So I’ve finished my Masters (I hope) and am beginning some prep work for further Phd work.

I want to pursue the world of rabbinics/Jewish studies/Christian origins/New Testament Studies

A good place to start is probably why I want to study and ultimately teach in this area…

1. I was in a discussion some time ago with a friend. We were probably arguing about something (how unusual). I think it was about different approaches and philosophies of youth work. I remember him saying something like ‘most of the issues you are raising are secondary at best. All you need to do is teach the kids to follow Jesus; What Would Jesus Do?’ To which my response was, ‘Which Jesus?’


2. I was listening to a talk some time ago about ‘The Greatest Commandment’. You know, the question someone asks Jesus, ‘Which is the greatest commandment?’ The speaker was a very well educated and intelligent man who I respect immensely. But he went the whole talk without mentioning anything about the context in which it occurred. A quick google search may have unearthed a whole lot of interesting contextual stuff (actually, that’s probably not true. The google search would probably have taken some time, such is the amount of Christian guff commentary that misses the context of the time… ). This question was the question of the day. There were literally hundreds of commandments in the first 5 books of the Bible alone. To ask ‘which one is the greatest’ was to ask a similar question concerning homosexuals in Christian leadership or a question about sex before marriage. That is, to ask ‘which one is the greatest?’ is to ask a question which EVERYONE has an answer to. The answer to this question would say so much more about ones philosophy and worldview and theology and, ultimately, how they understood god. Furthermore, there were at least two main schools at the time in Jewish thought; Hillel and Shammai. Jesus’ answer was close to one school, but not the other.

How could someone speak on this passage and not even mention, even in passing, this context. It would bring it alive to any listener…

I want to be a part of something that helps those who are preparing work for the masses to think of contextual resources as well as modern day commentaries.

3. http://moreaboutthetone.blogspot.com/2009/04/why-i-want-to-study-and-teach-theology.html

4. As one contextualises the Bible, one comes to understand it in a deeper, more helpful way. One small example if that of the work of David Instone-Brewer (google him) on divorce. As he shows what Jesus said about this topic, one may reconsider the ‘traditional’ understanding.

Today, I realised something else. It’s not just about studying the context to understand Jesus or the Bible more fully. This is fine. In fact, it’s great. But there’s more,

‘Rabbinic thought is relevant to every aspect of modern life. The literature explains the meaning of living life to the fullest, in right relationship with God and humanity.’ B. Young, Meet the Rabbis, xviii.