The Messiahship of Jesus in the Old Testament

1. Part 6
Is Jesus the Messiah of the OT

2. Jews claim Jesus was
Not the promised Messiah

3. Ben Shapiro, Talkshow Host

4. Mainstream Scholars claim
Not the promised Messiah

5. Bart Ehrman, How Jesus Became God

6. Some Christians Claim
Jesus was not the Messiah

7. Jesus did not come to earth to be
the Messiah…there was a Calvary
conspiracy between Rome, the
high priest, and Herod to execute
Jesus as an insurrectionist…Jesus
refused by word and deed to claim
to be the Messiah, how can the
Jews be blamed for rejecting what
was never offered?

8. What is a Messiah?
What was he supposed to do?

9. Mashiach Annointed One

10. A redeemer will save human race

11. The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you
have done this, cursed are you above all livestock
and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you
shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your
life. I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring; he
shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his
heel.”
(Gen 3:14–15 ESV)

12. Emnity
Emnity
Enmity between you and the woman
And between your seed and her seed

13. He shall bruise your head
4,000 years
4,000 years

14. Tiamat is the Mesopotamian goddess in the Babylonian
creation myth who brought chaos to the earth in the
Babylonian epic Enuma Elish (1800 BC). In the myth
Tiamat always symbolizes the forces of evil and chaos,
which destablizes the peace established by the
gods. Marduk is the Babylonian hero who saves the world
by killing Tiamat at the end of time. Tiamat is depicted as a
female serpent or dragon who is slain at the end of time.
Mark, J. 2020. “Tiamat” in World History Encyclopedia https://www.ancient.eu/Tiama

15. Marduk Killing Tiamat the Dragon at the End of Time
Marduk Tiamat

16. The redeemer will be a king

17. You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the
prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies
down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The
scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s
staff from between his feet, until he to whom it
belongs [Shiloh] shall come and the obedience of
the nations shall be his.
(Gen 49:9–10 NIV

18. Scepter, Rod of ruling Shevet
Rule’s staff [decree] M’choqeq
To whom it belongs Sheh - lo

19. Judah is place holder for a king
rules over all the nations

20. The redeemer will be Son of David

21. After the king was settled in his palace and the LORD had
given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to
Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God remains in a tent.” Nathan replied to the
king, “Whatever you have in mind, go ahead and do it, for
the LORD is with you.”
(2 Sam 7:1–3 NIV)

22. But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan,
saying: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘This is what
the LORD says: Are you the one to build me a house
to dwell in? I have not dwelt in a house from the day I
brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I
have been moving from place to place with a tent as
my dwelling.
(2 Sam 7:4–6 NIV)

23. ‘The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will
establish a house [dynasty] for you: When your days
are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise
up your offspring [seed] to succeed you, your own
flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is
the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will
establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be
his father, and he will be my son…
(2 Sam 7:11–14 NIV)

24. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever
before me; your throne will be established forever. ’
(verse 16)

25. Davidic dynasty
Prophetic descendant (seed)
Everlasting kingdom

26. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he
does wrong, I will punish him with a rod wielded by
men
(2 Sam 7:14 NIV1)

27. Who is this son of David?
Ben David
1. Solomon’s kingdom was not forever, it ended
2. Solomon was never called the Son of God

28. Foothills Mountains
Immediate Fulfillment Final Fulfillment

29. Foothills Mountains
King Solomon Messiah

30. Was Jesus the Promised Messiah?
1. WHERE will the Messiah be born?
2. HOW will the Messiah be born?
3. WHEN will the Messiah be born?
4. WHAT will the Messiah do?
5. HOW will the Messiah die?

31. Where will the Messiah be born?

32. Where: Bethlehem
But you, O Bethlehem…from you shall
come forth for me one who is to be ruler in
Israel, whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days.
(Micah 5:2, ESV)

33. Micah
740 - 670 BC
Where: Bethlehem

34. Beit Lekhem
Beit (house)
Lekhem (bread)
Where: Bethlehem

35. From ancient times
Mi-Kedem
From Days of Eternity
Mi-mei Olam
Where: Bethlehem

36. How will the Messiah be born?

37. How: Virgin Birth
The LORD spoke to Ahaz: “Ask a sign of
the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol
or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not
ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”
(Isa 7:10-14)

38. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a
sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call his name
Immanuel (meaning “God with us”)
(Isaiah 7:10-14, ESV)
How: Virgin Birth

39. Isaiah
750 BC
How: Virgin Birth

40. VIRGIN shall conceive
King James
New American Standard
New International
English Standard
YOUNG WOMAN shall conceive
Catholic Duoay-Rheims
Jerusalem Bible
New Revised Standard
How: Virgin Birth

41. Almah = Virgin
King James
New American Standard
New International
English Standard
Almah = Young Woman
Catholic Duoay-Rheims
Jerusalem Bible
New Revised Standard
How: Virgin Birth

42. Modern Hebrew Almah = Young Woman
Ancient Hebrew Almah = _____________
How: Virgin Birth

43. Canterbury Tales (1392)

44. Septuagint (250 BC)
70 Hebrew Scribes
Parthenos = Virgin
Codex Vaticanus (4th Century AD)
How: Virgin Birth

45. Emmanuel Laroche
1955
Ugaritic Literature

46. Wedding of Nikkal
and the Moon god
13th century BC
Ugaritic Literature

47. The Wedding of Nikkal and the moon god
Yarikh
1700 BC
I sing about Nikkal son of Harab, the king of Summer when the Sun sets the
moon will rise.
Behold the virgin shall give birth and bear a son!
Gordon, Cyrus. 1949. “The Wedding of Nikkal and the Moon” in Ugaritic Literature. Rome, pp. 63-64

48. The Wedding of Nikkal and the moon god
Yarikh
1700 BC
Virgin is Ugaritic ‘glmah
Isaiah may have quoted this very Ugaritic song (Gordon, 1949)
Gordon, Cyrus. 1949. “The Wedding of Nikkal and the Moon” in Ugaritic Literature. Rome

49. When will the Messiah be born?

50. From the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; [Jerusalem] will
be built again…Then after the sixty-two weeks the
Messiah will be killed and have nothing, and the
people of the prince who is to come will destroy the
city and the [Temple].
(Daniel 9:25–26 NASV)

51. From the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be
seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; [Jerusalem] will
be built again…Then after the sixty-two weeks the
Messiah will be killed and have nothing, and the
people of the prince who is to come will destroy the
city and the [Temple].
(Daniel 9:25–26 NASV)

52. When Will Messiah Die?
1. Decree to rebuild Jerusalem
2. Jerusalem is rebuilt
3. Messiah is killed
4. Jerusalem is destroyed

53. Decree
To Rebuild Jerusalem
Messiah
Killed
Temple
Destroyed
70 AD
69-Sevens
When Will Messiah Die?
Hoehner, H. (1978). Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Zondervan.
START END

54. Temple Destroyed in AD 70

55. When was the decree to rebuild
Jerusalem?

56. On the month of Nisan in the 20th year of King
Artaxerxes… I said to the king…“send me to
Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I
may rebuild it…And the king granted what I
asked”
(Nehemiah 2:5–8 ESV)

57. 1st Year of Artaxerxes I = 465 BC
20th Year of Artaxerxes I = 444 BC

58. Decree
Rebuild
Messiah
Killed
Jerusalem
Destroyed
444 BC ______ AD 70 AD
69-Sevens
When Will Messiah Die?
Hoehner, H. (1978). Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Zondervan.

59. 1. What are the total number of weeks?
7 + 62 = ___________ weeks

60. 1. What are the total number of weeks?
7 + 62 = ____69_____ weeks

61. 2. How many years are in the prophecy?
7 years/week x 69 weeks = _____ years

62. 2. How many years are in the prophecy?
7 years/week x 69 weeks = 483 years

63. 3. What kind of calendar did Jews use?
One lunar year has ________ days/lunar year

64. 3. What kind of calendar did Jews use?
One lunar year has ___360__ days/lunar year

65. 4. How many days are in Daniel’s lunar
years?
483 lunar yr x 360 days/lunar yr = _____ days

66. 4. How many days are in Daniel’s lunar
years?
483 lunar yr x 360 days/lunar yr = 173,880 days

67. 5. Convert the days into solar years:
173,880 days ÷ 365.242 days/solar yr = ________ solar yrs

68. 5. Convert the days into solar years:
173,880 days ÷ 365.242 days/solar yr = 476 solar yrs

69. 6. What year did Artaxerxes decree to rebuild Jerusalem?
Year of Decree = 444 BC

70. 7. Add the solar years to the year of the decree:
- 444 BC + 476 years = _____ AD

71. 7. Add the solar years to the year of the decree:
- 444 BC + 476 years = 32 AD

72. 8. Add one year because there is no year ZERO
32 AD + 1 = 33 AD
Hoehner, H. (1978). Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ. Zondervan.

73. What will the Messiah do?

74. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was
crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the
chastisement that brought us peace, and by his
wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD
has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:5-6

75. How will the Messiah die?

76. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are
you so far from saving me, from the words of my
groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy,
enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers
trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they
cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not
put to shame. (Ps 22:1–5 ESV)

77. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and
despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they
make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in
the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he
delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the
womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On
you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb
you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is
near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass
me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide
their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. (Ps
22:6–13 ESV)

78. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are
out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted
within my breast; my strength is dried up like a
potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you
lay me in the dust of death. For dogs
encompass me; a company of evildoers
encircles me; (Ps 22:14–16 ESV)

79. They have pierced my hands and my feet (
ESV)

80. My hands and feet have shriveled; (New Revised Standard)
Like lion my hands and feet. (Jewish Publication Society)
Like a lion they are at my hands and feet (New World)
The hacked off my hands and my feet (Jerusalem Catholic)
Oh No! My Hands and My feet!! (Common English Version)

81. They ______ my hands and my
feet
ka’ari vadai veh raglay

82. Ka Ari
Like lion

83. …like a lion my hands and feet
Ka Ari
• Prepositional phrase without a verb
• Not found anywhere else in the Tanakh

84. Like a lion my hands
and my feet
Masoretic Text 900 AD

85. They pierced my hands
and my feet
Septuagint 250 BC

86. They pierced my hands
and my feet
Latin Vulgate 400 AD

87. Nahal Hever frag.
Psalm 22 (100 BC)
Found in 1949

88. Hopkins, S. 1 Sep 2005. “The Psalm 22:16 Controversy” in BYU Studies Quarterly 44 (3) p. 167

89. Ka-Ru (not Kari)
They Pierced
Dead Sea Scrolls 100 BC

90. Like a lion Masoretic text (900 AD)
Pierced Latin Vulgate (400 AD)
Pierced Greek LXX (200 BC)
Pierced Hebrew DSS (100 BC)

91. And I will pour out on the house of David and the
inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and
supplication. They will look on me, the one they
have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one
mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him
as one grieves for a firstborn son. (Zech 12:10 NIV)

92. Where • How • When • What
Where: Bethlehem
How: Born of a Virgin
When: Before AD 70
What: Atone for Sin
How: By crucifixion

93. Were Jews Expecting
A God-Man?

94. Denise Prager
9 May 2005. “The Culture War” in The Los Angeles
Times
Jews who believe that the
Torah is from God agree on
almost every important issue of
life with Christians who
believe…the Old Testament --
is divine. [however] As a Jew, I
have many differences with
Christians’ theology. We differ
on the Trinity; and the divinity of
Jesus.
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-29-op-faith29-story.html

96. Da Vinci Code (2006)

97. Critical NT Scholars
The Christian belief that
Christ died, rose again, and
was a God-man originated in
Greek Gnosticism.
Rudolph Bultmann
(Bultmann, 1941, p. 8)

98. Historical NT Scholarship
In the eyes of the multitudes, it was blasphemous to
proclaim the Messiah to be God (Wescott, 1860, p. 145).
The idea of a Divine person…[was] foreign to the Jewish
audience of Jesus. (Edersheim, A., 1886, p. 173).
Jews expected Messiah to be a human king, and ruler.
(Schürer, E., 1891, p. 160).

99. When I first began thinking
about a divine human within
Judaism it was an enigma:
Jews were monotheists and
believed in only one God.
How could they say Jesus
was God?
(Erhman, B., 2014, Kindle Loc. 593)

100. [Now] I argue that there
were Jews…who thought it
was altogether acceptable
to worship a divine human
as god.
(Erhman, B., 2014, Kindle Loc. 593)

101. Is Jesus God?
1. Did Jesus say He was God?
2. Did the Jewish Bible say the Messiah will
be God?
3. Did any Jews at the time of Jesus think
the Messiah will be God?

102. Is Jesus God?
1. Did Jesus say He was God?

103. At that time the Feast of Hanukah
took place at Jerusalem. It was winter,
and Jesus was walking in the temple,
in the colonnade of Solomon
(John 10:22–25 ESV)

104. So the Judaeans gathered around him and
said to him, “How long will you keep us in
suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us
plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you,
and you do not believe. The works that I do
in my Father’s name bear witness about me.
(John 10:22–25 ESV)

105. I and the Father are one
(John 10:30)

106. The Judaeans picked up
stones again to stone him!
(John 10:31–32)

107. Objection!
Being One with the Father
Is not the same as
claiming to be God!
Rabbi Shmuly Boteach

108. Jesus asked: “I have shown you many good
works from the Father; for which of them are you
going to stone me?” They answered: “It is not for
a good work that we are going to stone you but
for blasphemy, because:
You being a man, made yourself out to be God.”
(John 10:33)

109. Objection!
They just misunderstood
what Jesus said!
Richard Dawkins

110. Your father Abraham rejoiced that
he would see my day. He saw it and
was glad.” The Judaeans said to
him, “You are not yet fifty years old,
and have you seen Abraham?”
(John 8:56–59 ESV)

111. Jesus said to them, “Truly,
truly, I say to you:
Before Abraham was, I AM.”
(John 8:56–59 ESV)

112. John 8:58
I AM
Ego Eimi

113. Exodus 3:14
“I am that I am”
Ego Eimi (I AM)

114. They picked up stones to
throw at him, but Jesus hid
himself.
(John 8:56–59 ESV)

115. Jesus said He is Divine
• Jesus called Himself the “I Am” (Jn 8:58)
• He said he has the same divine nature as the
Father (John 10:30)

116. Jesus said He is divine
• Jesus said He is equal to the Father (Jn 5:18)
• Jesus’ disciples called Him God: “My Lord &
my God!” (Jn: 20:28)

117. Objection!
But the Gospel of John
was written 90 AD, over
50 years after Jesus’
death!
Bart Ehrmann

118. Oldest Fragment Mark
Name 7Q5
Dated 50 AD
Discovered Qumran Cave 7
What Mark 6:52-53
Dates Mark 40s AD
Qumran 7Q5

119. The high priest asked Jesus,
“Are you the Messiah, the
Son of the Blessed?” And
Jesus said: I AM
(Mark 14:61–64)

120. And you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of Power,
and coming with the clouds of
heaven.”
(Mark 14:61–64)

121. And the high priest tore his garments
and said, “What further witnesses do we
need? You have heard his blasphemy.
What is your decision?” And they all
condemned him as deserving death.
(Mark 14:61–64)

122. Objection!
Son of Man just means
he’s a human!
Karen Armstrong

123. In my vision at night I looked, and there before me
was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds
of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and
was led into his presence. He was given authority,
glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples
of every language worshiped him. His dominion is
an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and
his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
(Dan 7:13–14 NIV1)

124. Palach Aramaic -To serve [a deity]

125. Objection!
The word palach is Hebrew for
“to serve” not “to worship” !!
Gerald Sigal. 1981. The Jew and the Christian Missionary. KTAV

126. H. Gzella Used exclusively in a religious context
M. Jastrow to serve or worship a deity
M. Sokoloff to worship the God of Israel or pagan gods
Gzella, TDOT Vol. 16, 2018, p. 607
Jastrow, M. , Dictionary of Targumim, 1903
Sokoloff, M. Dictionary of Palestinian Aramaic, 2002, p. 435
To Serve (Aramaic)
‫פלח‬

127. Daniel 3:28 serve and worship ‫סגד‬deity
Dan. 3:12,14, 18 serve foreign gods and idols
Dan 6:17 serve Daniel’s God ‫אלה‬
Dan 7:14, 27 nations will serve the Most High ‫ין‬ִ֑‫יֹונ‬ ְ
‫ל‬ ֶ‫ע‬
Ezra 7:24 servants of the House of God ‫א‬ ָָ֣
‫ה‬ ָ‫ל‬ֱ‫א‬
To Serve (Aramaic)
‫פלח‬

128. 4Q550 (Proto Esther 7:1) The most high whom you Jews serve
Peshitta Deut 5:9 Do not bow down to them don’t worship them
B Gittin 57b Antiochus’ soldiers demand Anna’s sons worship Zeus
B Yevamot 76a Children of intermarriage apostatize and worship idols.
To Serve (Aramaic)
‫פלח‬

129. 1. Son of Man ‫בר‬
‫אנש‬
2. Everlasting Dominion ‫הּ‬ ֵ֞‫נ‬ָ‫ט‬ְ‫ל‬ ָ‫שׁ‬
‫ן‬ָָ֤
‫ט‬ְ‫ל‬ ָ‫שׁ‬
֙
‫ַם‬‫ל‬ָ‫ע‬
3. Receives Worship ‫פלח‬
Daniel 7:9-14

130. Jesus: You will see the Son of Man seated
at the right hand of Power, and coming with
the clouds of heaven.
Caiaphas: tore his garments and said, “What
further witnesses do we need? You have
heard his blasphemy.. deserving of death
(Mark 14:61–64)

131. Is Jesus God?
1. Did Jesus say He was God?
2. Did the Jewish Bible say the Messiah will
be God?

132. Messiah Is Given God’s Name
For unto us a child is born, unto a son is
given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be
called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Is. 9:6, ESV)

133. Messiah is Given God’s Name
Mighty God El Gibbor
Father of Eternity Avi Ad Olam
Prince of Peace Sar Shalom

134. Objection!
El Gibbor is not God’s
Name. It is a title.
Rabbi Tovia Singer, Outreach Judaism

135. Messiah is Given God’s Name
A remnant will return, the remnant of
Jacob, will return to the Mighty God
(El Gibbor)
(Isa. 10:21)

136. Messiah is God in Jewish Bible
• Messiah is called Elohim & He sits next to Yahweh (Ps 110)
• Messiah is pre-existent and was never created (Mic 5:2)
• Yahweh says it is He, himself who was pierced (Zech 12:10)
• Malachi says Yahweh Himself will visit His Temple (Mal 3:1)

137. Is Jesus God?
1. Did Jesus say He was God?
2. Did the Jewish Bible say Messiah is God?
3. Did Jews at the time of Jesus think the
Messiah will be God?

138. Sen. Howard Baker

139. Book of Enoch
Similitudes 1 Enoch 37-71
Date 50 BCE
Language Ethiopian
Original Lang Aramaic
Discovered 1773
Published 1803
Ethiopian copy of Book of Enoch

140. The Nations Will Worship and Pray to Him
Before the sun and the stars of
the heaven were created, he
[the Son of Man] existed…He
shall be the light to the
Gentiles, And the hope of those
who are troubled of heart. All
who dwell on earth shall fall
down and worship him, And
will praise, bless and pray to
him. (Enoch 48:3–5)
Ethiopian copy of Book of Enoch

141. Melchizedek Fragment
Name 11 Q Melch
Date 100 BCE
Discovered 1948
Found Cave 11
Published Gezer Vermesh
(Vermes, Gezer, 2003, pp. 532)
Dead Sea Frag 11QMelch

142. Messiah Will Forgive Sin
At the end of days…the Messiah
will proclaim liberty to the
captives (Isa 56:1)…he will
restore the Jews [to their land].
He will forgive all their Sin.
(Vermes, G., 2003, pp. 532)
Dead Sea Frag 11QMelch

143. Messiah will sit and judge the
world.
It was of Him they wrote: “God
[Elohim] takes his place in the
divine council” (Psalm 82:1)
(Vermes, G., 2003, pp. 532)
Messiah is God (Elohim)
Dead Sea Frag 11QMelch

144. Son of God Fragment
Name 4Q246
Date 200 BC
Discovered 1958
Where Cave 4
Language Aramaic Dead Sea Fragment 4Q246

145. Son of God Fragment
The Messiah will be called:
the Son of God and Son of
the Most High
His kingdom is an eternal
kingdom. And all his ways
are just.
Dead Sea Fragment 4Q246

146. Son of God Fragment
All the nations will
worship him [Messiah].
His dominion is an
everlasting dominion
And all the earth
belongs to Him! Dead Sea Fragment 4Q246

147. Israel Knohl
Hebrew University
Jerusalem
Daniel Boyarin
UC Berkeley
Bart Ehrman
Duke University
Alan F. Segal
Barnard College, NY
Yes, some Jews before the NT were expecting a divine messiah
Messiah Before Jesus Jewish Gospels How Jesus Became God Two Powers in Heaven

148. Messiah’s Divine and Human
nature are clearly found in the
messianic [literature of
Qumran and] influenced the
emergence of Christianity
(Knohl I., 2000, p. 52).

149. There were many Jews who
believed in…something like the
incarnation [of God]…Jesus when
he came, came in a form that many
Jews were expecting: a divine
figure incarnated as a human.
(Boyarin, 2013, Kindle Loc. 241)

150. Is Jesus God?
1. Jesus clearly claimed to be God
2. The Jewish Scriptures clearly said the Messiah will
be God
3. Some Jews in the first century clearly understood the
Messiah will be God.
4. Mainstream (including Jewish) scholarship is now
acknowledging that some Jews believed it.