-Roman.
Absolutely correct! As a matter of fact, I would add to your statement that the historical/archaeological context is like the fourth biblical language.
yes.
I think you will enjoy this article. http://christianstudies.eteacherbiblical.com/index.php/2012/08/dry-bones-and-heavenly-bliss-tombs-post-mortal-existence-and-life-after-death-in-ancient-judaism/
I just LOVE your comment! It is so true, and so beautiful! Thank you!
I enjoyed listening to the N.T. I believe hearing it in the Hebrew strengthens the text.
Well… the text itself is not strengthened by us listening it in Hebrew, but you CAN hear some things differently. That is very true. Some times this happens with other language translations too
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I’ve never ee any of it as anti-Jewish. What part are you reffering to? I find parts that were coming against the School of Shammai’s teachings by the Pharisees. But nothing anti-Jewish
Throughout Christian history, the Gospel of John has stood among the most favorite books of the Bible, alongside perhaps only the Psalms, Isaiah and the book of Romans. This gospel has also been a source of debate. One of the main reasons for this is its “anti-Jewish” rhetoric. The problem here is that the harsh words to “the Jews” were not addressed to a particular Jewish group as in other Gospels. After all, harsh rhetoric is also present in the so-called “most Jewish” of all the four gospels, the gospel of Matthew (Matt. 23) and is consistent with the standards of speech that were acceptable for the Israelite prophetic tradition (Is.1:2-4). However, in Matthew, as well as in Mark and Luke, in most cases it can be clearly seen that Jesus argued with Jewish groups like Scribes and Pharisees, but not with all Jews. It is peculiar that only in the Gospel of John is the un-nuanced “the Jews” (in most English translations) used repeatedly, usually referring to the opponents of Jesus who were often seeking to kill him (5:18; 7:1-10; 8:1-22, 8:40; 10:29-33; 11:8; 18:14; 18:28). Most-strikingly, it is to “the Jews” who initially followed him in this Gospel alone that Jesus said: “Your belong to your father, the devil.” (8:31) So, are Christian Bibles translating the Greek words “Hoi Iudaioi” accurately as “the Jews” in today’s sense of the word? Our guess is – probably not.
Yes, I understand that. But there were nine different sects of Pharaisees and four different groups of Saducees and then the Scribes. But as I have understood from reading other sources, that one of the main teachings of most of the Pharaisees that had control of the Temple, were from Beit Shammai, and they were known to be very set against anyone that was not from their group. There was “fighting” between them and Beit Hillel’s group. This teaching from Beit Shammai is still prevalent in todays Ultra Orthodox Judiasim, that no one from the twn tribes can come back into the Kingdom of God. I am fairly new at this, but does not Shaul speak of being adopted into the family? As we know, adoption is covenant language from ANET from around the region. I see covenant language all over the Tanach and the Brit Chadasha. Again, I have only been studying for a little over a year, so I am in my infancy, I realize, but there seems to me, to be many “myraids” of people that followed Yeshua in the first century. And those seem to have been from Hillel’s teachins vs. the teachings of Shammai.
Just as an example, if I spoke against a group such as the KKK, and told them the their father is the devil, would I be speaking to all Americans? Of course not. Just as when Yeshua spoke against the Pharasees that were teaching hatred of their brethern, when He told them Their father was the devil!
Dear Ken, I understand what you are saying, but it is far more complicated than what you are imagining it. First of all, Pharisees were not in control of the Temple in any shape or form. Second of all today’s Judaism follows Hillel and not Shamai on most issues. And, thirdly, the issue in the Gospel of John is not that some Jewish sub-group was in serious even lethal opposition to Jesus, but that it is “the Jews” (as a whole!) who are playing that role in this Gospel. We can deny of course that this problem exists or we can attempt to solve with historical tools available. I am suggesting that there is a real problem, but because John was talking to a particular kind of people he meant by “the Jews” not the same people we call the Jews today (read this carefully and see if I make any sense http://christianstudies.eteacherbiblical.com/index.php/2012/07/the-jews-in-john-why-does-this-israelite-gospel-seem-so-anti-jewish/). Hope it helps. Eli
Dear Dr. Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, I am interested in your view of Christian Zionism and in your comments on my recent study of the movement. Here is an article on the book. Please also see and join the discussion on Christian Zionism through Linkedin at ‘Reformed Theology Institute’. http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1108817&trk=myg_ugrp_ovr
http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2012/07/04/christian-zionism-examined/
Steven Paas, Christian Zionism Examined (Hamburg: VTR Publications, 2012) – by Jim West
Christian Zionism is a problem for theology. In the present volume, Paas describes the problem (or rather, the many problems) with CZ (Christian Zionism from hence) and offers a very fine analysis of why it is problematic. He discusses the roots of the movement and he draws from Scripture to show its impropriety.
Chapters include 1) Movements in Zionism; 2) Christian Zionism and the Bible; 3) Israel in the Bible; 4) Historical Beginnings; 5) Radical Millenialism; 6) German Christian Zionism; 7) After the Holocaust; 8) Conclusions; and 9) Recommendations (which is really the highlight of the volume, since here Paas doesn’t simply describe the problem but offers a way forward for Christians who do love Israel in truth).
If I have grasped the thrust of Paas’s work correctly it is that Christian Zionism is not in its essence love of Israel or love for Jews; it is a corruption of love and in reality disdain for and contempt for Jews, who only serve the purpose of precipitating the Second Coming of Christ. Israel matters; but only as a means to an end. Those Jews who convert are all well and good but those who don’t are deserving of destruction. In short, Christian Zionism’s ‘philosemitism’ is nothing more than a thinly veiled and ironic ‘antisemitism’.
Christian Zionism, then, does not reflect Christian values or ethics; it destroys them. As Paas notes early on
Emphatic Zionist love of Jews or philosemitism has proved to be dangerous, because it can easily be disappointed and then change into hatred, reinforcing the notorious history of the pogroms and other forms of persecution and discrimination against Jews (p. 13).
According to Paas, Christian Zionism operates from the basis of extreme literalism (what in truth should be called extreme fundamentalist dispensationalism) and consequently fractures the covenant, decentralizes Christ, limits the Church, futurizes the kingdom, and distorts the mission of the community of faith. For Christians in general, and for theologians in particular, none of this is acceptable.
How can these distortions be overcome? Paas suggests that Christian Zionists change their hermeneutic. They’re simply reading the Bible wrongly and they need to rethink their methodology and bring it in line with a more accurate hermeneutic. They also need to abandon their Zionist millennialism. And finally they should become, in Paas’s terminology, ‘more mission minded’.
The volume at hand is a tremendous, conciliatory, wise, and historically accurate attempt to describe a movement which holds sway in ultra-conservative Christian circles. And though Paas offers a way forward for Christian Zionists and for Christian Zionism, it is doubtful that many in that camp will either read or appreciate his recommendations. Christian Zionism is a subset of Fundamentalism and Fundamentalists generally never read materials outside their own camp and when they do, they read them only with a view to ‘debunk’ them or find fault so as to ignore them. Would that they would take this volume in hand and really consider it. Yet in spite of that hope, I remain pessimistic; both about the movement and about those who adhere to it.
Jim West
Quartz Hill School of Theology
See also:
http://www.amazon.de/product-reviews/3941750860/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
Dear Dr. Steven Paas, shalom!
First of all, I would like to thank you for writing and asking this question since it an important one. Doubtless, I would not be able to do a full justice to answering it, but I can share with you my basic ideas about it.
In general, my personal view of Christian Zionism ranges between negative, very negative, positive, very positive and mixed. Before suggesting that I have shared personality disorder, please, give me few moments to explain and clarify what I mean .
Christian Zionism is not a monolith movement. They, like Jews and they like the rest of the Christians, are “all over the map.” What some people mean by Christian Zionism is not what other people mean by it. There are Christian Zionists for example that define it much more in the terms of historic Zionism that is that Jewish people have a right to return to its historic national homeland, but since they are Christians they refer to themselves as Christian Zionists.
There are others who developed it into a concrete idea that every Jew must come to Israel or he or she is “living in sin” being disobedience to God’s command. I for myself do not see living in Israel as obedience but rather God’s special favor and blessing.
Often times Christians Zionist that call for Jews to return are supporting their right to return at the expense of the Arab Palestinian and Arab Israeli right to be in the Holy Land at all. Their attitude towards Arab Israeli Christians is something as follows: If you are an Arab Christian what are you still doing in Israel?! That is of course disturbing to say the least. Then there is a third type of Christian Zionists who affirm the historic right of the Jewish people to live in their land, to have a country of their own, but to also do what is just and right for both Jewish and Palestinian inhabitants of the Holy Land. We can argue and say that this latter view is not a Christian Zionist proper. Perhaps.
Do I agree with most issues you bring up about difficulty of sustaining Christian Zionist position from the stand point of Christian theology? Yes, I do. Do I think that sometimes or even often times, their position is disingenuous, dangerous and unChristian? Yes, I do.
Do I think that a Christian just like every Jew I know could have an honest and free opinion about the moral or immoral nature of the steps taking by the modern Israeli government? Naturally!
Would I level this kind of charges described above against all those who call themselves Christian Zionists? Definitely not.
I know its short, but I hope it helps.
Shalom, and thank you for giving insight into an area that I have not spent much time. Keep it coming
Your encouragement is always appreciated.
Your perspective on original language background for understanding the whole story is right on target. I would also offer that reading the New Testament from the Aramaic translation can be a bit surprising as well. There are claims that Aramaic was the original text for several of the New Testament books. Of course there are also claims that Coptic was the original language for parts of the New Testament, or even the entire document. I do need to confess that Aramaic give me headaches, especially after reading anything in Hebrew. Greek, well, that’s another animal all together. Many of the Greek words used in the letter to the churches contained slang words for commonly understood Hebrew expressions. Unfortunately transliteration is most difficult. Anyway, thank you for the piece your wrote. I look forward to much more.
As you are well aware there different schools of thoughts about original languages of NT books. I claim to be agnostic to those matters. Why? It is not because I do not see Semitic patterns of thought, hebraisms and aramaisms, of course I do. But I am saying that this can be just as easily explained differently – not only that it was the Greek translation of Hebrew or Aramaic original, but that people writing in Greek were thinking, if you would, not in Greek, at least not fully in Greek.
Dr. Eli,
There is a little something wrong with one of the links. The link for John 1.4-5 takes you to John 1.6-9.
Fixed thanks to you!
The following Bishop John Lightfoot’s discussion the Jewish authorship of the Gospel. (From the essay “Internal Evidence for the Authenticity and Genuineness of Saint John’s Gospel,” published in his Biblical Essays (London: Macmillan, 1893), pp. 144-46.)
First of all, then, the writer was a Jew. This might be inferred from a very high degree of probability from his Greek style alone. It is not ungrammatical Greek, but it is distinctly Greek of one long accustomed to think and speak through the medium of another language. The Greek language is singularly high in its capabilities of syntactic construction, and it is also well furnished with various connecting particles. The two languages with which a Jew of Palestine would be most familiar — the Hebrew, which was the language of the sacred Scriptures, and the Aramaic, which was the medium of communication in daily life — being closely allied to each other, stand in direct contrast to the Greek in this respect. There is comparative poverty of inflections, and there is an extreme paucity of connecting and relative particles. Hence in Hebrew and Aramaic there is little or no syntax, properly so called.
Tested by his style, then, the writer was a Jew. Of all the New Testament writings the Fourth Gospel is the most distinctly Hebraic in this respect. The Hebrew simplicity of diction will at once strike the reader. There is an entire absence of periods, for which the Greek language affords such facility. The sentences are coordinated, not subordinated. The classes are strung together, like beads on a string. The very monotony of the arrangement, though singularly impressive, is wholly unlike the Greek style of the age.
More especially does the influence of the Hebrew appear in the connecting particles. In this language the single connecting particle waw is used equally, whether co-ordination or opposition is implied; in other words, it represents “but” as well as “and.” The Authorized Version does not adequately represent this fact, for our translators have exercised considerable license in varying the renderings: “then,” “moreover,” “and,” “but,” etc. Now it is a noticeable fact that in Saint John’s Gospel the capabilities of the Greek language in this respect are most commonly neglected; the writers falls back on the simple “and” of Hebrew diction, using it even where we should expect to find an adversative particle. Thus v. 39, 40, “Ye search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life : and they are they which testify of Me: and ye will not come to me”; vii. 19, “Did not Moses give give you the law, and none of you keepeth the law?” where our English version has instead an adversative particle to assist the sense, “and yet”; vii. 30, “Then they sought to take Him: and no man laid hands on Him,” where the English version substitutes “but no man”; vii. 33, “Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and I go to Him that sent Me,” where again our translator attempts to improve the sense by reading “and then.” And instances might be multiplied.
The Hebrew character of the diction, moreover, shows itself in other ways,– by the parallelism of the sentences, by the repetition of the same words in different clauses, by the order of the words, by the syntactical constructions, and by individual expressions. Indeed, so completely is this character maintained throughout that there is hardly a sentence which might not be translated literally into Hebrew or Aramaic without any violence to the language or to the sense.
I might point also to the interpretations of the Aramaic words, as Cephas, Gabatha, Golgotha, Messias, Rabboni, Siloam, Thomas, as indicating knowledge of the language. On such isolated phenomena, however, no great stress can fairly be laid, because such interpretations do not necessarily require an extensive acquaintance with the language; and, when the whole cast and coloring of the diction can be put in evidence, an individual word here and there is valueless in comparison.
… If, therefore, we had no other evidence that the language, we might with confidence affirm that this Gospel was not written either by a Gentile or by a Hellenistic Christian, but by a Hebrew accustomed to speak the language of his fathers.
very enlightening – thank you for this wonderful learning resource – blessings shalom -anna
Use it and share it… a lot. eli
The memory of the Passover connection still lingers in modern Italian “Pasquale” for Easter. More directly amongst the southern Italian Calabrese people that I worked amongst, the Easter greeting is “Bon Pasch”.
One tradition that seems to have arisen in recent times is for Christians to celebrate a kind of seder meal before Good Friday. This does not seem to work very well, because it lacks the depth of a Jewish seder. Christians cannot connect authentically with the Passover people. Also for most people it is a “nice” custom that is an unfamiliar one. It is not a parody of the Jewish celebration.
Many Christians see the Eucharist as simply a memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection. Recently however, Pauline scholars have seen Paul’s quoting of Jesus’ words “do this in memory of me” pointing to the Passover because the Christians become part of Christ in the celebration.
Something to think about.
hello or peace and well (shaloom) and interesting topic discussed by the parties involved in a special way in the lives of millions of people and especially to be able to read the Gospel in Hebrew or Aramaic, since according to the theory of document Q there is a base evegenlio deriving others (less than san juan) that was written in the language of the evangelists must have been Aramaic, but also studying for example in their original languages, Hebrew, Psalm 102 which is undoubtedly a prophecy of the life of Jesus Himself on the cross the mention
“Eli, Eli lama sabachthani” greetings and thanks for this very interesting post
hola o paz y bien (shaloom)que interesante tema y comentada por las partes involucradas de manera especial en la vida de millones de personas y sobre todo tener la posibilidad de leer el evangelio en hebreo o en arameo,ya que segun la teoria del documento Q existe un evegenlio base del que se desprenden los demas(menos el de san juan)que fue escrito en el idioma de los evengelistas que debio ser arameo, pero tambien estudiar por ejemplo en su idioma original, el hebreo, el salmo 102 que es sin lugar a dudas una profecia de la vida de jesus que el mismo en la cruz la menciono
“eli,eli lama sabactani” saludos y gracias por estos correos tan interesantes
Fantastic! Thank you very much! Please, translate this blog to Portuguese readers! Shalom Shalom!
Shalom. I am a student of Biblical Hebrew with eTeacher level B;’m Catholic. I am very happy with my Hebrew classes. I wish this blog had a session in Castilian / Spanish. I find it very interesting for a more comprehensive training in our common faith in the God of Abraham.
Shalom
Shalom. Soy estudiante de Hebreo Bíblico nivel B con eTeacher; soy católico. Estoy muy contento con mis clases de Hebreo. Me gustaría que este blog tuviera una sesión en castellano/español. Lo encuentro muy interesante para una formación más completa en nuestra común Fe en el D-s de Abraham.
Shalom.
It seems very interesting blog, as I can translate, but I wish it was in Spanish. Everything about Christianity and Judaism interested me for spiritual and academic, since I am a graduate in history. I hope the blog can be achieved translated. Thank you and congratulations on this achievement.
Parece muy interesante el blog, en lo que puedo traducir, pero me gustaría que fuera también en español. Todo lo relacionado con el cristianismo y el judaísmo me interesa por razones espirituales y académicas, ya que soy Licenciada en Historia. Espero que pueda lograrse el blog traducido. Gracias y felicitaciones por este logro.
We are a group of pastors, ministers, evangelists capellanea prison also working in the prison units in Argentina, studies that you sent me are very valuable to complete our teaching units are formed because there respective churches within the units where they work and have educated their days of the Lord, so that it has achieved considerable desminucion of violence between them, more riots and even lower high levels that had daily deaths due to very aggressive behavior of the prison population
if you want to know if it is necessary that the blog can be seen in Castilian in my case would be a blessing thank you very much Greetings in the Lord’s Love Mirta
somos un grupo de pastores, ministros, capellanea carcelarios tambien evangelistas que trabajamos en las unidades carcelarias de Argentina, los estudios que ustedes me envian son muy valiosos para completar nuestra enseñanza en las unidades pues alli se forman las respectivas iglesias dentro de las unidades donde ellos trabajan y tienen sus dias de culta al Señor, de manera que se ha logrado una considerable desminucion de la violencia entre ellos, mas aun los motines y bajar el nivel alto que se tenia de muertes diarias consecuencia de conductas muy agresivas de la poblacion carcelaria
si quieren saber si es necesario que el blog se pueda ver en castellano en mi caso seria de mucha bendicion muchas gracias les saludo en el Amor del Señor Mirta
Excellent we need to know the origin our faith
Excelente ideia, pois ajudará muitos cristãos que ainda não entenderam que sua fé tem raízes judaicas.
Parabens pela iniciativa!
shalom!!!!
Too bad you can not read clearly not understanding the language.
I’m so sad to miss the richness that I can see in this short blog even in my groin, but can not imagine how many Spanish speakers would also lose. There will be some way of translating this treasure?
S God fill you with blessings.
Qué pena no poder leer por no entender claramente el idioma.
Me da mucha tristeza perderme la riqueza que puedo ver en este blog aun en mi corto inglé, pero no se imaginan cuántos hispanoparlantes se lo perderán también. No habrá alguna forma de traducir este tesoro?
Di-s los colme de bendiciones.
Muito Bom!
I would like to study this biblical Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel if it were possible in Spanish. Thanks a lot.
I thank to G-d for this tremendous initiative and though at the moment it is in English only, would be very wise and relevant to introduce into it our Spanish speaking bible Scholars and learning students (as myself). I think New Testament writings need to be read back at the light and perspective not only of Jewish Mindframe of their days but also in light and perspective of the Old Testament from which it synthetizes it messianic and missiological applications. Thank you once again!
“Reading the Hebrew Bible in any language other than the original Hebrew is like kissing a beautiful woman with a veil between your face and hers.” (Hayim Nahman Bialik)
SO TRUE, Robson Cotrim.
“Reading the Hebrew Bible in any language other than the original Hebrew is like kissing a beautiful woman with a veil between your face and hers.” (Hayim Nahman Bialik)
I am afraid, that untill the hebrew version of John’s Gospel will be discovered, we can not be sure in many details how should we understand it properly. I have heard, that Greek language is very specific, giving possibilities to many interpretation.
I think we can be fairly sure on most things. Fully sure of most important things. We just have to be careful not to make conclusions based on lack of facts. I do not expect to find Hebrew original of John. I think it was written by Jesus Jews in Jewish Greek.
I liked very much of this blog. I´m a brasilian and I´d like that this page could be translatade. I´d like participed. Congratulation.
I Love the judeus-cristãos. I like more informations about of judeus messianicos. Be adventist fo seven day. Shalom.
I’d like to read the blog, but for it I need that it have a traslate to spanish or portuguese!
Thanks a lot!
TREMENDOS TEMAS PERO ME GUSTARIA QUE FUERAN EN ESPAÑOL
I trust you are signed up for the blog.
Saludos. Espero aprender con ustedes.
Saludos. Salmo 119:111
El blog me parece excelente, me gustaria se tradujera al español tambien. Gracias
I’m interested in the project for several reasons: the West is the cultural fusion of three axes that have made transhistorical. These are: The Roman state (bureaucracy), the Greek logos (Academy) and Ecclesia Hebrew (God only and total).
Under my name Micayah adoptive Almanzar, studied the matter, as a professional philosopher who graduated from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD).
By the terms of the adoption and the subject itself inherent fundamentals of Intercultural Dialogue, has been very difficult for me to continue the theme. So I applaud the initiative, and in support of my ability, which are defined so as espresso.
Shalom
Estoy interesado en el proyecto por varias causas: Occidente es la fusión de tres ejes culturales que se han hechos transhistóricos. Esto son: El Estado romano (burocracia), el Lógos griego (Academia) y la Eclesia hebrea (Dios único y total).
Bajo mi nombre adoptivo de Micayah Almánzar, estudié el asunto, como filósofo profesional egresado de la Universidad Autonóma de Santo Domingo (UASD).
Por las condiciones de la adopción y por el tema mismo inherente a los fundamentos del diálogo inter cultural, ha sido muy difícil para mi continuar con el tema. Por ello aplaudo la iniciativa, y la apoyo en la medida de mis posibilidades, las cuales están definidas por lo ya expreso.
Shalom
It seems very important to all that has been done but I have a question. In the passing of the centuries Christianity has split much, unfortunately. Now each of the factions, especially the more fundamentalist or radical, always try to impose their ideas or criteria. This also happens on this plane of biblical interpretation, as well as the NT A. T. I hope this study is a little more respectful of the doctrine of most Christians and which are part of the Catholic Church. So I hope to be given an education that is not biased or distorted. If it is a teaching that takes into account the early Christian doctrine then, must be independent of the radical factions undermine authentic Christianity today. Hope is a good course.
Me parece muy importante todo cuanto se ha hecho pero tengo una duda. En el transcurrir de los siglos el cristianismo se ha fraccionado mucho, lamentablemente. Ahora cada una de las facciones, especialmente las más fundamentalistas o radicales, siempre intentan imponer sus ideas o criterios. Esto también sucede en este plano de la interpretación biblica, tanto del N.T como así del A. T. Espero que este estudio sea un tanto más respetuoso de la doctrina de la mayoria de los cristianos y los cuales formamos parte de la Iglesia Católica. Por eso espero que se dé una enseñanza que no este sesgada o distorcionada. Si es una enseñanza que toma en cuenta la doctrina del cristianismo primitivo entonces, debe ser independiente de las facciones radicales que hoy minan el cristianismo auténtico. Espero sea un buen curso.
SHALLON ADONAI, A TODOS DE SIÃO. SOU DIACONO JOSE MARQUES, DA ASSEMBLEIA DE DEUS MISSAO, EM ARACAJU, NO ESTADO DE SERGIPE, BRASIL. E QUERO DIZER QUE: TUDO (DENTRO DOS PADROES MORAIS DE DEUS) QUE NOS ACRECENTA CONHECIMENTO A RESPEITO DO NOSSO SENHOR E SALVADOR JESUS CRISTO, E DO POVO ESCOLHIDO POR DEUS, PARA SE REVELAR AS NAÇÕES, SEMPRE SERÁ DE GRANDE VALOR, NÃO SÓ PARA NÓS, OS CRISTÃOS, COMO TAMBÉM PARA OS JUDEUS. QUE ADONAI, ABENÇOE ISRAEL COM MEDIDA: CALCADA, RECALCADA, SACUDIDA E TRANSBORDANTE; EU AMO ESTA NAÇÃO, EU AMO ESTE POVO, EU AMO JERUSALÉM. QUE DEUS VOS PROTEJA.
I listen to “John” chapter I and II, but it seems the right gospel isn´t “John”, but “Matthew”! Please, correct this mistake. If I´m wrong, שליכה!
The link is to entire NT in Hebrew, please, select John (Yohanan) to listen to John. There is no way to give a link directly to John.
The soul, the spirit wants to know and have a relationship with the Lord forever and all learning is food for the soul, speaking of Israel, the people of the Lord and know that say about Christianity builds our knowledge.
Congratulations to you guys, in the creation of the blog, so you can help in the reflection on the theme: Judaism and Christianity.
Parabens a voces, na criação do Blog, podendo assim a ajudar na reflexao sobre os tema: Judaismo e Cristianismo.
Shalom, God our father think in you, God loves you, God wants for his sons “the humanity” the eternal happiness, this is His principal message, just we have to listen it, Lehitraot.
Shalom, God our father think in you, God loves you, God wants for His sons “the humanity” the eternal happiness, this is His principal message in all languages, just we have to listen it and remember it, this message exists from our creation, Lehitraot.
Iwould like to study this biblical Jewish Comentary on Johns gospel if it were possible in porteguese.thanks a lot.Shalon.
We are thinking about it.
Shalom!
It is very good to inciciativa. The theological content comes from a deep research and true wisdom.
But I’m afraid of human knowledge, I strongly believe in the divine revelation contained in
simple reading of the Bible.
Anyway the cristianimo become a Tower of Babel built by interest
formation of the reign of the Antichrist.
An example of this, and that alienates Christians and Jews is the famous trinity created by a Roman Emperor and that is not in the Bible. There is one God and Jesus is a manifestation
this one God.
Very interesting to learn about the Gospel of St. John, I also wonder how it can be so Jewish and anti-Jewish at a time.
Muy interesante conocer sobre el Evangelio de San Juan, también me pregunto como puede ser tan judío y antijudío a la vez.
Gracias.
This is a recent post on archealogical confirmation of N.T. writers John and Luke: http://www.loacepto.org/apps/blog/show/19233967-mas-datos-de-juan-y-lucas-evidencia-arqueologica-
Esta es una publicación reciente de la confirmación arqueológica de los escritores Juan y Lucas.
esto blog sera fabuloso y de mucha bendicion para todo el pueblo cristiano
muito bom
After reading most of the comments I am wondering what the term “Christianity” means in the context of this study. As I’m sure you realize, Christianity has fragmented over the years into often contradictory pieces. It would be my hope that we would stick to the concepts of the early Christians – as we are able to identify them…….
This is on of the reasons that just as it is possible to talk about Judaisms it is also possible to talk about Christianities.
Wonderful initiative, I hope this blog is done also sit in Portuguese
Maravilhosa iniciativa, espero que este blog esteja sento feito tambem em portugues
This blog Study of Christianity in Israel is extremely important, and I long to be published in Spanish to give opportunity to every American that we constantly studies units transmitted by e-Teacher Bible Academy.
I beg to submit as soon as possible in Spanish: Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel, please.
Este blog de Estudio del Cristianismo en Israel es sumamente importante, y deseo ardientemente que sea publicado en español para dar oportunidad a todos los latinoamericanos que seguimos constantemente los estudios que uds transmiten por la academia biblica e-Teacher.
Les suplico presenten lo mas pronto posible en Español:Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel, please.
Cada día que pasa es bueno saber que conocemos y aprendemos mas.Les agradezco si se pudiera realizar en español es una oportunidad única
[...] Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel [...]
[...] Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel [...]
Shalom!I agree with you Dr.Eli,it’s time to talk about Christianities and so likewise,Judaism.Thank you.
It is very interesting to hear the opinion of someone who knows Jewish culture, and the people of God. Do not forget that in the same way that the Scriptures were written (inspired) also being read, the Lord bless you.
Es muy interesante conocer opinión de alquien que conoce cultura judía, y es del pueblo de Dios. No se olvide que de la misma manera que las Escrituras fueron escritas(inspiradas) también sean leídas, el Señor los bendiga.
Parabéns pelo blog, sei que vou aprender muito com esse blog, vou aguardar ansioso quando tiver publicação em portugues, até lá vou utilizar de tradutores.Shalom
I WANT TO STUDY BIBLE WITH YOU
Hello! God bless you! It is wonderful to have this kind of resources for us the children of God, but also would be a blessing if we could access these resources in Spanish, would be wonderful. The Great “I AM” continue to bless you. Peace to Israel. Shalom.
Hola! Dios los bendiga! Es maravilloso poder contar con este tipo de recursos para nosotros los hijos de Dios, pero sería de gran bendición también si pudieramos acceder a estos recursos en Español, sería maravilloso. El Gran “YO SOY” los siga bendiciendo. Paz a Israel. Shalom.
Olá é maravilhoso saber que tem pessoas que se importão com a plavra de DEUS, e as trasmite para o mundo todo, não importa como esta sendo trasmitida mais com qualidade e muita sabedoria pois é assim que devemos trasmite a palavra de SENHOR com muito amor, fé, e sabedoria.Glorificado seja o nome do nosso DEUS é unico diguino de ser exaltado… amém Que DEUS abençoe o trabalho de vcs. abraço
Shalom, me gustaria que la informacion que proporcionan en ingles sea traducida al castellano para asi conocer al pueblo de Israel y al “YO SOY” Dios de mis padres Abraham, Isaac y Jacob.
Is it possible that Jesus’s intention to return to Galilee was a foreshadow to the gentiles in a Hebrew eschatological form? The Samaritans weren’t exiled in the Babylonian invasion and were thought of as being of impure blood to the Jewish people. They would have gladly accepted Jesus in their land without feeling threatened. Jesus being who He is, did pose a threat to the Jewish national identity in that He was the living tabernacle rather than the temple, and was seen only as a local. What do you think Dr. Eyzenberg?
[...] Samaritan-Jewish Commentary on John’s Gospel [...]
Are we going to add the dimension of cultural influences? We know that The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, etc. had at least a small influence on thought and writings. Some of this slight influence can be seen when comparing the Babylonian Talmud with other writings. But, I suppose, that is off the table a bit from what we are studying now.
Dear Dr. Wesley Rose, thank you so much for your comment. I welcome all history-related interaction. If you see a place where such input would be appropriate please contribute. I did my phd work in interaction between a section of Babylonian Talmud writers and Eastern church fathers. We all have our specialties and our educations unfortunately were too concentrated and not generalized as for scholars of the past. At the moment I am discussing the Jewish and Greco-Roman backgrounds.
I was just reading the book of Matthew with new eyes so to speak. I read somewhere sometime that it is very probable Matthew was written in Hebrew and then translated to Greek. Some scholars say this absurd because of the vocabulary used. I contend that it is indeed possible because the person who translated the material may have just been well educated. Honestly, though, I have found very little about this hypothesis. What are your thoughts?
I do not know if Matthew was translated from Hebrew or not. Honestly. It could be (there is even an early Patristic evidence for this), but arguments that come from presence of hebrew thoughts patterns/hebraisms in it are very weak, because do not require it being written in Hebrew first only though with Hebrew thoughts patterns (that happens all the time with many languages). The Hebraisms of OT could have come in to the NT via LXX that was the Jewish translation of OT also. So, this one of those things as the prophet would say “mi yodeah?!” (Who knows?!) But am not at all against the idea. If that was the case, I have no problem with it what so ever.
[...] make sure to read this post in the context of the overall study, you can find it here. Especially, John [...]
Baba Rabba founded a legislative council of three priests and four laymen and conferred upon each member the title of “hakham”.
Significantly, he introduced a number of new doctrines of faith concerning Sarmatian Judaism that have survived to this day. The Kippa woollen head piece, worn traditionally by the Sarmatians became an article of faith for all Jews in the region under the reforms.
Samaritans fled West across the Mediterranean to escape the Eastern power of the Holy Roman Empire, the most notable being the surviving High Priest bloodlines to the marshes at the mouth of the Po and Piave rivers at the top of the Adriatic and another colony of refugees that landed on the coast of the southern Aremorica along the Morbihan Bay in Gaul (Spain). Another notable group of refugees fled north and inland into the Caucus mountains, later to become known as the Khazars.
Whilst isolated,many of the Sarmatian refugees –no longer able to call themselves Sarmatians under the capital Roman crime–demonstrated remarkable cohesiveness. They renamed themselves the Enetoi — Greek for “praisworthy/chosen” –soon becoming famous as traders and scholars.
Their colony in the north Adriatic was named after the renamed Sarmatians as Enetoi (Latin: Veneti), becoming one of the most famous cities in history –Venice.
[...] make sure to read this post in the context of the overall study – you can find it here. Especially, the sections covered in John [...]
Sometimes we think one way about what has happened to The Jews in all of Time. When we start to speculate with out really studying for our selves, we are then mistaken. But when True Study in found with us, then we can know about the past, and also understand how G-d knew how Israel would be scattered. Every Island and Valley would be touched by the souls of the feet!
The Jews of History have been everywhere on this Earth. 70 AD was the last time that The Temple stood on Jerusalem’s Ophel. But Prophesy points out that The Anti-Christ or Anti-Messiah will actually be seen within The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, and The Jewish Messiah will also destroy the works of Satan and The Roman 10th Legion which will desire to drive all of People into the sea.As far as Mikki’s idea about The Khazars, they were a Turkish People who converted to Judaism in the time period of Islam, sometime after 600 AD. But this idea is not speculation as there were so many Jews in Persia at The Place where Nechemiah also stopped at The River, to take some Kohens/Priests back to Jerusalem with him. I have traced their travels of The Hebrews, by the evidence we find, that has been left behind with names and written Ancient Hebrew, which is similar to Phonetician and Canaanite Script. There is also Egyptian script in Saudi Arabia that The Children of Israel left behind after the Red Sea Crossing of The Gulf of Elate to The Mountain of G-d on the back side of The Desert, where Jethro, Moses father in law was The Kohen Gadol in Midian. He was distant cousin through Abraham’s third wife after Sarah passed on. Shalom, Lee…
Why are so many religions in our world if it’s only one god ?
Anyone on the blog would like to answer this?
Confusion breads chaos. When God threw the Arc Angle out of heaven along with a third of the angles they knew that confusion could help them win the battle. And what better way to win than “Divide and Conquer” and the best way to do this, was to create many other god’s that people would worship and in the name of their god would corrupt the earth. This is just a personal observation from someone who is just beginning to study the word.
Steve, welcome to our study group! Please, read sections carefully and make relevant comments, ask question, comment to other people comments! Good to have you with us! Dr. Eli
A question: If pharisees did not rule the temple, who did then? Jesus constantly spoke against them, because their stone-heart,mostly,because they used put the heaviest burden over people. Saducees were not out of speech,however. Althought, pharisees went to the roman prosecutor asking for cross for Him, or not? Peace with you.
Dear Gustavo, I suggest you do some more background reading about pharisees. There is an ocean of literature about them now days. Also, pay attention also to the positive things that New Testament has to say about their movement. Then try to put together the heavy critic and the positive all at once. Blessings, Dr. Eli
Didn’t Yeshuah came for the lost sheep of the House of Israel?.
Jews are House of Judah. They ate not the lost sheep Yashuah came for.
One day the prophecy of the two stiks will be fufilled,
Unification of the whole nation of Israel.
As written in Ezeekiel .
House of Israel recognized their shepherds voice.
Jews , House of Judah unlike the House of Israel were under Mosaic covenant.
House of Israel under new covenant as Jeremiah
Tells us what it will be.
Shalom, Moses. You quotation (Matt.10 or 15) and it is important. It is in Matthew. I am tracking here use and thought patterns in John, which I think are not similar to Matthew on this issue, among many others. Let’s keep on thinking together. Thank you for your comment.
I believe that Mathews for a reason earlier in the NT for such situation.
Gospels complement each other and they are is specific order.
One needs to read all three gospels before studying John just like Bereshit comes before Shemot or Genesis before Exodus.
I liked earlier coment about watching movie from the middle vav from the begining .
Some from the lost tribes of the House of Israel ate the lost sheep.
The Jews who rejected in John are understood better
If we know about Yeshuah mission in relation to House of Israel. Shomron was once a capital of the House Of Israel.
For a reason John is the final Gospel in NT.
Perhaps. Thanks for taking part. I sent you an invite to join our study group. Blessings, Dr. Eli
Shabbaot shalom…
Baroukh haShem.
Kudos for an exceptionally informative and thought-provoking site
Apropos, The Samaritan-Jewish Background Commentary on John’s Gospel — would be interested to ascertain if there are any new insightful references and/or elucidations concerning the usage of “Beloved Disciple” and the like…
Many moons ago, at an International Conference at Leuven, I have proposed that this appellation harkens back to precision oriented legal terminology attested to in sixth century (BCE) legal documents and cognate legal and quasi-legal texts prevalent in the Ancient Near East…
Dear Rabbi Szubin,
many thanks for your note. I have not yet gotten to the point where the beloved disciple comes to make it an issue
. I would love to see the paper you read many moons ago. Blessings, Dr. Eli
PS You can email me at Eli.Lizorkin@eteachergroup.com
I would like to know where the baskets came from, the 12 baskets for the leftovers. I also thought of the number 12 in connection with the number of disciples. Maybe they each carried a basket. And, how could Jesus make himself heard with that many people?
Birdie
Birdie, shalom. The twelve baskets for leftovers are actually no difficulty at all. Baskets… well… they should not be imagined as anything special that someone just happened to have with them. They are likely just part of what 5000+ people carried with them (think about they had to have had some things with them!). In other words there are number of ways and number of reasons as to why they were there already. Baskets could have been bags of almost any kind. The point is symbolic twelve, not the baskets or their shape or size.
About making you heard to so many people the answer is very clear yes. The issue is not how many people, but how good the natural acoustics are. There are places that are up until now known for acoustics where one can say something in a low voice on one end and be heard clearly on the other all because of great natural acoustics. Let’s keep thinking together. I think we are on the right track. Don’t you?
Dr. Eli
thanks; great answers to my questions.
Its my pleasure. Keep thinking and let us keep thinking together.
Would like to comment on a variety of issues being brought forward, but the problem is there is no definitive agenda to start with. Deity is mysterious, that is where I began to look into all this whole gamut of ideas and started my research to the real God of the heavens. I can ascertain for now of Jesus being a God, but this is not at all the whole truth. Topically, I can answer questions based on history and spirituality. Not until my work is completed, anyone can see through the mystery with clarity and complete understanding. I hope…
The discussions and ideas are great, I salute your endeavor to unlock the covenant of life!
More power to you…
Pete, thanks so much. Keep you comments coming. Dr. Eli
Dr. Eli: You speak about a very good acoustic at some places, may be you forgot the place where Moses got the Law, Mount Sinai; has been shown that has a very good place/ stage, where from Moses did read the words to the people, and they did answer”we shall do” and”we shall listen”. Or was not like this? Please, do not hesitate in make correction if I am wrong. Peace with you.
Sure. It is the same idea. I was just referring to where one can hear it even now. No one knows exactly where the Moses event happen.
Dr. Eli: Shalom, but according the Old Testament, it did happen in Mount Sinai, but is not depicted the right place, in accuracy. However, it is world wide accepted a paramount, because the acoustic. In any case, that is not really important, the very important is The Law itself, I think. Best regards.
Why do moslem believed that their religion (islam) is the oldest among abrahamic Faiths ?
They believe so because their interpret Abraham, Moses and others to be Muslims (submitted ones). Once I played soccer with an Egyptian Muslim boy (in USA). He was shocked to find out that I was saying that Moses was Jewish(more accurately Israelite). Now… if Muslim’s logic was employed by the rabbis (and the did employ it:-)) they would call Moses – Moses our Rabbi (Moses Rabeinu – a standard designation in Judaism today). In this way Christians also historically could say that Moses was a Christian
, since Moses spoke and believe in the coming Jesus the Christ (according to the NT). So this is tricky. 
Definitions. Definitions. Definitions.
Sir, i have another question what is islamic holy war ?
Hi, Jeremy. I think you can find out much more if you just google it up. But the best I can tell, not being an expert on Islam (though I was born in one of the four most Holy Muslim cities in the world (Samarkand)) the jihad or holy war is very similar to Christian concepts of spiritual warfare (meaning that at its core it is spiritual defense against the forces of darkness that oppose the light, I would think that it is also attack and not defense only).
The difference I think is that in Muslim thought (and I am not in the territory of my expertise here) this warfare is not mostly spiritual like in modern Christian thought.
Of course one might argue that the literal warfare was once “Christian” too (crusades against the Muslims and Jews to liberate the Holy Land, come to mind without trying hard). So as many things in life, this is a complicated question, though it seems simple. Of course the Holy Wars fill the pages of the Hebrew Bible and can hardly be divorced from ancient Israelite religions as well. I hope it gets you thinking. Let’s keep on thinking together. Life is not easy. Dr. Eli
Brother Jeremy,
The idea which Islam brings out in our World is Jihad, which brings the struggles that a Muslim Believer is going through in their idea of making the entire World a Muslim Caliphate with Sharia Law as it’s prime directive. This goes against the Prime Directives found within G-d’s Word, The Bible.
The Muslim Belief System is directly opposite The Teachings found within Jewish and Christian Understanding, as Loving G-d first and then Loving each other in The Community of Faith. Both Elder Hillal and Yeshua/Jesus present these two points as Prime Ideas of our Believing Faith in G-d.
Shalom, Lee…
Just want to learn more about the Bible from the Jews perspective
David, wonderful. One point of correction though. There is not one Jewish perspective. 2 Jews means at least 3 opinion! (this a famous saying). But I will provide for you one my Jewish opinion about the Bible but especially about the Gospels is. No problem. Welcome to the study group!
Absolutely bless my Heart,
If there is no charge for this, I can would like to join. Be Blessed, Ezekiel.
Dear Ezekiel, Jewish Studies for Christians study group if a tuition free. Dr. Eli