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JESUS: First-Century Rabbi
This bold, fresh look at the historical Jesus and the Jewish roots of Christianity challenges both Jews and Christians to re-examine their understanding of Jesus’ commitment to his Jewish faith. Instead of emphasizing the differences between the two religions, this groundbreaking text explains how the concepts of vicarious atonement, mediation, incarnation, and Trinity are actually rooted in classical Judaism. Using the cutting edge of scholarly research, Rabbi Zaslow dispels the myths of disparity between Christianity and Judaism without diluting the unique features of each faith. Jesus: First Century Rabbi is a breath of fresh air for Christians and Jews who want to strengthen and deepen their own faith traditions.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
27 people are currently reading
293 people want to read
About the author
David Zaslow
12 books19 followersRabbi David Zaslow, M.S., is the spiritual leader of Havurah Shir Hadash, a synagogue in Ashland, Oregon. He is the editor of the bestselling Hebrew/English prayerbook for spiritual Renewal, “Ivdu et Hashem B'simcha – Serve the Holy One With Joy.” He travels the country leading workshops with churches and synagogues on the Jewish roots of Christianity.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 2, 2014
Full disclosure: David Zaslow has been my mentor, Hebrew teacher, and dear friend for nearly a decade. Over time, I have also worked as his editor, and even as a bookkeeper at the synagogue where he is the rabbi. Not only that, his small press, Wisdom Exchange, published my first book. So I came to read Jesus: First-Century Rabbi already familiar with his teaching style and his writings.
As a Christian Science healer who grew up the daughter of a Lutheran minister (ELCA), I dare to say that I have an uncommon perspective. As a Christian, as best I can I daily follow the teachings of Jesus. As a Christian Scientist, I follow Jesus’ universal approach to healing, to heal myself and others. As a student of Hebrew and Judaism, I have discovered not only the true Jewishness of everything Jesus ever did or said, but also that Jesus, my Rabbi Yehoshuah, has been largely misunderstood and misrepresented — by both Christians and Jews.
The profound messages embedded for us within the Scriptures — which Zaslow whimsically calls the Elder Testament and the Younger Testament — have often been lost in translation, from Hebrew to Greek to Latin, and down through the centuries to our King James English and beyond. Every translation nevertheless sheds new light on the virtually endless facets of spiritual meaning each earnest seeker can glean. The fact is, the more I’ve studied the Bible in the original Hebrew, the more common ground I’ve come to see between us.
I especially appreciate Zaslow’s elucidation of the Jewish sources for Jesus’ Lord’s Prayer and Sermon on the Mount. Throughout the book, Zaslow very thoughtfully and reverently discusses such problematic subjects as Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the Apostle Paul’s letters, and the origins of anti-Semitism.
For any reader — Christian, Jew, or curious academic — the great value of Zaslow’s book is that he honors both faiths with deep respect and intellectual clarity, bringing us together rather than splitting us apart. No matter what our theological differences may be, with candor, humor, and elegance Zaslow guides us finally to the simple realization that in our diversity, we actually need each other: Whatever our Jewish or Christian persuasion, our common belief in and dedication to The Holy One in our individual lives is really all that matters to mend this world. I appreciate his thorough scholarship and graciousness, and look forward to his next book!
Janis Hunt Johnson, CS
www.csrenewal.com
www.askjanis.com
Follow on Twitter: @CSRenewal & @AskJanis
Like on Facebook: CS Renewal & Ask Janis Editorial
As a Christian Science healer who grew up the daughter of a Lutheran minister (ELCA), I dare to say that I have an uncommon perspective. As a Christian, as best I can I daily follow the teachings of Jesus. As a Christian Scientist, I follow Jesus’ universal approach to healing, to heal myself and others. As a student of Hebrew and Judaism, I have discovered not only the true Jewishness of everything Jesus ever did or said, but also that Jesus, my Rabbi Yehoshuah, has been largely misunderstood and misrepresented — by both Christians and Jews.
The profound messages embedded for us within the Scriptures — which Zaslow whimsically calls the Elder Testament and the Younger Testament — have often been lost in translation, from Hebrew to Greek to Latin, and down through the centuries to our King James English and beyond. Every translation nevertheless sheds new light on the virtually endless facets of spiritual meaning each earnest seeker can glean. The fact is, the more I’ve studied the Bible in the original Hebrew, the more common ground I’ve come to see between us.
I especially appreciate Zaslow’s elucidation of the Jewish sources for Jesus’ Lord’s Prayer and Sermon on the Mount. Throughout the book, Zaslow very thoughtfully and reverently discusses such problematic subjects as Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the Apostle Paul’s letters, and the origins of anti-Semitism.
For any reader — Christian, Jew, or curious academic — the great value of Zaslow’s book is that he honors both faiths with deep respect and intellectual clarity, bringing us together rather than splitting us apart. No matter what our theological differences may be, with candor, humor, and elegance Zaslow guides us finally to the simple realization that in our diversity, we actually need each other: Whatever our Jewish or Christian persuasion, our common belief in and dedication to The Holy One in our individual lives is really all that matters to mend this world. I appreciate his thorough scholarship and graciousness, and look forward to his next book!
Janis Hunt Johnson, CS
www.csrenewal.com
www.askjanis.com
Follow on Twitter: @CSRenewal & @AskJanis
Like on Facebook: CS Renewal & Ask Janis Editorial
April 23, 2022
Well done and makes me want to have coffee with him to discuss and ask questions about the budding reconciliation between Christians and Jews we are both so eager to see come to fruition. Although his work here is thorough and masterfully written it doesn't really include the popular non-denominational church point of view. I understand some denominations have been especially hurtful, regrettably. For the past 15 years or so I have witnessed honest curiosity for Jewish customs, biblical history, and seen only respect for Judaism by fellow Christians. I was raised in the same manner, to love and honor Jewish "brothers and sisters". I'm thankful I happened to find this book at the library. I'm especially intrigued by the practice of mishna. I would also like to offer my deepest sympathies to those who suffer anti-Semitic abuse. It's abhorrent behavior and I'm searching my own heart for any unintentional practices disguised as jokes or sarcasm. As I study the Bible I will be more aware of the potential to dismiss certain historical people groups as though they were all enemies of God based on possible misconceptions.
December 15, 2013
Rabbi David Zaslow is the synagogue leader of Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland Oregon. As a Jew, he does not call Jesus God, much less the messiah; however he argues that as Jew, he can accept Jesus as a brother and son of first-century Judaism. In Jesus First-Century Rabbi Zaslow takes a sympathetic-critical look at the Younger Testament (also known as ‘New’) and points out that a great deal of what Jesus said is in continuity with the tradition that he was born into: Judaism.
Interfaith discussion are tricky. When you describe a tradition that is not your own, you run the risk of caricaturing an entire religion, or reducing distinctives to the lowest common denominator. This is especially tricky when the religion you are describing ( in this case, Christianity) developed from the soil of your own religious tradition (Judaism). However Zaslow does a masterful job of exploring the Jesus from his own faith-perspective. At times he sees a great deal of continuity between Christian and Jewish understanding of God and morality. At other points he draws a sharper distinction, but does so with grace and appreciation. This is not an apologetic work designed to get Christians like me to covert to Judaism. It is a book which invites us to reflect on our common heritage and overcome some of the historical enmity that has existed between Jews and Christians. Zaslow also extols the insights and gifts of both religions.
There are five parts of this book. In part one, Zaslow discusses the similarities between Jesus’ moral teaching and that of his fellow Rabbis. Whereas Christians have classically characterized first-century Judaism as legalistic, Zaslow shows that many of Jesus’ teachings correlate to the Jewish oral tradition (which is recorded in the Mishna). Part two explores the thought world of first Century Judaism that would have shaped Jesus. There were various aspects of Judaism which informed both Jesus and the alternate way in which Judaism later developed. These include the ‘Oral Torah’(the Jewish tradition interpreting the written Torah), the various sects of Ancient Judaism, the sacrificial system, the Jewish understanding of atonement and the importance of the ‘binding of Issac’ as paradigmatic for our understanding of God’s salvation. Part three describes differences and commonalities between Jesus and Hebraic thinking. Part four continues this, delving deeper into theological matters: What did Jesus really mean by his ‘I am’ statements? What is the the meaning of grace, redemption and suffering? Is Judaism legalistic and Christianity antinomian? What is Paul’s problem anyway? Zaslow rounds off part five by rehearsing some of the ugly history of Christian antisemitism (and its rootedness in Christian supersessionism) and his hope for more amiable relations in the future.
I happily recommend this book because I think it promotes mutual understanding between Jews and Christians. However I recommend it while acknowledging deep disagreements with Zaslow. For example, he argues that Christian atonement tradition rests on a misreading of the meaning of sacrifice in Judaism. There are also occasional places where I think he labors too hard to erase Jesus’ distinctiveness. For example his explanation of Jesus statement in John 8:58, ““Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” is to say that Jesus could have been pointing back to YHWH’s ancient existence does not do justice to the narrative (140). In John’s gospel, Jesus’ hearers picked up stones to stone him (John 8:59), which points to his words being more offensive than Zaslow makes them out to be. Likewise he interprets John 14:6 as Jesus’ commending YHWH to his disciples (‘I AM’ the way, the truth, and the life) without ever acknowledging the latter part of the verse, “No one comes to the Father, but through me” (139). These and other examples minimize what is unique about Jesus’ claims and open up different possibilities, but they do so by selectively reading the gospel texts.
Yet Zaslow makes many good observations. The continuity between Jesus’ moral teaching and some rabbis in the oral tradition is well founded. As is his observation of how statements in the gospels about ‘the Jews’ have been used to justify centuries of religious hate and antisemitism. I think it is fair to note, that the Pharisees were theologically closest to Jesus of anyone in the gospels, and that the gospels paint them in the worst possible light. The historical picture is much more nuanced and I appreciate Zaslow’s descriptions of the world of Judaism that Jesus would have been born into.
Zaslow blames Paul for introducing a theology of supersessionism (God’s promises to Israel now apply to Christians only) and widening the divide between Jews and Christians in the early common era. He questions if Paul was really a Pharisee because his teachings seem so unlike the Pharisees of old, and as apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s rhetoric sometimes erased the importance of a distinct Jewish identity (though not always). Certainly that is how Paul has been interpreted by early and later Christians. I don’t think that is what Paul had in mind, but the seeds of a widening divide are there.
I happily give this book four stars, while acknowledging my points of contention. My Christian heritage gives me a different picture of Jesus. Zaslow would say that my picture of Jesus is theological whereas his picture of Jesus the Jew is historical. I hope that my picture of Jesus is both historical (the events of the gospels actually happened!) and theological (Jesus is God come in the flesh). But for an interesting and challenging take on the historic Jesus, Zaslow is a good read! I give this book four stars: ★★★★
Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Interfaith discussion are tricky. When you describe a tradition that is not your own, you run the risk of caricaturing an entire religion, or reducing distinctives to the lowest common denominator. This is especially tricky when the religion you are describing ( in this case, Christianity) developed from the soil of your own religious tradition (Judaism). However Zaslow does a masterful job of exploring the Jesus from his own faith-perspective. At times he sees a great deal of continuity between Christian and Jewish understanding of God and morality. At other points he draws a sharper distinction, but does so with grace and appreciation. This is not an apologetic work designed to get Christians like me to covert to Judaism. It is a book which invites us to reflect on our common heritage and overcome some of the historical enmity that has existed between Jews and Christians. Zaslow also extols the insights and gifts of both religions.
There are five parts of this book. In part one, Zaslow discusses the similarities between Jesus’ moral teaching and that of his fellow Rabbis. Whereas Christians have classically characterized first-century Judaism as legalistic, Zaslow shows that many of Jesus’ teachings correlate to the Jewish oral tradition (which is recorded in the Mishna). Part two explores the thought world of first Century Judaism that would have shaped Jesus. There were various aspects of Judaism which informed both Jesus and the alternate way in which Judaism later developed. These include the ‘Oral Torah’(the Jewish tradition interpreting the written Torah), the various sects of Ancient Judaism, the sacrificial system, the Jewish understanding of atonement and the importance of the ‘binding of Issac’ as paradigmatic for our understanding of God’s salvation. Part three describes differences and commonalities between Jesus and Hebraic thinking. Part four continues this, delving deeper into theological matters: What did Jesus really mean by his ‘I am’ statements? What is the the meaning of grace, redemption and suffering? Is Judaism legalistic and Christianity antinomian? What is Paul’s problem anyway? Zaslow rounds off part five by rehearsing some of the ugly history of Christian antisemitism (and its rootedness in Christian supersessionism) and his hope for more amiable relations in the future.
I happily recommend this book because I think it promotes mutual understanding between Jews and Christians. However I recommend it while acknowledging deep disagreements with Zaslow. For example, he argues that Christian atonement tradition rests on a misreading of the meaning of sacrifice in Judaism. There are also occasional places where I think he labors too hard to erase Jesus’ distinctiveness. For example his explanation of Jesus statement in John 8:58, ““Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” is to say that Jesus could have been pointing back to YHWH’s ancient existence does not do justice to the narrative (140). In John’s gospel, Jesus’ hearers picked up stones to stone him (John 8:59), which points to his words being more offensive than Zaslow makes them out to be. Likewise he interprets John 14:6 as Jesus’ commending YHWH to his disciples (‘I AM’ the way, the truth, and the life) without ever acknowledging the latter part of the verse, “No one comes to the Father, but through me” (139). These and other examples minimize what is unique about Jesus’ claims and open up different possibilities, but they do so by selectively reading the gospel texts.
Yet Zaslow makes many good observations. The continuity between Jesus’ moral teaching and some rabbis in the oral tradition is well founded. As is his observation of how statements in the gospels about ‘the Jews’ have been used to justify centuries of religious hate and antisemitism. I think it is fair to note, that the Pharisees were theologically closest to Jesus of anyone in the gospels, and that the gospels paint them in the worst possible light. The historical picture is much more nuanced and I appreciate Zaslow’s descriptions of the world of Judaism that Jesus would have been born into.
Zaslow blames Paul for introducing a theology of supersessionism (God’s promises to Israel now apply to Christians only) and widening the divide between Jews and Christians in the early common era. He questions if Paul was really a Pharisee because his teachings seem so unlike the Pharisees of old, and as apostle to the Gentiles, Paul’s rhetoric sometimes erased the importance of a distinct Jewish identity (though not always). Certainly that is how Paul has been interpreted by early and later Christians. I don’t think that is what Paul had in mind, but the seeds of a widening divide are there.
I happily give this book four stars, while acknowledging my points of contention. My Christian heritage gives me a different picture of Jesus. Zaslow would say that my picture of Jesus is theological whereas his picture of Jesus the Jew is historical. I hope that my picture of Jesus is both historical (the events of the gospels actually happened!) and theological (Jesus is God come in the flesh). But for an interesting and challenging take on the historic Jesus, Zaslow is a good read! I give this book four stars: ★★★★
Thank you to Paraclete Press for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 7, 2019
We used Zaslow's book in a Bible study class this fall. This book challenges the way I've looked at Jesus as Christ alone and the separation between Judaism and Christianity that makes it seem that Judaism should be discarded. Jesus was a Jew. Judaism is the broad base of theology on which Christian faith grows -- not to be discarded, but to be studied for a deeper understanding. The book explores how prejudicial beliefs help anti-semitism grow. I can't say that my brain absorbed all the ideas, like "triumphalism" and "replacement theology" - but the book certainly provided an introduction - a curtain pulled open - for me to continue to study. I enjoy following rabbis with large social media followings on Twitter, and reading the threads of thoughtful discussion there. Face-to-face community interactions would be even better. I hope our church does explore a joint study with a local rabbi in 2020.
September 29, 2018
A book that has a wealth of information on early Christianity and rabbinical Judaism (second temple period), and their commonalities and eventual differences. This book is a must for any serious Christian and Jew who cares about the history of these amazing faiths so as to become more educated on how much is shared between these 2 faiths and how the differences can be celebrated and respected. It certainly was an enjoyable read and highly recommend it. Seeing Jesus through the historical prism gives so much more context to his life and the other rabbis teaching in 1st century Judea.
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March 30, 2015
[Book sent to me for an honest review.]
I found this book intensely frustrating. Rabbi Zaslow had, it appears, two main theses:
1) Jesus was Jewish. I have no problem with that, and I didn't need various examples to "prove" his Jewishness to me. I would have appreciated more an examination of specific references to Judaism in his teaching and actions that would be missed by Western eyes (for instance, the "hem" of his garment touched by the sick woman was the tzitzit> on his prayer shawl).
2) Therefore, Christians should accept Judaism as just as salvific and efficacious as Christianity. To paraphrase, "It look like God is just fine with Judaism for Jews and Christianity for Christians."
That's a big leap from 1) to 2). I certainly agree that Christians should be respectful of Judaism (of all religions, really, but even more so of one grounded in scripture which we still consider inspired). But Zaslow's contention that Christianity should be non-exclusivist really seems to gut the idea of Christianity. Zaslow argues from an implicit standpoint that all of Jesus' teachings which it into what would have been the mainstream of proto-rabbinic Jewish thought are most authentic, and all the ones which could be interpreted as exclusivist, supersessionist, etc., are the least authentic, but I think it would be far less work to "cleanse" the gospels of all specifically Jewish doctrines than all exclusivist ones.
Oh, well. The book made me think, even if I disagreed with assumptions on every page, and a book that makes you think it of more worth than a book that just tells you what you already believe.
I found this book intensely frustrating. Rabbi Zaslow had, it appears, two main theses:
1) Jesus was Jewish. I have no problem with that, and I didn't need various examples to "prove" his Jewishness to me. I would have appreciated more an examination of specific references to Judaism in his teaching and actions that would be missed by Western eyes (for instance, the "hem" of his garment touched by the sick woman was the tzitzit> on his prayer shawl).
2) Therefore, Christians should accept Judaism as just as salvific and efficacious as Christianity. To paraphrase, "It look like God is just fine with Judaism for Jews and Christianity for Christians."
That's a big leap from 1) to 2). I certainly agree that Christians should be respectful of Judaism (of all religions, really, but even more so of one grounded in scripture which we still consider inspired). But Zaslow's contention that Christianity should be non-exclusivist really seems to gut the idea of Christianity. Zaslow argues from an implicit standpoint that all of Jesus' teachings which it into what would have been the mainstream of proto-rabbinic Jewish thought are most authentic, and all the ones which could be interpreted as exclusivist, supersessionist, etc., are the least authentic, but I think it would be far less work to "cleanse" the gospels of all specifically Jewish doctrines than all exclusivist ones.
Oh, well. The book made me think, even if I disagreed with assumptions on every page, and a book that makes you think it of more worth than a book that just tells you what you already believe.
January 5, 2015
I met Rabbi David Zaslow at a Church and Synagogue Librarians conference; during which he encouraged me to continue writing historical novels in the midrashic style. I was pleased to find that Jesus: First-Century Rabbi further elucidated the sacred character of the midrash, which allows readers to search for the deeper meanings in the text of the Tanak. But just as importantly, this book opens the way for a modern day Jewish/Christian dialog that includes grace-filled parameters for interfaith encounters. If you want to know more about the Jewishness of Jesus, Judaism during the time of Jesus, theological misunderstandings, and the troubled past and hopeful future for people of faith, you need to read this book.
May 14, 2014
This book weaves Judaism and Christianity together. He also explains the differences, but, really, the differences are a matter of the opinion of men...including some of the writers of the Christian texts...rather than any real difference. Jesus as a Jew; an observant Jew. His teachings came from Judaism. I deeply appreciated seeing Christian texts in a different light. As always, well worth consideration.
February 5, 2020
The author presents a positive view of Jesus from a Jewish perspective. Very good. This is not a Christian view but is a kind Jewish view. The author proposes a positive relationship between Jewish and Christian communities as they both embrace Jesus in different ways.
January 20, 2015
A wonderfully written, well reasoned book that hopefully will bring to the forefront enlightening discussions between the Jewish and Christian faiths. I received a copy of this book through the Goodreads first reads program.
April 4, 2015
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I found it a challenging read. I must admit that certain passages were a bit beyond me, but I did enjoy the way the author presented his material. It left me with things to ponder.
September 11, 2014
A well-written, thought provoking book. As a Christian, this book supplied information about the similiarities of the Jewish faith and the Christian faith that I was totally unaware of.
January 31, 2015
The best book I have read to date on Jesus in context of his times and the religious tradition he followed.
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December 16, 2013Review on website
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