How Jewish Is Christianity? : Two Views on the Messianic Movement

by Stanley N. Gundry, Series Editor; Louis Goldberg, General Editor

• ISBN13: 9780310244905
• ISBN10: 0310244900
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-11-01
• Publisher: Zondervan

Summary

Diverse perspectives about the messianic movement- from six contributors.Are Messianic congregations necessary or should Jewish believers be incorporated into the Gentile church? This is the topic of the latest volume in the Counterpoints series. The question of how Christian Jews relate their Jewish practices and customs to the church has been an issue within Christianity since the first century. Contemporary contributors who have lived and wrestled with this issue present informed arguments and counter-arguments. The book concludes with a chapter on the future for Messianic Jews and a directory of messianic movement organizations.Contributors include:-?John Fischer (Th.D., California Graduate School of Theology, Ph.D., University of South Florida) is a rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash and Chairman of Judaic Studies at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.-?Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Th.M., Ph.D., New York University) has served with the Chosen People Ministries and Christian Jew Foundation in the past and is now the founder and director of Ariel Ministries.-?Gershon Nerel (Ph.D., Hebrew University, Jerusalem) has served as "Israel Secretary" for the International Messianic Jewish Alliance and has also been a member of the executive committee for the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel.-?David Stern (Ph.D., M.Div.) is the translator of the Jewish New Testament from Greek to English to express its Jewishness; his version of the Tanak is the Complete Jewish Bible.-?Will Varner (Ed.D, Temple University) servers as professor of biblical studies at the Master's College, CA, and the director of the Israel Bible Extension campus of this college in Israel.

Author Biography

The late Louis Goldberg (Th.D., Grace Theological Seminary) served on the faculty of Moody Bible Institute for thirty years John Fischer (Th.D., California Graduate School of Theology, Ph.D. University of South Florida) is a rabbi and chairman of Judaic studies at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Th.M., Ph.D., New York University) is the founder and director of Ariel Ministries Gershon Nerel (Ph.D., Hebrew University, Jerusalem) has served with the International Messianic Jewish Alliance and the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel David H. Stern (M.Div., Fuller Theological Seminary) is the translator of the Jewish New Testament and the Complete Jewish Bible William Varner (Ed.D., Temple University), formerly dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, is professor of biblical studies at The Master's College, California

Table of Contents

Preface	7	(6)
Louis Goldberg
Introduction: The Rise, Disappearance, and Resurgence of Messianic Congregations	13	(14)
Louis Goldberg
Messianic Congregations are not Necessary	27	(82)
William Varner
Responses
Yes, We Do Need Messianic Congregations!	50	(16)
John Fischer
A Danger of Throwing Out the Baby with the Bath Water	66	(13)
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Living the Messianic Jewish Lifestyle	79	(13)
Louis Goldberg
Modern Assemblies of Jewish Yeshua-Believers between Church and Synagogue	92	(17)
Gershon Nerel
Messianic Congregations May Exist within the Body of Messiah, as Long as They Don't Function Contrary to the New Testament	109	(66)
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Responses
Messianic Congregations Should Exist and Should Be Very Jewish	129	(11)
John Fischer
Testing How Jewish We Should Be	140	(12)
Louis Goldberg
Torah and Halakhah among Modern Assemblies of Jewish Yeshua-Believers	152	(14)
Gershon Nerel
In Search of . . . a Jewish Identity	166	(9)
William Varner
Summary Essay: The Future of Messianic Judaism	175	(18)
David H. Stern
Appendix: Messianic Movement Organizations	193	(4)
Scripture Index	197	(4)
Subject Index	201