PAGES AND PAGES
I'm making a list of books I want to read, not in any particular amount of time, but just read...sometime, anytime. Most of these deal with the Jewish Middle Eastern roots of Christianity - since Christianity is a Middle Eastern Jewish faith. Teaching through Genesis right now has been very difficult since, growing up Baptist, I've been taught next to nothing about the Jewish faith or the Old Testament. I think I'm missing a lot because of that. So here's what I'm planning on reading one day. What's on your list? What would you recommend?
Walking The Bible : A Journey By Land Through
The Five Books Of Moses ( Bruce Feiler )
Jewish Spirituality, A Brief Introduction For
Christians ( Lawrence Kushner )
Excavating Jesus : Beneath The Stones, Behind
The Texts ( Crossan And Reed )
Understanding The Difficult Words Of Jesus : New
Insights From A Hebraic Perspective
( Bivin And Blizzard )
Jewish Sources In Early Christianity
( David Fleusser )
The Bible As It Was ( James L. Kugel )
The Source ( James Michner )
Slaves, Women And Homosexuals : Exploring
The Hermeneutics Of Culture Analysis
( William J. Webb )
Our Father Abraham : Jewish Roots Of The
Christian Faith ( Marvin Williams )
Following Jesus : Biblical Reflections On
Discipleship ( N.T. Wright )
For All God's Worth : True Worship And The Calling
Of The Church ( N.T. Wright )
The Jews In The Time Of Jesus : An Introduction
( Stephen Wylen )
Jesus The Jewish Theologian ( Brad Young )
Walking The Bible : A Journey By Land Through
The Five Books Of Moses ( Bruce Feiler )
Jewish Spirituality, A Brief Introduction For
Christians ( Lawrence Kushner )
Excavating Jesus : Beneath The Stones, Behind
The Texts ( Crossan And Reed )
Understanding The Difficult Words Of Jesus : New
Insights From A Hebraic Perspective
( Bivin And Blizzard )
Jewish Sources In Early Christianity
( David Fleusser )
The Bible As It Was ( James L. Kugel )
The Source ( James Michner )
Slaves, Women And Homosexuals : Exploring
The Hermeneutics Of Culture Analysis
( William J. Webb )
Our Father Abraham : Jewish Roots Of The
Christian Faith ( Marvin Williams )
Following Jesus : Biblical Reflections On
Discipleship ( N.T. Wright )
For All God's Worth : True Worship And The Calling
Of The Church ( N.T. Wright )
The Jews In The Time Of Jesus : An Introduction
( Stephen Wylen )
Jesus The Jewish Theologian ( Brad Young )
posted by Shaun Groves @ 10/20/2005
10 comments
10 Comments:
Shaun,
I've only heard of a couple of those but they sound good. Right now I'm doing Beth Moore's Bible Study "The Patriarchs." Although obviously geared for women, it is a fantastic study of Genesis. I too was raised Southern Baptist and am learning so very much about our Jewish roots and Old Testament history. It's very interesting. Our study this week was focusing on the geneology of Ishmael and the start of Islam. It talks about the importance of really showing individual Muslim followers the love of Christ by LOVING them! Since we tend to focus on Isaac as Christians, there is so much for me to learn in this study. Not to mention that Beth is a gifted teacher and very funny to boot!
Beth
Thanks for both of those suggestions.
SG
Randy beat me to the punch here on The Gifts of the Jews. That's the only book I've read about Jewish history outside of the Bible. I found it really helpful and it brought me back to the Bible many times to sort out the context of both books. Anyway, looks like a formidable list. Have fun!
Glenn
p.s. I thoroughly enjoyed your Good and bad naked post. Keep up the great writing!
Shaun,
I can't recommend any specific book off hand, but let me suggest a study beginning with modern Judaism going backwards. It really helps in getting an understanding of the Bible. When you can recognize the stages of Jewish development the context of the text opens you to a whole different world of understanding. The reason I say begin with Modern Judaism is many of the same foci are important today and if you can have a Jewish person explain it in their understanding and then trace the tradition backwards... Wow!
...and then trace the tradition backwards... Wow!...
Sorry about the superfluous wow. It just wasn't right
Going back to Rob Bell's book, Velvet Elvis. He lists several sources for all of his great historical information in the end notes section.
The one on Jewish historical tradition is actually not a book, but a web site: www.followtherabbi.com
I have checked it briefly and it has a LOT of free resources and info- looks fantastic!
Also, another interesting source is in regards to the Roman culture also a big part of Jesus' time. He recommends: Christ and the Caesars by Ethelbert Stauffer.
Hope that helps!
Wow, thanks. Great info.
current reading list.
ive started reading this mamoth book "the life and times of Jesus The Messiah" by edersheim. it seems to be overwhelmingly comprehensive in the culture and context of Jesus's teachings and events surrounding him. a little dry but chalked full of info. take a double dose of the blue pill before reading.
"Everlasting Man" so far, it is my FAVORITE chesterton book.
also on my list of current reading (for the 4th time) is "theology and sanity" by frank sheed. probably the most boring title for a book ever penned, (when you tell people it sounds like "theology insanity" which would be a good title.) but it is my all-time fav theology book. it is the book i read most on the throne. (aside from the LOTR books) you have to hunt it down at a Catholic book store. it isnt sold at your local testamint and olsteen outlet.
Frank Sheed was one of the leading Catholic apologist during C.S. Lewis' time.
i am raiding phil's library to see if he has any of these books you listed.
thanks for the list. looks cool
Seth
I like and admire Donald Miller's crafting of thoughts but the thoughts themselves I'm wary of. In Searching For God Knows What, for instance, he tells riveting three dimensional stories that sucked me in, but there were instances when I disagreed with his theology (Jesus exists primarily to love man, for instance) and was frustrated because the only thing, on the printed page anyway, to back up such bold assertions was his personal experience. Experience is a powerful teacher but all teachers have to be questioned if they contradict other teachers (someone's understanding of scripture, church history etc). I wish I could read his books and then talk to him and learn from him. Ask questions, thumb through scripture together etc.
SG
So I'm looking at your blog with one window and I'm looking at Rob Bell's suggested reading list in another window and I see that there are none on your list that aren't on his.
Nice.
I also want to read all of those books. Tonight.
Post a Comment
<< Home