Summary of New Testament From a Jewish Point of View Class - 6/5/23 and 6/12/23

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Jo Ann has been so busy that summaries of two weeks of study are included in this post. Both summaries are written by Dan.

Monday, June 5, 2023

(Jo Ann, Dan, Karen, Steve, Karen, Jay, Jessica, Robin, and Merrill attended)

In our reading we came writings like the many other letters from Paul. There was a passage that particularly caught our attention in these chapters: chapter 2 verses 14-16. This particular passage blaming “the Jews” :”the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets…they displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so they may be saved…”. I believe some of us rightly pointed out that this could not mean all Jews since both Jesus and Paul were Jews. However, Jew haters are oblivious to any such nuance. As history unfortunately bears out.

Next week we come across a topic of great interest today: “the Rapture”.

Monday, June 12, 2023

We were glad to have the company of Steve, Karen, Robin, Dave, Merrill, Dan and Odette. Jessica talked with us shortly after the study finished. Jo Ann was understandably unable to attend since it was the middle of the night in Australia.

I am so grateful for this sharp crew! Karen characterized the first part of the chapter as a call to holiness for the Thessalonians. Robin pointed out the problem of gossip being addressed here. “working with you hands” and “minding your own business” being antidotes to gossip. Steve said the Talmud says gossip injures three people: the person being gossiped about, the teller of the gossip and the hearer of the gossip.

I believe Merrill asked about the dating of the four Gospels. We discussed the sources of the Gospels and Steve mentioned the importance of oral tradition and its problems. 

We spent a good amount of time addressing the end of chapter 4 where we got to the “rapture” which is the focus of much of modern Evangelical Christians understanding of what is usually called “the end of the world”. Dan said that this is a relatively new (200 years is new?) belief. I think we agree that among all who believe in a world to come that there are a variety of understandings. I suppose we’ll find out, one way or another.

Next Monday on to the fifth and final chapter to this book.

It was a wonderful meeting, thanks to all who joined in.

As always, if I missed anything that should be included in this summary, please add by clicking the comment button below.

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