A Disciple Named Timothy: Essays in Honor of Tim Hegg

This book is a collection of 14 articles by 14 different authors in honor of Tim Hegg on his 75th birthday. Each author has been influenced by Tim in one way or another and has written their academic contribution in honor of Tim’s huge body of work and his influence.

From the Back Cover: This Festschrift is a collection of articles from scholars, students, friends, and relatives that have all been influenced by the work of Tim Hegg. Each contributor has written an article intended to show their scholarship in honor of Tim as a teacher and influence on their lives. Tim has worked tirelessly for over 45 years to bring the good news of Yeshua to those around him. He has been a pioneer of One Law theology and has written over 40 books and recorded hundreds of hours of lectures to help others better understand God’s justification and how we are to be sanctified unto the Lord. His body of work has been read and used around the world and has brought thousands of people into a better understanding of the Bible and has strengthened their relationship with God. It is with great honor that this book is published in recognition of the immense impact Tim has had on so many people throughout the years.

List of Papers and Authors

The Reformer – C.M. Hegg
Hegg shares first-hand accounts of his father’s budding appreciation for his Jewish heritage, and describes some of the initial moves through which the Lord shaped Tim into the One Torah scholar we all know him to be. Caleb carefully frames his father’s teaching legacy in terms of the Reformers, thus making a bold statement about Yeshua’s Ekklesia today and calling us to seriously consider what God is doing in our historical moment.

God and Evil – David Hegg
Hegg, Tim’s younger brother, contributes an essay dealing with the Problem of Evil. Why is there evil in the world? How is it that the Creator of the Universe can be both all-powerful and good? This article asserts that indeed, God could instantly eliminate evil, yet He refrains from doing so. Difficult though it may be for many to understand, this is an important part of His plan.

Heggianism 101 – Pj de Marigny
de Marigny introduces the term “Heggianism” as a helpful encapsulation of Tim Hegg’s One Torah and “whole Bible” hermeneutic. Contemporary scholarship on pedagogy and curriculum development strengthen the ancient conviction that walking in the commandments, according to the yearly cycle of Feasts, draws God’s people together in a life rich with learning and growing.

The Role of Geography in Understanding the Biblical Text – Ariel Berkowitz
Berkowitz brings readers to the frontlines of the events described in Joshua 10. By attending to details of geography, Ariel helps us to “see” more clearly what ancient hearers of these accounts would have simply taken for granted. Knowledge of Holy Land geography and facility with maps are key components in obtaining a sound understanding of the text.

“…the Moabitess”  A Repetition With Purpose – Harold Rosin
Rosin takes us into the heart of the story of Ruth, a gentile woman who by faith is grafted into God’s covenant people. Why is she continually referred to as “the Moabitess”? Is this not degrading? Wouldn’t Ruth be ashamed to be called this after vowing to follow Naomi? Rather, Harold reminds us that at the core of the Gospel message is God’s delight in believing hearts like that of Abraham.

“First,” “Second,” and The Parable of the Mishkan in Hebrews – Cristina Moore Urrutia
Moore Urrutia takes a close look at the “parable” of the Tabernacle described in the ninth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Central to her project is the careful consideration of the repeated, though not consistently translated, terms “first” and “second.” Contrary to a long history of Christian interpretation which promotes a negative view of God’s law, it is show that Hebrews disparages neither the Tabernacle nor the Aaronic priesthood while describing Messiah’s glorious office as High Priest.

The Unity of Torah – Eitan ben Levi
ben Levi traces various inconsistencies in Christian interpretations of the Ten Commandments. Throughout the Bible, the Decalogue is always presented as a unified work, and God’s people are thus obligated to read and understand it as such. The Sabbath command, of course, is of great importance in this regard, since it is the one commandment which teachers and preachers have traditionally sought to dismiss or rationalize away. 

The Wife Maker – Elizabeth Marchman
Marchman’s essay exemplifies a sound combination of careful attention to the Word in its original languages with a heart of a wife and mother who seeks to love God first in all things. A blend of scriptural reminders, personal anecdotes, and key vocabulary lessons will enrich readers with wisdom and insight. 

The Exalted Servant – Benjamin G. Frostad
Frostad investigates an important question for scholars of Jewish history: was the idea of a divine Messiah an invention of first-century Christians, or did such an expectation exist among God’s people since ancient times? Does the assertion of Yeshua’s deity violate the Shema’s statement that God is one? Of central concern in this matter is the apostles’ understanding of the words of Isaiah the prophet.

Three days in darkness – Julie O’Toole
O’Toole imagines the nature of the impact upon Paul of the blindness he suffered after his encounter with Yeshua on the road to Damascus. What was the specific plight of the blind in first century Judea, and how did this inability to see constrain a Jew’s expressions of faith? This careful appreciation of a defining moment in Paul’s spiritual transformation provides insightful and challenging lessons for believers today.

What Is Paul’s Subject – Tony Robinson
Robinson offers an interpretation of Paul’s famous statement “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14) with reference to its immediate context: a chiastic structure which aids in the identification of the apostle’s main point. What does Paul mean? Are Christian teachers and preachers mistaken who cite this verse as a justification for their claim that the Torah has been abolished? The framework presented here provides good food for thought for those puzzled by this passage as well as a general appreciation for the use of chiasm in the Bible.  

Four ‘Fullnesses’ in Romans – Rob Vanhoff
Vanhoff notices the four times Paul uses the word “fullness” in the book of Romans. When considered together, the “big picture” of the apostle’s worldview can be clearly seen. Within the great fulfillment of God’s eternal covenant promises, there is no true Israel apart from believing Gentiles and no true Torah apart from Yeshua the King Messiah.

Reconsidering Romans 13:1-7 – Dr. Benjamin Szumskyj
Szumskyj examines the question of the Christian’s relationship to government. What is the scriptural view of believers’ obligation to the rulers of the land in which they reside or have citizenship? What are the limits? This article evaluates a history of interpretations of Romans 13, a primary text in this regard, and offers a sound path forward for those confused by wrong teaching.

Following the Law of Moses in a Christlike Way – David Wilber
Wilber discusses Paul’s references to the “Law of Christ” in Galatians and 1 Corinthians, specifically addressing the question of continuity with the Law of Moses. A vast number of Christians hold to a set of beliefs and practices which they feel are new and which were instituted by Christ. Thus, they are quick to assert a discontinuity between what a believer’s walk looks like today and what God had commanded Israel in ancient times. But did Yeshua or Paul start a new religion? If not, why does Paul say “Law of Christ” and not “Law of Moses” or “Law of God”?