The Influence of Mishna Avot and Other Jewish Thought on Jesus’s Teachings, With Special Reference to Nonviolent Resistance in Matthew 5:38–42

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avondale-bepress-to-dspace.facultyFaculty of Theology
avondale-bepress-to-dspace.licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
avondale-bepress.abstract<p>This dissertation reveals that, contrary to much prior scholarship on Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus was not an advocate of passive endurance of abuse; rather, he taught a peaceful form of resistance to oppression. His teachings, while nonviolent, still demanded justice and mercy. Jesus was a faithful and observant Jew, and the first audience that Jesus addressed was a mixed Galilean Jewish audience acquainted with Torah, the Oral Law, and the rules of the land as per Roman governance. This dissertation examines, in its intended context, Matthew 5:38–42, and compares its content with the Jewish writings of <em>Mishna Avot, </em>the Roman<em> lex talionis </em>(tenets of the Roman law)<em>, </em>the Dead Sea scrolls, and other sources of<em> </em>Jewish Oral Law<em>. </em>By examining the historical and social aspects of <em>Mishna Avot</em><em> </em>and Matthew 5:38‒42 through a comparative religious lens, what emerges is a similarity of conceptual ideologies. Both Matthew 5 and <em>Mishna Avot </em>show similar intellectual thought regarding passive resistance to abusive authority. Jesus did not adopt a pacifist identity and capitulate to oppressors. Nor should history incorrectly describe him as creating followers who abhor resistance and often, in consequence, justice. Jesus taught that social justice includes protecting against abuse and retaining personal dignity in a conflict. The theological connections between <em>Mishna Avot</em> and Matthew 5:38‒42 illuminate Jesus’s understanding of Oral Law and his view of non-retaliatory peace.</p>
avondale-bepress.articleid1027
avondale-bepress.authorsRodgir Cohen
avondale-bepress.context-key32529598
avondale-bepress.coverpage-urlhttps://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_phd/26
avondale-bepress.document-typedissertation
avondale-bepress.field.advisor1Dr. Robert K. McIver
avondale-bepress.field.advisor2Dr. David Thiele
avondale-bepress.field.advisor3Dr. Ruth Sandberg
avondale-bepress.field.comments<p>Due to an embargo period this thesis is unavailable for download.</p>
avondale-bepress.field.custom_citation<p>Cohen, R. (2022). <em>The influence of Mishna Avot and other Jewish thought on Jesus's teachings, with special reference to nonviolent resistance in Matthew 5:38-42 </em>[Doctoral dissertation, Avondale University]. ResearchOnlne@Avondale. <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/0uu9C2xM3OhWjL0T1M7pU?domain=research.avondale.edu.au">https://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_phd/26</a></p>
avondale-bepress.field.degree_nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
avondale-bepress.field.departmentFaculty of Theology
avondale-bepress.field.distribution_licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
avondale-bepress.field.embargo_date2023-12-01T00:00:00Z
avondale-bepress.field.field_of_education09 Society and Culture
avondale-bepress.field.for_20215004 Religious studies
avondale-bepress.field.publication_date2022-12-01T00:00:00Z
avondale-bepress.field.schoolsTheology
avondale-bepress.fulltext-urlhttps://research.avondale.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&amp;context=theses_phd&amp;unstamped=1
avondale-bepress.keywordsJewish Pacifism
avondale-bepress.keywordsSermon on the Mount
avondale-bepress.label26
avondale-bepress.native-urlhttps://research.avondale.edu.au/context/theses_phd/article/1027/type/native/viewcontent
avondale-bepress.publication-date2022-12-01T00:00:00Z
avondale-bepress.publication-titleTheses PhD
avondale-bepress.statepublished
avondale-bepress.submission-date2022-12-02T14:11:57Z
avondale-bepress.submission-paththeses_phd/26
avondale-bepress.titleThe Influence of Mishna Avot and Other Jewish Thought on Jesus’s Teachings, With Special Reference to Nonviolent Resistance in Matthew 5:38–42
avondale-bepress.typearticle
dc.contributor.authorCohen, Rodgir
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-01T00:35:27Z
dc.date.available2023-11-01T00:35:27Z
dc.date.issued2022-12-01
dc.date.submitted2022-12-02T14:11:57Z
dc.description.abstract<p>This dissertation reveals that, contrary to much prior scholarship on Matthew 5:38-42, Jesus was not an advocate of passive endurance of abuse; rather, he taught a peaceful form of resistance to oppression. His teachings, while nonviolent, still demanded justice and mercy. Jesus was a faithful and observant Jew, and the first audience that Jesus addressed was a mixed Galilean Jewish audience acquainted with Torah, the Oral Law, and the rules of the land as per Roman governance. This dissertation examines, in its intended context, Matthew 5:38–42, and compares its content with the Jewish writings of <em>Mishna Avot, </em>the Roman<em> lex talionis </em>(tenets of the Roman law)<em>, </em>the Dead Sea scrolls, and other sources of<em> </em>Jewish Oral Law<em>. </em>By examining the historical and social aspects of <em>Mishna Avot</em><em> </em>and Matthew 5:38‒42 through a comparative religious lens, what emerges is a similarity of conceptual ideologies. Both Matthew 5 and <em>Mishna Avot </em>show similar intellectual thought regarding passive resistance to abusive authority. Jesus did not adopt a pacifist identity and capitulate to oppressors. Nor should history incorrectly describe him as creating followers who abhor resistance and often, in consequence, justice. Jesus taught that social justice includes protecting against abuse and retaining personal dignity in a conflict. The theological connections between <em>Mishna Avot</em> and Matthew 5:38‒42 illuminate Jesus’s understanding of Oral Law and his view of non-retaliatory peace.</p>
dc.identifier.citation<p>Cohen, R. (2022). <em>The influence of Mishna Avot and other Jewish thought on Jesus's teachings, with special reference to nonviolent resistance in Matthew 5:38-42 </em>[Doctoral dissertation, Avondale University]. ResearchOnlne@Avondale. <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/0uu9C2xM3OhWjL0T1M7pU?domain=research.avondale.edu.au">https://research.avondale.edu.au/theses_phd/26</a></p>
dc.identifier.urihttps://research.avondale.edu.au/handle/123456789/32529598
dc.language.isoen_us
dc.rights<p>Due to an embargo period this thesis is unavailable for download.</p>
dc.rights.licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectJewish Pacifism
dc.subjectSermon on the Mount
dc.titleThe Influence of Mishna Avot and Other Jewish Thought on Jesus’s Teachings, With Special Reference to Nonviolent Resistance in Matthew 5:38–42
dc.typeThesis
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