Academic Catalog: Messianic Judaism

Courses in Messianic Judaism are designed to: (1) Train leaders for service in the Jewish community; (2) educate current and future Protestant leaders in Messianic Judaism issues and in the Jewish background of Christianity; (3) encourage an active partnership between the Messianic and Protestant communities in their service for the kingdom of God; (4) foster an atmosphere of globalization and diversity at Denver Seminary; and (5) provide a sound academic environment where students can establish a solid theological and biblical foundation for ministry to Jews and Gentiles.

MJ 501 Introduction to Messianic Judaism

This course surveys the major themes and issues related to Messianic Judaism and exposes students to its traditions, practices, and beliefs from biblical, historical, and theological perspectives. This course focuses primarily on God’s covenants with Israel and their interpretation in Jewish and Christian contexts since biblical times. Two hours.

MJ 502 Messianic Jewish Liturgy and Symbolism

This course surveys Messianic Jewish ways of approaching God, with particular attention to the liturgical and symbolic expressions of corporate worship and lifestyle. Addressed is the critical question of how Messianic Jews integrate the good news of new covenant faith with the historical understandings and practices of Judaism. Whereas in Judaism, the use of liturgy and symbols facilitate communal obedience to God’s revealed will, it will be demonstrated that, in Messianic Judaism, these same practices also enrich the individual’s new covenant faith experience of direct access to God. Combining cultural, epistemological, and historical understanding of one’s reading of Scripture helps students gain an inside view of the way God has raised up a people whose highest destiny is to live God’s revealed blueprint for changing the world. Two hours.

MJ 503 Messianic Jewish Apologetics I: Historical and Theological Objections

Provides a response to the principle Jewish objections to the Messianic credentials of Jesus of Nazareth, including historical, theological, Messianic prophecy, New Testament, and traditional Jewish objections. Topics seek to sensitize students to the reasoning behind the objections along with equipping them with reasonable, literate, and biblical responses. May also credit as a philosophy of religion elective. Two hours.

MJ 504 Messianic Jewish Theology I: Covenants and Eschatology

This course will establish the biblical and theological foundations necessary to understand the Messianic Jewish views of the covenant relationship that exists between God and the nation of Israel, and the relationship that exists between the Church and the nation of Israel. Special emphasis is on the importance of the biblical covenants for understanding the place of Israel in the divine plan, as well as its place in eschatology. Two hours.

MJ 505 Messianic Jewish Theology II: Key Issues in New Testament and Rabbinic Literature

This course provides an overview of rabbinic literature and demonstrates how rabbinic tradition, oral and written, is reflected in the New Testament writings. This course addresses essential Messianic Jewish and evangelical doctrines such as the authority of Scripture, atonement, and the deity of Christ. Emphasis will be placed on how tradition defines theology and praxis in rabbinic Judaism, versus a biblical approach in Messianic Judaism. Two hours.

MJ 506 Messianic Jewish Apologetics II: Messianic Prophecy

A comprehensive treatment of Messianic prophecy as traced through the Hebrew Scriptures, emphasizing the development of the Messianic hope in Israel, the royal and priestly streams of Messianic prophecy, principles for interpreting Messianic prophecy, and discussion of the New Testament’s usage of the prophetic scriptures of the Tanakh. Two hours.

MJ 601 The Gospels in their Jewish Context

The study of the Gospels is indispensable for understanding Jesus the Messiah—who he is and what he came to do—and is absolutely essential to a living faith. The course studies Jesus’ environment and background to provide an accurate framework for comprehending his life and teachings as recorded in the Gospels, with particular emphasis on Israel and Judaism in the Second Temple period. Two hours.

MJ 603 Missiological Themes for Jewish Evangelism

Provides practical insigts for Jewish evangelism through a study of key themes and characters from the Patriarchs to the modern day. Maybor empases of the course include (1) Jewish evangelism is most authentic and effective when springing from the Messianic Jewish community; (2) one-on-one evangelism is most effective when it encourages Jewish believers to worship in a Messianic context; and (3) Gentile churches that support sound Messianic Jweish practice porovide a healthy environment for the spiritual growth of believers. May also credit as an OT elective. Two hours.

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