To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 04:02:55 -0500
Subject: [HF] Bible Study #002 - The Shekinah
Hi Kinsmen,
In this Bible study I want to share some expressions that are found
in the writings of the Apostles that refer to things the early Jewish
believers would have likely understood in a different sense than we do
today. If modern Christians can gain a grasp on these Biblical terms, it
wil help them to minister to Jewish folk. It will also help them to
understand their own Bible better.
(Following this study I will give a list of recommend books that can help
believers gain a better understanding of the Hebraic underpinnings of the
Church.)
The words we want to look at are:
(1) The Shekinah - You may have heard someone talk about the
'Shekinah glory.' Usually the emphasis is on the 'i' in shekinah.
They would often say Sha - k'EYE - nah glory. The word in English
should be pronounced with a short 'i'. It is She-KEE'-nah.
Shekinah is not a Biblical word, but it comes from a root word
found in the Scriptures. Shekinah comes from the root word
'shakan' or 'shaken', which means to settle down, abide, or dwell.
In ancient Judaism, the Shekinah and the Holy Spirit were pretty
much one and the same. The Shekinah spoke of God's actual
presence, sometimes visible, but more often simply felt.
There were various developments in the use of this word. The
sages spoke of it in a particular way with regard to the study of the
Scriptures. What they said was that when a group gathered for the study of
the Torah, the Shekinah passed between them. To Jews the highest form of
worship was the study of the Torah.
Jesus may have had this in mind when He said, "Where two or
three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their
midst." (Matt18:20) It is also this thinking that carries over into our
Church assemblies. There is always something special about the gathering
of the Church. God does gather His people into flocks for the purpose of
addressing Himself to their needs.
(2) The glory - This was another term used in the New Testament
writings that likely reaches back into Jewish theology during the
time of Christ. For the ancients, the term 'the glory', in Hebrew, is
haKabod, or haKavod. The Jewish sages used if often in reference to
Messiah. But they also used it in related ways. For them the glory only
dwelt in Israel.
Perhaps this is what John had in mind, when he said, "And the
Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and
truth." (John 1:14)
(3) The Image (form) of God - The ancient Hebrews were very
Messianic. They would speak of the Image of God as the Messiah.
>From this we can see other New Testament terms that may reflect
Jewish theology. Paul said, "Who, although He existed in the form
of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped."
(Phil2:6)
Now for recommended books:
(1) The Jewish Reclamation of Jesus by Donald A. Hagner
(2) The Messiah in the Old Testament by Walter C.Kaiser, Jr.
(3) The New Testament and Rabbinic Judaism by David Daube
(4) Parable and Story in Judaism and Christianity by Michael
Wyschogrod
(5) The Messiah Texts by Raphael Patai
(6) Jesus and His Jewish Parables by Brad H. Young
(7) Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad H. Young
(8) Christianity in Talmud & Midrash by R. Travers Herford
(9) Judaism and the Origins of Christianity by David Flusser
(10) Sketches of Jewish Social Life by Edersheim
(11) The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah by Edersheim
(12) A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs by David W. Bercot
The Lord bless you,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
