Orthodox Jews basis of authority is the Torah.  “God personally and decisively revealed himself in giving the Torah at Sinai.  The words of the Torah are therefore divine and hence fully authoritative.  They are the changeless revelation of God’s eternal will” (Eerdmans 294).  The Torah is similar to the Christians first five books of the Old Testament.  The people’s lives are governed by the commandments written in the Torah.  Their whole life is structured around keeping these commands.  Orthodox Jews observe daily study of the Torah and they are expected “to conform their lives obediently to its prepositions and rituals” (Eerdman 294).  The “Oral Torah” is also a very important part of their authority although not as high as the Torah itself.  The “Oral Torah” is the “interpretation of the written Torah believed to have been given to Moses along wit the written Torah” (Halverson 125).  Also given high priority is the rabbi’s interpretation of the Torah.

Strategies for sharing Christ with someone who has these views:

            Misunderstanding and cut off points may occur quickly in conversation with an Orthodox Jew because they do not observe the Old and New Testaments as the word of God. They are upset when the Torah and their scriptures are referred to as the Old Testament.  The Old Testament and the Torah are not the same in their mind or in reality.  A bridge or handle in which to communicate with an Orthodox Jew about authority of scripture is pointing out connections between the revelation of a Messiah in the Torah and the New Testament Jesus.  Valleskey states that Christians believe the “one true God is clearly revealed and defined in the Scriptures and in the Scriptures alone” (34).  In talking about Jesus with a Jewish person it is important not to argue about the authority of Scripture.  Making connections though between the Torah prophecies of a future King allow for a Christian to witness of Jesus as the King.
(MJ 2/01)

Sources Used:

Halverson, D.C. ed.  The Compact Guide to World Religions. Bethany House Publishers: Minneapolis, MN. 1996.

 Beaver, R.P., Bergman, J., Langley, M.S., et al. Eds. Eerdmans’ Handbook to The World’s Religions. William B. Eerdamans Publishing Company: Grand Rapids, MI.  1982.

 Smith, H. The World’s Religions. Harper Collins: San Francisco. 1991. 

Valleskey, D.J.  We Believe – Therefore We Speak. Northwestern Publishing House: Milwaukee, WI. 1997.

 World Religions Index  (22 February, 01) (http://wri.leaderu.com/wri-table2/judaism.html#God).

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