Jewish New Testament Commentary: A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament

by David H. Stern

- The Torah (Law of Moses)--is it in full force today? Yeshua (Jesus) said, "Don't think that I have come to abolish the Torah... I have come not to abolish, but to complete." What did he mean? - Sha'ul (Paul) wrote, "All Israel will be saved." Was he speaking of all Jews? Messianic Jews (Jews who believe Yeshua is the Messiah)? The Church? Who is Israel? - Why did Yeshua juxtapose the saying, "Do not store up for yourselves wealth here on earth" and "The eye is the light of the body"? Dr. David Stern, a Messianic Jew living in Jerusalem, speaks to these and other issues in the Jewish New Testament Commentary. In this companion volume to his widely read and highly acclaimed "Jewish New Testament," he offers an exciting and original way of understanding the New Testament from a Jewish point of view.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Christian, Religion, Faith, Theology, Christianity

960 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1992

About the author

David H. Stern born in Los Angeles in 1935, is the great-grandson of two of the city's first twenty Jews. He earned a Ph.D. in economics at Princeton University and was a professor at UCLA. He then received a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary, did graduate work at the University of Judaism, and was active in the Messianic Jewish movement. Dr. Stern authored the highly acclaimed English translations, the Jewish New Testament, the Jewish New Testament Commentary, and the Complete Jewish Bible.

Reviews

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really love this beautiful translation.

[John Avery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy books that present the Jewish background of the Christian faith. David Stern's book is an essential volume on my bookshelf (along with his translation of the New Testament).
There are numerous fascinating insights to be gained from this book. He has done a good job of selecting the most important points for each New Testament book and chapter rather than turning this work into a multi-volume series (I am sure there is far more that could have been written).

[Dr. Paul T. Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so this is a harder task to finish than I thought ... so many things to study! No estimate on when I'll finish at this point.

[Philippe Jonquet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It gives a deep understanding of the Jewish terms and traditions that can be so foreign to Christians, through scriptures that we already know so well.

[SUNKANMI · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seeing the Hebrew translation of the names was good and some of the points made by the author was good to learn. However, I was put off by many of the commentary and statements of the author. He sounded resentful and bitter about Christians. Many of his comments seemed more from envy and resentment with Christians and it seems he does not see Christians as fellow believers in Jesus, rather as the enemy to be tolerated because he has no choice and cannot deny the salvation of any who has accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior.

It is true that many who have called themselves Christians have been antisemitic and have treated the Jews horribly, but they are not the majority of Christians. Christianity is a world-wide movement of believers in Jesus, and the antisemitism happened mostly in Europe and then America. That does not mean that European Christians were antisemitic. Many, if not most were not antisemitic. It should be noted that most Christians today are believers who gave their lives to Christ after the events of the Second World War.

I do not agree with the statements of the author who says that because Christians of today do not observe the whole Torah/Law, they are wrong or antisemitic. The author and those who subscribe to his beliefs would do well to go around churches in the world, especially in the global South and see the move of the power of God in those churches, among believers who neither observe the torah the way he wants it to be observed but who live a life of holiness and spirituality that is pleasing to God. I stand by the statement that for one to have a close relationship with God, to be able to hear from God, one needs to be spiritual, and torah observance does not in any way mean you are spiritual or close to God.

I am particularly taken aback by the author practically saying that one must agree with his Messianic Judaism theology or one is antisemitic or anti-Judaism, when not all Jewish believers agree with his theology or practice Messianic Judaism.

There are many more things I want to say about this book, but let me just say finally that the title of the book should not be Jewish New Testament Commentary but Messianic Judaism New Testament Commentary since it is the opinions of an adherent of Messianic Judaism not the opinion of all Jewish believers in Jesus.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cover to Cover
As a Believer in Yeshua, I spent this past year reading The Complete Jewish Study Bible along with Dr. David Stern's Commentary on the New Testament. In Dr. Stern's comments on Revelation 22:18-19 he writes, "It is my fervent hope that both my translation and my commentary have not distorted what God meant us to know, for work of this kind meditates eternal destinies. My prayer is that the eternal destinies of the readers of this commentary will be with God and his Son Yeshua, and that my work has not distanced anyone from him but brought people closer."
This work has brought me much closer!

[Richard Worden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very helpful resource.

[Scott Broberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing resource!

[Aw. T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the translation of Dr.Stern's and the interpretations that he gives of the texts for our time as well as in the past.

This will be a life long reading for me. I tend to read every footnote and also compare with other translations.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good commentary on the NT from the Jewish perspective.

[Eli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of helpful insights from a Messianic Jewish perspective, but quite legalistic.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Jewish (Messianic) perspective on the New Testament.