Rating: 
Summary: A must read for Christians
Review: If you identify yourself as a Christian this book is a must read. Written as a introduction into the Hebrew thoughts of our roots. One can not fully grasp Christianity until one can understand their roots. Easy reading for those who are not scholarly but informative enough to challenge even the best thinkers. I found this book very helpful and find myself giving copies away.
Rating:
Summary: A Crucial Resource for Every Serious Truth Searcher
Review: Speaking as someone who was fired from a Christian Church because I was bold enough to challenge antiquated and incorrect church dogma re: God's eternal covenant with Israel - This book was the first one I read in my quest for finding the truth about Christianity's real foundations. I grew up in church but was never taught the full truth. God bless people like Marvin Wilson, who have compiled very readable, historical, and theologically accurate information. Simply said, if you are a "Christian" of any denomination and any theological level (Pastors included) but have not discovered the truth about the Hebrew roots of the Christian faith, you cannot worship God in spirit or in truth. This book, among others, is crucial to any valid and deep understanding of the Christian faith and beginnings. Pastors, not only should this book be on your office desk at all times for reference in sermon preparation, you must view and show the accompanying video to this book; "Jews and Christians - A Journey of Faith." It is time for the entire Christian culture to repent of the evils committed in the name of God and "Replacement Theology" (or supercessionism - the Jews lost their covenant and Christianity is the "New Israel"). After reading Wilson's book your spiritual life will grow in ways you never dreamed. You will begin an inevitable moral conversion that will enable the relationship with God and others that Jesus (and Paul) actually intended. Without reconnecting to "the root that supports you," or Israel and the Judaism of Jesus, Christianity is only a "cut flower in the garden" (Krister Stendahl); no root, no life. Again, Pastors, graduating from Seminary did not complete your education at all. Your spiritual leadership is at best inadequate, if not outright ignorantly destructive, if you do not open yourselves to this essential and hermeneutically sound information. Start your reconnection to the true roots of a valid faith with this book as your moral and theological compass.
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Book But!
Review: There is much to recommend in Dr. Wilson's book. The fact that he teaches two tracks, one for Jews and another for Gentiles reduces its value in my opinion. As a start in understanding the "Hebrew roots of the faith",this book is useful. For a view that there is one God with one set of rules for life this book should be balanced with Take Hold by Ariel and D'vorah Berkowitz.
Rating:
Summary: Essential, Comprehensive, Readable Study.
Review: This excellent, Scripturally based study is written with compassion and authority and reveals how the roots of Christianity run deep into "Hebrew soil", showing the Hebrew heritage of the Christian Church to be rich and extensive. The book describes at the outset how this heritage has been largely unexplored/ignored by Christian seminaries, colleges and other educational institutions. Through a Biblical, historical and cultural study, the book examines what our "predecessors" in the Judeo-Christian faith have delivered to the Church of today. The opening chapters of this work provide a historical perspective on the Jewish origin of the Church with the book going to great lengths to emphasise the fundamental truths that "Jesus Christ Himself was a Jew" and that the Bible declares "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4;24). This work tells us that as far as the Gospel record is concerned, Jesus spoke from "within Judaism" and never abandoned His "ancestral faith". The book also describes how a prime facet of Old Testament/Jewish thought was the promise and fulfilment of Biblical prophecy in relation to the coming Messiah. Something which the earliest Christians, themselves Jews, found resolved in the person of Jesus Christ. The book educates the reader regarding how this Jewishness affects our understanding of the teachings of Christ. The book also proceeds to study the centuries of "de-Judaization" that followed the early Church, plus a study of the negative consequences resulting from the Church being "severed" from it's Jewish roots. The correct Scriptural interpretation of the Church being "grafted in" to it's Jewish roots is explained in some detail. The doctrine of "Replacement Theology" is also examined, wherein the Church is cited as being the "new Israel" and usurping the Biblical promises pertaining to the Jewish people and nation. A process that is described as developing from what was initially the de-Judaization of the Church into the concept of anti-Semitism itself. All these issues are commendably discussed in the contents of this book in their appropriate context with Scriptural references readily provided. Other sections of this study include a section devoted to understanding "Hebrew thought" plus an analysis of the Church & theological conflict. The book also investigates the Judaeo-Christian heritage to the Holy Land and recognises that Judaism is so embedded in it's relationship to the Land that it is utterly inseparable from it. Jerusalem itself is also examined in a similar context and outlines that Jesus was born into a Jewish family near Jerusalem (Bethlehem, Judea), He later taught there, died there, rose from the dead there, ascended to Heaven from there and said that He would physically return there. (Readers should be aware that whilst the book makes some reference to the present day situation in the Holy Land, it does not delve into the complexities and the political quagmire of the current situation. Indeed, that was never the purpose for this study.)
This is an extremely comprehensive, readable and informative study on the Jewish roots of Christianity to which the latter is permanently indebted & a "must read" for anyone wishing to obtain a Hebraic perspective on the New Testament. For those interested in this subject I would also respectfully recommend "Jewish Roots; A Foundation Of Biblical Theology" by Dan Juster. Thank you for your time.
Rating:
Summary: Essential, Comprehensive, Readable Study.
Review: This excellent, Scripturally based study is written with compassion and authority and reveals how the roots of Christianity run deep into "Hebrew soil", showing the Hebrew heritage of the Christian Church to be rich and extensive. The book describes at the outset how this heritage has been largely unexplored/ignored by Christian seminaries, colleges and other educational institutions. Through a Biblical, historical and cultural study, the book examines what our "predecessors" in the Judeo-Christian faith have delivered to the Church of today. The opening chapters of this work provide a historical perspective on the Jewish origin of the Church with the book going to great lengths to emphasise the fundamental truths that "Jesus Christ Himself was a Jew" and that the Bible declares "Salvation is of the Jews" (John 4;24). This work tells us that as far as the Gospel record is concerned, Jesus spoke from "within Judaism" and never abandoned His "ancestral faith". The book also describes how a prime facet of Old Testament/Jewish thought was the promise and fulfilment of Biblical prophecy in relation to the coming Messiah. Something which the earliest Christians, themselves Jews, found resolved in the person of Jesus Christ. The book educates the reader regarding how this Jewishness affects our understanding of the teachings of Christ. The book also proceeds to study the centuries of "de-Judaization" that followed the early Church, plus a study of the negative consequences resulting from the Church being "severed" from it's Jewish roots. The correct Scriptural interpretation of the Church being "grafted in" to it's Jewish roots is explained in some detail. The doctrine of "Replacement Theology" is also examined, wherein the Church is cited as being the "new Israel" and usurping the Biblical promises pertaining to the Jewish people and nation. A process that is described as developing from what was initially the de-Judaization of the Church into the concept of anti-Semitism itself. All these issues are commendably discussed in the contents of this book in their appropriate context with Scriptural references readily provided. Other sections of this study include a section devoted to understanding "Hebrew thought" plus an analysis of the Church & theological conflict. The book also investigates the Judaeo-Christian heritage to the Holy Land and recognises that Judaism is so embedded in it's relationship to the Land that it is utterly inseparable from it. Jerusalem itself is also examined in a similar context and outlines that Jesus was born into a Jewish family near Jerusalem (Bethlehem, Judea), He later taught there, died there, rose from the dead there, ascended to Heaven from there and said that He would physically return there. (Readers should be aware that whilst the book makes some reference to the present day situation in the Holy Land, it does not delve into the complexities and the political quagmire of the current situation. Indeed, that was never the purpose for this study.)
This is an extremely comprehensive, readable and informative study on the Jewish roots of Christianity to which the latter is permanently indebted & a "must read" for anyone wishing to obtain a Hebraic perspective on the New Testament. For those interested in this subject I would also respectfully recommend "Jewish Roots; A Foundation Of Biblical Theology" by Dan Juster. Thank you for your time.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for All Christians!
Review: This is a stunning achievement and a life changing book! Wilson calls Christians to examine their Hebrew roots. Once you discover the roots of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil you will never view the Bible the same way.
Abraham is father of us all, as Paul wrote to the Romans (Rom. 4:16). He is father of believing Jews, and he is father of believing Gentiles (Rom. 4:11, 12). So if we belong to Christ, we are Abraham's seed (Gal. 3:29). We have that wonderful Abrahamic connection.
To many Christians are surprised Christian's roots are in Judaism. Wilson excellent balanced work gives an information in all areas of Jewish culture and what it means to us today. The book is broken down into five parts. They are:
1. A New People: Abraham's Spiritual Children
2. The Church and Synagogue in the Light of History
3. Understanding Hebrew Thought
4. Jewish Heritage and the Church: Selected Studies
5. Toward Restoring Jewish Roots
Each packed chapter includes sub points that will enhance your study and understanding of the Bible. Wilson's goal is to help the reader see the strong link between Judaism and Christianity and the Old and New Testaments. By seeing and understanding this link, it is hoped that the reader will be able to develop a more authentically Biblical lifestyle.
Study questions are included at the end of each chapter.
Rating:
Summary: Our Father Abraham
Review: When people stop by our website and ask us "where do we start? What book do we read first?" this is the book that we start them off with when they start exploring the Hebrew roots of the Christian Faith. We call this book "THE PRIMER"! A must read for every Christian to understand the first century church.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Resource for lethargic Christians
Review: Why is your faith dimming? Why do some things that you have been told to be true find no real basis in scripture? Do you want to understand the Bible the way the writers intended then this book is a great start.
Without hammering the fingers of modern christians this author raises the "Jewish Roots" question to scholarly levels. You will have your faith challenged and redirected towards the "Holy One of Israel" it is a journey you won't want to miss.
Darrell D. Neet
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable textbook
Review: Written somewhat like a textbook with questions at the end of each chapter. I found the subject matter and format easy to read and understand. I would especially recommend this book to non-Jews who have not had the opportunity to study their roots.
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