spirit said:
Hi,i've just come across an e-text on the website haydid.org which discusses jewish influences within the new testament. It is interesting that some sections of the text say that the new testament isn't entirely seperate to the old and is more of a continuation and also that Jesus was simply emphasisng the more moral parts of G-d's Law,to do with love etc. I hope there will be a discussion on this. I think this could be helpful for me since i am thinking of converting to Judaism from Roman Catholicism and i don't know if some of the new testament could be used as a reference or whether that would be blasphemous and disrespectful to the Torah etc? Although, i am only a few sections in...
The New Testament in itself cannot be used as a referece. It is a mixture of Pagan ideas built upon a very weak Jewish basis.
I think, however, you will find that there are similarities. Jesus' teachings were not revolutionary - although some of them may have been rather unorthodox, leading to his execution.
One example that I have always liked, because it appears to be completely stolen, is the famous,
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." - Jesus, 6-33AD
And then, we see...
"That which is hateful to theyself, do not do to another. This is the whole law, the rest is commentary."" - Rabbi Hillel, 70BC-10AD
Although the New Testament may have slight hints of "Jewishness" in it here and there, the overall message is simply not Judaism.
1) Judaism rejects the Trinity, a central part of modern Christianity.
2) Judaism rejects the idea of the abolishment of the OT laws, which were called "eternal."
3) Judaism rejects the idea of someone else atoning for your sins through his death.
4) Judaism rejects the idea of a "Second Coming."
I could keep going on and on. In short, you will find hints of "Jewishness" in the New Testament, but in truth, it cannot be used to learn about Judaism.