Philosophy: The Guiding Principles of the Center

Informing Curricula, Research and Engagement

1

The Bride and the Groom

The God of Israel seeks out his people as a man seeks a bride to be enjoined to: this is the pattern of the creation of Adam and Eve and repeated across scripture (Rev. 19:7; 21:9). This is the context in which dominion is exercised

2

A Journey under the great shepherd

The Journey of Israel from Egypt through the wilderness under God’s leadership (shepherd-hood) is not only the story of Israel but the story of humanity. All of us are called to this journey by the master shepherd. 

3

Aliyah, Jubilee and Sukkot (ingathering)

This three, Aliyah (going up), Jubilee, (restoration of the created order to w) and Sukkot (the final feast) not only act as signals of the final consummation but the conflict and the war that occasions it.

4

Until the fullness of the gentiles

These are the words of Paul in Romans 11:25. However are not his words but the Word of Jacob in Genesis 48:19. This is important because Paul says the blinding of the Jews to their messiah serves this purpose, ‘to bring in the fullness of the gentiles’ as spoken by Jacob.’ We are therefore standing on the words spoken by the fathers.

5

The smooth skinned and the Isaiah highway

The highway of Isaiah is connected to the Silk Road, the Great Rift Valley and (to) the Journeys of Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans to Elon Moreh then to Egypt (to the land beyond the rivers of Cush). This valley plays a significant role in God’s final redemption (Psalm 69:31)

6

Host vs. guest

In the Center for Jewish and Judaic Studies we take the words of those to whom the covenant belong seriously (Romans 9:4-5). They are our hosts and we are their guests. Jesus was Jewish and above all a Jewish Rabbi. We can only therefore hear him clearly if we take his Jewishness seriously.

7

Hebraic vs. Greek thinking

This probably should have come at first because this is what distinguishes the Center from any other Center or department in the University. Hebrew differs from Greek mode of thought and action at several point and limited to

  • Hebraic thought is concrete as opposed to abstract (theory/hypothesis) – knowledge is not for knowledge sake
  • Hebraic thought appeals to stories, proverbs, aphorisms while Greek thinking appeals to propositions (apologetics)
  • Hebraic thought has a spiral view of history while Greek thinking view history has linear.