Every Theologian Loves a Good Parallel

Parallels are always interesting finds in the study of comparative theology. They allow us to speculate on the kinds of theological cross-pollination that occurs between religions and cultures, see who is influencing whom, and make educated guesses about why such imitation occurred. The four passages below illustrate this well. One parallel is features Luke  on the birth of Jesus and a latter  medieval Jewish work on the birth of the attributed writer of the Zohar, Isaac Luria. The second parallel features a passage from Mark and a passage from the Zohar.

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High;
and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever;
and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

And Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” 35 And the angel said to her,

“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be called holy,
the Son of God.

And behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Now let’s look at a medieval Jewish work:

Sefer HaKavanot U'Ma'aseh Nissim records that one day Isaac Luria's father remained in the beth kneset alone, studying, when Eliyahu HaNavi appeared to him and said, "I have been sent to you by the Almighty to bring you tidings that your holy wife shall conceive and bear a child, and that you must call him Yitzchak. He shall begin to deliver Israel from the Klipot [husks, forces of evil]. Through him, numerous souls will receive their tikkun. He is also destined to reveal many hidden mysteries in the Torah and to expound on the Zohar. His fame will spread throughout the world. Take care therefore that you not circumcise him before I come to be the Sandak [who holds the child during the Brit Milah ceremony]."

Or how about this one?

Mark  9:42

If anyone causes one of these little ones-those who believe in me-to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.  (see also Matthew 18:6, Luke 17:2.

Here, the Greek ahofobi may be translated as a deep place or an abyss. Now let’s look at the Jewish Zohar.

Zohar 1:48a

All evil spirits and demons, indeed, the entire Realm of Defilement [Sitra ‘Ahra’], hide within the eye of the millstone of the Cavern of the Great Abyss. For when the spirit of holiness spreads over the world, the spirit of defilement cannot remain…The entire world is under the [shelter] of the supernal Peace. (with regard to Shabbat)

Clearly the anonymous Jewish writer of the Zohar knew his Christian scriptures quite well….