Customer Reviews

The Parables: Jewish Tradition and Christian Interpretation

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

 

 

This author is quickly becoming one of my favorites. His study of the Second Temple Period along with his insighful parallels between Judaism and Christianity are worth more than gold in my opinion. In this book, Young examines Christ's parables from both the Jewish and Christian perspective. What I like about this book is that it helps the reader obtain the correct context of the readings, something that I push for with fervor. Just published, this book is a good read and an excellent resource for future study.

Recently Hendrickson's publisher took this book to a major book fair where it sold 5000 copies AND 5 seminaries picked it up as a textbook! Excellent for pastors and lay persons on teaching the parables of both the Jews and the Christians. A topic that most pastors never studied in seminiary from a Jewish perspective. A thorough examination of the topic and a presentation of new insights is presented in a very readable format. I highly recommend this book to our homeschooling families around the world!

The main strength of this book is that it is an excellent resource for doing comparative studies between Jesus as presented in the Gospels and the Rabbis as presented in the Rabbinics. Each of Jesus' parables is put against the backdrop of similar parables told by different Rabbis in the Talmud and other Rabbinic writings. It's interesting to see the overlap between the two which is, at points, quite substantial.

Young is quite adamant in his view that Jesus must be dropped back into the world of second temple Judaism. While context does create meaning, the main fault that I have with Young's approach is that by using the Rabbinic writings as the main source of comparison, whole bodies of Jewish literature are overlooked (he does bring the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Pseudepigrapha in at points, but the bulk of the book deals with Jesus and the Rabbis). So, while there are strengths to this approach, there are also weaknesses; Rabbinic Judaism is hardly representative of the Judaisms of Jesus' day. Furthermore, Jesus wasn't a rabbi like Hillel or Akiba, so the usefulness of comparisons primarily between the Gospels and Rabbinics is further diminished.

Dr. Young also seems quite interested in debunking the allegorical interpretations of the parables of Jesus as taught by early church fathers such as Origen. While this may help to clear up the meanings of the prables from a historical perspective, is it really necessary to do so? One can teach accurate history without debunking the views of others. The result ends up being that Young comes across as rather argumentative and standoff-ish and overall it is just plain annoying to read.

I would recommend Young's book to anyone interested in a comparison between Jesus' parables and those of the Rabbis - in this area, Young hits the bull's eye. However, as a book about Jesus' parables where the goal is less to contrast and compare than to enlightend and educate, Young hits a little too left of center.

This is an excellent book! Brad Young does a wonderful job in presening his research on the parables of Jesus (Yeshua). He looks at each parable from many angels. He compares the traditional Jewish view on the subject, the traditional Church view and then his own conclusions and views. Each point is clearly marked with sources and authors so you can check out his research and conclusions. This is a high quality research book. Excellent book! Excellent research!
This book is one of my favorites and I consider it "priceless" in my collection.

Brad H. Young is a writer of great expertise and knowledge, which he has gained from decades of research. His teaching on the subject of parables will give a deeper and clearer understanding to all those who are searching for a better understanding of the world in which Jesus lived. For all of Young's work and investment in the minds and lives of those seeking a true understanding of the context of Jesus' teachings, he is to be commended. This is a fantastic book.

I have used this book as a resource in teaching an adult Sunday School class series on the parables of Jesus. It provides detail on the Jewish environment of Jesus' time and a perspective not found in the usual Bible study materials.

Dr. Brad Young was a professor of mine at ORU. He is a must read if you are going to be a serious student of the Bible. This scholar knows how to write in a way for a theologian or lay person to understand. His understanding of the languages of the Bible, the tradition, culture, history, etc., makes the pages of scripture explode with new meaning. I continue to regularly use his works to prepare sermons and Bible Studies. The Parables is one of his outstanding works. The reader will not be disappointed. Brad Young's writings should be on the shelf of every pastor's study.

I recently delivered a sermon on the parable of the prodigal son. With the added insight from this work I was able to flesh out new perspectives, Judaic perspectives, on the text. While we often read Western philosophical assumptions into the text, be we scholar, pastor, or otherwise, there is a wealth of information available with regard to the early context of the parables of Jesus in this book. This is an area of study long neglected by many but I am thankful for this and other resources like it which have reminded us of the roots and context of the Christian faith, the teachings of Jesus, and the meaning of His coming. Great tool. Great price.

If your like me, your always looking for deeper insight, deeper meaning. I try to search out and find books like this one to give me a new angle or better understanding of Scripture. This book delivers, i wish it had more chapters. You will want more. I did.

If you have interest in the topic, this book is a must read. Each of the major parables in the New Testament is examined, with Young placing the reader in the framework that the original hearers in first century Judea would have understood it to mean. Stripping away the later Christological elements added by the Church fathers, he shows that many of the parales have parallels in Mishnaic literature as well as traditional rabbinic thought. The use of parables was and continues to be widespread in Judiasm, and when examined in that light, the meanings become more profound and understandable in the light of this rich history and tradition.