The Constitution of the Old Testament – Part I

Last updated on: December 3, 2016 at 7:13 pm by Gerald McDermott

The Constitution of the Old Testament – Part I 2016-12-03T19:13:04-04:00 Gerald McDermott

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The rabbis taught that the Shema (Dt 6.4-9) is the Constitution of the Tanach or Old Testament. This is the first of a 6-part series on the Shema.

שְׁמַ֖ע יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵ֖ינוּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ אֶחָֽד׃

4 Listen up, Israel. YWHW is our God, YHWH alone.

Usually this is translated “YHWH is one” (NIV & ESV; only the NLB and NRSV get it right). But this is probably not correct.

This has been the translation by Jews only since Christianity has become dominant in the world, and the rabbis’ concern since that time (4th century AD) was to emphasize how rabbinic Judaism was different, that is, that God is one and not three. But even today’s state-of-the-art commentary from the JPS translates this word the way I have.

The original sense was, There are all sorts of celestial powers that are made by YHWH (what Paul later calls principalities and powers), but the only one that we Jews should worship is the God of Israel, who gave us his name as YHWH, the sacred Tetragrammaton (four letters).

Of this name and no other God said, This is my name forever and this is my title for all generations. The rabbis did not pronounce it because of the second commandment (Do not take the name of the Lord in vain) and Jesus followed this rabbinic convention when he referred to it in the Lord’s Prayer: Hallowed by Thy Name. And in John 17 where he says, I have made known your name, and Holy Father, protect them in your name.

Paul appears to have followed this rabbinic tradition. When he refers in Philippians 2.9 to “the name that is above every other name,” it is clear, as Richard Bauckham has observed, that no Jewish writer could say or write this without meaning God’s unique name, the Tetragrammaton. The Tetragrammaton is included in the Trinity, because “Spirit of holiness” was a familiar rabbinic circumlocution for YHWH. So the word “alone” was used in a world of polytheism, as a silent witness against Christianity.

“One” was not a word emphasizing numeric quantity (only one as opposed to two or three, as Jews have taught since the 4th century AD), but as a word to warn Jews not to worship any other god or power (worship YHWH alone).

The next logical question: So what does it mean that YHWH is our God? What does that mean for my life? The answer is in the next verse, which we will discuss tomorrow.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 25, 2016

Is God pleased with good works?

Next Post

December 4, 2016 The Constitution of the Old Testament - Part 2

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month March 2023 November 2022 October 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 November 2021 October 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 July 2020 June 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 August 2019 July 2019 May 2019 April 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz