What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus?
Michael L. Brown
Chosen Books, 2007
ISBN: 0800794265
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Michael Brown, a Jewish believer in Jesus, is a leading apologist for the Christian faith, especially as it relates to the Jewish community. He has authored over 18 books on holiness, spiritual renewal and revival, discipleship and Jewish apologetics, along with academically-oriented works in Old Testament and Hebrew studies. His multivolume Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus (Baker Book House) is one of the best treatments I have seen on that particular subject. It is a substantial resource for anyone involved with ministry among Jewish people. Watch this space for a short review of this series.
At a much more popular level, and therefore of greater interest to Christians generally, is Brown’s What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus? In this highly accessible book, Brown tackles more than fifty questions Christians often have about the Jewish people. This is an useful handbook, and because of the way it has been assembled, one does not need to read through the book, but can peruse the Table of Contents to find the answers to many of the most often asked questions about Jews, Judaism, Israel and the Jewish view of Jesus and Christians.
The book is organized under four major headings:
Part 1 – Judaism and Jewish Practice
Part 2 – The Jewish People and Jewish History
Part 3 – Rabbi Yeshua and the Jewish Background to the New Testament
Part 4 – Contemporary Christians, the Law of Moses and the State of Israel
Within each section, Brown poses commonly asked questions. Here is a sampling of questions addressed in the book.
What is Hasidic Judaism?
What is Oral Law?
What are the main differences between Judaism and Christianity?
What do Jewish people think about Jesus?
Do Jews refer to God by the name of Jehovah?
Why do traditional Jews have separate dishes in their kitchen for meat products and dairy products?
What is the origin of the term Jew and can Jews today really trace their lineage back to the Jewish people of the Bible?
Why have Jewish people been so hated and persecuted through the centuries?
Do contemporary Jews want to rebuild the Temple?
Should all Jews move back to Israel?
What does it mean to “restore the Jewish roots” of the Christian faith?
Did Jesus abolish the Law?
Should Christians keep the Law?
Should Christians observe the Sabbath on Saturday?
What is the difference between Passover and Easter?
Should Christians unconditionally support the nation of Israel?
Did God make a special way for Jews to be saved without believing in Jesus?
While it would be naive to think readers will agree with every answer Brown provides, they will nevertheless find his sometimes surprising, but always instructive, responses reasonably extensive. Whatever your personal view on some areas of theology, you will find Michael Brown to be a solid advocate for the essential, bedrock doctrines of the Christian faith.
With substantial upheaval within the Messianic community – some Messianic leaders are questioning doctrines like the Trinity, the deity of Jesus, and even the necessity for Jewish people to consciously believe in Jesus – Christians should be grateful for the solid work of Jewish believers like Michael Brown. I highly recommend this book.
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This book can be purchased through ChristianBook.com by clicking on the image or title below.
What Do Jewish People Think About Jesus?
By Michael L. Brown / Chosen
