- The early leaders of the Church were all Jewish
- The original Church was organized around the pattern of the Jewish synagogue
- Yeshua (Jesus) used numerous Jewish idioms in his teachings and was, perhaps, a Pharisee himself
Dr. Moseley illuminates the Jewish background of Yeshua and the Church in this best-selling book. Must reading for every believer.
What scholars are saying about this book:
". . . must reading for serious students desiring to explore the historical and biblical linkage between the synagogue and church. I enthusiastically recommend this enlightening study of origins."
--Marvin R. Wilson, Ph.D., Professor, Dep`t. of Biblical and Theological Studies, Gordon College
"This refreshing book by Dr. Ron Moseley opens up the history of the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. Every Christian should read this book."
--Brad Young, Ph.D. (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Oral Roberts University
". . . every disciple of Yeshua, the Rabbi from Nazareth, will find Ron`s latest work valuable and stimulating reading, as it illuminates the Jewish background to Jesus and his Jewish movement, the Church."
--Dwight A. Pryor, President, Center for Judaic-Christian Studies
". . . a common sense, well-researched approach to one of the most fascinating, yet controversial questions of the modern religious world . . . . Many books on the subject of Jesus and the early Church are already on the market, but many of them skirt the real issue of the cultural setting of the first century Christian movement . . . combines solid scholarship with clear and reasoned organization, never flinching from his stated purpose--to show that "Jesus was a Jew, who was born, lived, and died, within first century Judaism."
--Dr. Kenneth Hanson, Adjunct Professor, University of Central Florida, Judaic Studies Program
Foreword by Dr. Marvin Wilson. Includes study questions and an extensive glossary. Can be used by individuals and Bible study groups who want to learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith. Eye-opening!
From the Author
Previous histories have generally left out the Jewish factor. By beginning their research with the later second- and third-century Church, after it became predominantly a Gentile organization, they have lost the history of the first hundred years and the necessary understanding of Jewish roots. Many difficult Hebraic phrases and theological dilemmas can be understood by investigating the original Jewish roots of the early Church.
Today, scholars agree, on the most basic level, that Jesus was a Jew who was born, lived, and died, within first-century Judaism. His teaching methods, parables, proverbs, and symbolic style was characteristic of the Judaism of that day. Since both the Old and New Testaments are highly Hebraic, with the background, writers, culture, religion, traditions, and concepts being Hebrew, any analysis should be done from this perspective.
This book will propose to show that the earliest Church and its first fifteen elders were Jewish and that the original organizational structure of the early Church came from the synagogical prototype. This investigation will examine major Jewish terms such as Torah, or Law, which, when communicated in the Greek mind-set, have been completely misunderstood. This study will show that the Pharisees of the first century were the orthodox fundamentalists who had within their camp both hypocrites and heroes. Finally, our study will suggest that the early Church was one of the many sects within first-century Judaism, which neither Jesus nor Paul ever tried to leave. Because the early Church remained within Judaism for the first hundred years, the proto-rabbi and the Hebrew culture are essential to understanding its organizational structure.
Dr. Moseley has studied the Jewish roots of the Christian faith at Princeton, the University of Texas, and Oxford University in Oxford, England. He has a Master of Divinity, a Master of Jewish Studies, a Ph.D. in Second Temple History, a D.Phil. in religion and sociology, and a D.Litt.
Paperback 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.8 inches. 222 pages.
Software containing this book: BibleSoft