In Search Of God In The Hebrew Bible

Tryggve Mettinger's much-praised work analyzes the major names for God in the Old Testament to trace, through the many confrontations and challenges of individuals and groups that mark Israel's story, the historical development of Israel's conception of God.

A number of texts in the Hebrew Bible consistently command attention and yet defy easy explanation: Why did God try to kill Moses? Why did God kill the man who touched the ark to keep it from falling? Why did God put a tree in the middle of the Garden? David Penchansky tackles these tough questions and in so doing opens up for readers a new understanding of how the Hebrew Bible portrays God. Penchansky examines six biblical narratives that depict God negatively, outlining their social, political, and theological ramifications. He believes the stories provide an important key to the Israelites' understanding of their God. He also believes the stories provide a structure for understanding experiences of evil and suffering within our own century, and for accepting the ambiguity that permeates all human existence. - Christian Book Center.

"The author recalls how, after becoming very familiar with the Biblical Old Testament in its original Hebrew growing up, an encounter with an English language version led her on a ten-year project of examining various translations of the Old Testament and their histories, "--Novelist.

"Magisterial. . . . A learned, brilliant and enjoyable study."—Géza Vermès, Times Literary Supplement In this exciting book, Paula Fredriksen explains the variety of New Testament images of Jesus by exploring the ways that the new Christian communities interpreted his mission and message in light of the delay of the Kingdom he had preached. This edition includes an introduction reviews the most recent scholarship on Jesus and its implications for both history and theology. "Brilliant and lucidly written, full of original and fascinating insights."—Reginald H. Fuller, Journal of the American Academy of Religion "This is a first-rate work of a first-rate historian."—James D. Tabor, Journal of Religion "Fredriksen confronts her documents—principally the writings of the New Testament—as an archaeologist would an especially rich complex site. With great care she distinguishes the literary images from historical fact. As she does so, she explains the images of Jesus in terms of the strategies and purposes of the writers Paul, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John."—Thomas D’Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor

Only God knows. We may ponder and choose our own path to receiving His Word, but we must realize ours is a human path. We cannot let blind faith, tradition, and ritual cloud our judgment and determine our perception of the world. The potent mix of fanaticism (whether tied to a nation or a religion), ignorance, and emotion has driven wedges among the peoples of the earthwedges that need not exist at all. In Search of God: God, Religious Scriptures, and Proof of Divine Revelation presents the result of the author's thirty-year study of Christian, Islamic, and Judaic scripture, revealing the unifying truths of divinity, belief, and faith. The Scepter shall not depart from Juda until Shiloh comes (Genesis 49:10) suggests that the prophet coming after Jesus is not from the lineage of Juda. Jesus is the last prophet from the lineage of Juda (Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3: 33). Is the Scepter departing from Juda a fulfillment of a prophecy that Ishmael is promised a great nation (Genesis 17:20). Interestingly, Ishmael means God hears. Is Ishmaels descendant, the prophet Muhammad the same person as Shiloh? Could the coming of prophet Muhammad be tied in to the burden upon Arabia (Isaiah 21:13). This book explores these ideas and much more. In Search of God challenges readers of all faiths and backgrounds as it examines proof for the existence of God, creation and evolution, prophecy, the identity of Jesus, the concept of the Holy Trinity, and the commonalities and spirit of revelation of the worlds three major religions. The author's personal journey and critical, spiritual investigation personify the human desire to understand Gods intention for us. Yes, only God knows, but armed with truth and tolerance we now have a chance to create a brighter future for our children and ourselves, a future in which we seek God, trust in Him, and are at peace. The author has spent over thirty years investigating religious scriptures for irrefutable evidence in support of Divine Revelation.

In his third book Chaim Bentorah finds that after having discovered and exploring God's heart, He found himself moving more in an Eastern or Semitic approach to his word studies. Rather than allowing his mind to rule his heart he found God's heart ruling his mind in his word studies. He began to feel a freedom to allow God's heart to rule His mind. When He did this He discovered that He was no longer searching or exploring the Heart of God, He was now resting in the Heart of God.