Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations
Overview
This book is the go-to source for introductory information on Messianic Judaism. Editors David Rudolph and Joel Willitts have assembled a thorough examination of the ecclesial context and biblical foundations of the diverse Messianic Jewish movement. Unique among similar works in its Jew-Gentile partnership, this book brings together a team of respected Messianic Jewish and Gentile Christian scholars, including Mark Kinzer, Richard Bauckham, Markus Bockmuehl, Craig Keener, Darrell Bock, Scott Hafemann, Daniel Harrington, R. Kendall Soulen, Douglas Harink, and others.
Top Highlights
“The UMJC defines Messianic Judaism as ‘a movement of Jewish congregations and congregation-like groupings committed to Yeshua [Jesus] the Messiah that embrace the covenantal responsibility of Jewish life and identity rooted in Torah, expressed in tradition, renewed and applied in the context of the New Covenant.’” (Page 11)
“this parting did not necessarily reflect apostolic example or teaching” (Page 13)
“Consequently, today many people use the term ‘Messianic Jew’ to refer to any ‘Jewish believer in Yeshua,’ whereas the historic term connotes a Jew who believes in Yeshua and continues to live as a Jew as a matter of covenant, calling, or national duty before God. Similarly, many people now use the terms ‘Messianic Jewish,’ ‘Messianic movement,’ and ‘Messianic’ loosely to refer to the work of Jewish mission agencies and Christian ministries in Israel, whereas the historic terms refer to the way of life, thought, and communal experience of Yeshua-believing Jews who live within the orbit of Judaism.” (Page 33)
“When we speak of Messianic Judaism in antiquity and in the modern era, we are referring to a religious tradition in which Jews have claimed to follow Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah of Israel while continuing to live within the orbit of Judaism. Communities of such Jews existed in the first four centuries of the Common Era and then reappeared in the eighteenth century. The aim of this essay is to survey this history up until the present day.” (Page 21)
“The realization that Yeshua is the Messiah of Israel, the one foretold by the prophets of Israel, is often followed by a second life-transforming realization: that the God of Israel calls Jews who follow the Jewish Messiah to remain Jews and become better Jews in keeping with his eternal purposes.” (Page 11)
- Title: Introduction to Messianic Judaism: Its Ecclesial Context and Biblical Foundations
- Authors: David J. Rudolph, Joel Willitts
- Publisher: Zondervan
- Print Publication Date: 2013
- Logos Release Date: 2013
- Pages: 336
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subject: Messianic Judaism
- ISBNs: 9780310517498, 9780310330639, 9780310555667, 0310517494, 0310330637, 0310555663
- Resource ID: LLS:NTRDCTNMSSNJDSM
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T01:57:58Z
David J. Rudolph is the rabbi of Tikvat Israel Messianic Synagogue in Richmond, Virginia, and teaches New Testament at the MJTI School of Jewish Studies. David has been part of the Messianic Jewish community for over thirty-five years and has published numerous books and articles on Messianic Judaism, the New Testament, and Jewish-Christian relations.
Joel Willitts is associate professor in biblical and theological Studies at North Park University and has a breadth of experience in both the Christian church and the academy. Joel has published books, essays, and journal articles in the area of New Testament studies.
Reviews
2 ratings
Matthew
9/21/2018
David B. Woods
3/27/2015
This is a landmark publication in the development of modern Messianic Judaism (part 1), and exegetical justification for its existence as distinct from, yet united with, Christianity (part 2). The contributing authors, including Messianic Jews and (non-Jewish) Christians, are all leading scholars in the field, and the editors themselves make weighty contributions.
