by jimwalton » Thu Sep 14, 2023 3:51 pm
> Jews and Christians might share scripture, but they also interpret it very different.
Agreed. A very good friend of mine is a rabbi, and we have had many deep conversations about the Bible. Our views are as different as night and day, and it's quite fascinating to discuss it. We had a one time decided to write a book together, but our views were so disparate we had to desert the project.
> But my point is just that the trinitarian deity isn't found in the Hebrew Bible
I mostly agree, but the Trinity is hinted at quite strongly, especially in Psalm 110.1 and Isaiah 53, along with a few others. Once again, those have very different interpretations from the rabbis, I know.
> I don't see how we can lump the Jewish and Christian conceptions together so easily
Only that Christians and Jews share together the recognition of the Tanakh as inspired by God and therefore carrying divine authority. The theological divisions between Christians and Muslims is far wider. Though the Qur'an migrated many Old Testament stories to the Qur'an, with only subtle or greater changes, depending on the story, our theological differences with Muslims are great.
Because I teach a Bible class in Bangladesh every week by Zoom, I interact with MBBs and Hindu-background believers on a regular basis, and I have spent some considerable time studying what Muslims and Hindus believe, so that I can add that to my teaching and so that I'm not buffoonish in discussion afterwards. It's quite fascinating, and I'm on a stiff learning curve. But I have a reasonable measure of understanding of the vast gulf that separates these religions and their theologies.
> Jews and Christians might share scripture, but they also interpret it very different.
Agreed. A very good friend of mine is a rabbi, and we have had many deep conversations about the Bible. Our views are as different as night and day, and it's quite fascinating to discuss it. We had a one time decided to write a book together, but our views were so disparate we had to desert the project.
> But my point is just that the trinitarian deity isn't found in the Hebrew Bible
I mostly agree, but the Trinity is hinted at quite strongly, especially in Psalm 110.1 and Isaiah 53, along with a few others. Once again, those have very different interpretations from the rabbis, I know.
> I don't see how we can lump the Jewish and Christian conceptions together so easily
Only that Christians and Jews share together the recognition of the Tanakh as inspired by God and therefore carrying divine authority. The theological divisions between Christians and Muslims is far wider. Though the Qur'an migrated many Old Testament stories to the Qur'an, with only subtle or greater changes, depending on the story, our theological differences with Muslims are great.
Because I teach a Bible class in Bangladesh every week by Zoom, I interact with MBBs and Hindu-background believers on a regular basis, and I have spent some considerable time studying what Muslims and Hindus believe, so that I can add that to my teaching and so that I'm not buffoonish in discussion afterwards. It's quite fascinating, and I'm on a stiff learning curve. But I have a reasonable measure of understanding of the vast gulf that separates these religions and their theologies.