Understanding Jesus Through Jewish Eyes- w/ Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

Episode • Apr 13, 2020 • 1h 14m

How viewing Jesus through the lens of first-century Judaism can enrich faith, correct common misconceptions, and reshape our understanding of the New Testament. In this highly engaging and eye-opening episode, Mike Erre, Tim Stafford, and Bonnie are joined by New Testament scholar and Jewish academic Dr. Amy-Jill Levine (aka “AJ”) to explore how Jesus’ Jewish context clarifies theology, deepens spiritual practice, and invites a reexamination of the Christian narrative.

Dr. Levine, University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University, offers an extraordinary blend of deep scholarship, humility, and humor, challenging long-held assumptions about the law, women in Judaism, Paul, and more. The conversation spans Jesus’s teachings in the Gospels, Paul’s relationship to Torah, Christian misconceptions about ancient Judaism, and the modern relevance of recovering Jesus' historical Jewish identity.

Key Takeaways: • Jesus Was Fully Jewish – Understanding Jesus as a Torah-following first-century Jew radically reorients modern Christian interpretations of his teachings, particularly around ethics, law, and salvation. • Common Misreadings of Judaism – Dr. Levine debunks ideas like legalism, harsh treatment of women, and spiritual emptiness often wrongfully attributed to Jewish practice, demonstrating how these misperceptions distort the gospel. • Paul Within Judaism – Instead of abandoning Judaism, Paul’s teachings are shown to operate within Jewish thought, especially as he addressed Gentiles exploring Jesus without converting to Judaism. • Seeing the Law as Freedom, Not Burden – Obedience to Torah, from AJ’s perspective, is joyfully communal and rooted in identity—not in fear or a merit system. • Reading Scripture with Nuance – Whether it’s parables or Jesus' sayings in the Sermon on the Mount, AJ highlights the importance of literary context, intention, and the Jewish practice of "building a fence around the law." • Rethinking Christian Spirituality – Jesus’s moral teachings point toward tangible actions and transformation now—not just salvation later.

Guest Highlights: Dr. Amy-Jill Levine (“AJ”) – A world-renowned Jewish scholar of the New Testament, AJ’s groundbreaking work (including The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Short Stories by Jesus, and children’s books on parables) bridges interfaith dialogue, clears up centuries of misunderstanding between Judaism and Christianity, and offers fresh insight into the life and teachings of Jesus.

Resources Mentioned: • The Jewish Annotated New Testament – Oxford University Press • Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi – Amazon • The Book of Legends (Sefer Ha-Aggadah) – A collection of Jewish midrashic stories, recommended for deeper understanding of Jewish spiritual storytelling. • Nathan Eubank's work on Ransom Theory – Exploration of the economic motifs behind atonement metaphors in ancient scripture. • Children’s book by AJ: Who Counts? 100 Sheep, 10 Coins, and 2 Sons – Amazon

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