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What do Jews Believe about the Bible? Part 3
How do Jews view the authority of Scripture?
Like Christians, Jews differ on the issue of Biblical authority. Jewish views on the subject are far from monolithic. Today I will present the traditional Orthodox view of Biblical authority which I share.
Until the 18th Century, there was basically only Orthodox Judaism. Now, there are four major Jewish denominations - Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist. Each differs from the other in degree, nuance or substance on the question of the authority of Scripture. This issue is absolutely fundamental, since one's position on virtually all other theological questions as well as social and political issues is derived from one's understanding of Biblical authority. Is the Bible God's word? Is it inerrant? Are its words to be taken literally? Is it inspired by God or created by human genius or both? Our response to these questions will shape our entire worldview and guide our every action.
We Orthodox Jews believe that the Tanach (or Bible) is the actual embodiment of God's word, though we may differ as to how God transmitted this word. The Bible gives us insight into God and His will for mankind. This is why the study of the Bible is so important in Orthodox Judaism. (Not surprisingly, we have been called the "people of the book"). We believe that the Bible is eternally valid and authoritative. Even though it was given at particular times and junctures in history, it is valid for all time and circumstances. Not only is it eternal, the Word of God is complete. Everything can be derived from it. As Psalm 19:8 says, "The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living."
In a Jewish synagogue the focal point is the ark containing the holy scrolls of the Bible. Every Sabbath morning the same portion of the Bible is read by Jews all over the world. In the course of a year, the entire Bible is studied. Each year the cycle is repeated.
Even today, we Jews have scribes who copy the Bible meticulously and painstakingly letter by letter - no copy machines are allowed! At synagogue services the Rabbi or Cantor takes out the holy Bible scroll from the ark and carries it around the room as the congregants touch and kiss it reverently. We regard this book as holy; it is God's word and must be treated with utmost reverence and respect.
For the Orthodox Jew, the Torah is our lifeblood as a people, the ultimate blueprint for our lives, and the source of our meaning and spirituality.
The Jewish oral tradition
Judaism affirms that in addition to written Scripture the Hebrew Bible, or what Christians call the Old Testament there is also an oral tradition. While there are differences among the various Jewish denominations regarding the inspiration and authority of this oral law, all agree on its importance. The oral tradition can be divided into 3 parts - 1) Midrash, 2) Responsa literature, and 3) the Talmud and its commentaries.
Midrash
Midrash is preaching literature used to illuminate the moral teachings of the Torah. It can be thought of as similar to sermons that explore and seek to shed light on the meaning of a particular biblical text. Midrashic material dates as far back as a century before Jesus and, indeed, is still written today. It may surprise you to learn that this oral tradition, which Jesus would have been familiar with, contains ideas which later would be part of his own teachings: "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," (Mark 2:27) and, "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him 'unclean'?" (Mark 7:18), are just two examples. In all likelihood, Jesus, as a Jew, studied both the written and oral traditions and, in fact, he cited both frequently.
Responsa literature
Another component of the oral tradition is Responsa literature, comprised of specific questions and answers as to how the Jew should lead his life in obedience to God's commands. The traditional Jew takes the Bible very seriously. Those who truly see it as the Word of God try to lead their lives according to its dictates without being legalistic. There is a fine but definite line between meticulous obedience to God's law and legalism where the obedience becomes distorted as an end in itself. The critical factor is having the proper motivation for obedience namely, a sincere desire to please God, rather than to exalt oneself.
The Talmud
The Talmud is an authoritative record of rabbinic discussion on all aspects of Jewish law and custom. The Bible, in the Jewish view, was brought to closure after Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Jewish return from Babylonian exile to Israel. Judaism affirms, however, that over the centuries, man interpreted the Bible and developed customs, laws, and traditions that translated biblical principles and applied them to daily life. Orthodox Judaism maintains that this oral tradition, like the Bible itself, is divine though it was not written down until 250-500 CE in the form we call the Talmud.
The Talmud comprises the Mishna, an outline of rabbinic commentary written in approximately 250 CE, and the more extensive commentary called Gemara, completed by 450 C.E. Both are detailed explorations of the Bible, its meaning and application to our lives.
How the Talmud helps Jews apply biblical concepts to daily life
Here is an example: In Exodus 13:16, the Bible states that we should wear God's word "like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead." But what does that mean? When should these "signs" be worn - all day? What should they look like? Which words of God should be included? The rabbinic interpretation of this Scripture lead to the wearing by observant Jews of phylacteries, boxes containing biblical Scriptures that observant Jews attach to their bodies during prayer.
Here is another example. The Torah states that on Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) we are to take the fruit of "a beautiful tree" and dwell in a sukka (hut). It was left to the oral tradition, however, to explain how this commandment was to be obeyed. So the oral tradition complements the written tradition by providing both clarification and relevance. This enables the Jew to use its interpretations as a guide for properly obeying God's word in his daily life. The oral tradition was and is considered God's word and continuing revelation to and through man. It has remained fluid and adaptable to changing conditions over time.
Some look at an observant Jew's method of obedience to God's word and law and see only empty ritual. But what is critically important to understand is that there are spiritual and theological reasons for those actions. Through the oral tradition, Jews believe they are provided with a sort of "blueprint" describing how to lead life in a manner pleasing to God.
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