Comments on: Welcome to Our Rabbi Jesus

By: Liann C. Himmelwright

Liann C. Himmelwright — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:48:27 +0000

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! It’s about time! I am so grateful for your book co-authored by Anne Spangler. For the last several years, I have felt an increasing awareness to study the Bible in it’s cultural context. It’s easy to find books about Biblical culture itself, but they do not necessarily intertwine the culture and Scripture to paint the complete picture. But Rabbi Jesus does! I’ve only made it through the first chapter and ended with tears in my eyes. The depth of understanding that comes from understanding contextual background is jaw dropping at times. I’ve always been touched by Mary’s story at his feet and her anointing expression of love. Your insights have put a brand new twist on what that means. Perhaps not to some, but brand new to me. I am planning on devouring your book this holiday weekend. If you have any other suggestions on books to read which will further my study of Hebrew culture/Scriptural understanding, would you let me know? Sounds like your other books are just what I’m looking for, as well. Will you please forward this encouragement to Anne? Thanks again for what you do.
Resting in our El Elyon,
Liann

By: Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:41:11 +0000

Shalom Michael – Thanks for your question.

Regarding the use of Jesus vs. Yeshua, many speakers in this field always use “Yeshua” out of a desire to remind their listeners of Jesus’ Jewish context. I completely agree with their rationale for doing so.

The book is written for Christian laypeople for whom “Yeshua” would be foreign-sounding and would not bring to mind the Savior that they know. The people who would pick up the book with Yeshua on the front would likely be only those who are already interested in the subject.

Regarding the use of Yeshua more generally, I think that the reason some insist on its use is because they don’t realize that the Bible we read in English is entirely a translation. They can hear that the names are wrong, and feel that correcting our pronunciation will allow us to be more authentic. I would argue that the answer to our ignorance of the Bible’s context is not to just pronounce names with a better accent, but to take on the harder, longer task of studying the original languages and cultural setting.

Overall, I’ve made it a policy to use the language of the wider Christian world rather than take on the lingo of Hebrew and Jewish terms people adopt that tends to exclude outsiders. My motto has always been, “Be a bridge, not an island.”

Because I’ve been greatly blessed by learning about Jesus’ Jewish culture, I feel obligated to speak in a way that communicates clearly to those who haven’t learned as much as I have. Out of respect for my audience’s traditional way of reading the Scriptures, I speak in ways they understand.

By: Michael Smith

Michael Smith — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:07:18 +0000

Greetings Lois,

Thanks for the work that you are involved with. I think that it’s vitally important that Christians understand the Hebrew roots of their faith.
Shaolm,
Michael Smith
Allendale

P.S. If it’s not too late, how about “Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi YESHUA! (seriously)

By: Rob Morrison

Rob Morrison — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 00:07:04 +0000

Hi Lois;

I have been a fan of the En-Gedi wonder what happen to it very good articles.I am a student of our Hebraic Hertiage. We just started a study on Dwight Pryor’s “Unveiling the Kingdom of Heaven”.
I’ve read your other books as well as Dave Biven’s so I am looking forward to your new one.
Take care and keep up the work.
Rob