Discover The World of First Century Rabbis Jesus Knew

It's not uncommon for people to admit today that Jesus was a Jew and even a rabbi. After all that is how his disciples often addressed him (Matt 26:25, 26:49; Mark 9:5, 10:51, 11:21, 14:45; John 1:38, John 1:49, 3:2, 4:31, 6:25, 9:2, 11:8, 20:16) and the parameters in which most people in the gospels interacted him (Matt 4:18-22, 8:19-22, 22:41-46; Mark 1:21-22, Mark 6:2; Mark 12:35-37, Luke 8:1-3, 20:27-40). But if he was truly a first-century rabbi, what does that really mean, and how does that change anything? Countless Jesus-followers might admit they don't know very much about the lives of first-century rabbis and what they cared about the most. Yet that was the world in which Jesus lived, and most of his teachings reflect the concerns and values of that very world.

To remedy this, I offer a series of lectures that help you discover the world of Jesus and his disciples and the culture and values they interacted with every day. Here are some of the most helpful topics that can lead you along this study path.

Jesus and Other Rabbis (~3hrs)

If Jesus was indeed a first-century Rabbi, then does that mean he embraced the beliefs, teachings, and conventions other rabbis of his day employed? Consider what it meant to be a teacher of Torah in the first century and explore the language and teaching techniques of ancient rabbis. Learn about

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The Gospels and Early Rabbis (~2hrs)

The gospels are filled with ancient rabbinic theological teachings. The reason is simple, Jesus was a Rabbi, a first-century teacher of Torah. The more people understand this, the more they open a door to the depth of his words in their true context. Most of the people with whom he

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The Origins and Teaching of Early Rabbis (~3hrs)

The Bible speaks about the spiritual duties of priests and Levites, about the exploits of the prophets, kings, and scribes, but it does not mention the Rabbis. To understand this new class of religious teachers, one has to trace their origins and history. What put Rabbis into the center of

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You may also wish to investigate the way Jews worshiped in the First Century in the Jerusalem Temple. In the gospels, Rabbi Jesus was never too far from the temple, and many scenes are set around those worship occasions. In these lectures, I focus on people's worship experiences to better understand the spiritual needs the temple served in antiquity. These sessions are meant for background and primarily focus on what we know from the Bible, Josephus, Mishnah, and broader Jewish literature.

Experiencing Worship at Herod’s Temple (~3h)

Have you ever imagined what a worship experience was like at the Jerusalem Temple in the days of Jesus? In these lectures, we will delve briefly into the layout and setting of Herod’s Temple, but more importantly, we will imagine the daily lives and experiences of an average first-century CE

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Speaking of the temple, the early church, the ecclesia of Acts, was a Jewish entity that frequented the Jerusalem temple. Their spiritual lives and hopes, their gospel, and many of their practices were also closely tied to their ancestral worship. The rich expressions of their faith need to be understood in context.

Jewish Ecclesia in Acts (~1hr)

The book of Acts mentions the church, which is a translation of the Greek word “ecclesia.” This Greek term is ancient, but the word “church” is actually not. Where does this new word come from? What does it mean? How did the early Christ-followers see and describe themselves? Look deeper

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As you study the first-century world of Jesus and his disciples, some topics may surprise you. I put together some interesting ideas about the Holly Spirit in early Judaism that may open your mind to questions you have never considered. And when anyone speaks of the Holy Spirit, Jews to whom we connect the Dead Sea Scrolls seemed to have an affinity for such unique terminology, well before the church ever did.

Holy Spirit in Early Judaism (1hr+)

Holy Spirit is a special term that arose and became common at a certain time in history. It is often associated with the New Testament and Christianity, and not with Judaism. But we know that God’s Spirit is simply inseparable from God, and it should not surprise us that

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Dead Sea Scrolls Explained (~1.5hrs)

Ancient Scrolls found in Israel, in the caves of the Qumran region near the Dead Sea in the 1940s, were the find of the 20th century. An impressive collection of ancient Jewish writings contained what is now the oldest known copies of Biblical texts. In this 1st session, I explain

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The study trail just keeps meandering and takes you in so many directions. People often think they understand what Jesus meant when he spoke about forgiveness or atonement and redemption. Yet they are oblivious of the ongoing Jewish communal conversation on these topics that the gospels only touch on briefly, but never fully reiterate. There is so much context that makes a huge difference in one's perception and interpretation.

In one of my lecture series, I take on a famous saying in the gospels, and I explain what Yeshua said and what those words actually meant to those who were listening. Explaining the contexts step by step takes time, but it's worthwhile.

The Sign of Jonah and Something Greater (~3hrs)

What is this Sign of Jonah? The traditional thinking is that it’s Jesus’ resurrection, three days and three nights... But the passage may not be so simple as it appears on the surface. Interested in taking a closer look and discovering another way to read the text? Go for the

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