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Lecture 28 Outline - Jewish Law and Early Christianity

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  1. Genesis 17:  The  covenant of circumcision
    1. Sign of the everlasting covenant (17:9-14; also see Acts 15:1 and 5)
    2. On the 8th day, incumbent on all males
  2.  Matthew 5
    1. All of the law is valid:  Jesus and the disciples were all Jews.
      1.  In Acts 3:1 they keep laws for daily prayer
      2.  In Acts 1:12 they show familiarity with Sabbath law
    2. "You have heard…but I say  to you…
      1.  The depth of legal obligation (see Ruth!)
  3.  Acts 15:  The Jerusalem Council.
    1. A surprise:  more Gentiles convert than Jews.
      1.  Whereas in Judea most of the followers of Jesus are Jewish…
      2.  Outside Judea where Paul preaches, most are Gentile
    2. Jesus gave no authoritative teaching as to what to do about this
      1. On Jesus and the priority of Jews see Mk 7:24-29, esp v. 27 and  the annotation to that verse.
      2. Option 1:  all must become Jews; 
      3. Option 2:  they remain Gentiles
    3. The scriptural answer provided by James, Acts 15:13-21
      1. David's kingdom has been restored in the resurrection of Christ  with the result that:  "all other peoples may now seek the Lord,  even the Gentiles over whom my name has been called."  
      2. Four laws  Gentiles must keep (Acts 15:20).  These are laws that the book of Leviticus says are obligatory for both Israelites and aliens (=Gentiles).  E.g. Lev 17:10
  4.  So for Paul, circumcision is also not necessary (Galatians 5:2-15)
  5.  But Judaism has not been done away with.
    1. Romans 11:29 – their calling is "irrevocable"
    2. God will somehow arrange the course of human history such that "all Israel will be saved" (11:20).
    3. And so, as Father Cantalamessa writes:  "For us Christians, Judaism is not 'another religion,' but rather an integral part of our own."
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