3.74: Are Christians Reading Someone Else’s Mail (in the Old Testament)?

This discussion with Jon D. Levenson answers the question, "Is the practice of Christians reading the Hebrew Bible a case of reading someone else's mail?"

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Prof. Kathryn Schifferdecker and Katie Langston talk with Jon D. Levenson answering the question, “is the practice of Christians reading the Hebrew Bible a case of reading someone else’s mail?” (And related to that – what is the relationship between Judaism and Christianity and how are they each related to ancient Israel?)

Show notes

Biblical books and passages mentioned

  • Romans 9-11

Topics, themes and figures mentioned

  • Tanakh/Hebrew Scripture
  • Biblical Israel
  • Carnal Israel
  • Election/Chosen
  • The Natural and Supernatural Jew
  • Midrash
  • Exegesis and Hermeneutics
  • Historical Criticism
  • Creative Interpretation
  • Religious Relativism
  • Apocalyptic Literature
  • Enoch Literature
  • Second Temple Judaism
  • Cultural Appropriation
  • Olive Tree of Israel
  • Theological Anti-Semitism

Ancient & Modern Works mentioned

  • The Book of Enoch: book translated by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James C. VanderKam, published by Fortress Press
  • The Love of God: book by Jon D. Levenson, published by Princeton University Press

Today's Episode Hosted By

Kathryn Schifferdecker

Kathryn Schifferdecker

Katie Langston

Katie Langston

Joined by

Jon D. Levenson

Jon D. Levenson

Featuring:

Jon D. Levenson

Jon D. Levenson

Jon D. Levenson, Albert A. List Professor of Jewish Studies, began teaching at Harvard in 1988, having previously taught at the University of Chicago and at Wellesley College.
His work concentrates on the interpretation of the Hebrew Bible, including its reinterpretations in the "rewritten Bible" of Second Temple Judaism and rabbinic midrash. His book "Resurrection and the Restoration of Israel: The Ultimate Victory of the God of Life" (Yale University Press, 2006) won a National Jewish Book Award and the Biblical Archaeology Society Publication Award. His latest book is "The Love of God: Divine Gift, Human Gratitude, and Mutual Faithfulness in Judaism" (Princeton University Press, 2016).

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Hosted By:

Kathryn M. Schifferdecker

Kathryn M. Schifferdecker

Kathryn M Schifferdecker came to Luther Seminary as an assistant professor of Old Testament in 2006. Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in 2001, Schifferdecker was associate pastor for five years at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arkdale, Wisc., before coming to Luther. Schifferdecker is a frequent contributor to workingpreacher.org, Word & World and the author of Out of the Whirlwind: Creation Theology in the Book of Job (Harvard University Press, 2008). She is currently writing a commentary on the book of Esther.

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Katie Langston

Katie Langston

Katie Langston is a doubter by nature and a believer by grace. She grew up Mormon in a small Utah town and still isn't sure she fits in anywhere sophisticated enough to have a Target. She's the author of Sealed: An Unexpected Journey into the Heart of Grace, an acclaimed spiritual memoir about her conversion to orthodox Christianity. Katie works as the director of digital strategy for Luther Seminary's innovation team, where she oversees digital projects aimed at cultivating vibrant Christian spirituality in a post-modern, post-Christian cultural context.

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