The Mishna as Illustrating the Gospels

The Mishnah is a codified collection of Oral Law maintained by the Pharisees and arranged, redacted, and revised in 210 C.E. by Judah ha-Nasi (often simply referred to as Rabbi). Since the collection contains laws that were transmitted orally, its various tractates represent different rabbinical traditions that date two centuries before Jesus until the time of ha-Nasi himself. It prominently features the sayings of Hillel and Shammai, as well as those of other rabbis of the Second Temple period. The Mishnah is divided into six parts in sixty-three treatises covering laws dealing with agricultural produce, feasts, women, property rights, holy objects in the temple, and the purity laws. By evaluating its contents, some of the religious environment at the time of Jesus may be recovered, and reasons for his conflict with the Pharisees become obvious. Since Paul the apostle was trained as a Pharisee in the school of Hillel, his approach to scripture, theology, and to Jewish customs are put into context by looking into the Mishnah.

Bennett's study on the Mishnah draws illustrative parallels between the gospels and Jewish oral tradition. After introducing the Mishnah to his readers as "an authoritative application of Mosaic law," he delves into its authorship and the circumstances for composition. The origin of the oral law is discussed, as well as the organization and breadth of topics found in the work. Concluding that both the Mishnah and the gospels are based on oral traditions, Bennett demonstrates how they are intended to accomplish similar purposes. Because the Mishnah was a product of Pharisaic instruction, he points out a few attitudes and practices of the sect relating directly to the gospels. Topic-by-topic he compares views on the Sabbath, the status of women, ethics and doctrine, vows, the poor, and how the contents of scriptures are applied by the Mishnah and the gospels. This is a helpful book for showing the Jewish origin of Christianity and how the influence of the rabbinical schools was early felt in the apostolic church.