Countering Jewish Arguments

[Melek]

Jews claim that believing in the Trinity is idolatry.

This is based on the following verse Deuteronomy 6:4.

[BIBLEDRB]Deuteronomy 6:4[/BIBLEDRB]

This is why they say God is unique and one. The Trinity doesn’t adhere to this verse. How would you respond to this?

Another claim by Jews is that the Old Testament (or as they call the Tanakh) cannot be fully understood and interpreted correctly without reading it in Hebrew. How would you respond to this?

Apparently the Christian Bible was translated from an incorrect Greek translation (however I know for a fact that his can’t be true since the King James version was directly translated from Masoretic Hebrew). Also, apparently Christians mistranslated a Hebrew word from the Old Testament as virgin to describe some of the prophesies of the Messiah but Jews claim the word translates to something else.

 

[Robbinson]

Jews claim that believing in the Trinity is idolatry.

This is based on the following verse Deuteronomy 6:4.

[BIBLEDRB]Deuteronomy 6:4[/BIBLEDRB]

This is why they say God is unique and one. The Trinity doesn’t adhere to this verse. How would you respond to this?

The phrase “the Lord is one” in Hebrew is “Adonoi Echad”. Echad, in Hebrew, is actually a compound unity. The same word Echad is used in Genesis when it says a man and woman are joined together and become “one” “echad” (two are made one). Also, the same word “echad” is used in the Hebrew secriptures when describing multiple pieces of cloth being woven together to make the tabernacle covering as “one” - “echad”.

Another claim by Jews is that the Old Testament (or as they call the Tanakh) cannot be fully understood and interpreted correctly without reading it in Hebrew. How would you respond to this?

I would disagree, but its really moot given the reverse interlinear bibles available so anyone who is motivated can read the Hebrew version by reading in English and instantly getting to original Hebrew and translation with a Lexicon and even do word studies in Hebrew

Apparently the Christian Bible was translated from an incorrect Greek translation (however I know for a fact that his can’t be true since the King James version was directly translated from Masoretic Hebrew). Also, apparently Christians mistranslated a Hebrew word from the Old Testament as virgin to describe some of the prophesies of the Messiah but Jews claim the word translates to something else.

It is true that the Hebrew bible was translated into Greek several hundred years before Christ. Its called the Septuagent. It was translated by Jews (70 rabbis/scripes - thus the name “Septuagent”) for Jews so there wasn’t any mischief. We know that the early Christians were reading the Septuagent because that’s what the majority of Jews in that area of the world were reading at that time and scholars can tell from the quotations in the New Testament based upon gramatical structure, that many/most of the quotes were to the Septuagent translation.

“alma” is the Hebrew word referred to in the Isaiah prophecy of the “virgin” birth. It is true that the word translates as “young woman” - but the context and use of that word throughout the Hebrew scriptures in virtually all cases clearly suggests a virgin, rather than just a young woman.

Also - the context of the prophecy itself tells us it must have meant “virgin” and not “young woman” because the prophecy says the birth will be a “sign” - there is nothing unusual about a young woman giving birth - but a virgin? ! ?

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Crumpy]

A very deep discussion of the Hebrew People and their scriptures is contained in a document issued by the Pontifical Biblical Commission, some years ago.

It is available electronically from the EWTN.com website, in the document library.

The title is THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR SACRED SCRIPTURES
IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE.

Several years in preparation, the document attempts to show the transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament, the unity of the two, the utter dependency of the NT on the OT, etc.

The difference of opinion on the interpretation of the OT is handled every so delicately, starting with the declaration that the Jewish understanding of the OT is “one” possible understanding, but, as you would expect, not the only understanding and certainly not the Christian understanding.

By issuing this document, the PBC was hoping to acknowledge the differences yet open the door for dialog with our “elder brothers” the Jewish people

 

[sablouwho]

I’m a Jewish convert. So I answer this question from personal experience.

The best resource that I am aware of for the questions you are bringing up are to be found in a series of books called Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus by Michael Brown. There were 4 volumes the last time I checked, each deals with different parts of the faith objections (General, Theological, New Testament, Old Testament–something along these lines).

Brown is a Jewish believer in Jesus, with a Ph.D in Near Eastern languages from NYU. The man knows his Hebrew! Brown is not Catholic, but rather an evangelical. I hope that you won’t let his not being a Catholic get in the way of using him as a resource. The books are, IMO, truly excellent at addressing a very “niche” area of apologetics.

Growing up Jewish, I was “inoculated” against belief in Jesus by well-meaning people in the Jewish community (relatives, friends, people at synagogue) who were passing on “truths” that they had heard themselves.

When I was looking into “the Jesus question” 4 years ago, I needed a resource that would help me deal with the things that I had been taught.

This book series was extremely helpful in answering my questions.