Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament Quotes

“In describing Intertestamental Judaism from a Christian perspective, I want to make it clear that in no way do I see the differences between Judaism and Christianity providing even the slightest support for anti-Semitism, the darkest blot on the face of the church. Anti-Semitism is a fact of Christian history, but one of which I am ashamed. I believe all vestiges of it must be purged from our midst. Even anti-Semitic feelings are, in the Christian sense, a sin—a sin from which we must repent with that true repentance which produces radical change in our minds, emotions, and actions. We must seek forgiveness from both God and the Jewish people.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Finally, what do we call the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants? Frequently in the Old Testament, and in Acts 13:19, it is called “the land of Canaan,” after its original inhabitants (Gen. 10:15–19). “Palestine” means “land of the Philistines,” and is used neither by biblical writers nor by modern Jews to refer to the Promised Land. I follow the convention of employing the translation of Eretz Israel, “the land of Israel” (with apologies to modern Palestinian Arabs who share at least parts of it with modern Israelis).”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Diaspora Jews functioned with few or no sacrifices. Moreover, after the destruction of the temple, sacrifices were replaced by (1) reading of the law, (2) fasting, (3) prayer, and (4) deeds of charity and justice.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Although there is no way to determine the number of proselytes, their existence is certain. The Book of Acts refers to proselytes at Pentecost (2:11), among the seven (6:5), and in Antioch of Pisidia (13:43).”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“By searching the Pentateuch we may assemble a list of general regulations for such persons. They were to (1) abstain from blaspheming the name of the LORD (Lev. 24:16, 22); (2) abstain from idols (Lev. 20:2); (3) abstain from sorcery, incest, and other abominations (Lev. 18:26); (4) abstain from working on the Sabbath (Exod. 20:10; 23:12); (5) observe sacrificial ordinances (Lev.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Betrothal and marriage involved a lengthy process of steps and customs. A candidate for marriage had to have both family lineage and ceremonial status agreeable to the family of the prospective mate.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Moses received the Law [Torah] from Sinai and committed it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the Prophets; and the Prophets committed it to the men of the Great Synagogue. They said three things: Be deliberate in judgment, raise up many disciples, and make a fence around the Law. Simeon the Just was of the remnants of the Great Synagogue. He used to say: By three things is the world sustained: by the Law, by the [Temple-]service, and by deeds of loving-kindness. [Aboth 1:1”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Some knowledge of the Septuagint is very important for Christian studies. Eighty percent of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament are taken from the Septuagint. As Christianity moved out of a strictly Jewish environment, the Septuagint became the Bible”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Jerusalem was rebuilt as a Gentile city, Aelia Capitolina, and with a temple dedicated to Jupiter. Jews were forbidden to enter the city on pain of death. The Jewish state, as a political entity, was not again to emerge for over eighteen centuries.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“The Talmud relates how Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai was smuggled out of Jerusalem during its siege, gained the favor of Vespasian, and was given permission to establish an academy for learning at Jamnia (Jabneh or Yavneh).[47] Here he and Rabban Gamaliel II established a new center for Jewish life which continued, with adaptations and additions, the traditions of the Pharisees, and nothing but those traditions. Thus began Rabbinic Judaism.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Jason’s efforts to retake the high priesthood from Menelaus, Antiochus in 168 attempted to eliminate Jewish religion, which he saw to be at the heart of resistance to Hellenism. Temple ritual was stopped, the Scriptures ordered destroyed, observance of the Sabbath, festival days, food laws, and circumcision prohibited. A new altar, dedicated to Olympian Zeus, was erected in the Jerusalem temple, and a pig offered on it.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Sacrifices show that with God sin is a life-and-death matter; it must be atoned by shedding blood. Human beings cannot by their own efforts obtain forgiveness and thus regain access to God.”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Hebrew faith. The biblical books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy contain 613 written laws or instructions”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament

“Moses is considered the greatest of Hebrew leaders, the lawgiver, and God’s spokesman who talked with the LORD face to face. “He was unequaled” (Deut. 34:11; the Revised Standard Version says there was “none like him”).”
― J. Julius Scott Jr., Jewish Backgrounds of the New Testament