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Let's Get Biblical!: Why doesn't Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah? Volume 1
Explore the Jewish and Christian Scriptures with the world renowned Bible scholar and expert on Jewish evangelism, Rabbi Tovia Singer. This new two-volume work, Let’s Get Biblical! Why Doesn’t Judaism Accept the Christian Messiah?, takes the reader on an eye-opening journey through timeless passages in Tanach, and answers a pressing Why doesn’t Judaism accept the Christian messiah? Are the teachings conveyed in the New Testament compatible with ageless prophecies in the Jewish Scriptures? Rabbi Singer’s fascinating new work clearly illustrates why the core doctrines of the Church are utterly incompatible with the cornerstone principles expressed by the Prophets of Israel, and are opposed by the most cherished tenets conveyed in the Jewish Scriptures. Moreover, this book demonstrates how the Church systematically and deliberately altered the Jewish Scriptures in order to persuade potential converts that Jesus is the promised Jewish messiah. To accomplish this feat, Christian “translators” manipulated, misquoted, mistranslated, and even fabricated verses in the Hebrew Scriptures so that these texts appear to be speaking about Jesus. This exhaustive book probes and illuminates this thought-provoking subject. Tragically, over the past two millennia, the church’s faithful have been completely oblivious to this Bible-tampering because virtually no Christian can read or understand the Hebrew Scriptures in its original language. Since time immemorial, earnest parishioners blindly and utterly depended upon manmade Christian “translations” of the “Old Testament” in order to understand the “Word of God.” Understandably, churchgoers are deeply puzzled by the Jewish rejection of their religion’s claims. They wonder aloud why Jewish people, who are reared since childhood in the Holy Tongue, and are the bearers and protectors of the sacred Oracles of God, do not accept Jesus as their messiah. How can such an extraordinary people dismiss such an extraordinary claim? Are they just plain stubborn? Let’s Get Biblical thoroughly answers these nagging, age-old questions.
428 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2014
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January 1, 2026
THE FIRST VOLUME OF A MASTERFUL SET DEFENDING JUDAISM
In addition to this latest update of his manual, Rabbi Singer has available DVDs of some of his debates with Christians [e.g., debates with Pastor Paul Humber, and John McTernan] on his ‘Outreach Judaism’ website.
He wrote in the ‘Author’s Introduction' to this 2014 revision, “this book was written in response to the growing and unyielding effort of numerous fundamentalist Christians organizations which aggressively target Jews for conversion. All too often my brethren feel battered and helpless when confronted by missionaries and critics of their faith. [This book] therefore delves into the fundamental reasons why Judaism does not accept the Christian messiah… Moreover, this book demonstrates how the Church systematically and deliberately altered the Jewish Scriptures in order to persuade potential converts… Finally, this book was written in a manner that uses Christianity as a foil to reflect back the truth and beauty of the Jewish faith.”
He explains, “Evangelical Christians widely believe that the mass conversion of the Jews will bring about Jesus’ ‘second coming.’ … Jesus will not make his second coming until large numbers of Jews embrace the Church. The Jews, in a sense, are holding up the show. Many evangelicals believe that Jesus’ second coming is imminent and the Jews must be converted posthaste and en masse in order to enable Jesus’ return.” (Pg. 19-20)
He suggests, “There is a good reason why the virgin birth of Jesus is not mentioned in any of the earliest writings of the New Testament. The notion that Jesus was miraculously conceived was a later Christian invention. Paul… did not believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. Accordingly, he never mentioned his birth… Mark, the oldest and least embellished Gospel, was also unaware of Jesus’ virgin birth…” (Pg. 38)
Of the ‘prophecy’ of the virgin birth supposedly found in Isaiah 7:4, he comments, “It is clear to anyone reading this entire passage in Isaiah that there is nothing in this text that was intended to be a messianic prophecy, destined to be fulfilled in the distant future. Rather, this chapter is speaking only of the Ayro-Ephramite War, which occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet Isaiah and the rule of King Ahaz… In fact, this chapter would be nonsensical if it were discussing an event that was set to occur more than 700 years later.” (Pg. 42)
He adds, “Christian apologists frequently defend Matthew’s translation of the Hebrew word … as ‘virgin’ by citing the Septuagint version of Isaiah… The original Septuagint was a Greek translation of only the Torah… nothing else… It is universally accepted by all scholars---both Jewish and Christian---that the original Septuagint… was a translation only of the Five Books of Moses… Josephus… similarly states that … only the Law was translated, and the same is stated in the Talmud.” (Pg. 49)
He asserts, “Today, Christian scholars universally concede that Jesus’ birth did not occur on December 25th . They are uncomfortably aware that the Church borrowed this date from ancient pagan winter festivals… [such as] the birthday of the ‘Unconquered Sun.’ … Modern Christmas customs [were] all borrowed from the pagan world…” (Pg. 57)
He explains, “Christians are surprised to discover their church’s cornerstone creed, ‘without the shedding of blood there is no atonement,’ which famously appears in Hebrews 9:22, is not found anywhere in the Jewish Scriptures. Although the footnote for Hebrews 9:22 in every annotated Christian Bible references Leviticus 17:11 as the … authority for this doctrine, this idea is unbiblical and denounced by the Jewish prophets… Leviticus 17:11 does NOT imply that the only method of atonement is the shedding of blood. The verse explains that when a sin sacrifice is offered, every ritual associated with the blood must be conducted properly, in order for the offering to be valid.” (Pg. 68-69)
He states, “Jewish Scriptures clearly foretell that the animal sacrificial system will be restored in the Messianic Age… If, as Paul claims, Jesus was the final sacrifice ‘once and for all,’ and the animal sacrificial system was merely a temporary ‘foreshadowing’ of Calvary, then why will animal sacrifices be restored in the messianic era?… The restoration of the sin sacrifice is entirely consistent with the traditional Jewish faith because this sacrifice was offered by those who only committed unintentional sins.” (Pg. 81-82)
He asks, “Who is the ‘Servant’ in Isaiah 53? … If you never read the chapters that precede it, this text will appear quite puzzling… Isaiah 53 is the last of the four powerful and inspiring Servant Songs. The identity of the servant is clearly established as the nation of Israel throughout the first three Servant Songs, which begin in chapter 41… In essence, anyone who read Isaiah 41 through 54 would find it inconceivable that the ‘suffering servant’ in Isaiah 53 is the messiah. Moreover, in Isaiah 43:10… the prophet clearly identifies the ‘servant’ (singular) as God’s ‘witnesses’ (plural).” (Pg. 96-97)
He says, “Christian commentators on Zechariah 12:10 insist that at the End of Days the Jews will recognize their error, embrace the one they pierced (Jesus), and then mourn over him… [But] Why would anyone mourn over someone who is no longer dead? There are numerous examples in the Tanach [e.g., 1 Ki 17:17-23. 2 Ki 4:8-37] of people who died and were then brought back to life. Did any of their loved ones mourn after their resurrection?” (Pg. 199)
He points out, “Notice how none of the CHRISTIAN translations below [e.g., Anchor Bible, RSV, NRSV, NEB, etc.] compresses the 7-week period with the 62-week period into one period of 69 weeks in Daniel 9:25. By correctly designating an anointed prince who comes after 7 weeks, or 49 years, and a second anointed one (9:26) who is cut off after a subsequent 62 weeks (434 years), these translators are accurately conveying Gabriel’s message. There are two entirely different ‘anointed’ individuals discussed in Daniel 9:25-26… Cyrus, the first anointed ruler, arose 49 years after the destruction of the first temple, and a second who was removed after a subsequent 434 years (the high priest). The prophet Isaiah specifically identified Cyrus as God’s ‘anointed,’ who would command the Jews to return to the land of Israel.” (Pg. 222-223)
He continues, “[Daniel] mistakenly concluded that Jeremiah’s two 70-year prophecies were speaking of an identical period of time…. When Daniel realized that the year 3390 was at hand, and there was no sign of the impending redemption, he became deeply agitated… in this chapter Daniel is made to understand that the two prophecies of Jeremiah are in fact not identical, and each one of them referred to a separate, but overlapping 70-year period of time. Whereas the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:12 was… referring to the 70-year time span that began in the year 3320, when Jerusalem was subjugated, the prophecy then promised the restoration of the Jewish people to their land (29:10) was not to begin for another 18 years. Accordingly, Gabriel here relates to Daniel that in order to correctly ascertain when the Second Temple would be built, he must begin counting the 70 years ‘from the going forth of the WORD’ (9:25)… that begins at ‘the destruction of Jerusalem' (9:2) in the year 3338. In fact, Jeremiah’s prophecy of restoration (29:10) was fulfilled in the year 3408, 18 years later than Daniel had originally thought.” (Pg. 224-225)
Of the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke, he notes, “Contrary to what we are told by Luke, it is widely known from every early historian that Quirinius became governor of Syria in 6 CE, a full decade after Herod the Great died in 4 BCE… it is impossible for both Herod and Quirinius to have governed Judea at the same time… If Matthew is correct that Jesus and Herod were contemporaries, then Luke’s claim that Jesus was born during a census when Quirinius was governor of Syria is false. Moreover, it is unimaginable that Ceasar Augustus imposed a worldwide tax when Jesus was born, in which everyone in the Roman Empire had to register by returning to the town where their ancestors once lived. It is inconceivable that this actually occurred. For one thing, we had numerous records for the reign of Caesar Augustus, and there is no mention, even in passing, anywhere of an empire-wide census, let alone one in which everyone in the Roman Empire had to register in the town from which their ancient ancestors had come.” (Pg. 327)
Tovia Singer is one of the best ‘apologists’ for traditional Judaism; and both volumes in this series will be ‘must reading’ for Jews, Christians, and many others.
In addition to this latest update of his manual, Rabbi Singer has available DVDs of some of his debates with Christians [e.g., debates with Pastor Paul Humber, and John McTernan] on his ‘Outreach Judaism’ website.
He wrote in the ‘Author’s Introduction' to this 2014 revision, “this book was written in response to the growing and unyielding effort of numerous fundamentalist Christians organizations which aggressively target Jews for conversion. All too often my brethren feel battered and helpless when confronted by missionaries and critics of their faith. [This book] therefore delves into the fundamental reasons why Judaism does not accept the Christian messiah… Moreover, this book demonstrates how the Church systematically and deliberately altered the Jewish Scriptures in order to persuade potential converts… Finally, this book was written in a manner that uses Christianity as a foil to reflect back the truth and beauty of the Jewish faith.”
He explains, “Evangelical Christians widely believe that the mass conversion of the Jews will bring about Jesus’ ‘second coming.’ … Jesus will not make his second coming until large numbers of Jews embrace the Church. The Jews, in a sense, are holding up the show. Many evangelicals believe that Jesus’ second coming is imminent and the Jews must be converted posthaste and en masse in order to enable Jesus’ return.” (Pg. 19-20)
He suggests, “There is a good reason why the virgin birth of Jesus is not mentioned in any of the earliest writings of the New Testament. The notion that Jesus was miraculously conceived was a later Christian invention. Paul… did not believe that Jesus was born of a virgin. Accordingly, he never mentioned his birth… Mark, the oldest and least embellished Gospel, was also unaware of Jesus’ virgin birth…” (Pg. 38)
Of the ‘prophecy’ of the virgin birth supposedly found in Isaiah 7:4, he comments, “It is clear to anyone reading this entire passage in Isaiah that there is nothing in this text that was intended to be a messianic prophecy, destined to be fulfilled in the distant future. Rather, this chapter is speaking only of the Ayro-Ephramite War, which occurred during the lifetime of the Prophet Isaiah and the rule of King Ahaz… In fact, this chapter would be nonsensical if it were discussing an event that was set to occur more than 700 years later.” (Pg. 42)
He adds, “Christian apologists frequently defend Matthew’s translation of the Hebrew word … as ‘virgin’ by citing the Septuagint version of Isaiah… The original Septuagint was a Greek translation of only the Torah… nothing else… It is universally accepted by all scholars---both Jewish and Christian---that the original Septuagint… was a translation only of the Five Books of Moses… Josephus… similarly states that … only the Law was translated, and the same is stated in the Talmud.” (Pg. 49)
He asserts, “Today, Christian scholars universally concede that Jesus’ birth did not occur on December 25th . They are uncomfortably aware that the Church borrowed this date from ancient pagan winter festivals… [such as] the birthday of the ‘Unconquered Sun.’ … Modern Christmas customs [were] all borrowed from the pagan world…” (Pg. 57)
He explains, “Christians are surprised to discover their church’s cornerstone creed, ‘without the shedding of blood there is no atonement,’ which famously appears in Hebrews 9:22, is not found anywhere in the Jewish Scriptures. Although the footnote for Hebrews 9:22 in every annotated Christian Bible references Leviticus 17:11 as the … authority for this doctrine, this idea is unbiblical and denounced by the Jewish prophets… Leviticus 17:11 does NOT imply that the only method of atonement is the shedding of blood. The verse explains that when a sin sacrifice is offered, every ritual associated with the blood must be conducted properly, in order for the offering to be valid.” (Pg. 68-69)
He states, “Jewish Scriptures clearly foretell that the animal sacrificial system will be restored in the Messianic Age… If, as Paul claims, Jesus was the final sacrifice ‘once and for all,’ and the animal sacrificial system was merely a temporary ‘foreshadowing’ of Calvary, then why will animal sacrifices be restored in the messianic era?… The restoration of the sin sacrifice is entirely consistent with the traditional Jewish faith because this sacrifice was offered by those who only committed unintentional sins.” (Pg. 81-82)
He asks, “Who is the ‘Servant’ in Isaiah 53? … If you never read the chapters that precede it, this text will appear quite puzzling… Isaiah 53 is the last of the four powerful and inspiring Servant Songs. The identity of the servant is clearly established as the nation of Israel throughout the first three Servant Songs, which begin in chapter 41… In essence, anyone who read Isaiah 41 through 54 would find it inconceivable that the ‘suffering servant’ in Isaiah 53 is the messiah. Moreover, in Isaiah 43:10… the prophet clearly identifies the ‘servant’ (singular) as God’s ‘witnesses’ (plural).” (Pg. 96-97)
He says, “Christian commentators on Zechariah 12:10 insist that at the End of Days the Jews will recognize their error, embrace the one they pierced (Jesus), and then mourn over him… [But] Why would anyone mourn over someone who is no longer dead? There are numerous examples in the Tanach [e.g., 1 Ki 17:17-23. 2 Ki 4:8-37] of people who died and were then brought back to life. Did any of their loved ones mourn after their resurrection?” (Pg. 199)
He points out, “Notice how none of the CHRISTIAN translations below [e.g., Anchor Bible, RSV, NRSV, NEB, etc.] compresses the 7-week period with the 62-week period into one period of 69 weeks in Daniel 9:25. By correctly designating an anointed prince who comes after 7 weeks, or 49 years, and a second anointed one (9:26) who is cut off after a subsequent 62 weeks (434 years), these translators are accurately conveying Gabriel’s message. There are two entirely different ‘anointed’ individuals discussed in Daniel 9:25-26… Cyrus, the first anointed ruler, arose 49 years after the destruction of the first temple, and a second who was removed after a subsequent 434 years (the high priest). The prophet Isaiah specifically identified Cyrus as God’s ‘anointed,’ who would command the Jews to return to the land of Israel.” (Pg. 222-223)
He continues, “[Daniel] mistakenly concluded that Jeremiah’s two 70-year prophecies were speaking of an identical period of time…. When Daniel realized that the year 3390 was at hand, and there was no sign of the impending redemption, he became deeply agitated… in this chapter Daniel is made to understand that the two prophecies of Jeremiah are in fact not identical, and each one of them referred to a separate, but overlapping 70-year period of time. Whereas the prophecy of Jeremiah 25:12 was… referring to the 70-year time span that began in the year 3320, when Jerusalem was subjugated, the prophecy then promised the restoration of the Jewish people to their land (29:10) was not to begin for another 18 years. Accordingly, Gabriel here relates to Daniel that in order to correctly ascertain when the Second Temple would be built, he must begin counting the 70 years ‘from the going forth of the WORD’ (9:25)… that begins at ‘the destruction of Jerusalem' (9:2) in the year 3338. In fact, Jeremiah’s prophecy of restoration (29:10) was fulfilled in the year 3408, 18 years later than Daniel had originally thought.” (Pg. 224-225)
Of the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke, he notes, “Contrary to what we are told by Luke, it is widely known from every early historian that Quirinius became governor of Syria in 6 CE, a full decade after Herod the Great died in 4 BCE… it is impossible for both Herod and Quirinius to have governed Judea at the same time… If Matthew is correct that Jesus and Herod were contemporaries, then Luke’s claim that Jesus was born during a census when Quirinius was governor of Syria is false. Moreover, it is unimaginable that Ceasar Augustus imposed a worldwide tax when Jesus was born, in which everyone in the Roman Empire had to register by returning to the town where their ancestors once lived. It is inconceivable that this actually occurred. For one thing, we had numerous records for the reign of Caesar Augustus, and there is no mention, even in passing, anywhere of an empire-wide census, let alone one in which everyone in the Roman Empire had to register in the town from which their ancient ancestors had come.” (Pg. 327)
Tovia Singer is one of the best ‘apologists’ for traditional Judaism; and both volumes in this series will be ‘must reading’ for Jews, Christians, and many others.
August 6, 2024
This is more a reference book than a daily page turner. That said, I've covered every page over the last few months. Rabbi Singer has a singular intellect and a compassionate heart, he is my favorite Rabbi.
January 31, 2022
Excellent guide to accompany the Rabbi's audio lecture series.
March 11, 2023
Completely eye-opening!!!
March 7, 2024
This is one of the first books I picked up once I officially gave myself permission to doubt the truth of Christianity. The presentation of the book is messy with each page sectioned off into different parts depending on the subject being talked about. I would prefer just a straight read. But I think the Rabbi presents a pretty solid argument against the the messiah-ship of Jesus. These are the kinds of things I never heard growing up as a Christian, so it was refreshing to get a different perspective.
October 9, 2025
This is a very comprehensive counter argument to those who are missionaries and evangelicals that try to persuade Jews to become christians. Rabbi Singer and many other Rabbis opened my eyes to Judaism. Singer’s series are very extensive and read like a college style argument with extensive details and resources to back up his claims. This isn’t a page turner. It is meant for you to stop, think and research along with it as if it were a book to study.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews