The American Messianic Jewish congregational movement as we know it today blossomed in the 1960s and ‘70s. These young congregations borrowed theological ideas from Judaism and from Christianity, but comparatively little work has been done to synthesize a truly original, authentic, relevant, and beautiful Messianic Jewish theology. Our guest today, Dr. Richard Harvey, is the only person in the world with a Ph.D. in Messianic Jewish theology, and in this conversation he discusses how far Messianic Jews have come and how far they have yet to go as they attempt to articulate their most deeply cherished beliefs in a rigorous and systematic way.
👉 Takeaways
► Messianic Jewish theology is unified by two core affirmations: the ongoing election of Israel and the messiahship of Yeshua, allowing for significant diversity beyond these foundations.
► Messianic Judaism seeks to heal the historical fracture between Judaism and Christianity: offering a vision of reconciliation that restores the Jewish roots of Christian faith and fosters mutual respect between Israel and the nations.
► The perseverance of early Jewish believers, often called “Hebrew Christians,” laid the essential groundwork for today’s Messianic Judaism despite facing profound isolation and rejection: their efforts kept alive a vision of Jewish identity united with faith in Yeshua, enabling future generations to build a freer and more robust Messianic Jewish movement.
► Jewish mysticism holds valuable insights for Messianic Jewish theology, but it must be approached with discernment and respect for its historical and theological context: engaging mystical traditions thoughtfully can enrich understanding of God’s nature and deepen the theological framework surrounding Yeshua.
🔖 Chapters
(00:00) Introducing the World’s only PH.d in Messianic Jewish Theology
(09:43) Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology
(14:28) Discovering the Common Ground
(20:05) Imagine if Christianity Had Not Separated from Judaism
(26:57) Trajectory of Messianic Judaism and Israeli Christianity
(35:18) Being Part of Developing Messianic Jewish Thought
(41:22) The Historic Challenges for “Hebrew Christians”
(48:46) The Importance of Education in Growing in Maturity
(51:19) The Value of Jewish Mysticism
(57:47) Books & Blogs
👉 Resources
Mapping Messianic Jewish Theology by Richard Harvey
On This Day In Messianic Jewish History Blog
Dr. Richard Harvey’s Accademia Profile
– Who is Messiah Podcast? –
Messiah Podcast is a production of First Fruits of Zion (FFOZ), a Messianic Jewish education organization dedicated to reconciling disciples of Yeshua with God's prophetic promises to Israel.
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