lA full understanding of the Gospels is not attainable without knowledge of the Jewish frame of reference. Therefore, this course provides detailed background information about first-century Jewish society, religious elements, rabbinic literature, and rabbinic theology. This course covers the period from Yeshua’s birth (the Incarnation) to the public proclamation of His Messiahship.  

Using a harmonization of the four Gospels, we’ll study the life of Yeshua using a chronological-thematic approach.

This is the first course in a sequence of four courses examining the life of Yeshua the Messiah from a Messianic Jewish perspective

NOTE: This course was updated and expanded in 2023.  It took several months to complete this project.  Lord willing, we also plan on updating and expanding Yeshua Parts Two and Three in this Life of Yeshua series of coures in 2024-25. 

• Course Name and Course Code: Yeshua: The Life of Messiah, Part One (BHD 101 T-4)
• Prerequisites: None
• Enrollment: Open enrollment; students can take this course any time they want.  It is self-paced but needs to be completed in one year. 
• Educational Level: Open to all levels 
• Faculty on Video Lectures:  Arnold Fruchtenbaum, Th.M.. Ph.D.
• Course Length: 16 Modules of curriculum and 10 hours of lecture video presentations.  Tier 4 courses only contain the lectures, there is no access to the curriculum or other content.
• Credits: 0 Credits

 CLICK ON THE ARROW TO VIEW THE SAMPLE LECTURE:

(C) 2023 ARIEL COLLEGE OF THE BIBLE AND MESSIANIC JEWISH STUDIES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Video Lectures Module 1: Introductory Material

Module 1a. Introductions: Speaker, Purpose, and Importance of the Course
Module 1b. Methodology of the Course
Module 1c. Use of Rabbinic Literature in the Course
Module 1d. How the NT quotes the OT: The Four Types of Messianic Prophecy in the OT
Module 1e. How the NT quotes the OT: The Four Categories of Quotations

 Video Lectures Module 2: The Historical Backgrounds
Module 2a. Historical Backgrounds: Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Rome
Module 2b. The Reign of Herod the Great and the Aftermath
Module 2c. First Century Jewish Society: Importance
Module 2d. Categories of First-Century Jewish Society
Module 2e. Jewish Backgrounds: Language
Module 2f. Religious Elements: Second Temple, Priesthood, Temple Police, & Synagogues

Video Lectures Module 3: The Pharisaic-Rabbinic Movement
Module 3a. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Sopherim
Module 3b. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Tannaim
Module 3c. Development of Pharisaic Judaism: Amoraim, Finished Product, and Rabbinic Literature

Video Lectures Module 4: Rabbinic Theology
Module 4a. Torah
Module 4b. Scripture and Messiah

Module 4c. The Three Messianic Miracles: (1) The Healing of a Jewish Leper
Module 4d. The Three Messianic Miracles: (2) The Casting Out of a Demon Causing Muteness
Module 4e. The Three Messianic Miracles: (3) The Opening of the Eyes of a Man Born Blind
Module 4f. Rabbinic Exegesis, Authority and Status

Video Lectures Module 5: Luke’s Prologue and Introduction to Matthew and Mark
Module 5. Luke’s Prologue, Matthew and Mark

Video Lectures Module 6: Introduction to Luke and John
Module 6a. The Gospel of Luke
Module 6b. The Gospel of John

Video Lectures Module 7: The Preexistence of the Messiah
Module 7. John’s Prologue and the Logos in Greek Philosophy, in Philonic Writings, and in Rabbinic Theology

Video Lectures Module 8: The Messianic Jewish Approach to the Word
Module 8a. Six Theological Truths about the Memra
Module 8b. Additional Aspects of the Prologue

Video Lectures Module 9: The Background of the King
Module 9. The Genealogy of the King

Video Lectures Module 10: The Advent of the King
Module 10a. The Annunciation of the Birth of Yochanan to Zechariah
Module 10b. The Annunciation of the Birth of Yeshua to Miriam

Video Lectures Module 11: The Preparations for the King
Module 11a. The Visit of Miriam with Elizabeth and the Song of Miriam
Module 11b. The Birth of Yochanan (John)
Module 11c. The Annunciation of the Birth of Yeshua to Joseph

Video Lectures Module 12: The Arrival of the King
Module 12a. The Birth of the King
Module 12b. The Announcement to and visit of the Shepherds
Module 12c. The Circumcision
Module 12d. The Presentation and the Two Encounters

Video Lectures Module 13: The Early Years of the King
Module 13a. The Childhood of the King
Module 13b. In Egypt and In Nazareth

Video Lectures Module 14: The Development of the King, and the Call to Repent
Module 14a. The Boyhood of the King
Module 14b. The Visit to Jerusalem and His Human Development
Module 14c. The Message to Yochanan and the Message by Yochanan

Video Lectures Module 15: The Forerunner and Herald of the King
Module 15a. The Explanation by Yochanan
Module 15b. The Promise by Yochanan
Module 15c. At His Baptism

Video LecturesModule 16: The Approval of the King
Module 16a. Through His Temptation and His Identification with Israel
Module 16b. By His Herald – To the Jewish Leaders – To the Jewish Public