72 – Christian Scholars Defend the Torah Observant Jesus | Dr. Paul Sloan & Dr. Logan Williams

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

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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.

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