Walk a mile in their shoes
OK, so we have an assignment due this week for New Testament. We are looking at the context of the New Testament and the initial audience. After several reading assignments (see below) we are challenged to write a reaction that several ancient rabbis might have had to the teachings of Jesus (specifically, the teachings in Matthew). Are the responses of the Jews who did not understand or choose to follow Jesus understandable? Are they defensible?
Let’s make this personal…what about you? If you were a first century Palestinian Jew (or a visiting Jew from the diaspora for that matter), what would you have thought about Jesus’ teachings? You have been well-grounded in the Torah, you truly worship Yahweh and desire to please Him. What would you have done? What questions would you have asked? Would you walk away? Would you think He was a threat?
Remember, this is pre-resurrection. Actually, pre-New Testament. All you have to go on is the teaching that you heard from this rabbi on the side of a mountain (the one recorded in Matthew) and your knowledge of the Law and the Prophets.
Can you walk a mile in their shoes?
Thoughts, anyone?
Reading List:
Bell, Albert A., Jr., Exploring the New Testament World. herald Press, 1998.
Neusner, Jacob. A Rabbi Talks with Jesus. New York: Doubleyday, 1993.
VanderKam, James C. The Dead Sea Scrolls Today. Eerdmans, 1995.
The Book of Jubilees, 160 BCE
Psalms of Solomon, ca 50 BCE
October 2nd, 2004 at 1:36 am
This is the kind of thing that I always try to do, but I have a hard time getting the perspective of those folks.
When teaching Sunday school, I always try to remind my high school kids of the context of the lesson we’re studying. I think it’s all too easy to pull out one verse and mis-apply it because it fits a thought process we have. I’ve seen that more than once in the texts we’re supposed to follow with the kids! Thankfully, I’m given the leeway to be extemporaneous.
To return to perspective on being a 1C Jew: I really wish that I could have, for myself, that perspective. I would love to be able to read and react to Christ in His own temporal history. I can’t help but think that it would help me understand his place in my own temporal history just a little bit better.
October 2nd, 2004 at 10:38 am
Right you are, Geof. Karyn and I are already getting so much out of our Intro to New Testament class. As I think Karyn said before, this whole class doesn’t even get into the NT text itself, but rather is a semester-long examination of all the historical, cultural, political, religious, and philosophical underpinnings of the NT. Valuable stuff to know! One thing we’re seeing already is that the Judaism being practiced in Jesus’ day was not some kind of weird cult diverging from historic Judaism (as sometimes portrayed in sermons or commentaries) but rather was the logical product of a series of cultural and political changes that took place during the inter-testamental period.
October 15th, 2004 at 6:11 pm
That is the coolest assignment I have ever seen! I wish they did that sort of thing at our seminary. Did you say that you had ONE week to do this assignment?? What are the other books you are reading for this class?
October 15th, 2004 at 11:12 pm
Greg, this really was a great exercise. We’ve handed in the papers (haven’t received them back yet). We’re traveling this weekend, but when I get back I’ll post more about the assignment, the class and the other readings. What seminary are you going to?
October 18th, 2004 at 5:19 pm
I’m at New Orleans Baptist Theological. I knew your husband at UVa, when I lived at the Study Center. I’m looking forward to hearing more about the class…