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Pinchas Shir

My research is focused on the interpretations of the biblical text in the contexts of ancient culture, languages, and history.

Galatians: To be or not to be Jewish?

Galatians: To be or not to be Jewish?

Some people read Galatians as an anti-Jewish letter, but the key to understanding Paul's message is rooted in the Galatian context. Galatian gentile believers wanted to be circumcised to become Jews. They felt that would give them something that they otherwise did not have, but Paul tried to dissuade them.

Acts 15: Are Gentiles Allowed in the Church?

Acts 15: Are Gentiles Allowed in the Church?

How is the message about a God who made covenants with a particular people in a particular land move into the gentile world? This was a perplexing issue for the early church, and the early Jewish leaders used the book of Leviticus to help solve the problem. The Apostle Paul

Shavuot Commandments and Customs

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Shavuot Commandments and Customs

This recording is a shiur (lesson) - a live teaching, complete with audience participation at a messianic synagogue (about 45 minutes long). This session explores the commandments and customs of Shavuot, focusing on their spiritual significance for Messianic Jews in particular. Yet even non-Jewish followers of Messiah will find this

Shavuot by BimBam

Shavuot by BimBam

Do you know about Shavuot, the holiday called Pentecost in the Christain Bible? This is a short informational (and entertaining) video that gives a very brief overview of the festival and how it is celebrated today by various Jewish communities.

Being and Nothingness in Jewish Spirituality

Being and Nothingness in Jewish Spirituality

Rachel Elior is a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University. In this talk, she delves deep into some foundational topics of Kabbalistic thought and focuses on the belief in nothingness. Disclaimer: this video is an academic lecture, an hour and a half, and definitely

English Translation of Syriac NT by James Murdock

English Translation of Syriac NT by James Murdock

Aramaic language is much closer to Hebrew than Greek. And since a version of Aramaic was widely spoken in Israel in the first century CE many feel that its valuable to consider the NT message in Syriac to see the nuance of meaning. The presumption is that much more in

New Testament in Syriac Language

New Testament in Syriac Language

Today, New Testament exists in many languages. But New Testament in Syrian Aramaic (Syriac) is a very ancient translation. Some Syrian Aramaic manuscripts even predate the copies of the Koine Greek New Testament used as a base of the original texts of the New Testament. Aramaic was widely spoken in

A Newly Discovered 1,750-year-old Gospel Fragment in Aramaic

A Newly Discovered 1,750-year-old Gospel Fragment in Aramaic

About 1,300 years ago, some unknown scribe in Roman-dominated Palestine took a book of the Gospels in Syriac, erased its original text, and reused the parchment for another purpose. The parchment was scarce in antiquity, so existing texts were sometimes erased, recicled and materials were reused for new books.

The Majestic Image of the Son of Man

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The Majestic Image of the Son of Man

The image of the Son of Man is not unique to the Bible. This portrayal of a heavenly messianic figure was not embraced by every Jew in antiquity, but some Jews clearly awaited this majestic figure to appear. The book of Revelation portrays the Son of Man with a sword

Sukkot Commandments and Customs

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Sukkot Commandments and Customs

This is a shiur, a recording of short thematic live and interactive teaching (broken up into 3 segments, about 50 minutes long in total) that surveys the commandments and customs of the Festival of Tabernacles and looks at the text that possibly reflects on Sukkot during the First Temple era.

Problems in Understanding Apostle Paul

Problems in Understanding Apostle Paul

Apostle Paul has been misunderstood for centuries. Joseph Shulam (Netivyah Institute, Jerusalem) Mark Hamilton (Professor of Old Testament, Abilene Christian University) George Goldman (Associate Dean, Lipscomb University) David Rudolph (Director of Messianic Jewish Studies, The King’s University) Mark Lanier (Moderator). Listen to the dialogue of these very informed conversational

Jewish Perspectives on the New Testament by Victor Strazhnik

Jewish Perspectives on the New Testament by Victor Strazhnik

In this day and age, most Christian readers are aware that the "New Testament" is a Jewish composition. Yet because these writings have been read as anything but Jewish documents for so many generations now learning how to re-read them in a more natural way is a slow process for

Would Christian Teachings Pave the Road to Holocaust?

Would Christian Teachings Pave the Road to Holocaust?

It's Yom HaShoah today, an annual day of reembrace of the Holocaust. The question about certain Christian interpretations of the Bible and their role in the events of the Holocaust is a hard question that many people would rather ignore. And that is completely understandable. This video is a lecture

The Way God Leads

The Way God Leads

In Exodus 13:17 Torah says that God did not lead the Israelites by the land of the Philistines, a much shorter route. Hebrew texts literally says, ki karov hu “though it was closer.” Instead, God led the Israelites through the wilderness path, passing through the sea of reeds, a

Jewish Belief in Resurrection

Jewish Belief in Resurrection

We live in the age of science, logic, and information when many spiritual beliefs that cannot be rationally explained are questioned and dismissed. There is one particular belief that lies at the core of Jewish and Christian faiths that is often doubted by skeptics from both sides. Yes, more and

My New Book - Missing Ingredients

My New Book - Missing Ingredients

Have you ever felt as you read the Bible that it makes no sense? You understand the words but not the meaning or the point the text is trying to make. The truth is - you are not alone. I have just published a new book entitled "Missing Ingredients: Your

The Riddle of Passover Charoset

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The Riddle of Passover Charoset

First of all, what is Charoset? It is a special Passover menu item found on every Jewish table that celebrates the exodus from Egypt. Today Charoset (חֲרֽוֹסֶת), a sweet brown mixture eaten as a part of the memorial meal that looks back to the slavery of

The Riddle of the Unleavened Bread

The Riddle of the Unleavened Bread

One of the main features of the Jewish Passover celebration is Matzah (מַצָּה), the unleavened bread. In fact, there is no Passover without this basic ingredient. Its tale is central in the ritual of remembering the Exodus deliverance. So, each year, just prior to Passover, Jews clean out

Be Careful with Compromises

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Be Careful with Compromises

In Chayei Sara we read the story of Abraham commissioning his servant to search for a wife for his son Isaac. Abraham is certain that he does not want a wife from any of the local families in Canaan. Why? But he is also very certain that he does not

All, Everyone and Anything in the Bible

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All, Everyone and Anything in the Bible

Everyone knows that translations from one language to another can be misleading, and sometimes important ideas and concepts get lost in translation. When it comes to the Bible, that is true as well. As hard as translators work, the readers can still misconstrue the meaning of the text. The context

Earliest Mention of Jerusalem Outside of the Bible

Earliest Mention of Jerusalem Outside of the Bible

In October of 2016 Israel Antiquities Authority unveiled a papyrus that is believed to be 2,700 years old. Israeli archaeologists have discovered an ancient wine ledger that they believe contains the earliest written reference to Jerusalem outside the Bible. This makes a very short text a remarkable and rare

The Oldest Bible Manuscripts

The Oldest Bible Manuscripts

The Bible is a truly unique collection of ancient texts. Unlike other books as we know them, the Bible text is not written by a single author, but many writers over centuries. Because of this unique dynamic the Bible is based on many individual ancient scrolls and manuscripts. This short

Why were the Dead Sea Scrolls forgotten?

Why were the Dead Sea Scrolls forgotten?

This is an audio lecture by Rachel Elior, a Professor of Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mystical Thought at the Hebrew University, a talk given in front of an audience of peers. Her research is current and meticulous and often challenges the status quo thinking. She answers a question many who

Trusting in Biblical Hebrew

Trusting in Biblical Hebrew

It is hard to speak of trust in a world filled with deception. It is very hard to trust, especially if you have been misled and taken advantage of in the past. Life experiences often drive us to put up walls and to hold back our trust. Every day we

The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia Martinez

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The Dead Sea Scrolls Translated by Florentino Garcia Martinez

One of the world's foremost experts on the Dead Sea Scrolls provides an authoritative English translation of the two hundred longest and most important nonbiblical Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. This book is also supplied with introductory information about the history, discovery, and publication of each manuscript. The author