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 larger framework of first-century Judaism. His words will grow in clarity and depth when seen in the light of their original setting.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insites from His Jewish Context:
Excellent...Brings into light additional background of the Jewish culture in its usage of thoughts and phrases that I took for granted as to its meaning. I can now more fully appreciate what the biblical text offers.
Sheds much light:
This book helpfully locates Jesus and his teachings within the tradition of first-century rabbinical practice. The linkages between the Talmud and Jesus' words were especially helpful.
A possible bridge?:
It has been so difficult for me to find books which even attempt to reconcile modern Christianity with Yeshua's VERY Jewish roots. This book is a good "starter" if you are seeking Jesus/Yeshua within his Jewish context. There are a great number of footnotes explaining various Hebrew words and historical references--and which also point to other texts of interest. I had to loan my one and only copy to a very good friend of mine who recently became a Christian. As soon as she saw the book, she wanted to... more info
Bivin's work is most helpful:
David Bivin's new book, New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context, is a most helpful book. I have never traveled to Israel and, being a gentile Christian, I am not all that familiar with Jewish customs. Consequently, having a straightforward explanation of Jewish customs of the first century is most interesting and helpful in interpreting the NT. One read of this book is probably not sufficient to gain full advantage. There was a bit of overlap with Bivin's previous... more info
