This may have been a book release that flew under the radar at the end of 2016. This multi-contributor work (ed. S.J. Wendel and D.M. Miller) is something of a Festschrift in honor of Stephen Westerholm (see preface). The main topic of the volume raises this key question: “in what ways did the Mosaic law continue to serve as a positive reference point for Christ-believers regardless of whether they thought Torah observant was essential?”
The book is divided into three sections: Torah Ethics in Early Judaism, Torah Ethics and the New Testament, and Beyond the New Testament. Contributors include Adele Reinhartz, Scot McKnight, Beverly Gaventa, Terence Donaldson, Richard Hays (a reprint of a previously published essay), and the book is capped off by an essay by Westerholm himself. The essays do seem to hang together pretty well, but I found the title a bit misleading – I am not sure “Torah ethics” is the right word. It may have better been termed “Torah and Early Christian Identity.” Still, several worthwhile essays included. Of particular interest to me were these:
Anders Runesson, “Entering a Synagogue with Paul: First-Century Torah Observance”
Scot McKnight, “The Law of the Laws: James, Wisdom, and the Law”
Beverly Gaventa, “Questions about Nomos: Answers about Christos: Romans 10:4 in Context”
Terence Donaldson, “Paul, Abraham’s Gentile Offspring, and the Torah”
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Is the most important commandment in Torah found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, or in Leviticus 19:18 ? It depends on who you are following. What about you? Which one is it?
Poem – What is love?
Two men came to Jesus
With different motivations.
They asked Him the same question
Relevant to all the nations:
Which is the Most Important?
The answer was the same.
Jesus did not manipulate
He was not there to play a game.
“Love the Lord your God” said Jesus
as He quoted from The Law –
to fulfill and not abolish
was His purpose, full of awe.
Jesus did not make all Scripture
Into one new great commandment.
He summarized The Law and Prophets
“First and Greatest” and “The Second.”
The Love of God is higher
Than the love of any man.
Receive from God, give back to God-
Then to others, that’s His plan.
The Love of God involves much more
Than simply “love your fellow man.”
Worship, trust, and pray to God,
and obey Him – that’s His plan
To worship and pray to neighbors,
Whoever they may be,
Or trust and obey our enemies
Would be idolatry.
The love of God is first and greatest,
And the love of man is second.
“All we need is love” are words
of dead Beetles on the pavement.
“The entire law is summed up in a single command”
are not the words of Jesus our Salvation.
It’s false teaching of Paul the Pharisee
an “accuser of our brethren.”
“Love” without God is Satan’s word through Paul
in his chapter to the Corinthians.
“I will show you the most excellent way”
is the road to eternal perdition.
Where is God in Paul’s chapter on love?
Nowhere in view of the eye.
Paul sings about himself like a Mexican Mariachi
“I, I, I, I.”
Jesus is The Most Excellent Way
Not the words of a Pharisee.
The words of Jesus are very clear.
Jesus said, “You must follow ME.”
Are you following Yeshua the Messiah, Son of Yahweh the Most High God?
or are you following:
BOSS PAUL THE PHARISEE
[sing it to the tune of “Rapture” by Blondie]
I’m Boss Paul, the Pharisee
My hypocrisy’s plain for the world to see
I travel the land and travel the sea
to make a convert who is just like ME
“All have sinned” – we know that’s true
but it never means ME – it only means YOU
My sins are all theoretical
“I’m the worst of sinners”- but don’t ask where
To be more like Jesus is what some strive
except for me – I’ve already arrived
I’m the perfect model since the road to Damascus
What were Paul’s sins? Don’t ask us!
I justify everything I do
If I testify about myself it MUST be true
I’m the only man in all history
whose testimony doesn’t need two or three
If I did something it MUST be right
Don’t use the Scripture to shed any light
Don’t do as I say, do as I do
and then you can be a Pharisee too.
The voice of Jesus……
Looking forward – Chapter 2
“I am he who searches hearts and minds”
says the Risen Jesus Christ
“Repent and do what you did at first”
Don’t be lazy since He paid the price
Yes, Jesus sees our sins today
Don’t think that He is blind
But the words of paul the Pharisee
Will put you in a bind
Jesus washed away your sins
Don’t listen to paul the accuser
paul abandoned the Church in Corinth
And then paul became an abuser
When you put your trust in Jesus
Yes, your stains were white as snow
You didn’t need to wear a Scarlet Letter
Everywhere you go
“I will repay each of you
According to your deeds”
This is Jesus speaking to The Church
Not a business selling felt needs
For “those who claim to be apostles”
Jesus said they must be “tested”
Priscilla, Aquila, and Apollos
Persevered and were not bested
They exposed the false teachings
Of paul the Pharisee
So the Church in Ephesus rejected paul
And had a chance to be free
Bibliography
All quotes are the words of Jesus, in Revelation Chapter 2