Newspaper article: Your Community World - Wednesday, September 16, 1998 page 4

Associate professor writes book, 'The Parables of Jesus'
by Juanita Crawford Muiga, World Staff Writer

Newspaper Photo
"Sitting behind his desk in the Oral Roberts University School of Theology amid a background of numerous books on shelves, Sapulpa resident Brad H. Young, ORU associate professor of Judaic Christian Studies, displays two books he has written while talking about his new book, "The Parables of Jesus."

SAPULPA, OK ---Brad H. Young, Sapulpa resident and Oral Roberts University associate professor of Judaic Christian studies, provides a deeper understanding of Jesus as well as ties together Christian faith and Judaism in his new book titled, "The Parables of Jesus."

Founder of the Gospel Research Foundation which is "dedicated to the scholarly exploration and spiritual restoration of the Jewish roots of Christian faith." Young has contributed many hours of research, writing and translations of Greek and Hebrew.

To facilitate understanding in his research, Young has studied the Dead Sea Scrolls, some dating from 150 BC to 70 AD, which he has on microfiche.

Though some scholars believe Jesus spoke in Aramaic, Young believes Jesus spoke in Hebrew, he said.

He found parallels to Jesus' teachings in the scrolls, he said. Among them are "Poor in Spirit," "The Messiah of Righteousness," "The Covenant of the Kingdom," and "The Gates of Death."

In helping Christians learn about their Judaic heritage, Young also aims to foster love and understanding between the two groups.

"It should bring Jews and Christians together because we share a common background from the temple time," Young said.

Many times studies of Jesus have sought to separate Christians and Jews, he said, adding that when we separate Judaism and Christianity, we don't see the connection.

Young, who lived in Israel for some 10 years, studied among the Jewish people at the Hebrew University. and completed his doctorate's degree there.

In seeking a better understanding of the life of Jesus, Young chose to study in the "land of the Bible." In an earlier interview, Young said, "The way we view the past influences the way we view the present."

Published by Hendricksons Publishers, the book which is Young's fifth, will be available on Sunday. (Now available)

At present he is working on completion of two other books. He also has edited a number of books.

Sitting behind his desk in the ORU School of Theology, amid the background of numerous books on shelves, Young talked about The Parables of Jesus.

In his book, Young compares the teachings of Jesus to those of the Rabbis and the Talmud, he said.

The book is in light of Jewish tradition and western interpretation, Young said.

David Flusser, an Orthodox Jew and Professor Emeritus of Second Temple Period Judaism and Early Christianity at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, wrote the foreword of "The Parables of Jesus."

In his commentary, he said the book written by Young is a wonderful aid to a real understanding of Jesus' theology and ethics as embedded in his parables.

Flusser stated that with scholarly precision, Young explores Jesus' ethics and theology in comparison with early Jewish teachings. The parallel Jewish material helps to interpret correctly Jesus' message.

Without Young's painstaking research it would not be possible for Christian readers to have access to the pertinent Jewish sources which are mostly unknown to the common intelligent reader.

It is today indispensable to learn about the Jewish side of Jesus in order to understand our changing world and to find the right way to overcome the present crisis. We all are indebted to Young for his pioneering work.

Further explaining the depth of the parables, Young said part of Jewish culture is that they taught in parables.

Part of parables is to illustrate, he said.

"Most people thought Jesus told parables to hide the meaning," Young said. However, he said, parables strengthened what Jesus said.

The revelation of who God is, is for God's disciples or followers because they hear and obey God's teachings, Young said.

Everyone else understands it intellectually but they don't obey, he added.

However, those who heard the message and put it into practice...they had the mysteries of God revealed to them, Young said.

Young said though one-third of the Bible is in parables, people don't look at the Jewish context.

Young began working on his book some 14 years ago while living in Jerusalem, he said.

The book is dedicated to Robert L. Lindsey, a Christian Bible Scholar who lived in Jerusalem and died in 1995. Lindsey contributed much to Young's life and to his understanding of the teachings of Jesus, Young wrote on the dedication page of his book.

Speaking about his book, Young said it is a commentary on all the parables of Jesus.

It's a book for everybody who wants to learn --for the scholars and for the common person, he said.

His book, in bringing the Talmud and the gospels together, will build a bridge between the two communities that have misunderstood one another for a long time, Young said.