“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:36 – 40
OUR MISSION AND VISION
What We Believe
We contend in agreement with Paul, that the gospel is for the Jew first and the gentile second (Romans 1:16). Jesus was a Jew; the Apostles were Jews and the first converts to Christianity were Jews. While Christianity was under the leadership of the Apostles, the movement was not considered a distinct religion from Judaism but they were regarded as a “sect” (Acts 24:5, Acts 28:22) – one of many prominent sects in Judaism that existed at the time. They were known as the “Nazarenes” (Acts 24:5). Jesus came to fulfil Old Testament prophecy; therefore, his arrival can only represent the Jewish faith made complete. With this in mind, we believe that the New Testament is best understood in light of the worldview and culture it emerged from: 1st century Jewish belief and practice.
Our approach
We recognize that Christianity did not form in a vacuum, but emerged in a particular time, place and culture. Jesus spoke in language, terms and idioms familiar to the Jewish people. It is generally agreed that John the Baptist was an Essene before he was inspired to become the leader of his own movement. The Apostle Andrew was John’s disciple before he followed Jesus (John 1:35-42). The Apostle James was a “Zealot” (Luke 6:15). The “Zealots” were one of four prominent sects of Judaism (Antiquities of the Jews, Book XVII, Chapter 1, paragraph 6). The Apostles prayed three times a day in accordance with Jewish tradition (Acts 2:15, Acts 10:9, Acts 10:1-3). Jesus offered a prayer of blessing before eating bread and drinking wine in accordance with tradition (Matthew 15:36, Matthew 26:27,28, Acts 27:36, Corinthians 11:24). Jesus and the Apostles observed the tradition of Passover “Seder” consisting of various benedictions, scripture readings, and four cups: The cup of sanctification, the cup of deliverance, the cup of redemption and the cup of praise. It was on the third cup, the cup of “redemption” that Jesus intimated that it was his blood that would initiate this redemption. We utilize historical accounts and Jewish literature as helpful aids to recover lost context and background to best understand the New Testament.
MAKE A DONATION
“We sincerely appreciate any and all contributions you make to this effort.”
ABOUT US
We are a chiristian ministry dedicated to learning and teaching the jewish background and context of our faith.
Education