Customer Reviews

Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Messianic Prophecy Objections

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Brown knows an astounding amount of information about rabbinic writings, the torah and ancient bible translations. The book is a gold mine of responses to common Jewish objections to Jesus.
The bad news is that you need to have the whole collection to see the responses to some questions (or else it will say, "see book 4, #500", etc.) or you have to dig for the answers to certain objections (such as the Nazarene objection and others).
Another unfortunate thing: his verbage. Although better than Tovia Singer's, he still sometimes speaks in terms that confuse the average layman.
Speaking of Singer, it seems that in every book Brown is grinding an axe against him. That and the lubavitchers. This might be okay if you know someone who's involved in the outreachjudaism organization, but not so good for other groups. And he misspelled the name of the "Jewsforjudaism" rabbi.
The dead sea scrolls' validity has been questioned, but Brown builds several cases based upon them assuming they are valid.
The references to Islam, ancient virgin cults and other fringe topics seem a tad unneccessary.
Also, it's quite easy to get lost in Brown's complicated footnote system. It would seem that he has the entire Library of Congress at his disposal.
But, to Brown's defense, he has left no stone unturned, and deemed no objection too silly. For most objections to Jesus, you can find what you're looking for just by looking at the table of contents. For the more obscure matters, one hopes that brown will produce a searchable CD-ROM providing access to such hidden information.

I thoroughly disagree with Mr.Reinckens regarding his opinion that Michael L. Brown's book series is pointless. Ignorance is never bliss. The assertion that only "ignorant" or "secular" Jews can be won and ministry to observant Jews is a waste of time is ludicrous. Contrary to the opinion of many Christians spiritual hunger for the Truth is found even in the midst of the most learned of Rabbinc Jews. The problem is that for too many years believers in Jesus have held to this erroneous view regarding observant Jews. Perhaps Mr. Reinckens has forgotten the Bereans who studied daily to see if "these things were true."

As a Jewish believer for almost thirty years now, I can tell you that these books have been very helpful to me in my study of the Torah and the New Testament commentaries and in dealing with unbelieving family members. These books are wonderful tools in our quest to follow 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the L-rd G-d in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (KJV)

Dr. Michael Brown, a Messianic Jew, has really done hishomework and it shows. In this, the third and final volumein a series, he demonstrates excellent arguements to theeffect that MANY orthodox/Jewish attempts to "read Jesusentirely out of the Hebrew Bible and prophets" is full ofmany prejudicial and highly biased, even spurious arguements. This is not at all light reading, but it is well worththe effort to understand the Christian/Messianic JEWISHview on Yeshua [or Yahshua] as the promised and prophesiedMessiah/Savior and Deliverer. The evidence compiled herefrom many Hebrew sources is really very impressive. In fact I would not hesitate to say that the commentaries and notes on the Messianic prophecies of Isaiah 53, Daniel 9:24-27, and Psalm 22 [found on pages 40 thru 129 inclusive] are WELL WORTH the price of this book just by itself. This book is packed with brilliant and scholarly insights on matters of the greatest importance. No seriousBible student or apologist should be without all three ofthese excellent volumes. I would not hesitate to give itthe very highest rating. Don't miss this one.Pastor Len Hummel

Brown does a great job addressing logic and philosophical ridden objections which make up the bulwark of Judaic apologetics. NT writers' OT interpretation is very similar to the allegorical reasoning the sages used in the Talmud. Objecting to the NT accordingly is nothing short of hypocracy.

For sake of sheer irony, some anti-missionary websites(http://foundationstone.com.au/) tells faithful Jews to go to amazon and provide "quality negative reviews" to Messianic books without actually buying them. Hence, lying. This would be a good example of straining on a gnat and swallowing a camel. Some Jews don't have the slightest care in the world for moral commands of the torah.

Anyone who actually reads the book will both love and highly approve of it! Likewise anyone who reads the book will be faced with the only clear conclusion, that indeed Y'shua /Jesus is the Messiah... Although there is another option - that being to not even read the book at all and yet write an angry and trite review, as we see a few examples of here. Interestingly enough, there is a well-visited web-site out there: http://foundationstone.com.au/ which while doing the good work of teaching Hebrew for free is also recommending that Jews come here to Amazon, specifically not to buy, but merely to write "quality", yet negative reviews of any Jewish/Messianic books... How sad. I mean really - think about it. In any case, I think in a couple of these reviews, we see the negative, but not necessarily the "quality" that the aforementioned provocature was looking for - at least not the type that comes from actually reading the book first. This book is highly recommended for anyone who wishes to understand exactly what the title articulates: Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus. Four thumbs up. Which of course must mean that both of my toe thumbs are included there. Ewe.

I am a little disappointed that the author was not able to finish the series in the third book, but this one was definitly the best of the series! I started it at Togos, and wasn't able to put it down until I had finished it. It was just mind boggling how much evidence this fellow was bringing up to defend every fascit of objections that I have been hearing to Messianic Prophecies that I got from my cousin's Rabbi. But I must admit that now I am already growing anxious for the next book to come out...this is a really great series to invest in!

Michael Brown has written another classical and powerful defense of Christianity/Messianic Judaism in this third volume. Brown undertakes painstaking analyses of many of the prominent Biblical passages widely attributed by Christians to be fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth, including Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and Zechariah 12:10. Brown considers the Messianic veracity of such passages by examining, when applicable and/or necessary, the Biblical Hebrew along with contextual and grammatical considerations of the passages in question, and utilizing early Rabbinical sources. Most importantly, Brown demonstrates that the New Testament writers' exegeses of the Old Testament were perfectly methodologically acceptable. Meanwhile, Brown provides scholarly answers to common objections to the various prophecies.

This is definitely a must-read for those interested in examining whether or not the Christian assertion of Messianic prophetic fulfillment in Jesus Christ can withstand scrutiny, especially when viewed in light of the historical Jewish understanding of such texts as well as proper studies in Hebrew linguistics and ancient Biblical exegeses performed by the Jewish sages.

A great book, with great discussions of the thorny passages that anti-missionary groups (i.e., Jewish groups that try to thwart the work of those who evangelize Jews) try to use to discount the claims of Jesus and the New Testament. The reviewers who give this book 1 star and claim that it lies are themselves lying. Brown's arguments are clear, detailed, and well-supported. This is one book that Jews and Christians should both read. As for the naysayers ... pray for them, that God will have mercy on their hard hearts and hatefulness.

This is the third volume of a planned 5-volume set. (This review is basically the same as for the other volumes.) Collectively, the set is a ground-breaking resource of first-rate scholarship. Unfortunately, the subject matter is incredibly arcane.

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.

A year ago I 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 claims to the contrary, what comes across in the 18-hour (not 15) course and books is the attitude of "I am going to convince THAT person." An informal survey has indicated it is EXTREMELY rare for a Jewish person to accept Jesus unless the person (1) was raised secular or (2) marries a Christian. Such people are willing to listen to and honestly evaluate the beliefs of Christianity. Missiology studies show that 80% of people raised in a religion stay in that religion.

Jesus interacted with religious leaders who disputed him but he did not get into extended debates like those in Brown's books. Also see Matthew 10:14

Although Dr. Brown is VERY active in evangelism, I can't help thinking, "How many HUNDREDS of times MORE people could have been brought to Jesus if time spent researching and writing for a VERY small audience almost TOTALLY RESISTANT to the gospel had been spent reaching out to the MILLIONS of people who are simply indifferent and uninformed but are willing to listen if someone tells them?"

If you are a Christian considering Jewish evangelism, review the sample pages, examine the books if you get a chance and visit "anti-missionary" websites, e.g., Tovia Singer. You'll see this is EXTREMELY unproductive SUPER-specialized work requiring responses to arguments you won't hear ANYWHERE elsewhere.

But don't let that deter you from GENERAL Jewish evangelism. MANY Jews are quite secular. Their main arguments are "I'm Jewish. Jews don't believe in Jesus." and "What about all the persecution the Church has done against Jews?" They are open to the gospel if you hang in there and honestly address their concerns with sensitivity.

And if YOU think Jesus or the apostles CONVERTED from Judaism to Christianity, YOU need to learn about the history of the Church BEFORE 100 A.D. In Acts 15 the apostles created "Christianity" for GENTILES, as a religion PARALLEL to Messianic Judaism.

TELL your Jewish friends that JESUS IS JEWISH. He was born Jewish, he was Torah-observant, he died Jewish, came back from the dead Jewish and he's STILL Jewish.

Hebrews 4:14 ... WE HAVE A GREAT HIGH PRIEST who has gone through the heavens, JESUS ...

THE HIGH PRIEST ISN'T CATHOLIC AND HE ISN'T PROTESTANT--HE'S JEWISH!

Check these out:

Our Hands Are Stained With Blood-Michael Brown
Restoring the Jewishness of the Gospel-David Stern
Messianic Jewish Manifesto-David Stern
Complete Jewish Bible-David Stern
Evangelism Explosion-D. James Kennedy

Shalom!

Brown is the foremost Christian expert on Judaism, and I highly recommend this 4-volume set. This volume centers on messianic prophecy and is my favorite of the four volumes. It can either be read as a reference source (looking up different objections in the book is not hard using the index) or read all the way through. I have chosen the former method--and this particular volume has more highlighting than the others--so while I haven't read every page, they're on my shelf whenever a question on Judaism arises. The thing about Judaism is it is so different moving from Orthodox all the way to Reformed. But the general ideas in this book cover all the branches. Every Christian should be able to talk to their Jewish believer friends, family, and co-workers, because the topic is of utmost importance.