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The Bible and the Hebrew Heritage - The Continuity of the Two Testaments

  • Korean Journal of Old Testament Studies
  • Abbr : KJOTS
  • 2018, 24(4), pp.39-63
  • DOI : 10.24333/jkots.2018.24.4.39
  • Publisher : Korean Society of Old Testament Studies
  • Research Area : Humanities > Christian Theology
  • Received : October 15, 2018
  • Accepted : November 10, 2018

ShinAe Kim 1

1감리교신학대학

Accredited

ABSTRACT

How to read the Bible? We can’t help but read the Bible through the prism of our religious tradition or affiliation. The prism of our time and social location make a big difference as well. We read the Bible through the prism of our interpretive methods. The prism of theological and historical paradigms we embrace shapes our interpretation. If we are honest with ourselves then we have to admit that we read our Bible through our unique context, in a very subjective way. Moreover, a paradigm is a type of a worldview, a system, a model, a pattern. These paradigms affect one’s identity theology on the deepest level and will shape one’s interpretation of the Bible’s message(s). For example, statues Ecclesia and Synagoga at Strasbourg Cathedral (Notre Dame, c. 1235) represents Judaism and Christianity, Synagogue and Church. Church displays freedom, confidence and authority vs. misery, shame and submission of Synagogue. This paradigm was developed out of early patristic period and remained as a main view into the middle ages. It’s core problem is the supercessionist (replacement) perspective built on the early Church vs. Synagogue polemics, denial of Israel’s spiritual inheritance. It is in considerable tension with Romans 9-11. It should be remembered that the Bible was written predominantly by Jews and to a Jewish audience at first. It was written in the Hebrew soil and culture. The Bible basically reflects the Hebrew view of reality. And it has been transmitted to the Gentile churches. Indeed, the roots of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil. Much of what is written in the New Testament is incomprehensible apart from its Jewish context. For the Christians of the first Church, the way of “Christian thinking” meant the way of Hebraic thinking. Then what does it mean to have the Jewish/Hebraic viewpoint? That is to redintegrate the Jewishness of the Bible. Why that is so important? Because the most books of the Bible found its primary propensity in the Semitic culture of the ancient neat East. However, though the Hebrew heritage of the Church is rich and extensive, the crop of our understanding about Hebrew heritage and Christian-Jewish relations is quite lean. Therefore, proper reading the Bible and understand the meaning of it is required. Most of all, in reading and interpreting the Bible, inquiry and understanding of Jewish roots is a prerequisite that must be preceded In this article, I will emphasize the importance of the Hebrew heritage that has been treated so passively or superficially in the understanding of the Bible as the basis of Christian faith and doctrine. I will also enumerate some examples of the Hebrew heritage in the Bible texts and also its traditions. Furthermore, as a spiritual child of Abraham, I will see the ties of the church with Israel.

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