Tractate Sanhedrin
For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. Romans 5:19 NIV
The one man – Paul was a rabbinic scholar. Each time we read his letters, we must keep this in mind. If we don’t, we will assume that Paul’s theology stands in opposition to his Jewish heritage and we will wrongly conclude that Paul is separating himself from Judaism in the first century. But if we are careful, if we look, we will find precedence for much of Paul’s thinking among the rabbis. The wonder and beauty of Paul’s insights is not that they are new but that they draw a clearer conclusion from the same source. Paul does what Yeshua did before him. He demonstrates that the same thoughts and the same texts that were so familiar to his Jewish brothers can be seen in a new light. They can be rearranged so that we see something else in them. Matthew does exactly the same thing when he uses prophetic texts from the Tanakh. He provides a new way of seeing the old material. This is a standard rabbinic practice and those rabbis who were able to rearrange the connections most eloquently were considered geniuses. Certainly Paul fits that evaluation.
With this in mind, let’s read something from Tractate Sanhedrin in the Talmud.
“Therefore but a single person was created in the world, to teach that if any man has caused a single life to perish from Israel, he is deemed by Scripture as if he had caused a whole world to perish; and anyone who saves a single soul from Israel, he is deemed by Scripture as if he had saved a whole world.”[1]
Did you think Paul invented the idea of one dying for many? We know that it certainly was not a Greek idea. Such a concept was considered impossible by the Greeks. But here we have a rabbinic teaching that virtually parallels Paul’s claim. The only difference, and it is an important one, is that Paul identifies the “single person” in the rabbinic Tractate. The first is Adam. The second is Yeshua. The thought is entirely rabbinic but the connection displays the genius of Paul.
Most Christian believers not only do not know the rabbinic literature, they don’t even know it exists! What a shame! Paul’s insights would have been impossible without this prior rabbinic heritage. When we read his predecessors, we discover that they prepared the way for the Messiah just as much as the prophets. They established the intellectual and religious environment necessary for Yeshua to be recognized as the Messiah. And if Paul is any example, many rabbinic Jews and their followers did recognize Yeshua as the one they were waiting for. Now we, as contemporary believers, reap the rewards of their labor. Don’t you think it’s time we knew what they taught?
Topical Index: Tractate Sanhedrin, one man, Adam, Christ, Romans 5:19
I would say not only ought we to know the Rabbinic paths Paul fulfilled, as it were, but we ought to be grateful for those profound roots. Lack of gratitude equates with ingratitude, and devolves to the wretched anti-Semitic backdrop of the western church … the air it breathes without knowledge of its toxicity.
Most Christian believers not only do not know the rabbinic literature, they don’t even know it exists! What a shame!
There are a lot of Christians exploring and trying to understand how they fit in to their Jewish roots.
Very often we hear “Oh that is Rabbinic teaching – don’t go there!”
That attitude is stunting our growth!
Researching the “rabbinic’ rituals” of Kabbalat Shabbat, developed in the 2nd temple period, I found they are very beautiful and very meaningful.
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Focusing on each on of the rituals -lighting the candles, the Kiddush (wine), the handwashing, and the lifting of the bread, along with the blessings; speaking destiny into the children, and Prov31:10-31 proclaimed over the wife – I see the longing of His people to become His perfected bride, so that she can enter the absolute Shabbat with her Bride Groom the Lord of the Shabbat.
So yes, I believe we have a lot to learn from His nation of priests.
Skip … what you present is true and a compelling argument for proper treatment of the Jewish commentaries … HOWEVER … let us not forget that Sha’ul’s genius is predicated upon the removal of the scales from his eyes! Let us not forget that Sha’ul by his own revealing was taught by Y’SHUAH! Let us not forget that Sha’ul prior to his calling, though well learned and versed in Scripture, was not seeing Messiah Y’SHUAH in the Hebrew commentaries … in fact Sha’ul was in league with the adversary!
Now … as you point out! The combination of true enlightenment while leveraging the heritage of the Jewish writings does indeed result in genius … said genius naturally being the result of HaRuach revealing THE WORD in the fullness of the tradition of G_D’s chosen people Israel.
Funny that we readily admit that Y’SHUAH is the GLORY of Israel but how few of us will admit that the GLORY of Israel also points to the chosen people’s handling of G_D’s WORD. The LORD reveals through Isaiah “The LORD was pleased, for His righteousness’ sake, to make the teaching great and glorious” … but also “For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that refuse to hear the teaching of the LORD”
The point is that this glorious and great teaching is the fullness of TORAH and we all know that Messiah did not cast away the TORAH or the Jewish understanding of TORAH! Indeed not, but rather Y’SHUAH as promised came to fill up and define understanding of TORAH as only Messiah could and would do! And … for those that care to dig deep it is clear that Y’SHUAH (as Skip points out) did not cast away the Jewish understanding of TORAH but essentially used it as the foundation … building upon the base level of understanding to support the fullness of TORAH as delivered within the auspices of HaB’rit CHADASHA!
We must separate the rebellion of the chosen people from their proper handling of G_D’s WORD. At the same time however we must realize that even a purportedly brilliant Jewish commentator is incomplete without Messiah Y’SHUAH! All of the right exegetical and discernment methods are useless if one is prone to the predisposition that Y’SHUAH is not Messiah. Conversely when the correct methods and understanding is utilized under the guidance of HaRuach … sheer GENIUS!
Shalom Shalom
~ For as in (the first) Adam all die, even so in Christ (the second Adam) shall all be made alive ~ (1 Corinthians 15.22)
Are we (now) in Adam #1 or in Adam #2?
~ For as in Adam all die, so also in the Messiah will all be made alive ~
~ Therefore if ‘any man’ (any adam) be *in Christ*, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new ~ (2 Corinthians 5.17)
~ And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a life-giving spirit ~ (1 Corinthians 15.45)
~ The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual ~ (1 Corinthians 15:46)
Dear Skip,
I do not have your personal email. I will be on the radio tomorrow morning about Israel… only have a few hours to prepare. One issue being raised is the use of a particular Greek word. I could use your help verbally. Do you have a phone number, could you email me. Hope you don’t mind – didn’t know how else to get you quickly… need your expertise.
Arnella
May Ruach HaKodesh fill your mouth with His wisdom and understanding, that in speaking, those that need to hear, will be spoken to.
May you also be blessed in your sharing!
Thanks Antoinette, will let you know how it goes. Arnella
skipmoen@mac.com