Ruth Project


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"What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." The Apostle Paul, Romans 2:29-3:2 NIV

The History of The Ruth Project [Top Menu]

The Ruth Project was developed in the mid to late 1990s as an endeavor that would assemble a compilation of writings and viewpoints from various sources in support and defense of Judaism from a Christian perspective.

This project was prompted by the numerous scriptures in the New Testament which seem to advocate conversion to Judaism, or at least a strong Christian support of Judaism. Many of these scriptures are listed below.

Why would the founders of Christianity, a new religion, provide such a strong written defense of Judaism? Why were so many early Christians simultaneously converting to Judaism? Why would the New Testament scriptures encourage Christians to give financially to support Judaism? How could Christianity have drifted so far from the original views of Judaism? Could the Christian faith return to embracing and supporting Judaism? The Ruth Project was established to explore these and similar questions.

The Ruth Project Today [Top Menu]

Over time, it became apparent that the writings and viewpoints of The Ruth Project represented four distinct ideological viewpoints with regard to how people should respond to Judaism in light of Christianity. These separate viewpoints are listed below along with their related resource groups:

Convert. Christians should convert to some form of modern-day Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform). Click here for the Jesus for Judaism Resource Group.
Embrace. Christians should embrace a Judaism as exemplified by the Christian-Jewish Fusion movement, combining the traditions of Judaism and the Christian faith into one new religion. Click here to visit Christian-Jewish Fusion.
Support. Christians should financially and theologically support and defend Judaism and Jewish community, but continue to sustain, explore, and develop the contemporary expression of Christian faith that recognizes respects its Jewish heritage. Click here to visit Christian Life. or Click here to visit Friends of Judaism.
Appreciate. Nobody needs to convert to anything. We simply have an obligation to learn about and appreciate everybody's faith so we can all encourage each other to grow within whatever faith community we presently belong to. Click here to visit the Faith Resource Group or Click here to visit the Jewish Life resource group.

Because of these differing viewpoints, the writings that were previously available through the Ruth Project, have been revised and used, where appropriate, throughout the Faith Series at Resources for Life. Click here to visit the Faith Series at Resources for Life.

Scriptures and other statements that inspired the Ruth Project [Top Menu]

The Pope comments on the importance of Christianity's Jewish foundation

In 1986, Pope John Paul II became the first pope in history to visit a Jewish synagogue. There he spoke of how he deplored the "hatred and persecution" of the Jews throughout the centuries: " 'Legitimate plurality' in society had been clearly affirmed. The Church had condemned anti-Semitism 'by anyone' - 'I repeat: by anyone.' The Council had declared that 'no ancestral or collective blame can be imputed to the Jews as a people for 'what happened in Christ's passion.' The Church insisted that there was no theological justification for discrimination against Jews, and taught that the Jews had been called by God 'with an irrevocable calling.' The Church had also learned that Catholics could not think about Catholicism without thinking about Judaism. The 'Jewish religion,' John Paul said, 'is not extrinsic' to us, but in a certain sense is 'intrinsic' to our own religion. With Judaism, therefore, we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion. You are our dearly beloved brothers and, in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.''

"The Church cannot forget her roots. Indeed, she must return to them again and again if she is to remain completely faithful to God's plan." - Pope John Paul II, in an open letter dated 30 June 1999

Regarding the Jewish presence at Christianity's Beginnings

	Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. [John 11:45 NIV]
	"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret." [John 18:20 NIV]
	Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. [Acts 2:5 NIV]
	In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. [Acts 6:1 NIV]
	When the congregation was dismissed, many of the Jews and devout converts to Judaism followed Paul and Barnabas, who talked with them and urged them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. [Acts 13:43-44 NIV]
	At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. [Acts 14:1 NIV]
	They brought them (the "Christians") before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice." [Acts 16:20-21 NIV]
	Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. [Acts 17:4 NIV]
	Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men. [Acts 17:12 NIV]
	So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. [Acts 17:17 NIV]
	Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. [Acts 18:4 NIV]
	They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews [who] asked him to spend more time with them... [Acts 18:19-20 NIV]
	When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: "You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. [Acts 21:20 NIV]
	A ("Christian") man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there. [Acts 22:12 NIV]

The Apostle Paul comments on Judaism

	"?a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. (See Deuteronomy 10:16, 30:6, and Jeremiah 4:4) Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." [Romans 2:29-3:2 NIV]
	"I speak the truth in Christ -- I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit -- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." [Romans 9:1-5 NIV/NAS]
	"However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men [the observant Jews], that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." [Acts 24:14-15 NIV]

Early Church leaders were observant Jews and suggested Jewish observance for new Christians

Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad.

When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." The apostles and elders met to consider this question.

After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

The whole assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul telling about the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.

When they finished, James spoke up: "Brothers, listen to me. Simon has described to us how God at first showed his concern by taking from the Gentiles a people for himself. The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the remnant of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' that have been known for ages." It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath." [Acts 15:1-21 NIV]

What the Bible says about...

	BEING JEWISH "?a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, they have been entrusted with the very words of God." [Romans 2:29-3:2 NIV] "Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen." [Romans 9:4-5 NIV/NAS]
	GIVING TO THE JEWS "if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews' spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings." [Romans 15:27 NIV]
	BEING CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM "Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring -- not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all." [Romans 4:16 NIV] "So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith." [Galatians 3:9 NIV]
	CHRISTIAN ARROGANCE Paul addressed the Gentiles and their tendency to be arrogant and not value the Jewish heritage that they had been adopted into: "Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ?The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.?" [Romans 11:20-27 NIV]
	THE SALVATION OF ISRAEL "All Israel will be saved, as it is written: ?The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.?" [Romans 11:26-27 NIV]
	CHRISTIANS & GENTILES AS FELLOW CITIZENS WITH ISRAEL (THE JEWISH COMMUNITY) FORMING ONE NEW MAN AND ONE BODY "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ?uncircumcised? by those who call themselves ?the circumcision? (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." [Ephesians 2:11-13 NIV] "His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." [Ephesians 2:15-16] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." [Ephesians 2:19-20 NIV] "This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." [Ephesians 3:6 NIV]
	OBSERVING THE LAW "I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets?" [Acts 24:14 NIV] "I have done nothing wrong against the law of the Jews or against the temple?" [Acts 25:8 NIV] "? the requirements of the law are written ?" on the hearts of the Gentiles. [Romans 2:15 NIV] "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." [Romans 2:13 NIV] "Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law." [Romans 3:31 NIV] "The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more?" [Romans 5:20 NIV] "So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good." [Romans 7:12 NIV] "We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin." [Romans 7:14 NIV] Regarding the law, it is written in James 4:11, "? When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it."
	THE ABSENCE OF THE LAW IS LAWLESSNESS "Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness." [1 John 3:4 NIV] "The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders?" [2 Thessalonians 2:9 NIV]
	THE CUSTOMS OF MOSES In the scripture, those who claim that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a threat to the customs of Moses are false witnesses: "They produced false witnesses, who testified, ?This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.? " [Acts 6:13-14 NIV] Speaking against the Temple or The Law is not part of the Gospel message.

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