Review of Messianic Jewish Christologies - now needs updating but was current at the time. Jesus the Messiah in Messianic Jewish Theology: The Shaping of Messianic Jewish Christology LCJE International Conference Finland August 9th, 2003 1. Introduction Some fifty years ago Jacob Jocz wrote: At the centre of the controversy between Church and Synagogue stands the Christological question. This is not a question whether Jesus is the Messiah, but whether the Christian understanding of the Messiah is admissible in view of the Jewish concept of God. Here lies the dividing line between Judaism and Church. On this point neither can afford to compromise. But as Messianic Jews we challenge the reality of this dividing line. In constructing the boundaries of Messianic Jewish identity we claim to be members of both Christian and Jewish communities. Does this mean that we present an unacceptable compromise on the uniqueness of Christ? Or does our understanding of the nature of the Messiah and the being of God clash with the fundamental tenets of Jewish monotheism? And if our belief in Jesus as Messiah is acceptable within a Jewish frame of reference, how is the Christian community to react when it appears that the key doctrine of the Triune nature of God is being challenged?

1. Jesus the Messiah in
Messianic Jewish Thought
The Shaping
of Messianic
Jewish
Christology

2. Introduction
• Nerel’s
corporate
identity
• Taylor’s “Five
Selfs”
•Jacob Jocz’s
dividing line

3. Key Questions
• What is the Messianic Movement?
• What is Messianic Jewish thought?
• What are the sources and methods of
Messianic Jewish thought?

4. Creeds in Messianic Judaism
• Michael Schiffman’s review
• MJAA’s Basis of Belief
• Esther Dorflinger’s revelation
• Joseph Shulam’s reluctance
• David Stern’s request
• Hugh Schonfield’s refusal

5. Stages in the Development of
Messianic Jewish Thought
• Interpretation of Scripture
• Use of Jewish tradition
• Use of Jewish mysticism
• Biblical criticism
• Postmodern engagement
Messianic

6. Five Emerging Christologies
• Arian Christology and Unitarianism
• Messianic Kabbalah
• Recontextualising Nicaea
• Theocentric Christology
• Postmodern Messianic Jewish
Christology

7. Arian Christologies linked to
Unitarian Views of God
• Rejection of
– Tri-unity of God
– Deity of Messiah
– Hellenistic thought
– Idolatry
• Juster’s critique
• Jocz’s evaluation

8. Yochanan 1:1-4
In the beginning was the Torah,
and the Torah was with G-d,
and godlike was the Torah.
It was with G-d in the beginning.
All things came to be through it
and without it nothing made
had being.
In it was life, and the life was the
light of mankind.

9. Christologies Using the Jewish
Mystical Tradition
• Pico della Mirandola
– “No science can better
convince us of the divinity
of Jesus Christ than magic
and the Kabbalah”
• Kemper
• Pauli

10. Pauli - How Can Three Be One?
• Three-fold nature of God
• Identity of the Memra
• Angel of the Covenant
• Metatron as Son of God
• Divinity of the Holy Spirit

11. Varner’s Critique
“Although their motives may have been
sincere, their hermeneutical
methodology was so defective that
they did more harm than good in its
implementation. Their writings
serve to warn Christians today
about how not to conduct the
Jewish-Christian discussion”

12. Sadan’s method
“If I can sum up my methodological assumption
it will be this: anything a Jew needs to know
about the Messiah (Yeshua) can be found
within the Jewish tradition. This is a bold
assumption but nevertheless, one that can be
substantiated without violating this very
tradition that stresses its incompatibility with
Jesus.”

13. Messianic Jewish Christologies
Recontextualising Nicaea
• Louis Goldberg
• Daniel Juster
• Elazar Brandt
• David Rudolph
• Arnold Fruchtenbaum
• Robert Fischer
• David Stern
• Joseph Shulam

14. Theocentric Christology
• Baruch Maoz’ s critique
• God’s unity
• Y’shua’s deity
• Judaism not Jewish?

15. Postmodern Messianic Christology
• Kinzer’s concern
• Kinzer’s approach
• Torah Incarnate
• Y’shua as Shekinah
• 1st century worship

16. Conclusion
• UMJC statement
• Listen!
• Talk!
• Pray!
• Worship!