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UPDATE December 1999: Part Two - Book Review

2. JEWISH BACKGROUND OF THE LORD’S PRAYER by Dr. Brad Young Isaac is back in print!
3. READING THE BOOK by Joseph Frankovic available! An excellent read!
4. HEBREW THOUGHT COMPARED WITH GREEK by Tholeif Boman

One of the first books that I read years ago (1989) when I started studying the Jewish roots of Christianity was a small book written by Dr. Brad Young in 1984. What were you doing back then? I hadn't even thought about church back then, let alone have packed up and moved to Israel to study at the Hebrew University like Dr. Brad Young did. Over the years, Tom and I have been blessed to become friends with Brad and his wife, Gayle. We have seen their walk in their community, and personally. We have seen such a balanced walk in their lives, and count ourselves fortunate to call them friends. Legalism is not part of their lives---but if you ever wanted to be around someone that has God as the focal point of their lives, then I would have to say that Brad and Gayle epitomizes it. We attend Brad's once a month Bible study in the home of Gary Leff, and know that Brad is well accepted in the Jewish community as well. At his conference in February several of the Jewish people of Tulsa and their rabbi will be involved. Brad often helps me out when I need advice on where to go for study materials, too. Hopefully in the next few UPDATES I will be able to share some of these books and materials that I have been finding.

Over the years, the copies of The Jewish Background of the Lord's Supper have been sold off. Its not a large book...only 46 pages, but it had a profound effect on my life. In this book Brad introduces the student to this prayer within its Jewish setting. He introduces you to HOW TO STUDY something in Hebrew, and then takes apart this prayer. This book is now back in print and can only be purchased directly from Gospel Research Foundation by writing to them at GRF, PO Box 703101, Tulsa, OK 74170 for $10 ($8 book and $2 shipping USA). Other books that Dr. Young has written are Jesus the Jewish Theologian ($22 paperback), Paul the Jewish Theologian ($13 paperback), Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation ($25 hardcover), and Jesus and His Jewish Parables ($25 paperback --- this is his doctorate presentation and is different than the other book on Parables). They do take Master Card and Visa, but no phone orders. If you wish to order all the books, I would suggest that you figure 12% for shipping. They are very prompt with filling orders. Also don't forget to ask for a brochure to Gospel Research Foundations' Feb 17-20, 2000 conference. You can see more information on the conference at http://www.haydid.org/bradconference.htm and you may call Bridges for Peace and ask for Pat at 1-800-566-1998 or write bryoung@oru.edu .

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3. Reading the Book: A Popular Essay on Christian Biblical Hermeneutics by Joseph Frankovic. Want a quick read book ---say one afternoon? I was sent a copy of this book by Ken Mullican of HaKesher Ministries two years ago, read it, and enjoyed it greatly. The other day I was cleaning off a shelf, and there was the book again. I had some time to sit down to read, and picked it up again! And of course, I realized that I needed to tell you about it. It really can help those of you with understanding HOW to read the Bible. Hermeneutics is not just for the scholars. It can help keep you tucked under His Wings if you will bother to study it with your "Jesus glasses on" as Joseph describes in this book.

So who is Joseph Frankovic? Joseph is one of my favorite teachers when he is in the USA. "Joseph holds a BA in Classical Studies from the University of Tulsa and BA and MA degrees in Biblical Literature from Oral Roberts University of Tulsa, OK. Each of his degrees was awarded with honors. He is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in Midrash under the guidance of Professor Burt Vsotzky at the JEWISH Theological Seminary of America in New York. He was a student of Dr. Brad Young's at ORU, and is one of the few that has been welcome to the Jewish Theological Seminary.

He recently spent nearly three years in Jerusalem where he studied as a visiting research student at the Hebrew University. While in Jerusalem, he taught a seminary course in parables at Terra Sancta Lodge for Saint John's University (Collegeville, MN), gave lectures on Midrash and the Synoptic Gospels to groups of Anglican clergy on study tours, and served regularly as a teacher for the weekly adult bible study at the Narkis Street Congregation.

As a public speaker, Frankovic has addressed audiences in the US, United Kingdom and Israel, United Christian Broadcasters, Ltd produced and aired a series of his Bible studies, which were heard throughout countries in Europe and the former Soviet Union."

This small 52 page book's Table of Contents are titled:
Introduction
A Survey of Ways to Read Scripture
Translation, Interpretation and Bending the Text
The Challenge
Ancient Writers and Modern Readers
A Different Sort of Book
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Who Needs Order?
What Denomination Was Jesus?
Limitations of the Historical-Critical Method
A Jesus-Centric Approach

Here's what was written on the back of the book:

"Should Christians strive to be more like Christ? Of course, but how do we do that? We read the Book and put into practice what we read. How we read the Book affects what we do in practice. Frankovic provides a way to approach the Scriptures and better understand the teachings of the Gospels. The better we can understand what we read, the better we can put into practice the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Frankovic's work puts us closer to doing just that." Chris Davis, Attorney at Law, Tulsa, OK

"Frankovic's discussion of the Gospels transplants the reader into the original cultural milieu of Jesus. Learned in both rabbinic literature and the New Testament Gospels, Frankovic is a uniquely qualified guide for the formidable task of puzzling out Jesus' precise relations to the Jewish movements of his time. In this essay, as elsewhere, he demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of rabbinic sources, proof against any charge of an over-simplified comparison between Jesus and the later Rabbis." John C. Poirier, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America

When reading this book, I was challenged to even call myself a teacher of Jewish roots! The more that I study, the more I realize that I KNOW NOTHING of these things! I have been exposed in the last few years to REAL scholars that have gone to Israel, and sat in actual yeshivas, or at the Hebrew University. The methods used over in Israel are NOT those used by most pastors or seminaries. Its a different world of scholarship entirely! I like how READABLE Joseph's book is. He is studying midrash, so he uses LOTS of word pictures to teach with, and that helps you when you are reading or listening. I am about half way through my masters degree in Middle Eastern History, and have come to realization that even after the degree, and 10 years of independent studies on these things, that I need even more study! I want a second masters at least in Hebrew or Biblical Theology. Its not just for the degree. Its deepened and enhanced my relationship with the LORD to study these things. There is a balanced walk that is emerging that people are remarking about, that wasn't there years ago. As I watch these scholars, I see this walk and their relationship with HIM, and I WANT WHAT THEY HAVE! They have grown to show me HIM in ways that allow me to feel like HE is holding me against HIS CHEST solidly and securely. A deeper peace than I have ever known has emerged in our lives, too. They have "provoked me to jealousy" just as Paul talks about in Romans.

This book may be purchased from HaKesher, 9939 South 71st East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74133-5338 or by calling 1-918-298-2515 or email at hakesher@aol.com The book and shipping will be $12, and ask Ken to tuck in their catalog full of other great books and tapes. Their website is at http://www.hakesher.org Joseph also has another little book available on The Kingdom of Heaven that you will want, too, so go ahead and ask Ken to put it in. Believe me, you won't regret it!

4. Hebrew Thought Compared with Greek by Thorleif Boman is a book that I highly recommend to each and everyone of you! You may order it from amazon.com for about $10 plus shipping. ""Builds on the premise that language and thought are inevitably and inextricably bound up with each other...a classic study of the differences between Greek and Hebrew thought" ---John E. Rexine, Colgate University. The book was recommended to me by Dr. Doug Wheeler several weeks ago.

Here's what the back of the book says:

"In its patient, lucid philological approach to crucial issues, in its breathtakingly compact treatment of significant voices from Heraclitus to Job to Bergson, and in the studied independence of its own lines of development and conclusions, Boman's book is a modest masterpiece. It must be read not only by those who are concerned with the theological facets of the problem but by anyone who claims any interest in the problem of thinking in Western culture." --Christian Century

"It might be said with some truth that he must be armoured in robur et ase triplex who essays the comparison between Hebrew and Greek thought...The Scandinavian professor who has written this challenging book appears to be such a paragon... A particularly interesting section of the book is devoted to a comparison between Hebrew and Greek conceptions of Time and Space...Valuable and original." ---Times London Literary Supplement

Here's some of the Table of Contents:

"Introduction to the Problem: The problem of the peculiarity of Hebraic thinking in comparison with Greek thinking is epistemological, but it has eminent theological meaning because on it depends the question of the essence of Christianity. Harnack saw the problem rightly but misjudged it. Later attempts to solve the problem.

I - Dynamic and Static Thinking
II - Impression and Appearance
III - Time and Space
IV - Symbolism and Instrumentalism
V - Logical Thinking and Psychological Understanding
Summary and Psychological Foundation of the Differences"

I would encourage you to order and read these books as you can. Please note that we do have an entire online catalog on our website at http://www.haydid.org with other supplemental books for the beginner as well as more advanced books. Many of the books may be printed off FREE. If you find that HaY'Did's website has been of help to you in your studies, please drop me an email at shalom@haydid.org to tell me so. Sometimes its just nice to know that SOMEONE is reading these things. If you'd like to go one step further and send a donation or become a member of HaY'Did, then please feel free to do so. Membership information is posted on the website as well as our Statement of Faith and Statement of Tolerance. If you like the book reviews, please let me know that, too. My rule is: The one with the most books when they die, wins!