New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 208 pages
• Published by: En-Gedi Resource Center September 1, 2005
• ISBN 10 Number: 0974948225
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0974948225
• Book Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Weighs: 9.6 ounces

Product Review
book displays many of the brilliant Hebraic gems the author has mined that help illuminate the pages of the Gospels. -- Dr. Marvin Wilson, Author, Our Father Abraham

book displays many of the brilliant Hebraic gems the author has mined that help illuminate the pages of the Gospels. --Dr. Marvin Wilson, Author, Our Father Abraham

will increase your love and respect for Jesus, and summon your heart to walk after him in paths of discipleship. -- Dwight A. Pryor, President, JC Studies Center

will increase your love and respect for Jesus, and summon your heart to walk after him in paths of discipleship. --Dwight A. Pryor, President, JC Studies Center

Product Description
What if we could step back into the first-century world of Jesus and walk on a dusty road with him as one of his first Jewish disciples? Here we examine Jesus’ lifestyle as a first-century Jewish rabbi and look at how his words would have been understood within the greater framework of first-century Judaism. His words will grow in clarity and depth when seen in the light of their original setting.

Reader Reviews
This is one of those books you wish you had read a long time ago. David Bivin does an excellent job of "taking you there," back to the time of what it would be like to hear the words of Yeshua (Jesus) back in the second temple period. Bivin makes frequent use of rabbinical sources to help explain some of the more challenging aspects of the life of Yeshua. Although the text is nothing new per se, it draws from a vast pool of knowledge of great scholars such as David Flusser and Brad Young who make extensive use of ancient Jewish writings to shed light and provide context to the New Testament. For anyone not familiar with Jewish sources, Bivin is not suggesting that the Talmud is inspired as the Scripture, but that it contains important clues and commentary that shows that Yeshua was vary familiar with these texts. Many of Yeshua's words parallel those in the Talmud, as Bivin shows. Bivin does a good job of explaining Jewish customs that affect our understanding of Yeshua. The opening chapters on discipleship, the life of a rabbi, and taking on a teacher's "yoke" are required reading for anyone who seeks a solid historical analysis of the background to the gospels. The section on the prayers of Yeshua is also very critical, but too short; you will definitely want to research this further after reading it. And the analysis on the famous Acts 15 passage is also quite insightful (although again not necessarily new, but quite clear and concise). In all each section is pretty brief, easy to read, and answers a basic question such as "Why didn't Yeshua marry," or addresses a confusing point such as "Miracle on the Sea of Galilee." In fact, each chapter is basically a summary of articles that you can find on his website, entitled "Jerusalem Perspective." David Bivin previously wrote a book, "Understanding the Difficult Words of Jesus." Although I kind of liked that book, I was very disappointed with it because Bivin didn't make the case for the Hebrew gospels (i.e., written in Hebrew) that well and the use of Jewish idioms didn't really help explain some of Jesus's difficult words. The selected verses weren't that impressive. This time around however, Bivin's choice of difficult words was impressive. This time he really picked some tough ones (such as divorce, pacifism, the rich young ruler) that often frustrate Christian commentators. Although he doesn't advance the case for the Hebrew gospels per se, you will feel that at the very least the gospel writers thought in Hebrew because so many things fit well when viewed Hebraically. In all, this is a very useful book that I think Messianic believers will find fruitful. It would be helpful for those new to the Jewish background of the gospels. For those who have been around, I think you might find some of the references and the arguments pretty helpful, even if you already agree with the positions. Assuredly a great read for anyone who seeks better background knowledge to the gospels, and ultimately to get to know their Messiah a little better.