Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: New Testament Objections (Vol. 4)

This is the fourth volume of a planned 5-volume set. (This review is basically the same as for the previous volumes.) Collectively, the set is a ground-breaking resource of first-rate scholarship. Unfortunately, the subject matter is incredibly arcane.Dr. Brown is the leading expert on responding to objections to Jesus and Christian theology raised by knowledgeable Orthodox Jews. He has a doctorate in Semitic languages, the books are well-researched and well-written and he covers the material in detail, going into Talmudic interpretations, Rashi, Maimonedes, etc. Although such Jewish theologians are unfamiliar to most Christians, their names are as familiar to knowledgeable Jews as Moody and Scofield are to Christians.Although most purchasers are gentile evangelists, material is arranged essentially as dialogues between an Orthodox Jew and a responding Messianic.Unfortunately, the books are rather pointless. Why? See Evangelism Explosion. If a person is not open to the gospel, no amount of arguments will matter. You can see similar debates in Internet newsgroups between Protestants and Catholics, Protestants and Mormons, Messianics and non-messianic Jews, etc.I took Brown's course on Messianic Apologetics in 2003. He started by having two Messianic Jews try evangelizing him and he responded as an Orthodox Jew would, with arguments from his books. One of the evangelists is an Israeli graduate of the Jewish Studies program at Christ for the Nations and a Messianic rabbi experienced at Jewish evangelism in Israel and the U.S.Responding like a non-messianic Orthodox, Brown "wiped the floor" with both of them, with things like "Are you Jewish?" "Is your mother Jewish?" "Is HER mother Jewish?" "Do you keep kosher?" (Contrary to the Bible, the Israeli Supreme Court says a person only is Jewish if their mother is Jewish. Hence, if the mother's mother wasn't Jewish, the mother isn't Jewish, so he's not Jewish, etc.)It then moved on to, "Numbers 23 says, 'God is not a man'. Since Jesus can't be God, all your so-called 'messianic prophecy proofs' are worthless. Also, they can't be proofs, since Messiah has not come yet. Where do Hebrew Scriptures say Messiah will be God? He will be anointed, but only a man. Where does Isaiah 53 talk about Messiah? It's not a messianic prophecy; it's talking about Israel."One evangelist said, "Since the Temple is destroyed, sacrifices can't be offered. How do you get atonement for your sin?" The response was, "After Solomon's Temple was destroyed there were no sacrifices. How were Daniel's sins forgiven?"For non-Christians reading this review, understand that Brown didn't "wipe the floor" with them because their arguments were wrong. They had never heard arguments from "anti-missionary" experts such as Tovia Singer and were not prepared to respond "off the cuff". Brown's books show that many Orthodox arguments contradict Scripture or historic Jewish interpretations or both.For gentiles considering Jewish evangelism, an argument often raised by Orthodox Jews is, "If you could read Hebrew you would know that's not what it says." Brown studied Semitic languages because he kept getting that argument even though he's Jewish. He said materials written by Christians for Jewish evangelism routinely have Hebrew errors. Brown is also knowledgeable in biblical Greek and often debates "anti-missionaries" about both the Hebrew and Greek texts.Sadly, despite claims to the contrary, what comes across in the 18-hour course and books is the attitude of "I am going to convince THAT person." An informal survey has indicated it is EXTREMELY rare for a Jewish person in the U.S. to accept Jesus unless the person (1) was raised secular or (2) marries a Christian. Such people are willing to listen to and honestly evaluate the beliefs of Christianity. Missiology studies show that 80% of people raised in a religion stay in that religion. Anyone who is Jewish, doesn't believe in Jesus and knows many of the arguments Brown is refuting has already made up their mind and this won't matter.Jesus interacted with religious leaders who disputed him but he did not get into extended debates like those in Brown's books. Also see Matthew 10:14Although Dr. Brown is VERY active in evangelism, I can't help thinking, "How many HUNDREDS of times MORE people could have been brought to Jesus if time spent researching and writing for a VERY small audience almost TOTALLY RESISTANT to the gospel had been spent reaching out to the MILLIONS of people who are simply indifferent and uninformed but are willing to listen if someone tells them?"If you are a Christian considering Jewish evangelism, review the sample pages, examine the books if you get a chance and visit "anti-missionary" websites, e.g., Tovia Singer. You'll see this is EXTREMELY unproductive SUPER-specialized work requiring responses to arguments you won't hear ANYWHERE elsewhere.But don't let that deter you from GENERAL Jewish evangelism. MANY Jews are quite secular. Their main arguments are "I'm Jewish. Jews don't believe in Jesus." and "What about all the persecution the Church has done against Jews?" They are open to the gospel if you hang in there and honestly address their concerns with sensitivity.And if YOU think Jesus or the apostles CONVERTED from Judaism to Christianity, YOU need to learn about the history of the Church BEFORE 100 A.D. In Acts 15 the apostles created "Christianity" for GENTILES, as a religion PARALLEL to Messianic Judaism.TELL your Jewish friends that JESUS IS JEWISH. He was born Jewish, he was Torah-observant, he died Jewish, came back from the dead Jewish and he's STILL Jewish.Hebrews 4:14 ... WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST who has gone through the heavens, JESUS ...THE HIGH PRIEST ISN'T CATHOLIC AND HE ISN'T PROTESTANT--HE'S JEWISH!Check these out:Our Hands Are Stained With Blood-Michael BrownRestoring the Jewishness of the Gospel-David SternMessianic Jewish Manifesto-David SternComplete Jewish Bible-David SternEvangelism Explosion-D. James KennedyShalom!

These five books (along with Brown's "What do Jewish People Think About Jesus?") are among the most used in my library. This fifth volume is the last I've purchased, and iis as good as the others. I go to one volume to look something up, and find myself spending an hour going from one wonderful chapter to another, like you're in a fabulous garden and can't stop going from one beautiful flower to the next one that catches your eye. Some chapters look long when you start them, but the words just fly by. I do hope Jewish persons are reading these books, but if not they give Christians so much insight into why Jews think like they do that it cannot but help in witnessing. Indeed, I've found that to be the case in real life. I met a rabbi on the street and asked him what the 613 mitzvot ultimately boil down to, and thanks to Dr. Brown I was able to remind him of b. Makkot 23b-24a and how it points to Hab. 2:4---the doorstep to the gospel. Even if you have no particular interest in evangelism of Jews, this will help you understand evangelical Christianity better.

I have the whole series of these books. The author has credentials... he's an incredible scholar and a Jewish believer. This book, and each one in the series, is for ALL seekers of the truth. He knows the Word and plugs in the Jewish holidays, traditions, gems, and misconceptions into the Word of truth. He shows how both testaments are interdependent and invaluable. We see the connections emerge throughout history that support that Jesus is the priestly Messiah appointed to come pay the penalty for sin, which is death, with his own life. And yet, he also fulfills the scriptures that point to a Messiah King who comes to reign in the line of David forever. You see how the two portraits describe the same Saviour. Yes, I too once had my share of objectives... many of them voiced in this book and each of the others in the series. Get a compassionate view of the Jewish people in these pages, if you don't already have one, and become a member of God's own family if you aren't already. Jesus is God's own answer for all of us. My big question was this: how can one possibly resolve the Shema. Hear o Isrea, the Lord your God is One, with the concept of the Trinity. I saw it, and you'll see it. Buy this for your Jewish and your secular friends and family. You'll be making a difference in someone's life.

This 4 volume series is well worth reading for a better understanding of the Bible and Jesus. It is easy to read, well constructed. For any person who wonders about the Bible or Jesus, or whether the Old and New Testament really fit together, Mr. Brown builds an excellent, well thought out, thoroughly documented case worth reading for Jews, Gentiles or anyone who wants to deepen their faith through understanding. I'm a life-long Catholic but this book, these books, simplified in so many ways what I've been taught all of my life but couldn't really understand as well as I wanted to.

Very well researched and was done in earnest but solves nothing. I read many of the comments and discussions and realize it doesn,t unequivocally "win" any argument. It is a tool for religious discussion. That is why I read it. To have a more coherent discussion with those who feel the need to "save me". I've read the Jewish side and now I have read the Christian side. I have come to realize both sides have a basic flaw. You all confuse fact and faith, truth and belief. You either have faith in what you believe or you don't. There is no need to prove it with facts since that is impossible. Texts have been rewritten, changed, distorted and the stories and messages over eons have been changed. There are no clear winners. Embrace your faith, love your God and try to respect the view points of others. Just rejoice in the fact that others have the same love and fervent faith in God that you do . Even if you disagree on the details.ve been

I do not think there is another resource like this series. Although Dr. Brown speaks a lot of later Judaism and his views are influenced by further development of Christianity I would say his books take readers back to the first century when Christians (many of them Jews themselves) had to figure out how to explain their faith to their neighbours and friends. He backs up everything he says and is very careful when it comes to original resources.Not too many objections are particularly Jewish. The author deals with questions many Christians and even non-Christians have and sometimes struggle with. I am not a Jew and do not claim be an expert on Judaism. Nevertheless, when I shared some of Michael's thoughts with my Jewish friends they found them really amazing. Should I point out a single issue it would be the way the Trinity is explained (esp- Vol. II, Chapters 3.1 - 2). Other books are full of philosophical stuff and the best you get is a bunch of rather complex terminology that boils down to 3 WHOs and 1 WHAT as Dr. White puts it in The forgotten Trinity. But Dr. Brown shows how the faith in a divine Messiah flows naturally from Tanakh (a.k.a. Old Testament) and Jewish faith. No need to worry about hypostases, consubstantional persons and things most apostles (Paul being possibly the sole exception) had no idea about.So to sum it up, this series could have a subtitle - Understanding Your Own Bible.

This is written by an evangelical and Messianic Jew and is the fourth of five volumes each taking different sorts of objections.It can be a bit hard-going and, unless you are Jewish (and so, in the know), you have to take some of his comments etc on trust. It is written more for Jewish readers than Gentiles.However, it is a useful book though, but I did not agree with every conclusion.

For an academic book for which the footnotes provide the undergirding evidence for each assertion, it is an egregious omission to fail to include the footnotes in the kindle edition.DO NOT PURCHASE THIS ITEM ON KINDLE UNLESS YOU'RE PREPARED TO BUY A TRUNCATED VERSION.Once the version is updated with notes I'd strongly recommend it.

Yeah good series of books don't think there are many other books the deal with these objections just book I wanted

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