A Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

This handbook serves as an introduction to the Jewish roots of the Christian Faith. It includes Old Testament background, Second Temple Judaism, the life of Jesus, the New Testament, the early Jewish followers of Jesus, the historical interaction between Judaism and Christianity, and the contemporary period.

It is no longer a novelty to say that Jesus was a Jew. In fact, the term "Jewish roots" has become something of a buzzword in books, articles, and especially on the internet. But what does the Jewishness of Jesus actually mean, and why is it important?

This collection of articles aims to address those questions and serve as a comprehensive yet concise primer on the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. A Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith consists of thirteen chapters, most of which are divided into four or five articles. It is in the "handbook" format, meaning that each article is brief but informative. The thirteen chapters are grouped into four major sections: (1) The Soil, (2) The Roots, (3) The Trunk, and (4) The Branches.

"An exciting volume by a diverse range of scholars on the Jewish origins of the early church and the New Testament. Readers interested in biblical backgrounds, ancient history, Jewish institutions and festivals, how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament, how Jesus and the apostles related to other Jews, or simply pining for a deeper knowledge of the Bible will benefit immensely from this book. It is useful too with its account of how Messianic Jews and Christian Arabs can worship together in Israel." -Dr. Michael F. Bird (Ph.D University of Queensland) is Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology at Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia.

"This excellent Handbook provides an exceptionally fine resource for studying the Jewish roots of Jesus and Christianity. It is a mine of useful information, with effective and concise discussions of a broad range of pertinent subjects, presented by a team of outstanding scholars. A particular strength is the fact that a good number of contributors are Jewish believers in Jesus who have a special sensitivity to the continuities between Jewish and Christian worlds. The Handbook is positive in its orientation and, given the variety of contributors, amazingly coherent. Readers will come away with a richer understanding of the whole Bible and the history of salvation."
-Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary.

"This helpful and well-informed work edited by Evans and Mishkin rightly highlights the Jewish identity and context of Jesus and his earliest followers." -Craig S. Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary.

"So just how Jewish is the Christian teaching about Jesus? The answer is quite a lot. So much so that it is just about everywhere. That is what A Handbook on the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith shows so admirably. A reading of this book will demonstrate just how rooted the Christian faith is in Jewish hope." -Dr. Darrell L. Bock, Executive Director for Cultural Engagement and Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary.

-Publisher.

Publisher Description

:This is a comprehensive handbook that serves as an introduction

to the Jewish roots of the Christian Faith. It includes Old Testament

background, Second Temple Judaism, the life of Jesus, the New

Testament, and the early Jewish followers of Jesus.

It is no longer a novelty to say that Jesus was a Jew. In fact, the

term "Jewish roots" has become something of a buzzword in

books, articles, and especially on the internet. But what does the

Jewishness of Jesus actually mean, and why is it important?

This collection of articles aims to address those questions and

serve as a comprehensive yet concise primer on the Jewish roots

of the Christian faith. It consists of thirteen chapters, most of which

are divided into four or five articles. It is in the "handbook" format,

meaning that each article is brief but informative. The thirteen

chapters are grouped into four major sections: (1) The Soil, (2) The

Roots, (3) The Trunk, and (4) The Branches.

Craig A. Evans, PhD, DHabil, is the Hohn Bisagno Distinguised Professor of Christian Origins at Houston Baptist University in Texas. He is a frequent contributor to scholarly hournals and the author or editor of over seventy books. Editor resides in Houston, TX.

David Mishkin, PhD, serves on the faculty os Israel College of the Bible in Netanya, Israel. He is the author of The Wisdon of Alfred Edersheim and Jewish Scholarship on the Ressurrection of Jesus. Editor resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana.