Talmud

The Talmud (Hebrew: doctrine; study) is the vast compilation of Jewish oral law and rabbinic discussion that stands alongside the written Torah as the foundational document of rabbinic Judaism. It exists in two versions: the Jerusalem (Palestinian) Talmud, compiled c. A.D. 400, and the more authoritative Babylonian Talmud, completed c. A.D. 500. Both consist of the Mishnah (codification of the Oral Torah, compiled by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi c. A.D. 200) surrounded by the Gemara (rabbinic discussion and commentary on the Mishnah).

The Talmud's origins lie in the Pharisaic belief that alongside the written law God had given Moses an oral law to complete and explain it. Jesus engaged this tradition directly, sometimes affirming it and sometimes challenging it: "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition" (Mark 7:9; Matt. 15:3–9). Paul, trained as a Pharisee "at the feet of Gamaliel" (Acts 22:3), was familiar with this tradition before his conversion.