For all those of you who are reading Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, below is a clickable guide to the recommended resources for the book. (Books not on this site will link to Amazon or the author’s site.)
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.
Bivin, David. New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus: Insights from His Jewish Context Holland, MI: En-Gedi Resource Center, 2005. Excellent overview of Jesus’ first-century life and teachings in their Jewish context.
Dickson, Athol. The Gospel According to Moses: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me About Jesus. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2003. A conservative Christian attends a Reform Jewish Torah study and uncovers rich wisdom for his own faith.
Flusser, David with R. Steven Notley. The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus’ Genius. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. An academic study of the Jewish historical reality of Jesus by a renowned Jewish scholar, David Flusser.
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.
Hagner, Donald. The Jewish Reclamation of Jesus. Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1997. Hagner surveys several influential Jewish scholarly works on Jesus and comments on their findings from a Christian perspective.
Heschel, Abraham. God in Search of Man: A Philosophy of Judaism. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1976. A comprehensive study of Judaism. Not light reading, but full of profound insights.
Heschel, Abraham. The Prophets New York: Harper and Row, 1962. Another masterful book by Heschel that reveals the passionate God who spoke through the prophets.
Instone-Brewer, David. Traditions of the Rabbis from the Era of the New Testament (1st of 6 vol. series). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004. A scholarly study of rabbinic sayings that describe the Judaism of Jesus’ day.
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.
Pearl, Chaim. Theology in Rabbinic Stories. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1997. A delightful collection of rabbinic stories and discussion of the ideas within them.
Pryor, Dwight A. Behold the Man. (DVD Series & Study guide.) Dayton, OH: Center for Judaic Christian Studies, 2008. Twelve sessions on the significance of Jesus’ Jewishness for Christians today. Excellent for a group study.
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.
Safrai, Shmuel, and Menahem Stern, eds. The Jewish People in the First Century. (2 vol.) Assen, NL & Philadelphia: Van Gorcum & Fortress Press, 1976. Scholarly and difficult to find, but an outstanding resource on first-century Jewish life and times.
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. The Book of Jewish Values. New York: Bell Tower, 2000. Daily readings on practical application of Jewish ethics. Very insightful — an outstanding book to discuss with a group.
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.
Telushkin, Joseph. Words that Hurt, Words that Heal: How to Choose Words Wisely and Well New York, Harper, 1998. Superb guide on how and how not to use your tongue.
Tverberg, Lois with Bruce Okkema. Listening to the Language of the Bible: Hearing It Through Jesus’ Ears. Holland, MI: En-Gedi Resource Center, 2004. Dozens of brief reflections on Hebrew words and Jewish concepts that enrich Bible reading.
Tverberg, Lois. Listening to the Language of the Bible: Companion Bible Study Holland, MI: En-Gedi Resource Center, 2005. A study guide for the book above, for those who want to learn to read the Bible in light of its Hebraic context.
Vander Laan, Ray. Faith Lessons Video Series (DVDs and study guides). Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1998-2008. Outstanding video series that shares insights on the land and culture of the Bible, exploring its implications for Christians today.
Wilson, Marvin. Our Father Abraham: The Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989. A must-read introductory text for anyone wanting to learn more on this topic.
Young, Brad. Jesus the Jewish Theologian. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1995. Excellent study of Jesus’ life and teachings in their Jewish context.
Don Wade says
Since first buying your two books on the Jewishness, I have purchased many of the books on your list. All are quite good, but I especially like the ones by Athol Dickson and Marvin Wilson. Along with several by Rabbi Telushkin and Heschel, I am blessed with new insight on the faith we hold dear.
Thank you, for both your books and the ones on your list I will never read the Scriptures the way I did.
Lois Tverberg says
Thanks for sharing that, Don.
Messianic Jewish Studies says
I heard about the popularity of your books and it will be my great pleasure to buy one of them. Good work!
Cynthia Prentice says
Thanks so much Lois!
Cynthia Prentice says
Paul bought this for our anniversary…I can hardly wait for it to arrive. 🙂
Safrai, Shmuel, and Menahem Stern, eds. The Jewish People in the First Century. (2 vol.) Assen, NL & Philadelphia: Van Gorcum & Fortress Press, 1976.
Marla says
Good Morning
Our small group (4 ladies) have been reading your books and so far have been able to find study guides, but on Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, we have not found anything. Is there one or Just the few questions at the end of each chapter?
We are growing and building new understanding in our Lord through your teaching. Thank you
Lois Tverberg says
Yes, Walking in the Dust was written with discussion questions at the end of each chapter, while my earlier book, Sitting at the Feet wasn’t, so they were added at the end in the later edition. So Walking in the Dust has always had the study guide included. Glad you are being blessed by my writing 🙂