Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith [Paperback]

Marvin R. Wilson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 1990

Although the roots of Christianity run deep into Hebrew soil, many Christians are regrettably uninformed about the rich Hebrew heritage of the church. This volume delineates the link between Judaism and Christianity, between the Old and the New Testaments, and calls Christians to re-examine their Hebrew roots so as to effect a more authentically biblical lifestyle.

Product Details

• Paperback: 395 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (January 11, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802804233
• ISBN-13: 978-0802804235
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > History of Religion
  • #59 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Church History

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

140 of 143 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential, Comprehensive, Readable Study., October 2, 2003

By 

M. D Roberts (Gwent, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith (Paperback)

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.

78 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for All Christians!, August 23, 2004

By 

Homeschool Mom "homeschool777" (United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith (Paperback)

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.

63 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Father Abraham, January 11, 2000

By 

Cheryle K. Holeman (Tulsa Area) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith (Paperback)

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.