Bible Study Is HaShem (the Lord) a Rabbi?

[jasoncran]

the diaspora , to wit, the Babylonian captivity.

 

[cyberjosh]

I'd be very cautious using Wikipedia. I've found a few mistakes there through the years.

Yeah, no kidding. Wikipedia thinks Goliath is a myth.

For instance, without investigating, I would think the article was to say that the office of president went to the Pharisees, not the Sanhedrin. Hillel was president of the Pharisees and Hillel did not qualify to be part of the Sanhedrin. The article doesn't "smell" right, but I could be off and completely wrong.

Hmm, well I'm all for more research I just heard it from that Rabbi who emailed me and saw it on wikipedia, so it sounded reasonable. The wikipedia article claims the earliest use of the word "rabban" was in the Talmud 2nd century B.C. We would have to track it down and see in what context it was used.

From the Jewish Encyclopedia on Gamaliel:
"Gamaliel, as it appears, did most toward establish-. ing the honor in which the house of Hillel was held, and which secured to it a preeminent position within Palestinian Judaism soon after the destruction of the- Temple. The title "Rabban," which, in the learned hierarchy until post-Hadrianic times, was borne only by presidents of the highest religious council, was. first prefixed to the name of Gamaliel."
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6494-gamaliel-i


So Rabban was in the Sanherin first given to Gamaliel according to this as well. Now "Rabbi" (the possessive form) may have been a more common description for teachers at that time, and less of an office role like in the Sanhedrin, that is to say there may be a technical difference in the use of Rabban and Rabbi.

It could very well be... I'm curious why Mary calls Jesus Rabbi if this is true. Or perhaps in greek it's simply teacher as expressed in scripture. I don't know enough about the language to really put a finger on it.

Actually I don't think this is a problem at all if my theory on the use of Rabbi as distinguished from Rabban is true. You would be right that Rabbi would have the meaning teacher.

As far as elders, we see the elders early on with Moses when he first comes to Egypt to free God's people. After the Red Sea wipes out Pharaoh and his troops, it is said that the Sanhedrin were formed at Elim, right after Marah. (Exodus 15).

Right, this was the original model which was used in post-Exilic times to help govern the people.

Just out of curiosity, what are you finding so fascinating with the word Rabbi?

A search for ancient interpretations on an OT passage sent me looking to the LXX, Dead Sea Scrolls, and ancient Jewish commentary, and while I was in the Jewish commentary (the Babylonain Talmud) I saw lots of Rabbi so & so says in the name of Rabbi so & so. The "in the name of" part really fascinated me because it is the same phraseology as the a famous formula & usage in the New Testament (e.g. in the name of Jesus), and as known from Hebrew usage in the OT 'name' (shem) carries not only one's title but an indication of their character (extending to authority) as well, thus appeals are made "in someone's name" to evoke that authority. So I was quite interested in how it was used in that literature. For the Jews the authoritative ones were called Rabbi.

Then it got me to thinking about how appeals to authority were done in the name of someone (we as Christians appeal to Scripture, for example, in the name of God). So a funny question popped in my head along the way: "Would the Jewish chain of reference to authority logically extend all the way back to God as Rabbi?" And viola, now you know why I made this thread, and how I arrived at the question in the first place. Then somewhere along the way I became historically interested as to what exactly a Rabbi is/was, since it is not mentioned in the OT - hence my current line of inquiry.

God Bless,
~Josh

 

[cyberjosh]

While we are talking about Rabbinical Judaism, do either of you have any suggestions for this thread by chance?

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

Yeshua said plainly, "call no man Rabbi" and also "call no man "Father" , (obviously not referring to your bio father, please!).
One group that consistently opposed Yeshua, was the group of educated men. Scholars. (not all, but most).
One group that adamantly is opposed to Yeshua today is Talmudic. I even tried reading some of the Talmud, but found it so much repugnant to Yhwh's Word, I could not continue. (not without 'orders' from ABBA,if He would want me to).
Likewise, on a Jewish Hebraic Roots site last year or 2, the talmudic students were not just opposed to Yeshua, but they also were vocally (via posts and skype) recruiting females for whatever purpose was in their desires(NOT right nor righteous, no).
And they were opposed directly to "Truth" as Revealed in Yeshua through Scripture, AND they were opposed to disciples of Yeshua who would not accept so-called 'talmudic' authority((which Yeshua is directly opposed to, btw)).

This is just a summary, not for argument nor dialog per se, but if there's a specific answer from someone who agrees to honor Yhwh and Yhwh's Word(Scripture), I will answer it if Yhwh grants it. Always, all, always in line with all of Scripture and Yhwh's Plan and Purpose in Yeshua Messiah HaMashiach !

 

[jasonc]

jesus was called rabbi, look it up. and well its in the Talmud where paul got the name of the men who fought against moses.