Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

This was the book that opened my eyes and answered my questions about Christianity. It is the reason I have been a Messianic Jew for almost two decades. It is a must read.

In the journey of discovering the Jewish roots of my Christian faith, I have read many books. Some were very helpful and other books weren’t for various reasons. However, Our Father Abraham is a gem because the author takes great pains to explain various topics in a way that can be easily comprehended while also leaving the reader wanting more. At the end of each chapter, there are discussion questions that give people an opportunity to cement the information learned while also exploring the topic in the Bible. Other books may have a few discussion questions, but the author here gives each chapter over 20 questions. Plus, at the end of the book, there are footnotes that point to other sources for further study and contemplation.What makes reading the book enjoyable is, of course, the material and having an opportunity to discuss the material with a friend. If you have never tried doing this with a nonfiction book, I hope you will as it helped me remember what I read and clarified some points of the material I had trouble digesting.While the book is not a recent work, don’t let that put you off from reading it. I am not sure how much Messianic Judaism has changed since the book was published, but I look at some of the material as being helpful to understand the subject at the time. The most recent chapter I read helped me understand the way Hebrews view education and how other cultures do as well. Plus, it helped me see how that influences the society I live in.The book will remain on my shelf in the hopes that my progeny will read it and find the information helpful plus spur them on to seek more understanding and growth in their faith.

We have over 80 Christian denominations and the division is continuing to grow as each denomination fights over who is right on minor issues which all relate to how they interpret the bible. After centuries and centuries of anti-Semitism and an underlying belief weaving itself into the churches theology that the church has replaced Israel, this I personally find to be a very needed study to begin a new journey to a more authentic faith. The Bible was written "for" us but not "to" us so if we want to apply proper hermeneutics to our own study of the Scriptures, it becomes critical to understand each of the letters written from the cultural and contextual worldview of the people they were written to. I can't undersand my family's letters between those in Ireland and the US without help explaining what many of the references are speaking of things both the writer and reader are already familiar with and need no explanation. How much less can I approach an ancient eastern "Jewish" book written by many authors over a 1600 year period in a modern, western and heavily Greek influenced culture? Even the Book of Revelation when understood in its cultural context of Asia Minor under the rule of Emperor Domitian and his games with a Hebraic lens on, begins to all come full circle. Then if I understand what the colored horses in Revelation meant to the readers familiar with the Domitian games keeping all interpretation in line with the Hebrew scriptures, I can understand the application for their day and far more easily determine the application for my day. However, I can't "first" understand the application for their day, how can I rightly understand them for my own? In the end, I can honestly even feel the temptation in my own sin and flesh to want to divide over how we approach and studying the scriptures. So for those who don't approve of my approach....well, that is why I need Jesus...this side of Heaven, I just don't know how to love like He loved! Help me Lord and continue to grow my faith by watching the story of the bible unfold in the land you chose.

I highlighted a lot of this book. In particular I appreciated the Hebrew words and their scripture references.I'm thankful to be living in times when the Church is aware of the flawed anti-Semitic interpretations of the past and is working to undo, resolve and make those right - to the extent that this is possible. In that endeavor this is a beautiful resource. It has brought a new level of awareness to my time reading the Bible and in particular to interpretations (for example, the meaning of various parables).

This book was assigned as course work towards my rabbinical training in 2012. Clearly, I valued the author's contrasts between the Judaic and Goyiim assemblies in the 1st century (33 CE thru 100 CE). However, his conclusions that described the cultural frictions between both camps are deficient in substantiated references. His citations provide parallel re-enforcement's, but none from the Judaic library. At the least, the author titled the major points and progressively developed the book's theme through each succeeding chapter. Kudos!!Admittedly, the author failed to properly leverage Hebrew terms and tint within the contexts for each chapter, which is a common result among those who have limited Judaic training and/or exposure to rabbinical academics. Howbeit, I respected the author's academic investments in this book. I, now, utilize this book, along with my personal rabbinical annotations, to teach my students. I especially note for my students my de-ciphers that identify the author's common cultural biases and the few academic short-comings. The author phrased the complexities between Judaic and the Goyiim Beloved in Messiah "... Jerusalem vs Athens ...".

This is a helpful book in understanding some of the Jewish background to the gospels and the context in which Jesus operated in. It does not claim to be a systematic study of this area but more an introduction. Definitely worth reading and thinking about, as well as being generally helpful.There are three main consecutive themes. The first is an introduction to the historical context of the early church. In this section he looks at Rom 11 and explores the meaning of being grafted into the olive tree. While acknowledging a different interpretation, the author is insistent on his interpretation of the root of the olive tree being Israel and the patriarchs. I found it useful to think about this and it is good to be challenged rather than just reading things that you agree with, but I remain convinced that an alternative explanation is more in keeping with scripture. The author continues to refer to his understanding of this, which I found unnecessary.The second theme is a history of the contempt that the church has had in the past for Jews. Whilst this was helpful to understand why the church has forgotten the Jewishness of its origins, I found that the contempt was emphasized and dwelt on more than was necessary.The third section was the most helpful in which characteristics of Hebrew thought, including attitude to marriage, the Passover and the last supper and an attitude of learning throughout life. It also considers extrabiblical sources of information.One other point I would make is that there is extensive references to scripture, which is excellent, although on occasions I found that the reference did not always say what was being suggested, sometimes this might be a matter of interpretation.My review perhaps reads a little negatively, but the points I have made are really the only down side and in my opinion have resulted in 4 stars rather than 5.

My University dissertation was about Jesus in light of the Hebrew Bible back in 2001. I wish I had known this book was available then. It was while reading Rob Bell who obviously has a passion for the Hebrew scriptures that I came across this book in his bibliography.First time I have come across an author who refers to Jesus as the living Torah although missed the meaning of the Feast of Weeks. However, the book has renewed my passion as a Hebrew scholar. Thank you Marvin Wilson.

I believe that the church has lost contact with its Hebrew roots. This book covers the whole spectrum of the Hebrew origins of the church and how Christianity cannot be understood without not only understanding the origins but seeking to be joined to that which has been lost. It is written with easy to follow argument and application. The best book I have read in this area.

I haven't read through yet, but it seems to be a well researched, well thought out and interesting book.

I bought this book for interest in the person Abraham. But this book is not about Abraham. This book is about "jewish roots of the christian faith" in a broader view. The book opens with a short mention of Abraham, and then moves on to other topics. I will say this was a wrong buy for me.