Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus

by Michael L. Brown

Book Overview

A Jewish believer in Jesus defends the Christian faith by providing answers to theological objections raised by the Jewish community. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801063345
• ISBN13: 9780801063343
• Release Date: November 2000
• Publisher: Baker Books
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Well-written, detailed and accurate, but pointless

This is a planned four-volume set.Dr. Brown is the leading expert on responding to objections to Jesus and Christian theology raised by knowledgeable Orthodox Jews. He has a doctorate in Semitic languages, the books are well-researched and well-written and he covers the material in detail, going into Talmudic interpretations, Rashi, Maimonedes, etc. Although such Jewish theologians are unfamiliar to most Christians, their names are as familiar to knowledgeable Jews as Moody and Scofield are to Christians.Although most purchasers are gentile evangelists, material is arranged essentially as dialogues between an Orthodox Jew and a responding Messianic.Unfortunately, the books are rather pointless. Why? See Evangelism Explosion. If a person is not open to the gospel, no amount of arguments will matter. You can see similar debates in Internet newsgroups between Protestants and Catholics, Protestants and Mormons, Messianics and non-messianic Jews, etc.I recently took Brown's course on Messianic Apologetics. He started by having two Messianic Jews try evangelizing him and he responded as an Orthodox would, with arguments from his books. One of the evangelists is an Israeli graduate of the Jewish Studies program at Christ for the Nations experienced at Jewish evangelism.Responding like a non-messianic Orthodox, Brown "wiped the floor" with both of them, with things like "Are you Jewish?" "Is your mother Jewish?" "Is HER mother Jewish?" "Do you keep kosher?" (Contrary to the Bible, the Israeli Supreme Court says a person only is Jewish if their mother is Jewish. Hence, if the mother's mother wasn't Jewish, the mother isn't Jewish, so he's not Jewish, etc.)It then moved on to, "Numbers 23 says, 'God is not a man'. Since Jesus can't be God, all your so-called 'messianic prophecy proofs' are worthless. Also, they can't be proofs, since Messiah has not come yet. Where do Hebrew Scriptures say Messiah will be God? He will be anointed, but only a man. Where does Isaiah 53 talk about Messiah? It's not a messianic prophecy; it's talking about Israel."One evangelist said, "Since the Temple is destroyed, sacrifices can't be offered. How do you get atonement for your sin?" The response was, "After Solomon's Temple was destroyed there were no sacrifices. How were Daniel's sins forgiven?"For non-Christians reading this review, understand that Brown didn't "wipe the floor" with them because their arguments were wrong. They had never heard Orthodox arguments and were not prepared to respond "off the cuff". Brown's books show that many Orthodox arguments contradict Scripture or historic Jewish interpretations or both.For gentiles considering Jewish evangelism, an argument often raised by Orthodox Jews is, "If you could read Hebrew you would know that's not what it says." Brown studied Semitic languages because he kept getting that argument even though he's Jewish. He said materials written by Christians for Jewish evangelism routinely have Hebrew errors.Sadly, despite cl

A One Of A Kind Book!

It is interesting to me to see the below reviews which are obviously coming from people who have either never read the book or who read the book without being open to its contents. Unfortunately, when the eyes of a spiritually blinded person reads things about God, it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to rightly understand or discern truth because they are basing what they are reading on their own erroneous paradigm as opposed to with an open heart!I feel that Michael Brown does an excellent job in tackling many of the issues that have historically plagued believers in their defense of Jesus being the promised Messiah. He has articulated truth in such a way that those who DON'T believe Jesus is the Messiah have reacted maliciously and with venom. That is exactly the response that Jesus received from the very ones that He came to save and deliver. It is my prayer that those who read this manuscript will do so with an open heart, praying that the God of Israel will give them the grace to embrace truth.If you are ready to be challenged with TRUTH, written by someone who has a heart to see his own people saved, I encourage you to get this book -- it could possibly be one of the most important decisions that you'll ever make.

Fair Answers to Honest Questions

Dr. Michael Brown has offered Jews and non-Jews alike a thorough overview of the reasons most Jewish people have not become, and are not now followers of Jesus. He has fairly answered and thoroughly referenced his responses to those objections. While some might object to his motivation, which is obviously to encourage his readers to seriously consider the possibility that Scripture does indeed back his belief system, he is upfront in motivation and the book is substantial in content.In my opinion, the first section, titled "Jews don't believe in the Trinity. We believe in one G-d, not three" is the most valuable discussion in the book. It is the most thorough and honest look at the nature of G-d that I have read, and will clear up gross misunderstandings of who it is that Christians worship. The book is a valuable resource.

Excellent

This book is very, very good. Although I am (sad to say) not used to such thoroughness, I must confess that Brown has done his job very well. He shows an impressive proficiency in the Scriptures and Rabbinic teachings; his knowledge of Hebrew is also useful.This book is a must in Jewish-Christian apologetics, because most Jewish apologetics are more McDowell than Craig or Habermas; I am pleased to say that although Brown writes with a lucid prose that is lacking in many scholarly works, he covers weighty material thouroughly and logically.I strongly recommend this book.

From A Jewish Believer In Jesus

This is a MUST for Jewish Evangelism!Just when you thought Michael L. Brown gave you his 'best shot' when Volume 1 of this series was published, Volume 2 is released and all that I can say is that it is ANOTHER home run!If you've ever wondered about how you can put your hands on a tool that could provide ammunition against the barrage of seemingly unanwerable objections to the Messiahship of Jesus (both from a secular as well as a Jewish perspective), this is the manual for you. Along with volume 1, Brown provides comprehensive answers that are both deeply theological as well as easily understood.No leader or lay person should be without this incredible tool to compliment his or her library!