Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 270 pages
- Published by: Hendrickson Publishers June 30, 2007
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1565634055
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1565634053
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Book Dimensions:
9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
- Weighs: 1 pounds
Product Description
Meet the Rabbis explains to the reader how rabbinic thought was relevant to Jesus and the New Testament world, and hence should be relevant to those people today who read the New Testament.
In this sense, Rabbinic thought is relevant to every aspect of modern life. Rabbinic literature explores the meaning of living life to its fullest, in right relationship with God and humanity. However, many Christians are not aware of Rabbinic thought and literature. Indeed, most individuals in the Western world today, regardless of whether they are Christians, atheists, agnostics, secular community leaders, or some other religious and political persuasions, are more knowledgeable of Jesus’ ethical teachings in the Sermon the Mount than the Ethics of the Fathers in a Jewish prayer book. The author seeks to introduce the reader to the world of Torah learning. It is within this world that the authentic cultural background of Jesus’ teachings in ancient Judaism is revealed. Young uses parts of the New Testament, especially the Sermon on the Mount, as a springboard for probing rabbinic method. The book is an introduction to rabbinic thought and literature and has three main sections in its layout: Introduction to Rabbinic Thought, Introduction to Rabbinic Literature, and Meet the Rabbis, a biographical description of influential Rabbis from Talmudic sources.
About The Author
Brad H. Young is a faculty member of the Graduate School of Theology and Missions at Oral Roberts University, serving as Associate Professor of Biblical Literature, as well as the founder and President of the Gospel Research Foundation, Inc. Dr. Young earned two degrees, an MA and PhD from the Hebrew University and is one of the founding scholars of the Jerusalem School of Synoptic Studies. He has contributed to scholarly journals and spoken at many academic, church, interfaith and civic gatherings. He regularly teaches classes on the parables of Jesus, the Jewish background to the Gospels, Rabbinic literature, and Paul the Jewish apostle to the Gentiles.
Reader ReviewsEarly in my exploration of Christianity (at age 40) it became apparent that most clergy are clueless about the relationship Jesus had with the Pharisees. Despite what Josephus wrote, Pharisees were always portrayed as one - dimensional Neanderthals. Gamliel's thoughtful words in Acts of the Apostles were seldom even mentioned. This was true for all of the hundreds of sermons I have heard live, on the radio, and over the Internet. Prof. Young has been one of the voices calling out in the wilderness. I discovered his books in my mid-40s and then began to read other scholarly writers that he cited. I was trying to understand why G-d chose that particular time in history to send the Messiah. To understand the era, I revisited the worship of the First Century Church and Synagogues. I learned that the Amidah was recited during the time of Jesus in the Synagogues and Temple. These prayers are virtually unchanged from when they were written. If Jesus attended group worship once a week from age 13 to 33, He recited the Amida over 1,000 times. Obviously that is a huge underestimate. More important, he did this shoulder - to - shoulder with the Pharisees! My point is, how can people who profess faith in Christ be so ignorant of what Jesus (and Paul) prayed... and with whom? Now you do not have to! Brad Young has encapsulated my twelve years of part-time research...and a great deal more, into this wonderful book. Being a Hebrew scholar, he translates many great Jewish writings (including the Amida) into English that is precise and very readable. He explains the difference between the Oral Torah (you have heard that...) and the Written Torah (it is written that...) and explains why writings 400 years after the death of Christ still echo with the teachings of the Intertestament Period. Dr. Young also accurately portrays the Rabbis from 100 BCE to 400 AD as some of the religious and intellectual heavyweights of their time. I would give this book six stars if I could. If you do not know the differences between the beliefs of Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, and Essenes, I would recommend reading his Jewish Theologian books first. Then be prepared to have all of your preconceived notions about the Pharisees ground into dust.
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