It is often taught in Bible colleges and seminaries that the way the "New Testament" writers did Biblical interpretation is "off limits" to modern exegetes, that it is a method that was reserved for the Apostolic class. Normative Judaism would disagree, seeing the methods employed by the Gospel-writers, Yochanan (John), Kefa (Peter), Sha'ul (Paul), and Ya'aqov (James) as being those commonly employed by all First-Century Jewish exegetes of the Torah, Writings, and Prophets. These methods are reflected not only in the B'rit Chadasha (New Testament), but also in the rabbinical writings. These are the methods explored in this 12-module course.
Textbooks
- Zetterholm, Karin Hedner. Jewish Interpretation of the Bible: Ancient and Contemporary. Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN 978-0-8006-9798-3.
- Strack, Hermann L. & Günter Stemberger (translated and edited by Markus Bockmuehl). Introduction to the Talmud and Midrash. 2nd Edition; Minneapolis, Minn.: Fortress Press, 1996 (orig. 1982 as Einleitung in Talmud und Midrasch).
NOTA BENE: The Strack & Stemberger volume will serve the student in multiple MJR courses, including Talmudic Studies I & II.
Your Professor
Brian Tice was ordained as a Messianic Rabbi by MJR in May of 2000. He obtained his B.Sci. in Bible, Youth Ministry, and Ancient Languages from Cornerstone University and his M.Sci. in Higher Education with an emphasis on Classical Hebrew Andragogy from Kaplan University. He also studied Music and Modern Languages at Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Pastoral Studies at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and Middle Eastern History through Tel Aviv University.
Professor Tice has taught Hebrew, Hermeneutics, Tanakh Exegesis, and Apologetics for Cornerstone University (as a Graduate Assistant) and Take Hold Ministry School. He also developed a number of courses for International Messianic Torah Institute and Messianic Jewish Rabbinate as well as teaching homeschool music and cantillation courses in the Grand Rapids area (Michigan).
Professor Tice has facilitated the Torah Schul at his home synagogue the past three years as well as serving as a chazzan and occasionally teaching from the bimah. He has also delivered the D’var Torah on the “Torah Foundations of Faith” radio program on Hebrew Nation Radio.
Professor Tice contributes to tikkun olam by working with the Willing to Wait Leadership Team, an abstinence education ministry of the Pregnancy Resource Center and ministering to the local homeless and poor. He has also volunteered with Little Mary’s Hospitality House, a camp ministry for families with children battling life-threatening or terminal illnesses, for 11 years; Habitat for Humanity for 7 years; Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo for 6 years; and several homeless ministries.
Course Curriculum
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StartModule 1: Continuity and Change in Rabbinic Tradition
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StartModule 2: Tradition in the Making - the Mishnah & the Talmuds
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StartModule 3: Rabbinic Biblical Interpretation - Midrash
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StartModule 4: The Jewish Character of the Early Jesus Movement
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StartModule 5: Continuity and Change in Contemporary Judaism
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StartModule 6: Midpoint Assessment
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StartModule 7: The PaRDeS Method
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StartModule 8: Rabbinical Hermeneutics
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StartModule 9: Midrashic Exegesis
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StartModule 10: Exegetical Midrashim
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StartModule 11: Homiletical Midrashim
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StartModule 12: Capstone Project