Christian interpretation of the NT

1. The New Testament in Historical Context

• The New Testament (NT) was written in the first-century Jewish world.

• Jesus, his disciples, Paul, and the first followers were all Jews steeped in Jewish scripture, traditions, and debates of their time.

• The NT draws heavily from Jewish concepts: covenant, law (Torah), prophecy, Messiah, resurrection, Temple, sacrifice, Kingdom of God.
  So, historically speaking, to even understand what Jesus and the apostles are talking about, you need to know the Jewish background (Second Temple beliefs, Hebrew Bible, synagogue practices, sectarian debates, etc.).

2. Understanding “through Judaism”

• Reading the NT “through Judaism” means interpreting its language and symbols in the frameworks familiar to first-century Jews:

  • Messiah: In Jewish expectation, this meant an anointed king or leader (political, priestly, or apocalyptic).

  • Law/Torah: Covenant identity, not abstract moral law.

  • Sacrifice and Atonement: Rooted in Temple practice and Yom Kippur traditions.

  • Kingdom of God: Not just a private spiritual state but God’s rule breaking into history to restore Israel and the world.

• Many scholars argue that without this Jewish lens, we risk misunderstanding NT words by importing later Christian or modern meanings.

3. Understanding “through Jesus Christ”

• From a Christian theological standpoint, Jesus himself is the ultimate interpreter of the Scriptures (Luke 24:27: “beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained… what was said concerning himself”).

• Jesus reinterprets the Torah and Prophets in light of himself:

  • Law: “I have not come to abolish but to fulfill” (Matt 5:17).

  • Temple: He speaks of himself as the new Temple (John 2:19–21).

  • Sacrifice: His death is presented as the ultimate atonement (Hebrews 9–10).

  • Kingdom: He embodies God’s reign in his teaching, miracles, death, and resurrection.

• The apostles (especially Paul and John) interpret Jesus as the key that unlocks the Hebrew Bible — what Jews knew in part, Christians see fulfilled in Christ.

4. Which is “correct”?

The answer depends on your standpoint:

• Historically/academically:
  You must understand the NT through Judaism, because that was its original setting. Without the Jewish background, the NT becomes detached from its real meaning.
  Example: If you don’t know how Jews thought about Passover, you won’t understand the NT’s teaching that Jesus is the “Passover lamb.”

• Theologically (Christian faith):
  Christians believe the NT must ultimately be understood through Jesus Christ, because he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Judaism provides the background, but Jesus provides the authoritative interpretation.
  Example: Both Jews and Christians read Isaiah 53. Jews may see it as Israel’s suffering; Christians see it as Christ’s atoning death. Same text, different interpretive key.

• Judaism (post-NT):
  Rabbinic Judaism does not read the NT at all as Scripture, and continues to interpret the Hebrew Bible on its own terms. From that perspective, “Jesus’ explanation” is not valid.

5. How the Two Work Together

The best way to approach it is both/and:

• Start with Judaism to grasp what words meant in their original context (so you don’t impose later meanings).

• Then see how Jesus reinterprets and fulfills those Jewish hopes, laws, and prophecies (if you are approaching it from Christian faith).

Think of it like this:

• Judaism = the stage, props, and script.

• Jesus = the actor who steps onto the stage and gives the lines their fullest meaning.

Conclusion:

• Historically: The New Testament must be understood through Judaism.

• Theologically (Christian faith): The New Testament must be understood through Jesus Christ, who Christians believe fulfills Judaism’s story.

• So the correct way depends on your goal: historical accuracy vs. faith interpretation.