Resources

Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus

Lois Tverberg

by Lois Tverberg

© Baker Publishing, 2018, Paperback, 288 pages
List Price: $16.99 US
Price: $12.99

 

The Bible is an Eastern book. We see it through the colored glasses of Western culture. Much is lost. What lies between the lines, what is felt and not spoken, is of deepest significance. 
(From “The Cross and the Prodigal,” by Kenneth Bailey)
 

One of the biggest obstacles to understanding Scripture is failing to appreciate its Jewish, Middle Eastern context. Combining careful research with engaging prose, Lois Tverberg equips her readers with tools to transport themselves across the cultural divide between West and East, between our world and that of the Bible.

Tverberg highlights cultural ideas that are lost on modern Westerners, allowing us to read the Bible through the eyes of its original audience. She explores how Jesus preached and made bold claims to be the promised Messiah in a very Jewish way. By helping readers grasp the perspective of Jesus’ first listeners, she equips them to read the Bible in ways that will deepen their understanding and enrich their lives.

The book explores questions like:

• What cultural differences get in the way for us in the modern, Western world?
• How does a lack of grasp of Jesus’ Jewishness cause us to misunderstand his words?
• How can we read the Bible more Hebraically?
• What tools do we need to read the Bible more as a native?

View/download the press release.

Read an interview about the book on BibleGateway

 

Reading The Bible with Rabbi Jesus

Table of contents: (with excerpts at OurRabbiJesus.com)

1. Opening the Bible with Jesus

I. Repacking My Mental Bags
      Tools for the Journey

2. Learning to Be There
3. What does “Christ” Mean, Anyway?
4. Painting in Hebrew

II. How the Bible Thinks
      Big Picture Ideas That You Need to Understand

5. Greek Brain, Hebrew Brain
6. Why Jesus Needs Those Boring Begats
7. Reading the Bible as a “We”
8. Like Grasshoppers in Our Own Eyes

III. Reading About the Messiah
        Seeing Him Through Hebrew Eyes

9. Memory Is Critical
10. Moses and the Prophets Have Spoken
11. Reading in the Third Dimension
12. Jesus’ Bold Messianic Claims
13. When the Words Catch Fire

Appendices:

A. Books of the Tanakh
B. Thirty Useful Hebrew Words for Bible Study
C. Bible Translations for Word Study

 

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“In her delightful style, Lois Tverberg engagingly leads us across cultures to begin to envision a different worldview, a worldview more consistent with the world of most of Scripture. In so doing, she brings alive texts of Scripture from the inside.”

— Craig S. Keener, Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary; Coauthor, NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible

(Read more reviews at the link.)

Download a sample chapter (pdf)

Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus is available for ($16.99) $12.99.

($16.99) – $12.99

 

Do you know where I can find some Hebraic insights on ___ ?

Lois Tverberg

Dear readers,

Over the years, one of the most common questions I’m asked is, “Do you know where can I get some insights on ____ from a Hebraic perspective?”

…the Lord’s Prayer?
…Jewish wedding traditions?
…Paul’s words about being a “fragrant offering”?
…the parable of the Ten Virgins?
…Psalm 23?

If I’ve got time, I try to respond and share a link or two from my writing or from a good source I’ve read.

One day I was thinking, wouldn’t it be great if I could give people a “Hebraic Studies Search Bar”? There are about a half-dozen sites that are my short-list when someone asks me a question like this. They have an abundance of articles that specialize on the Hebraic context of Christianity, but are quite readable for non-experts. Of course they include ones with my own writing, but some of my colleagues and mentors have shared a lot of material too.

Well, I have a little gift for you. I made a “Google Custom Search” bar that does this very thing. If you go to the EnGediResourceCenter.com search page, the bar searches just the short list. (The sites are listed on the EnGedi search page.)

Try it out!

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I thought it did quite a good job of pulling up pertinent articles, and I like to use it myself. It’s not comprehensive, but you can always go back to Google.

~ Lois

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus

Lois Tverberg

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus

How the Jewish Words of Jesus
Can Change Your Life

by Lois Tverberg
© Zondervan, 2012

Paperback: $15.99 $12.99

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(Download the first 35 pages)

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Order the book – $12.99

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Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus looks at Jesus’ words in light of Jewish thought and considers how their context can yield wisdom for today.  The book looks at

• How knowing Jewish idioms can help us better grasp what Jesus was saying

• How Jesus’ Middle Eastern culture sheds light on his parables, enlivening them in surprising ways

• How the Jewish world of Jesus can teach us how to pray with chutzpah or think with both hands

By understanding the religious and cultural atmosphere in which Jesus lived and taught, you’ll begin to see why his first disciples abandoned everything to follow him.

Come eavesdrop on the conversations among the rabbis of Jesus’ time. Learn how hearing Rabbi Jesus with the ears of a first-century disciple can yield practical insights that bring new depth to your spiritual life.

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The book retails for $16.99, but you can order it here for $12.99.

Special for study groups: Order 10 copies of the paperback for only $10.99 each!

Use this button to order a set of 10 copies:

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus

Lois Tverberg

by Ann Spangler & Lois Tverberg

© Zondervan, 2018, 302 pages
List Price: $19.99 US

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($19.99) – $12.99

A rare chance to know Jesus as his first disciples knew him.

What would it be like to journey back to the first century and sit at the feet of Rabbi Jesus as one of his Jewish disciples? How would your understanding of the gospel have been shaped by the customs, beliefs, and traditions of the Jewish culture in which you lived?

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus takes you on a fascinating tour of the Jewish world of Jesus, offering inspirational insights that can transform your faith. Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg paint powerful scenes from Jesus’ ministry, immersing you in the prayers, feasts, history, culture, and customs that shaped Jesus and those who followed him.

You will hear the parables as they must have sounded to first-century Jews, powerful and surprising. You will join the conversations that were already going on among the rabbis of his day. You will watch with new understanding as the events of his life unfold. And you will emerge with new excitement about the roots of your own Christian faith.

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus will change the way you read Scripture and deepen your understanding of the life of Jesus. It will also help you to adapt the rich prayers and customs you learn about to your own life, in ways that both respect and enrich your Christian faith.

By looking at the Jewishness of Jesus, Ann Spangler and Lois Tverberg take you on a captivating journey into the heart of Judaism, one that is both balanced and insightful, helping you to better understand and appreciate your own faith.

Note: This is the updated version that includes a study guide and instructions for a home seder meal. (Paperback)

Download a sample chapter (pdf)

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus is available for $12.99 ($7 off the cover price).

($19.99) – $12.99

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus

Lois Tverberg

by David Bivin
© 2006, En-Gedi Resource Center
Softcover, 208 pages, ($14.99/$13.99)

Download a sample chapter (pdf)

David Bivin is the founder and editor of Jerusalem Perspective, a journal that explores the Jewish context of the Gospels. He has traveled and lectured internationally for more than 25 years, and is the author of hundreds of articles on that subject.

New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus is a collection of some of his best writing on the Jewishness of Jesus, edited for the general reader. The book examines Jesus’ lifestyle as a first-century Jewish rabbi, and looks at how his words would have been understood within the larger framework of first-century Judaism. Many scholarly footnotes make it a valuable help to those who want to study in depth.

“In Jerusalem, David Bivin has interacted for decades with some of the best Jewish scholarship in the world. This book displays many of the brilliant Hebraic gems the author has mined that help illuminate the pages of the Gospels. Clearly written and very readable, Bivin shows why Christians need rabbinic sources if they intend to know and understand Jesus in his first-century Jewish setting. New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus is a valuable resource for every serious student of Scripture.”

— Marvin Wilson, Author of Our Father Abraham: The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

From the book’s introduction:

The intention of this book is to give people knowledge of Jesus, in the Hebraic sense of the word. Rather than being purely factual and academic, we desire to let people know him relationally and experientially, as a disciple would, after walking in his footsteps for many years.

In the first section we introduce the reality of Jesus as a Jewish rabbi, showing his heart for teaching and his high expectations of his disciples, and therefore us.

Next we look at how Jewish he was, utterly a part of his first-century world, rather than being opposed to it, as many have believed. Then we look at the Jewishness of his teaching — how he used rabbinic terms and logic, and how his words are greatly clarified by hearing them in the context of other rabbinic sayings of his time.

Finally, we share some ideas on life in his Kingdom — living out our calling as ingrafted members of the Olive Tree of Israel, of which he is the “Righteous Branch”!

Order New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus ($14.99/$13.99).

Listening to the Language of the Bible

Lois Tverberg

By Lois Tverberg, with Bruce Okkema

© En-Gedi Resource Center, 2004
Softcover, 180 pages
Download a Sample (pdf)

Order Now: ($14.99/$12.99)

(But more ordering options are below…)

Listening to the Language of the Bible is a guide for discovering the richness of the Scriptures in their Hebraic setting.

The book contains more than 60 brief, illustrated devotional articles that unpack the meaning of biblical words and phrases for life today. By examining the Hebrew and Jewish cultural context of some of the Bible’s odd-sounding phrases, it shares insights that clarify reading and deepen Bible study.

Listening looks at many topics from the perspective of the ancient writers, including prayer, family and the promised Messiah. It also looks at the words of Jesus in light of first-century Jewish culture.

“This is an excellent guide for discovering the richness of the Scriptures in their Hebraic setting. It’s wonderful – balanced, simple to understand, yet packed with deep information.” Robin Sampson, President, Heart of Wisdom Publishing, Stafford, VA

The book can be read by itself for a brief overview, or with a Companion Bible Study (Lois Tverberg, 2005) as a guide to explore the Scriptures from a Hebraic perspective. Questions for each chapter point out other relevant passages and share applications for living. At the end of the study guide, Tverberg shares her own thoughts on many of the questions.

Download a LLB Study Sample from the Companion Bible Study

Order Now: ($6.99/$6.49)

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Order together and save!

You can buy Listening to the Language of the Bible and its Companion Bible Study as a set for ($21.98/$16.99). Save on both books, plus shipping.

Insights into Jesus of Nazareth Seminar

Lois Tverberg

IJN-Set1Insights into Jesus of Nazareth

His Words, His Wisdom,
His World

Conference Seminar

Available as an 8-DVD set or mp3 CD (audio only). Order below. (Back in stock! – Aug 2024)

© En-Gedi Resource Center, 2006

15 hours of in-depth presentations by leading scholars on Jesus’ first-century context. Filmed at the Jerusalem Perspective 2006 Conference in Jerusalem, Israel, June 19-20, 2006. 

Presentations:

The Value of Translating Matthew, Mark and Luke to Hebrew
David Bivin, Editor of Jerusalem Perspective

A Hebraic Approach to the Resurrection of Jesus
Randall Buth, Director, Biblical Language Center

Is Jesus Superior to the Law?  -and-
Jesus’s High Self-Awareness and the Christology of Paul
Dwight A. Pryor, President, Judaic-Christian Studies Center

Why Rabbinic Literature Is Pertinent to the Study of the Gospels  -and-
Jesus Among the Rabbis: Spiritual Life and Leadership
Brad Young, Professor, Oral Roberts University

The Mikvah and Ritual Immersion in Jesus’ Day
The Recently Discovered Pool of Siloam (Audio online at link)
Ronney Reich, Archaeologist, Haifa University

The New Testament in the Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Hanan Eshel, Archaeologist, Bar Ilan University

Was Jesus Buried in the Garden Tomb? (DVD only)
Gabriel Barkay, Archaeologist, Bar Ilan University

Jeremiah’s New Covenant and Jesus’ Movement
Serge Ruzer, Professor, Hebrew University

Jesus, the Sin-Fearer
David Pileggi, Rector, Christ Church

Jesus’ Teaching Style Illustrated by His Response to Martha’s Anxiety
Lenore Mullican, Professor, Oral Roberts University

The Pastoral Relevance of Who Wrote the First Gospel -and-
The Importance of Bible Geography for Understanding Jesus
Halvor Ronning, Director, Home for Bible Translators

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IJN Cover+border

8-DVD Set: $59.99




Audio mp3 CD: $29.99



Both DVD & Audio: $79.99

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Also included on DVDs (not audio CD)

• A tribute to David Flusser by James Charlesworth
• A documentary about Robert Lindsey and David Flusser
• Baritone Horst Krueger performing songs of Jerusalem and conference music composed by Robert Lindsey.

© Produced by the En-Gedi Resource Center in cooperation with JerusalemPerspective.com. All rights reserved.