Comments on: Why do Jews use the Old Testament? http://patmccullough.com/2007/07/16/why-do-jews-use-the-old-testament/ a blog exploring Christian origins, biblical studies, social/cultural history, method, education and the journey through academia Mon, 05 Sep 2011 20:53:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: slaveofone http://patmccullough.com/2007/07/16/why-do-jews-use-the-old-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-344 slaveofone Sat, 21 Jul 2007 19:02:00 +0000 http://pgmccullough.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/why-do-jews-use-the-old-testament/#comment-344 After the three Jewish revolts (two in Palestine, one in the diaspora), the many sectarian forms of ancient Judaism were reduced to a single dominant group, the Pharisaic-Rabbis. Some time shortly after these revolts, this group approved a list of texts (and forms of those texts) different from many of the previous sectarian groups' lists of texts (and forms of texts), which we call today the Old Testament.<br/><br/>Since competing groups with their alternate text lists (and text forms) had virtually disappeared, and since the Rabbis became the only authoritative bearers of Judaic tradition and instruction (although it appears even at the time Rabbi Ishmael's Mehkilta was being compiled that the Rabbis were still vying with the Levitical priests over who had the right and authority to teach), Jewish society would for the most part only recognize the text list and text forms approved by the Rabbis.<br/><br/>This neglects, however, the other Jewish sectarian group that survived the great revolts--the Nazarines. However, there is not as much historical information on the Nazarines as we would hope for, so it is hard to say much about them for certain. These Jews, of course, were the first followers of Yeshua and the foundation of the early church. After the three Jewish revolts (two in Palestine, one in the diaspora), the many sectarian forms of ancient Judaism were reduced to a single dominant group, the Pharisaic-Rabbis. Some time shortly after these revolts, this group approved a list of texts (and forms of those texts) different from many of the previous sectarian groups’ lists of texts (and forms of texts), which we call today the Old Testament.

Since competing groups with their alternate text lists (and text forms) had virtually disappeared, and since the Rabbis became the only authoritative bearers of Judaic tradition and instruction (although it appears even at the time Rabbi Ishmael’s Mehkilta was being compiled that the Rabbis were still vying with the Levitical priests over who had the right and authority to teach), Jewish society would for the most part only recognize the text list and text forms approved by the Rabbis.

This neglects, however, the other Jewish sectarian group that survived the great revolts–the Nazarines. However, there is not as much historical information on the Nazarines as we would hope for, so it is hard to say much about them for certain. These Jews, of course, were the first followers of Yeshua and the foundation of the early church.

]]> By: Camassia http://patmccullough.com/2007/07/16/why-do-jews-use-the-old-testament/comment-page-1/#comment-343 Camassia Tue, 17 Jul 2007 21:00:00 +0000 http://pgmccullough.wordpress.com/2007/07/16/why-do-jews-use-the-old-testament/#comment-343 It makes a better doorstop. It makes a better doorstop.

]]>