How much does Christianity's legitimacy depend on Judaism?

[Bezant]

Hi all

I’m not being very particular about wording here, so correct or expand on my explanations where you think necessary.

Do the arguments/objections in Judaism to Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures foretelling Christ (e.g., “young woman” vs. “virgin,” qualifications for prophecy and Messiah ship, the New Law replacing the Mosaic Law), AND the concept of a Trinity vs. strictly one, incorporeal God, undermine Christianity, since it’s based on Judaism?

I have been questioning this matter for a long time, and while not a strong enough motivation that I should take my bags and leave the Church, is something I want to settle.

 

[Brett1980]

Not at all. Whilst I highly value Judaism for other reasons. I’ve found a couple of the arguments regarding christianity can be read either way. If you look at the suffering servant prophecy in Isiah it should help to see the christian perspective.

Isiah 52-53

 

[FaithJoy]

I have noticed in the last several posts you may have had some doubts on the Catholic faith. My suggestion here would be not to be tangled so much in a word or concept rather read the bible in its full context. What does it mean rather than picking it apart and listen to others who are not Catholic/Christian for their interpretation. In other words, Muslims will take the Bible,say it is corrupt, but use the Bible in a legitimate fashion on their part to make points.Non believers shouldn’t speak out of both sides of their mouth. Listen to the Truth in context.

 

[Kaninchen]

Hi all

I’m not being very particular about wording here, so correct or expand on my explanations where you think necessary.

Do the arguments/objections in Judaism to Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Scriptures foretelling Christ (e.g., “young woman” vs. “virgin,” qualifications for prophecy and Messiah ship, the New Law replacing the Mosaic Law), AND the concept of a Trinity vs. strictly one, incorporeal God, undermine Christianity, since it’s based on Judaism?

I have been questioning this matter for a long time, and while not a strong enough motivation that I should take my bags and leave the Church, is something I want to settle.

I think we Jews are often mistaken in arguing about the ‘prophesies’ and Jesus. Rather than taking them at Christian face value (Christian claim about links to the Tanakh followed by Jewish responses), we should concentrate on the NT as a ‘construct’, in other words the NT attempted to make Jesus ‘fit’ various passages in the Tanakh, in order to legitimise an entirely new and different set of belief structures.

In the end, it all comes down paradigms about the NT - was it a record or was it ‘pious fiction’? If you believe it to be a record, then, indeed, you can use it to establish the Christian position and a young woman becomes a virgin whatever Isaiah meant.

 

[antonivs]

I think any religious text will always be open to differing interpretation. When I read Isaiah 53, I see the suffering of Christ. When my Jewish friends read that same text, they see the suffering of the Jewish people.
The fact that their interpretation differs from mine, does not undermine my personal faith. I am more than willing to agree to disagree. Interestingly, the Quran (2:113) says that our differences will one day be settled by God Himself. I am more than willing to wait for that day. God bless us all. :D

 

[Bezant]

Not at all. Whilst I highly value Judaism for other reasons. I’ve found a couple of the arguments regarding christianity can be read either way. If you look at the suffering servant prophecy in Isiah it should help to see the christian perspective.

Isiah 52-53

Hi Brett

I neglected to add this in my OP, to not ref Isaiah 53 without a Christian counter-argument. If you know any particularly good ones, please post them.

 

[Bezant]

I have noticed in the last several posts you may have had some doubts on the Catholic faith.My suggestion here would be not to be tangled so much in a word or concept rather read the bible in its full context.

FaithJoy

Thank-you for your concern.

The problem is not doubt, or scepticism; in some respects, when I am critical, or when God seems to confront me counterintuitively, His answers are better.

The problem is that few Christians have given me satisfying responses beyond, look at the Bible, you can see it there.

Well yes, I do see it there. But what is our response to the counter-criticism?

What does it mean rather than picking it apart and listen to others who are not Catholic/Christian for their interpretation.In other words, Muslims will take the Bible,say it is corrupt, but use the Bible in a legitimate fashion on their part to make points.Non believers shouldn’t speak out of both sides of their mouth.

Fair criticism, but “picking [the Bible] apart” is all about discovering what it means. IMO that was Christianity, 400 A.D.!

In any case, Christians should be able to make intelligent counter-arguements to non-Christian criticism. Really, why do we believe X?

 

[nablaise]

Dr. Scott Hahn can help.
His study guide; Our Father’s Plan helped me to get how it all comes together beautifully. It is available online and in mp3 format. You can download it and listen to the talk as you go. It is a full Bible study from cover to cover.

God bless