By Mark D. Nanos
Shema Israel, Adonai Elohenu, Adonai Echad:
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.”
The Shema Israel has arguably been the most important ideological claim of Judaism since early Israelite history. This call to listen to God is followed by the injunction to love God, that is, to be loyal and serve with all of the effort one can summon. This call includes both observance, and reflection, kavannah, the intention of the heart. It captures the very essence of Torah, the Teachings of God that Israel is, on behalf of all humankind, privileged, but also responsible, to listen to, and embody.
To this day, the Shema Israel is uttered in sacred prayer twice a day. Jewish children learn it as their first prayer, and Jews hope that it will be the last words on their lips. R. Akiva recited the Shema when executed by the Romans following the failed Second Revolt against Rome, understanding the commandment to loyalty “with all thy soul” to signify “even if He takes thy soul,” and the call to martyrdom continues in subsequent interpretive tradition….
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What does all of this Jewish tradition about the oneness of God have to do with Paul? I submit that the Shema Israel is the central conviction of Paul’s theology.
He often refers to God’s oneness at critical points in arguments. It functions theologically and polemically. But he does not really explain the Shema as much as appeal to it, suggesting that for Paul the concept of God’s oneness functions at the ideological level. Its explanatory power is assumed to be self-evident. This is true not only for himself, but his arguments presume it to be the case for his audiences also. Yet that would not work for those unfamiliar with its propositional bases, or importance in Jewish communal life and liturgy.
In other words, while most interpreters of Paul and most discussions of a topic like “Paul and the Jewish tradition” would be concerned to show how Paul emerged from the Judaism of his time, they would do so from a conceptual framework in which Paul is no longer a representative of Judaism, but of a new religion, Christianity. Instead, I suggest that Paul practiced Judaism, and his groups represented a Jewish coalition upholding that the end of the ages had dawned, and thus, that the awaited day when members of the other nations would turn to Israel’s God as the one God of all humankind had arrived. He spoke for a Jewish subgroup that upheld faith in Christ, to be sure, but this was not a new religion, nor did he imagine that it would ever be one. He was a reformer, involved in the restoration of Israel, and the gathering of the nations initiated thereby…
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I am drawn by this discussion. I will not dismiss it, nor dispatch it lightly. I have no substance to add to it at this point, but something (SomeOne?) is prompting me to study it more thoroughly over time. This is a lively discussion, and I thank everyone here for contributing to it! I believe this is the “stuff” that educational processes can and must foster. I’m only in my third week of attendance at eTeacherBIBLICAL, but I can readily envision my being a lifelong student. You dear folks LOVE GOD, no mistake, and you love HIS Word. I’m glad I’m here, and I’m here for the long haul.
Shalom Larry! Thank you for your excitement, it’s wonderful to see how passionate about God and His Word you areץ We are also very glad you are here!
Dr Eli
How is your book on Paul coming along? The more I read of your writing about him the more I want to learn
I basically agree with James T. Mace. I think Paul, because of his deep understanding of the Scriptures, was reaching back to the essence of the Heart of God when he preached and taught. He even mentions that these things were ‘veiled’ from Jewish understanding to bring salvation to the rest of the world through them, because of them. We Christians can truly say” Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One!”
I want to get to the old scriptures. Which bible do I need to buy. Have 18 of them already. It is the first time reading this. I do enjoy the comments. want to be more involved in these discussions. A lot that I can learn.
Dear Jaco, in order to be able to advice I need to know whether you read any Hebrew. Are you looking for the Hebrew Tanach – or just accurate English translation? Please let me know, and I’ll recommend accordingly.
Dear Dr. Eli,
As much study as you have obviously have given to understanding His Word, I am sure you know it to be truly the “Living Word”! It IS supernatural! And I am sure you have known people who just can Not see what you, or others, see so plainly and clearly.
The thing is; We must seek His truth and not ours, because if one seeks to prove his own truth, he will find only confirmations of his own understandings. Gods Word is ……. “supernatural”!
The subject of who is truly God’s people, or Israel, Is throughout the entire Word, from Genesis to Revelation! It goes even further, into the Millennial Kingdom. Ez 37 clearly foretells of the joining back into one, Judah and Ephraim!
the two houses split so long ago will become one again, and IsraEl is their name, as God named them.
Hos 1 also …… :10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, …….
“I hope you understand mine and Paul’s.” And, “May the Almighty continue to guide you”.
Paul/Shaul …..
Rom 12 :5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
1 Cor 12 :12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
Eph 3 :6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: ….
Paul, as studied as he was in Rabbinical law and the Torah could not see things plainly in front of him. It took God’s intervention to make him see. He was convinced of his “truth” and right, and only after blindness was he able to put together the Word he knew so well.
If the previous verses were not plain enough, these should …..
Eph 2 :11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This is why He is the Lamb! The Passover lambs blood saves IsraEl, and only IsraEl can partake of it! This why He is the Savior of the whole world and not just Judah.
Unfortunately most of Judah and Ephraim will not see the truth until the Millennium Kingdom, but those who do must lead into the Word! He is the King of all IsraEl, and all Power is His! The One is as He always has been, and we seek to gather unto Him!
Gal 6 :15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.
:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
My dear friend Dr. Eli, love you truly, and had learned and enjoyed much or your efforts, Thank you! Hoping you take some time too consider, because (I believe) this is what Paul taught, and ….. what the “Shema” is all about!
God bless,
Yours truly,
Simon/Christian Israelites
Dear Dr. Eli,
Apologies for not responding sooner. The point I was trying to make ……..
The majority of all the “believers” today, separate all things “Jewish” and “Christian”, and I think Paul was doing the exact opposite. The “Shema” does Not call Jews, or Christians, to hear, it calls all “Israel” = the “People of God”!
Paul announced himself as a Benjamite, a Jew, and (I believe, more importantly) …. an Israelite.
Paul addressed this very “point” many times …..
Rom 9 :4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
:5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
:6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
:8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
Paul asks .. … Who are the Israelites? So I think it is abundantly clear that Paul did not think “all” those who thought themselves Israel or a Jew, were …. true IsraEl?!
So, who Is … IsraEl? I don’t know if you remember, but you answered my question some years ago. I asked if you agree with me that IsarEl could be, or should be, translated … Power of/with God ..?! I thank you for your response at the time, and your confirming my understanding. But even if you had not, my mind would not have changed. I firmly believe it is all about Power with God, “oneness” with God, and knowing that all true power, is His!
The Passover in Egypt ….. Did Not save the “Jewish” people as the world is taught and believes. The “Jewish” people were Not present in Egypt. In Fact the Passover lambs blood “saved” all flesh aligned with the One God! And after the beating of the previous 9 grievous plagues …… many other peoples joined in, or chose to be “grafted” into ………. IsraEl = People of God = Power with/of God!
Ex 12 :47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
:48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
:50 Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
It clearly states in the Torah (Ex 12), that a “multitude of “strangers” left Egypt, and they “all” were ….. one IsraEl!
The original Passover “saved” all people aligned with One God, and they were a one Nation, regardless of their race or bloodline.
The Messiah was foretold to “save” all the nations, and Moses foretold of a Prophet (like himself) who would teach the Israelites (People of God) all the rest! Our Lord, the Passover Lamb forever, Did just that!
He dedicated Himself as Lamb on Passover! He died at the time the Passover lambs were killed! He became the High Priest forever, and provided the Blood for the remission of sins …… for “all” the nations who freely choose to align with the One God, thee Father of all! He provided The Way for all nations to “graft/align” into the One Power, One Nation under the only and the One true God!
This Passover “saved” much more then just “flesh”, it opened The Way … to all!
Paul, I believe, was Not teaching the Gentile/Goy to become Jewish first, and Jews were Not to become more Jewish first; I believe he was teaching them all … how to become ..True IsraEl! One Nation, One with God and His Son, The “ONLY” ..Way!
Today; Jews want become more “Jewish”, and Christians more “Christian”, and the majority want to hear nothing more?! If the world understood the truth of what Paul was trying to teach, the “Shema” would be heard by all, understood by all, and the Commanded Mark on every door, as it should Be!
God bless His people with eyes to see, and ears to hear ….. His call!
Yours truly,
Simon/Christian Israelites
I am not sure my understanding of who is an Israelite matches yours. But thank you for coming and for writing your ideas here on the blog. May the Almighty continues to guide you.
I believe that Paul was called to bring the message to the gentiles for a reason. I believe that because God knows our hearts, he chose Paul for this task because he knew he would be more than able to accomplish it since Paul went hard for what he believed. I also believe that we are to be one nation under God even now since Jesus commissioned the disciples to go and make disciples of all. Jesus said in John that “I lay down my life on behalf of the sheep Also I have other sheep which are not from this pen; I need to brig the, and they will hear my w\voice and there will be one flock, one shepherd. So the sheep were being gathered at the same time during Paul’s era, the gentiles by Paul’s ministry and the Jews by Peter’s.
Thank you Annette, are you saying that followers of Christ forfeit their national and ethnic identities when they embrace Jesus?
Hi Dr. Eli,
Not really, I don’t think that we lose any of that when we follow Christ. I am saying that I don’t think that is the most important thing if we are all trying to reach the same goal and are in essence one with Christ as we strive to be like him. Considering Jesus said that whoever, does the will of his father is his mother, brother and sister. I believe that it all is determined by the heart. I hope you can see where I am coming from and I also would like to hear your response. Thank you!
Dear Annette, it is good to hear from. Thank you for letting me know what think. Your perspective should not be overlooked. Further, I am not sure that there is really a contradiction here. Let us keep thinking about it together. Prof. Julia Blum (I recently took over the administration of this blog from Dr. Eli).
Dr Eli, not sure about this not being a scholar of any note, if I read the conversion of Paul as found in Acts (9:1-22 ), I see a complete turn around in the life of Paul. Verse (9:20) And immediately he preached Christ in the Synagogues. In Ephesians 3:5-7. Paul is speaking of the mystery,” Which in other ages was not made know unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: That the gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel, Verse 7, of which I am made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.”
Hi, Anthony. Our arguments or scholarship is worth only how we think and argue our case :-), so we are good here. There is no question that the turn around in Paul’s life is no less than dramatic! Even though THIS IS the case I think it is better to use the term God’s Call vs. Conversion (to Christianity). That is the thing Shaul Paulos has found Jewish Christ (the only kind there is :-)) within his Jewishness (I am not using the term Judaism, simply because did not yet (like Christianity) exist as a religion.
This is a scripture that proves Monotheism, this scripture is very dear to me, not only because I believe in the oneness of God but also because it was taught to me from the time I was a small child.
I was raised in a Christian home and every night that my mother would tuck me in she would quote the shema in English, it wasn’t until I was 30 years of age that I realized I had Jewish blood, this scripture will always instrumental in reminding me of my childhood and to reiterate my belief.
Another point …… The Passover in Egypt was NOT saving Judaism, or Jews! They both, did NOT yet exist! The Passover Lamb saves “IsraEl” =people of God! = Power with/of God!
When Jews and Christians understand why Yahshua IS the Passover Lamb forever, they both will understand how they are one with the ONE!!!
Simon/Christian Israelites
I am not sure I fully grasp your point. I hope you understand mine and Pauls. Unity is not sameness.
Unity is not sameness… Yes!
Simple, true and sensible, glad you agree.