About
Rabbi David Rudolph (Ph.D., Cambridge University) was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. metro area where he attended Congregation Beth El, a Conservative synagogue, and Beth Messiah Congregation, a Messianic synagogue. David had a profound encounter with the God of Israel when he was 16 and a junior at Walt Whitman High School. This changed the course of his life. For the rest of the story, click here.
Certifications and Credentials
- Rabbinical Ordination: Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC) and Tikkun International
Research and Interest Areas
- New Testament
- Second Temple Judaism
- Jewish-Christian Relations
- Jewish Law and Custom
- Messianic Jewish History, Theology and Spirituality
- Anti-Semitism and Jewish Advocacy
Publications
Books
- A Jew to the Jews: Jewish Contours Pauline Flexibility in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. Preface by Richard Bauckham. Second Edition. Eugene: Pickwick, 2016.
- Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations. Co-edited with Joel Willitts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
- A Jew to the Jews: Jewish Contours Pauline Flexibility in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. WUNT 2/304. Tübingen: Mohr-Siebeck, 2011.
- Growing Your Olive Tree Marriage: A Guide for Couples from Two traditions. Baltimore: Lederer, 2003.
- The Voice of the Lord: Messianic Jewish Daily Devotional. Baltimore: Lederer, 1998.
- Understanding Messianic Judaism: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Denver: Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, 1988.
Chapters
- Messianic Jewish response essay in God’s Israel and the Israel of God: A Conversation on Pauline Supersessionism. Edited by Michael Bird and Scot McKnight. Lexham, forthcoming.
- “Introduction to the Pauline Corpus.” The New Oxford Bible Commentary. Edited by Katharine J. Dell and David Lincicum. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.
- “Ecclesiological Vision for L’Dor Vador: Paul and Jewish Identity in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 and 7:17-24.” The Future Restoration of Israel. Edited by Stanley Porter and Alan Kurschner. McMaster Divinity College Press, 2020.
- “Luke’s Portrait of Paul in Acts 21:17-26.” Pages 192-205 in The Early Reception of Paul the Second Temple Jew: Text, Narrative and Reception History. Edited by Isaac W. Oliver and Gabriele Boccaccini with Joshua Scott. London: T & T Clark, 2018.
- “Count Zinzendorf, Pastor Jack, and Messianic Jewish Revival.” Pages 92-116 in The Pastor & the Kingdom: Essays Honoring Jack W. Hayford. Edited by Jon Huntzinger and S. David Moore. Southlake: Gateway Academic and TKU Press, 2018.
- “Paul and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Romans 14:14, 20.” Pages 151-81 in Paul the Jew: A Conversation between Pauline and Second Temple Scholars. Edited by Carlos A. Segovia and Gabriele Boccaccini. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2016.
- “Zionism in Pauline Literature: Does Paul eliminate particularity for Israel and the land in his portrayal of salvation available for all the world?” Pages 167-94 in The New Christian Zionism: Fresh Perspectives on Israel and the Land. Edited by Gerald McDermott. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2016.
- “Messianic Judaism in Antiquity and in the Modern Era.” Pages 21-36 in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations. Edited by David J. Rudolph and Joel Willitts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
- “Messianic Jewish Synagogues.” Co-Authored with Elliot Klayman. Pages 37-50 in Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations. Edited by David J. Rudolph and Joel Willitts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2013.
- “Guidelines for Healthy Theological Discussion.” Pages 7-14 in The Borough Park Papers. Symposium I: The Gospel and the Jewish People. Clarksville: Messianic Jewish Publishers, 2012.
- “History of Judeo-Christian Communities in the Jewish Diaspora.” Pages 136-139 in Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture. Vol. 1. Edited by M. Avrum Ehrlich. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2008.
- “Contemporary Judeo-Christian Communities in the Jewish Diaspora.” Pages 146-150 in Encyclopedia of the Jewish Diaspora: Origins, Experiences, and Culture. Vol. 1. Edited by M. Avrum Ehrlich. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2008.
- Foreword to Train Up a Child: Successful Parenting for the Next Generation by Dan Switzer. Clarksville: Messianic Jewish Publishers, 2007.
- Epilogue to the Japanese edition of Jewish Roots: A Biblical Theology of Messianic Judaism by Daniel Juster. Tokyo: Malkoushu, 2003.
- “Intermarriage Can Have a Positive Effect on Messianic Judaism.” Pages 101-109 in Voices of Messianic Judaism: Confronting Critical Issues Facing a Maturing Movement. Edited by Dan Cohn-Sherbok. Baltimore: Lederer, 2001.
Articles
- “‘To the Jew First’: Paul’s Vision for the Priority of Israel in the Life of the Church.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 37 (2020): 11-25.
- “A Half-Century of Jewish Scholarship on Jesus.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 37 (2020): 27-35.
- “The Science of Worship: Astronomy, Intercalation, and the Church’s Dependence on the Jewish People.” Bulletin of Ecclesial Theology 4:1 (2017): 27-47.
- “Introduction to Messianic Judaism.” Hebrew Studies 57 (2016): 201-204.
- “Paul’s ‘Rule in All the Churches’ (1 Cor 7:17-24) and Torah-Defined Ecclesiological Variegation.” Studies in Christian-Jewish Relations 5 (2010): 1-23.
- “No pork, Just a Little.” Jewish Journal (November 4, 2009).
- “Guidelines for Healthy Theological Discussion.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 22 (2008): 1-5.
- “Guidelines for Healthy Theological Discussion.” Lausanne Consultation on Jewish Evangelism (LCJE) Bulletin 90 (Nov. 2007): 16-20.
- “Abraham, Hospitality Man.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 21 (2006): 1-6.
- “Messianic Jews and Christian Theology: Restoring an Historical Voice to the Contemporary Discussion.” Pro Ecclesia 14:1 (2005): 58-84.
- “Festivals in Genesis 1:14.” Tyndale Bulletin 54:2 (2003): 23-40.
- “Paul and the Torah According to Luke.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 14:1 (2002): 61-73.
- “Yeshua and the Dietary Laws: A Reassessment of Mark 7:19b.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 16 (2003): 97-119.
- “Jesus and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Mark 7:19b.” Evangelical Quarterly 74:4 (2002): 291-311.
- “Scripture Memory in the Jewish Tradition.” Kesher: A Journal of Messianic Judaism 8 (1999): 102-111.
Columns
- “Passover in Corinth (1 Cor 5:7-8).” Verge 2:9 (2010): 4.
- “Matthew’s Christian-Jewish Community.” Verge 2:8 (2010): 4.
- “Conflict Resolution: A Messianic Jewish Perspective (Lev 19:17-18; Prov 19:11; Luke 17:3-4).” Verge 2:7 (2010): 4.
- “A Torah-Observant Paul: Rethinking Long-Held Assumptions.” Verge 2:6 (2010): 4.
- “Ya’akov (James) and the Jerusalem Community.” Verge 2:5 (2010): 4.
- “Jesus-Believing Jews and Kol Yisrael: The Ways That Never Parted.” Verge 2:4 (2010): 4.
- “The Celebration of Passover by Gentile Christians in the Patristic Period.” Verge 2:3 (2010): 4.
- “The Relationship Between the Church and Israel (Eph 2:12).” Verge 2:2 (2010): 4.
- “Supersessionism, Dispensationalism and Messianic Judaism.” Verge 2:1 (2010): 4.
- “The Gospel of Hospitality (Luke 2:1-40).” Verge 1:7 (2009): 4.
- “Yeshua, the Son of Abraham (Matt 1:1; 28:19-20).” Verge 1:6 (2009): 4.
- “Yeshua, the Risen Jew (Rom 1:3; 2 Tim 2:8; Rev 22:16).” Verge 1:5 (2009): 4.
- “Jews and Gentiles Welcoming One Another at the Table (Rom 15:7).” Verge 1:4 (2009): 4.
- “Jews and Gentiles Judging One Another and the Skandalon Commandment (Rom 14:13; Lev 19:14).” Verge 1:3 (2009): 4.
- “Bilateral (Jew-Gentile) Ecclesiology and Ethics.” Verge 1:2 (2009): 4.
- “Worshiping Yeshua: The Alenu and Phil 2:5-11.” Verge 1:1 (2009): 4.
Conference Papers
- November 2020, “The Jewish Jesus and Messianic Judaism,” review of Zev Garber and Kenneth Hanson, Judaism and Jesus, National Association of Professors of Hebrew, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Boston, forthcoming.
- February 2020, “The Jewish Apostle: ‘To the Jew First’ as an Expression of Paul within Judaism.” Borough Park Symposium, New York.
- February 2020, “The Jewish Jesus in Jewish Studies.” Borough Park Symposium, New York.
- November 2019, “Describing the Church in Relation to Israel: The Language of George Lindbeck and Ephesians 2.” Theological Interpretation of Scripture Group, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego.
- September 2019, “Was Paul seeking a new freedom from—or end to—Jewish law?” The Jewish Roots of Christianity: Second Annual Anglican Theology Conference at Beeson Divinity School, Birmingham, Alabama.
- July 2019, “Why Invest in Young Leaders?” International Conference of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Los Angeles, California.
- March 2019. “Romans 1:16 and Divine Priorities.” Seminar on Messianic Jews & the Church, HET-PRO University, Saint-Legier-La Chiesaz, Switzerland.
- March 2019. “Ephesians 2 and the One New Man.” Seminar on Messianic Jews & the Church, HET-PRO University, Saint-Legier-La Chiesaz, Switzerland.
- March 2019. “Messianic Judaism and Jewish-Christian Dialogue.” Seminar on Messianic Jews & the Church, HET-PRO University, Saint-Legier-La Chiesaz, Switzerland.
- November 2018, “Hearing from Leaders in the Messianic Jewish Dialogue with the Church.” Messianic Leadership Roundtable, Phoenix, Arizona.
- July 2018, “Who Is a Jew?” International Conference of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Orlando, Florida.
- December 2017, “The Place of Jews within the Sacred Economy of the Church.” Participant in the First Things Dulles Colloquium, New York City.
- March 2017, “Intermarrieds in the Messianic Synagogue and Local Church.” The Anglican Church in North America – Messianic Jewish Dialogue, Chicago.
- August 2016, “The Symbol of the Shofar.” The Roman Catholic – Messianic Jewish Dialogue, Rome.
- July 2016, “The Shape of Messianic Jewish Theology.” International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) Messiah Conference Yeshiva, Grantham, Pennsylvania.
- July 2016, “Paul, Israel and the People of God.” Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) Summer Conference Yeshiva, Messiah College, Grantham, Pennsylvania.
- June 2016, “Luke’s Portrait of Paul in Acts 21:17-26.” Seventh Nangeroni Meeting of the Enoch Seminar: The Early Reception of Paul the Second Temple Jew, Rome.
- November 2015, “The Impact of Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism on the Messianic Jewish Movement,” review of Mark S. Kinzer, Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism: Redefining Christian Engagement with the Jewish People, National Association of Professors of Hebrew, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Atlanta.
- October 2015, “Israel’s Calendar and Creation.” Center for Pastor Theologians Symposium on Faith and Science, Chicago.
- October 2015, “Paul, Israel and the People of God.” International Alliance of Messianic Congregations and Synagogues (IAMCS) South Central Regional Yeshiva, Dallas.
- August 2015, “Response to Ray Gannon’s ‘What the Bible Means: Messianic Jewish Theology and the Movement.’” TLV Bible Conference, Southlake, TX.
- April 2015, “Does Paul eliminate particularity for Israel and the land in his portrayal of salvation available for all the world?” People of the Land: A Twenty-First Century Case for Christian Zionism, The Institute on Religion and Democracy, Washington, D.C.
- April 2015, “What Are the Messianic Jews and What Do They Believe?” Georgetown University Program for Jewish Civilization, Artisanal Jewish Studies PJC Lecture Series, Washington, DC.
- November 2014, “Introduction to Messianic Judaism,” Symposium on Messianic Judaism coordinated by Professor Zev Garber, a review session focusing on David Rudolph and Joel Willitts, eds., Introduction to Messianic Judaism, National Association of Professors of Hebrew, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, San Diego.
- November 2014, “Introduction to Messianic Judaism,” a review session focusing on David Rudolph and Joel Willitts, eds., Introduction to Messianic Judaism, Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, New Testament Backgrounds, San Diego.
- June 2014, “Paul and the Food Laws: A Reassessment of Romans 14:14, 20,” Third Nangeroni Meeting of the Enoch Seminar: Rereading Paul as a Second-Temple Jewish Author, Rome.
- May 2014, “Making Paul’s Vision Our Vision,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “The Gospel, Interdependence and Mutual Blessing,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “The Reemergence of Messianic Judaism in the Modern Era,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “1500 Years of Gentile Christian Attempts to Convert the Jewish People,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “The Messianic Jewish Community in Antiquity,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “The Unknown Paul,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio
- May 2014, “Abraham the Proselytizer in Jewish Antiquity,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “Hospitality and Kiruv (Outreach),” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- May 2014, “Romans 1.16 and Divine Priorities,” Messianic Studies Institute, Columbus, Ohio.
- January 2014, “Wisdom from the Next Generation,” Midyear Leadership Meeting of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Dallas.
- January 2014, “The Importance of Succession Planning,” Midyear Leadership Meeting of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Dallas.
- May 2013, “Hospitality and Mission,” Tokyo Christian University, Tokyo, Japan.
- May 2013, “The Gospel, Interdependence and Mission,” Tokyo Christian University, Chiba, Japan.
- May 2013, “History of the Church’s Mission to the Jewish People in the Modern Era,” Tokyo Christian University, Chiba, Japan.
- May 2013, “History of the Church’s Mission to the Jewish People in Antiquity,” Tokyo Christian University, Chiba, Japan.
- November 2012, “The Circumcised Apostle: Paul and Jewish Identity in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23,” annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, Pauline Soteriology Group, Chicago.
- October 2012, “How Jewish Will the Messianic Jewish Community of the Future Be?” Third Borough Park Symposium, New York.
- June 2012, “Learning to Be ‘One out of Ephesians Two’: Reflections on the Significance of Our Working Group.” Messianic Judaism and the Church Working Group, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
- June 2011, “Paul’s ‘Rule in All the Churches’ (1 Cor 7:17-24),” Messianic Judaism and the Church Working Group, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.
- April 2010, “Reminder on Respectful Theological Discussion,” Borough Park Symposium on the Deity of Messiah and the Mystery of God, New York.
- February 2010, “Jesus-Believing Jews and Kol Yisrael: Rethinking Long-Held Assumptions,” plenary session of the Society of Biblical Literature Midwest Region Conference, Valparaiso, Indiana.
- October 2009, “The Rabbi as Pastor-Theologian: Torah Scholars Qua Ecclesial Leaders in the Post-Biblical Jewish Context,” Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology Symposium, Chicago.
- May 2009, “Torah and Spirit,” Tikkun Leadership Conference, Lancaster.
- January 2009, “The Changing Face of the North American Jewish Community,” Midyear Leadership Meeting of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Palm Springs.
- November 2008, “Paul’s ‘Rule in All the Churches’ (1 Cor 7:17-24) and Torah-Defined Ecclesiological Variegation,” annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion, Christian Systematic Theology Section, Chicago.
- October 2008, “Resurrection and Jesus’ Jewish Identity,” Society for the Advancement of Ecclesial Theology Symposium, Chicago.
- October 2007, “Guidelines for Healthy Theological Discussion,” Borough Park Symposium on the Gospel, New York.
- July 2007, “Focusing on Where the Harvest is Ripe: Reaching Out to Intermarried Couples,” Conference of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations. Chicago.
- January 2007, “Post-Missionary Messianic Judaism: Definitions and Dichotomies,” Ninth Hashivenu Forum, Pasadena.
- June 2006, “Abraham the Proselytizer Par Excellence in Jewish Antiquity,” Young Messianic Jewish Scholars Conference, New York City.
- May 2005, “Accommodation as Imitatio Christi in 1 Cor 9:19-23,” Oxford-Cambridge New Testament Conference. Cambridge, Cambridge University, Cambridge.
- March 2005, “Divine Accommodation in Early Jewish Texts,” Hebrew, Jewish and Early Christian Studies Seminar. Cambridge, Cambridge University, Cambridge.
Courses Taught
- BIBL8301 Jewish Identity and Continuity
- BIBM8305 Messianic Jewish Communal Boundaries
- BIBD5321 The New Testament as Jewish Literature
- BIBL5319 Studies in Luke-Acts and Early Judaism
- BIBD7310 Jewish-Christian Relations
- BIBL6320 Jewish Practices in Messianic Context
- BIBH6306 Messianic Judaism in Antiquity and the Modern Era
- BIBD5300 Messianic Jewish Theology
- APOL6301 Messianic Jewish Apologetics I
- BIBM6301 Graduate Ministry Practicum
- BIBL 2325 The New Testament and Second Temple Judaism
- BIBL4310 Luke-Acts in Jewish Context
- BIBL2327 Jewish Customs and Ceremonies
- BIBH 2302 Messianic Jewish History
- BIBT2310 The Shape of Messianic Jewish Theology
- APOL3302 Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus
- BIBL2324 Our Father Abraham
- BIBL2302 Life of Jesus
Education
PH.D. IN NEW TESTAMENT
Cambridge University
M.A. IN OLD TESTAMENT
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
M.A. IN BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
M.T.S. IN MESSIANIC JEWISH THEOLOGY
Messiah Biblical Institute
B.TH. IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY
Messiah Biblical Institute