Besides the books and media featured in the En-Gedi bookstore, here are some more highly recommended resources for Christians who are just starting to explore their Jewish roots. Most links go to Amazon pages.
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The Faith Lessons Series, by Ray Vander Laan (Zondervan, 1998-2018.)
Ray Vander Laan has made 18 excellent DVD video studies on the land and culture of the Bible. Many people have loved this curriculum, which takes viewers to Israel, Greece, Turkey and Egypt to highlight Jesus and the Bible stories in their Eastern, Jewish context. A very good place to start study. Participant workbooks and leader materials are available for groups.
Note: As of 2024, a new 4-season series is now available, RVL Discipleship: The Study. This streaming curriculum focuses on Jesus’ first century life and ministry and how to become a passionate disciple of Jesus. Very good!
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Our Father Abraham: The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin Wilson. (Eerdmans, 1989.)
This is a must-read introduction to this topic. Some of the early chapters are a little scholarly, even though the information is excellent. Later on the book has many good practical insights.
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The Gospel According to Moses: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me About Jesus by Athol Dickson. (Baker, 2003.)
This is another favorite first-read. Dickson is a conservative evangelical Christian, and he shares from his (sometimes awkward) experience of joining a Torah study at a Reform synagogue. Soon he finds insights that deepen his Bible reading and faith in Christ. Dickson is a novelist by trade, and a very warm, readable writer.
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Jesus the Jewish Theologian by Brad Young (Hendrickson, 1995.)
This is an excellent study of Jesus’ life and teachings in their Jewish context. Young is particularly good with the parables, having written his Ph.D. on the rabbinic parallels to Jesus’ words.
One idea: Use Jesus the Jewish Theologian as the background text for a weekly Bible study of the gospel accounts of Jesus’ life.
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Behold the Man – DVD teaching series by Dwight Pryor (Center for Judaic Christian Studies, 2008 – not on Amazon.)
Behold the Man is a twelve-session introductory video course on the significance of Jesus’ Jewishness for Christians today. Another excellent way to discover our Hebrew Lord, the historical Jesus of Nazareth.
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Here are yet more good resources:
Bailey, Kenneth E. Poet and Peasant and Through Peasant Eyes (Combined edition) Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983. From his experience among traditional Middle Eastern peoples, Bailey shares a wealth of cultural insights on Jesus’ parables.
Evans, Craig. Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Excellent popular-level book by a respected scholar on recent theories about the historical Jesus.
Kaiser, Walter and Duane Garrett. Archaeological Study Bible: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006. Colorfully-illustrated NIV study Bible, full of articles on culture and archaeology that shed light on the biblical text.
Pryor, Dwight A. Unveiling the Kingdom of Heaven. (DVD Series & Study guide.) Dayton, OH: Center for Judaic Christian Studies, 2008. Excellent introduction to Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom, and its implications for our lives.
Schechter, Solomon. Aspects of Rabbinic Theology. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998 (1909). An overview of the theology of Judaism by a Conservative Jewish rabbi; older but very readable.
Stern, David H. Jewish New Testament Commentary. Baltimore: Messianic Jewish Resources International, 1992. In depth, verse-by-verse commentary on the New Testament by a Messianic Jewish scholar. Very good reference.
Telushkin, Joseph. A Code of Jewish Ethics (Volume 1: Love the Lord Your God and Volume 2: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself). New York: Random House, 2006 & 2009. Comprehensive guide to biblical ethics from a Jewish perspective. An excellent guide to becoming more Christlike.
