Although the
roots of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil, many Christians are
regrettably uninformed about the rich Hebrew heritage of the church.
This volume delineates the link between Judaism and Christianity,
between the Old and the New Testament, and calls Christians to
reexamine their Hebrew roots so as to effect a more authentically
biblical lifestyle.
As an introduction to the world of Hebrew thought, Our Father Abraham
is biblical, historical, and cultural in nature. At the same time, the
writing is personal and passionate, reflecting Marvin Wilson’s own
spiritual pilgrimage and his extensive dialogue with Jews. The book (1)
develops a historical perspective on the Jewish origins of the church,
(2) sets forth the importance and nature of Hebrew thought, (3)
discusses how the church can become more attuned to the Hebraic
mind-set of Scripture, and (4) offers practical suggestions for
interaction between Jews and Christians.
The study questions at the end of each
chapter enhance the book’s usefulness as a text and also make it
suitable for Bible-study and discussion groups. All Christians—and Jews
too—will profit from Wilson’s sensible treatments of biblical texts,
his thorough understanding of both the Christian and the Jewish faith,
and his honest historical analysis of the general failure of the
Christian church to acknowledge and understand its relation to Judaism.
Review
This excellent, Scripturally based study is written with compassion and
authority and reveals how the roots of Christianity run deep into
"Hebrew soil", showing the Hebrew heritage of the Christian Church to
be rich and extensive.
The
book describes at the outset how this heritage has been largely
unexplored/ignored by Christian seminaries, colleges and other
educational institutions.
Through a Biblical, historical and
cultural study, the book examines what our "predecessors" in the
Judeo-Christian faith have delivered to the Church of today. The
opening chapters of this work provide a historical perspective on the
Jewish origin of the Church with the book going to great lengths to
emphasise the fundamental truths that "Jesus Christ Himself was a Jew"
and that the Bible declares "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4;24).
This
work tells us that as far as the Gospel record is concerned, Jesus
spoke from "within Judaism" and never abandoned His "ancestral faith".
The book also describes how a prime facet of Old Testament/Jewish
thought was the promise and fulfilment of Biblical prophecy in relation
to the coming Messiah. Something which the earliest Christians,
themselves Jews, found resolved in the person of Jesus Christ. The book
educates the reader regarding how this Jewishness affects our
understanding of the teachings of Christ.
The book also proceeds
to study the centuries of "de-Judaization" that followed the early
Church, plus a study of the negative consequences resulting from the
Church being "severed" from it's Jewish roots. The correct Scriptural
interpretation of the Church being "grafted in" to it's Jewish roots is
explained in some detail. The doctrine of "Replacement Theology" is
also examined, wherein the Church is cited as being the "new Israel"
and usurping the Biblical promises pertaining to the Jewish people and
nation. A process that is described as developing from what was
initially the de-Judaization of the Church into the concept of
anti-Semitism itself. All these issues are commendably discussed in the
contents of this book in their appropriate context with Scriptural
references readily provided.
Other sections of this study include
a section devoted to understanding "Hebrew thought" plus an analysis of
the Church & theological conflict.
The book also investigates
the Judaeo-Christian heritage to the Holy Land and recognises that
Judaism is so embedded in it's relationship to the Land that it is
utterly inseparable from it. Jerusalem itself is also examined in a
similar context and outlines that Jesus was born into a Jewish family
near Jerusalem (Bethlehem, Judea), He later taught there, died there,
rose from the dead there, ascended to Heaven from there and said that
He would physically return there. (Readers should be aware that whilst
the book makes some reference to the present day situation in the Holy
Land, it does not delve into the complexities and the political
quagmire of the current situation. Indeed, that was never the purpose
for this study.)
This is an extremely comprehensive, readable
and informative study on the Jewish roots of Christianity to which the
latter is permanently indebted & a "must read" for anyone wishing
to obtain a Hebraic perspective on the New Testament. For those
interested in this subject I would also respectfully recommend "Jewish
Roots; A Foundation Of Biblical Theology" by Dan Juster. Thank you for
your time. (Roberts)
This is a stunning achievement and a life changing book! Wilson calls
Christians to examine their Hebrew roots. Once you discover the roots
of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil you will never view the Bible
the same way.
Abraham is father of us all, as Paul wrote to the Romans (Rom.
4:16). He is father of believing Jews, and he is father of believing
Gentiles (Rom. 4:11, 12). So if we belong to Christ, we are Abraham's
seed (Gal. 3:29). We have that wonderful Abrahamic connection.
To many Christians are surprised Christian's roots are in Judaism.
Wilson excellent balanced work gives an information in all areas of
Jewish culture and what it means to us today. The book is broken down
into five parts. They are:
1. A New People: Abraham's Spiritual Children
2. The Church and Synagogue in the Light of History
3. Understanding Hebrew Thought
4. Jewish Heritage and the Church: Selected Studies
5. Toward Restoring Jewish Roots
Each packed chapter includes sub points that will enhance your
study and understanding of the Bible. Wilson's goal is to help the
reader see the strong link between Judaism and Christianity and the Old
and New Testaments. By seeing and understanding this link, it is hoped
that the reader will be able to develop a more authentically Biblical
lifestyle.
This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 17 April, 2008.
