Jesus And The Heritage Of Israel

Seventeen leading international scholars collaborate in forming an emerging new consensus at the dawn of the millenium that Luke is the interpreter of Israel.

"In the first volume of this long-anticipated collection by Moessner and Tiede, seventeen leading scholars of antiquity present an amazing "sea change" of opinion that Luke is indeed the interpreter of Israel. The book represents an unprecedented international consensus that the Hellenistic author Luke composed a carefully crafted narrative in two parts to claim Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's true heritage and enduring legacy to the world. Part One explores the nature of Luke's prologues and his intention to write a narrative of "events brought to fruition," using the narrative conventions and audience expectations of the Greco-Roman milieu. Part Two illuminates the relation of Luke's second "volume" to the first by inquiring about the consistency and coherence of his narrative-thematic strategies in retelling the story of Israel's legacy of "the Christ." Whether Luke completed Acts, the larger role of Paul and, most significantly, the meaning of Israel by the end of Acts are approached from new perspectives and charged with provocative insights"--

Jesus Christ is arguably the most famous man who ever lived. His image adorns countless churches, icons, and paintings. He is the subject of millions of statues, sculptures, devotional objects and works of art. Everyone can conjure an image of Jesus: usually as a handsome, white man with flowing locks and pristine linen robes. But what did Jesus really look like? Is our popular image of Jesus overly westernized and untrue to historical reality? This question continues to fascinate. Leading Christian Origins scholar Joan E. Taylor surveys the historical evidence, and the prevalent image of Jesus in art and culture, to suggest an entirely different vision of this most famous of men. He may even have had short hair.

"As a sequel to the hugely successful Jesus and the Heritage of Israel, this book brings together fourteen internationally acclaimed scholars in antiquities studies and experts on Paul and Luke. The contributors provoke new approaches to the troubled relation of the Lukan Paul by re-configuring the figure and impact of Paul upon nascent Christianity, with the two leading questions as a driving force. First, 'Who is "Israel" and the "church" for Luke and Luke's Paul' and secondly 'Who is Jesus of Nazareth and who is Paul in relation to both?' The contributors provide challenging new perspectives on approaches to the figure of Paul in recent scholarship as well as in the scholarship of previous generations, 're-figuring' Paul by examining both how he is portrayed in Acts, and how the Pauline figure of Acts may be envisioned within Paul's own writings. Paul and the Heritage of Israel thus accomplishes what no other single volume has done: combining both the 'Paul of Paul' and the 'Paul of Luke' in one seminal volume."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

In the first volume of this long-anticipated collection by Moessner and Tiede, seventeen leading scholars of antiquity present an amazing "sea change" of opinion that Luke is indeed the interpreter of Israel. The book represents an unprecedented international consensus that the Hellenistic author Luke composed a carefully crafted narrative in two parts to claim Jesus of Nazareth as Israel's true heritage and enduring legacy to the world. Part One explores the nature of Luke's prologues and his intention to write a narrative of "events brought to fruition," using the narrative conventions and audience expectations of the Greco-Roman milieu. Part Two illuminates the relation of Luke's second "volume" to the first by inquiring about the consistency and coherence of his narrative-thematic strategies in retelling the story of Israel's legacy of "the Christ." Whether Luke completed Acts, the larger role of Paul and, most significantly, the meaning of Israel by the end of Acts are approached from new perspectives and charged with provocative insights. In addition to the volume editors, the contributors include L. Alexander, D. Schmidt, V. Robbins, C. Thornton, R. Pervo, W. Kurz, C. Holladay, G. Sterling, D. Balch, E. Plümacher, Charles H. Talbert, J.H. Hayes, D. Marguerat, M. Wolter, R. Tannehill, and I. H. Marshall.

This book is of value to all Christians as it discusses the importance of Israel in our heritage. God's covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel) and Moses are discussed. The Scriptural brief history of Israel the people, the nation and their covenants with God are examined. Jesus Christ is the Messiah of Israel. There is some discussion of Messianic prophecy as Jesus fulfilled them all. A brief discussion of the New Covenant in Christ is presented. There is an emphasis on the 2nd coming of Christ to reign in Jerusalem and the war that will end all wars that will be in Israel. It is essential that all Christians realize that not only is Israel our heritage but also our future. In Jesus Christ the Messiah both Jew and Gentile shall be one people worshipping God throughout eternity. Christians should pray for Israel, as we share the same destiny.

The ramifications of the crucifixion of Jesus by Jews are still felt deeply today. Discussion of Judaism and Christianity, Israelis and Palestinians, and the Jewish heritage of Jesus evoke high-level emotional responses from Christians and non-Christians. Discussion becomes heated argument as factions divide and take sides.Centuries-old feelings of fear, anger, hostility, resentment, repression, and blame fan the flames of unrest and disagreement. Jesus the Jew speaks to these issues. Markus Barth addresses Jews and Christians, in fact, everyone who is looking for a new or deepened understanding of Israel and of the church, especially in respect to servicing truth, justice, freedom, and peace. Barth considers two major areas of conflict--What Does It Mean That Jesus Is a Jew? and Israel and the Palestinians. He explores biblical testimony, the uniqueness of Jesus, and Christian responsibility. He deals with the protests and arguments of Arab scholars, biblical scholars, and modern journalists. Jesus and the Jew offers an insightful look at tradition, history, and the Scriptures to provide a perspective through which Christians, Jews, Arabs, and Moslems may learn to accept each other.