What are the books and writings referred to here?

  • Tanach - Complete Hebrew bible is made up of three parts:
    • Torah - "Teaching" - First 5 books of Moses. Sefer Torah - "T" of Tanach - Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
    • Nevi'im - "Prophets" - Major and Minor, the "Nun" above.
    • Ketuvim - "Writings" - Other books, Psalms, Proverbs, Ruth, Job, Chronicles, Judges, etc...
  • All of these parts - The Tanach - are what most people refer to as the "Old Testament".

  • Talmud - Writings and Commentary by Jewish sages
  • The Talmud is made up of two parts - Mishnah and Gemara
  • Two versions of the Talmud exist: Babylonian (Talmud Bavli) and Jerusalem (Talmud Yerushalami)
  • Mishnah - "repetition" - Post Temple 70-200 AD - 6 Major Parts/Orders (sedarim), several tractates in each.
  • Gemara - Commentaries on the Mishnah - Jerusalem ~400 AD Babylonian ~500 AD
  • Midrash - "searching" - Compiled stories and extra-biblical tales compiled together that reinforce the Jewish mindset and give insight into the Talmud and Tanach.

  • Targum - "translation/interpretation" - usually refers to Aramaic versions. There are two well known Aramaic versions:
    • Targum Onkelos - Translation of the Torah, official Babylonian version
    • Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel - a translation of the Prophets (Nev'im)

  • Septuagint / LXX - Koine Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Date around 300-200 BC.
    • Quoted in the New Testament along with the Masoretic texts
    • Was considered inspired by Philo and Josephus
    • Includes some books not now considered part of the Jewish Canon... ie: includes some Apocrypha


Historical contributors to the Talmud and early Rabbinical Judaism

  • Hillel the Elder - 110BC to 10AD - Time of King Herod - Founded the "House of Hillel"
    • Associated with the development of the Talmud - had Highest authority among Pharisees
    • "If I am not for myself, who will be? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?"
    • "What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn" (Shab. 31a)

  • Gamaliel the Elder - Mid first century AD, died before the Destruction of the Second Temple - Grandson of Hillel the Elder
    • Held senior position in the Sanhedrin. Contemporary of Nicodemus and Apostle Paul. - (Acts 5:34-40)
    • Paul says he learned under Gamaliel - (Acts 22:3)
    • Catholic tradition holds that Gamaliel and Nicodemus were secretly converted to Christianity, Jewish tradition maintains he remained a Pharisee until his death.

  • Johanan Ben Zakkai - 30AD-60AD - Heavily contributed to the Mishnah
    • Student of Hillel, founded Yavneh (school), opposed Saduccees
    • Member of the Sanhedrin
    • Instituted new regulations after the destruction of the Temple
    • Implemented new regulations and edicts

  • Akiva ben Joseph - 17AD - 137AD - Contributor to Mishnah and Midrash Halakha
    • One of the earliest founders of Rabbinical Judiasm
    • Regarded Bar Kochba as the Jewish Messiah
    • Systemized the Jewish Laws and Teachings

  • Important changes came out of Post-Temple Judiasm:
    • Temple Sacrifices and worship could be replaced with good deeds/Mitzvot - Based on Hosea 6:6 - "I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Matthew 9:13, 12:7)
    • Synagogues and houses of study replaced the Temple
    • Rejection of the Septuagint Translation
    • Added blessing of Birkat HaMinim - Actually a curse against "heretics" generally understood to be Jewish messianic believers of Jesus