Messianic Judaism: A Modern Movement With an Ancient Past (A Revision of Messianic Jewish Manifesto)
Overview
In the first century of the Common Era, tens of thousands of Jewish people followed Yeshua (Jesus), believing him to be the promised Messiah of Israel. They didn’t renounce their heritage, their customs, nor their people. They remained Jews. Two thousand years later, hundreds of thousands of Jewish people follow Yeshua, also believing that he is the Messiah. They, too, have not renounced their heritage, customs, nor their people. Messianic Judaism is the modern movement that is bringing it all together, for Jews and non-Jews. This book answers the following questions and more: What happened in the past 2000 years? Is Messianic Judaism a prophetic movement? What do Messianic Jews believe? Did the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, become null and void? What are the challenges for the future of this movement?
In easy–to–read style, Dr. David H Stern, translator of the Jewish New Testament and Complete Jewish Bible, gives us a comprehensive look at this vital movement. Whether you are a Messianic Jew, yourself, a Christian with curiosity about the Jewish roots of the Faith, or, a Jewish person wanting to understand more, Messianic Judaism: A Modern Movement with an Ancient Past puts it all in perspective for you. Read by tens of thousands in its first version, (Messianic Jewish Manifesto) this book has been instrumental in shaping and challenging Messianic Judaism. Now in this new edition, Dr. Stern lovingly challenges us again.
Top Highlights
“These verses appear as follows in the Jewish New Testament:” (Page 131)
“I am confident that the Messianic Jewish community will be the vehicle for healing the worst schism in the history of the world, the split between the Christians and the Jews, while helping both to fulfill their God-given callings.” (Page 4)
“he stressed that he was himself not without Torah but ennomos Christou, ‘en-lawed’ or ‘en-bra’zed of Messiah.’” (Page 130)
“Whatever Sha’ul is trying to communicate by these expressions, one thing is clear: Sha’ul regards them negatively: being ‘under the law’ is bad, and ‘works of the law’ are bad. Christian theology usually takes the first to mean ‘within the framework of observing the Torah.’ and the second, ‘acts of obedience to the Torah.’ This understanding is wrong. Sha’ul does not consider it bad to live within the framework of Torah, nor is it bad to obey it; on the contrary, he writes that the Torah is ‘holy, just and good’ (Romans 7:12).” (Page 129)
“According to the Tanakh, the goal of the Jewish people is to praise, thank, confess, obey, and make known the living God—in the words of Isaiah, to be a light to the nations.1 But the Jewish people will never be that light to the nations without shining forth him who is the light of the world, Yeshua the Messiah.” (Page 3)
- Title: Messianic Judaism: A Modern Movement With an Ancient Past: (A Revision of Messianic Jewish Manifesto)
- Author: David H Stern
- Publisher: Messianic Jewish Publishers
- Publication Date: 2007
- Pages: 321
Reviews
2 ratings
David B. Woods
4/14/2015
If you're studying the development of the modern Messianic Jewish movement, then this book is important because it provides a benchmark. If you just want to get straight to the status quo, a newer publication such as Rudolph & Willitts' "Introduction to Messianic Judaism" may suit you better. In any case, Stern's book provides valuable insights, especially on the concept of a two-fold body of Christ and on Torah observance (particularly for Messianic Jews).
Peter
4/3/2014
