Curated by Justin Bailey
In one sentence: The Hebrew Bible contains passages interpreted by some as predicting a dying and rising messiah, though this is not a universally accepted interpretation within Judaism.
Why it matters: The concept of a messiah who dies and then rises is central to Christian theology but is not a traditional Jewish belief. This difference in interpretation affects the foundational theological and Christological divisions between Judaism and Christianity.
State of play:
- The Suffering Servant: Passages like Isaiah 53 describe a "suffering servant," who is afflicted, led like a lamb to the slaughter, and thought to bear the sins of many. Christians interpret this figure as Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection atone for humanity's sins.
- Psalms and Prophetic Literature: Other texts, such as Psalm 16:10 or Psalm 22, which speaks of enduring intense suffering and deliverance by God, are seen by Christians as messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus.
Yes, but:
- Jewish Interpretation: In Judaism, these passages are generally not seen as referring to a single messiah figure who dies and is resurrected but rather to the nation of Israel or a righteous individual suffering unjustly.
- Textual Context: The Hebrew Bible itself does not explicitly articulate the concept of a messiah who must die and then rise as part of a divine plan for salvation, which is a later theological development within Christianity.
What skeptics say: Skeptics argue that the New Testament authors reinterpreted the Hebrew Bible to fit the life and events surrounding Jesus, rather than these prophecies being clear or intended predictions of a dying and rising messiah.
Between the lines: The interpretation of these texts reflects deeper hermeneutical approaches: while Christians read the Old Testament through the lens of the New Testament, Jews maintain interpretations grounded in rabbinic traditions and other ancient Jewish writings.
Zoom out: The discussion about whether the Hebrew Bible predicts a dying and rising messiah highlights the broader dialogue on how scriptures are read and understood differently across religious traditions, influencing theology, liturgy, and interfaith relations.
The bottom line: While the Hebrew Bible contains passages that Christians interpret as foretelling a dying and rising messiah, these interpretations are not recognized in Jewish tradition, where such a concept of the messiah does not align with traditional teachings. The reading and understanding of these passages largely depend on theological context and beliefs.
Follow Up Questions
What specific texts within the Hebrew Bible are commonly cited by Christian theologians as prophecies about a dying and rising messiah, and how are these texts interpreted differently by Jewish scholars? (Coming Soon)
How does the interpretation of the "suffering servant" in Isaiah 53 vary between Jewish and Christian traditions, and what are the implications of these differences for interfaith dialogue? (Coming Soon)
Can the concept of a messiah who dies and is resurrected be found in any other ancient Near Eastern religions, and how might these parallels influence our understanding of similar themes in the Hebrew Bible? (Coming Soon)
What role does the New Testament play in shaping the Christian interpretation of the Hebrew Bible’s passages as messianic prophecies? (Coming Soon)
How do modern scholars reconcile the differences in messianic expectations between the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament? (Coming Soon)
In what ways do rabbinic traditions and other ancient Jewish writings influence Jewish interpretations of supposed messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible? (Coming Soon)
How do the differences in messianic expectations affect the theological and Christological divisions between Judaism and Christianity today? (Coming Soon)
What are the major critiques from skeptics regarding the Christian interpretation of Hebrew Bible texts as predictions of a dying and rising messiah? (Coming Soon)
How does the concept of reinterpretation of sacred texts apply to the Hebrew Bible in the context of Christian and Jewish beliefs about the messiah? (Coming Soon)
What historical and cultural factors might have influenced the development of messianic concepts in the Hebrew Bible and their subsequent interpretation in Christian theology? (Coming Soon)
Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai
All answers are curated and manually reviewed prior to being posted. Multiple language models are used to assist with verification.