Messianic Judaism Quest

A possible solution to the “need” (an issue to be discussed later) to develop a “balanced” approach to rabbinic authority in Messianic Jewish circles might be found within Classical Judaism.

Its important to note that the statements below are based upon the classical Jewish understanding of the relationship between the Written Torah and Oral Torah, and the distinction held with regards to rabbinic legislation. Orthodox Judaism regards the Torah as dual in form. A distinction is made however in terms of the authority extended to rabbinic law (D’Rabbanan).

This is a point many Messianics fail to understand. Rabbinic legislation is designated as “d’Rabban” while those commandments derived from the Torah are referred to as D’Oraita.

According to The Oral Torah (Schimmel) the following three points must be understood when speaking of rabbinic legislation.

• Rabbinic legislation is to be regarded as secondary to the Written Torah and not to be regarded as or misrepresented as having been revealed through prophetic revelation at Sinai through Moses.
• Rabbinic decisions cannot be presented as the equivalent of Torah legislation.
• <!–[if !supportLists]–> <!–[endif]–>Rabbinic enactments were restricted by Torah law and decisions of an earlier Bet Din that subsequently impose certain restrictions on the Sages.

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