Popularly understood as the religion of the Jews, Judaism is more precisely defined as the religion of the Jews in contrast to the Old Testament; it is the religion of the synagogue instead of the temple. The religion of modern Jews is more specifically rabbinic Judaism and has its roots in Pharisaic interpretation of the laws. Though the Hebrew Bible continues to hold a place of reverence in modern Judaism, the source of the religion is to be found in the Talmud.
Judaism has its origin in the pivotal event of the exile of the Jews following the destruction by the Babylonian army of the Jerusalem Temple in 586/7 BC. The Jews were forced to re-interprete their faith and laws in the face of the loss of the Temple and all the sacramental practices with it. Out of this the torah (law) became the centre of Jewish life and religion during the inter-testamental centuries and afterwards. But this law was interpreted in different ways by different groups, the best known of which are the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, and Hellenists. But there were, in fact, many more variants to these. Jewish rabbi Philip Sigal lists fourteen groups but suggesting there may have been more, of which the teachings of Jesus and Paul may be included (The Emergence of Contemporary Judaism (Pittsburgh: Pickwick, 1980)). The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD and of the Jewish nation following the defeat of the Second Jewish Revolt in 135 "left the Pharisaic interpretation of Judaism without rivals." Modern Judaism reached its full development with the codification and standardization of the Talmud in the 6th Cent. Interpretation of what these laws actually mean continues, of course, to take place, and modern Judaism, as in many other religions, exists in at least three forms: the Orthodox, the Reformed (Liberal) and the Conservative.
While an understanding of modern Judaism has little relevance for understanding the Christian faith, an understanding of various expressions of Judaism during New Testament times is crucial for an proper understanding the New Testament and the roots of our Christian faith.
A more relaxing introduction to modern Judaism is to read the fictional works of Chaim Potok: In the Beginning, The Promise, The Book of Light, My Name is Asher Lev, The Chosen, and Davida's Harp.
Resources:
Kenneth D. Litwak, "One or Two Views of Judaism: Paul in Acts 28 and Romans 11 on Jewish Unbelief," Tyndale Bulletin 57.2 (2006): 229-249.☰
E. A. Judge, "Judaism and the Rise of Christianity: A Roman Perspective," Tyndale Bulletin 45.2 (1994): 355-368.☰
Cornelis Bennema, "The Strands of Wisdom Tradition in the Intertestamental Judaism: Origins, Developments and Characteristics," Tyndale Bulletin 52.1 (2001): 61-82.☰
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