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Torah Club: Unrolling the Scroll, Commentary Set + Audio Magazine
Torah Club, 5 Volume set plus Appendices.
925 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
D. Thomas Lancaster
45 books47 followersD. Thomas Lancaster is Director of Education at First Fruits of Zion, editor of Messiah Magazine, and author of the Torah Club commentaries and several books and study programs. He is also the pastor of Beth Immanuel Messianic Synagogue in Hudson, WI.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 22, 2018
I learned so much this year with Unrolling the Scroll and the other resources they used in the audio section (Jot and Tittle workbook and Love Your Neighbor as Yourself by Rabbi Plishkin). It is Torah 101 and much more. I realized that I had to read Biblical Hebrew so that I could read the Scriptures for myself. Holy Language Institute has helped me to accomplish that goal, although I still have a lot to learn. I am on to Shadows of the Messiah next on this wonderful journey to learn more about my Messiah Yeshua, the Torah made flesh.
October 11, 2017
very well written and explained teachings in the Torah clearly. I will read more of his books
July 7, 2023
If you have never read the Old Testament before, this one is for you.
November 7, 2023
Wow! I started this 4yrs ago! It’s a 6 book series of commentary on the first 5 books of scripture. It’s an excellent resource!
October 14, 2023
I have completed three years of FFOZ's Torah Club,
starting in fall 2020.
Daniel Lancaster (the main teacher) has a weird mixture of thinking in his brain,
having been raised by devout fundamentalist christian parents,
yet by all appearances he is attempting to live indistinguishably
from a jew.
Okay. So far just a little weird (beyond ordinary Messianic stuff).
But ask him where he got his theological training.
Ask ANYONE at FFOZ where they got their theological training.
They teach authoritatively as if they just KNOW things,
because they are jewish (or pretending to be).
But they are missing significant chunks of basic, foundational
biblical understanding, incorporating ALL of Scripture.
I'm talking about Theology Proper 101, as in, "Who is God?"
(Do not dare to attempt to discuss the Trinity with them.)
The language they put in their doctrinal statement all sounds orthodox.
It is NOT how they think or operate day to day.
They have a litany of rules their students are supposed to comply with.
Do they, the FFOZ leaders, apply any of these rules to themselves?
Nope. They have no accountability.
And there is no avenue for raising any concerns with them.
Believe me, I tried. Their solution?
Threw me out of the club without any attempt to answer any questions.
(I was allowed back in, but had to pay for extra months I didn't want.)
They claim their club leaders are "approved."
They don't know their leaders (ok maybe a few of them that live near them),
and there certainly is no screening process.
It is Mad Max theology, just know it going in,
so you will have an idea that anything can (and probably will) go wrong.
FFOZ doesn't have to be this way, if they would just put themselves
under ordinary third-party scrutiny, like all legit organizations,
they could avoid all these problems.
But they are very proud and sure of themselves.
They think they are very discerning, but it is painful how much
they don't even realize they don't know.
They react with 100% certainty that you must simply be a horrible person
if you aren't 100% happy with them all the time.
Customer service? Who, them? They feel it is utterly beneath them
to be asked to deliver on their promises, or line up with their doctrinal statement.
Let alone follow the same rules they impose on you.
Alternative Messianic organizations that do better?
There are so many.
One for Israel.
Jews for Jesus.
Ariel Ministries.
And on and on.
These are proven, balanced, REAL organizations.
Stay away from FFOZ, Torah Club, and their leaders.
They are bent on an agenda
that they seem very sure is from God, yet
in their meetings they sound just like a garden variety marketing scheme.
(Money and numbers are the bottom lines.)
I have to say I don't see them walking by the Spirit at all,
and I don't think they even have any clue what that means.
They certainly don't have the Lordship of Christ in their lives,
because they see him as messiah and future king, but not as Lord.
What they want is your money and allegiance by supporting them
in living out their Torah-esque dream lives (that's where their
self-righteousness comes in). Please don't encourage that.
Oh, and I also own 'Unrolling the Scroll'--a waste of money.
starting in fall 2020.
Daniel Lancaster (the main teacher) has a weird mixture of thinking in his brain,
having been raised by devout fundamentalist christian parents,
yet by all appearances he is attempting to live indistinguishably
from a jew.
Okay. So far just a little weird (beyond ordinary Messianic stuff).
But ask him where he got his theological training.
Ask ANYONE at FFOZ where they got their theological training.
They teach authoritatively as if they just KNOW things,
because they are jewish (or pretending to be).
But they are missing significant chunks of basic, foundational
biblical understanding, incorporating ALL of Scripture.
I'm talking about Theology Proper 101, as in, "Who is God?"
(Do not dare to attempt to discuss the Trinity with them.)
The language they put in their doctrinal statement all sounds orthodox.
It is NOT how they think or operate day to day.
They have a litany of rules their students are supposed to comply with.
Do they, the FFOZ leaders, apply any of these rules to themselves?
Nope. They have no accountability.
And there is no avenue for raising any concerns with them.
Believe me, I tried. Their solution?
Threw me out of the club without any attempt to answer any questions.
(I was allowed back in, but had to pay for extra months I didn't want.)
They claim their club leaders are "approved."
They don't know their leaders (ok maybe a few of them that live near them),
and there certainly is no screening process.
It is Mad Max theology, just know it going in,
so you will have an idea that anything can (and probably will) go wrong.
FFOZ doesn't have to be this way, if they would just put themselves
under ordinary third-party scrutiny, like all legit organizations,
they could avoid all these problems.
But they are very proud and sure of themselves.
They think they are very discerning, but it is painful how much
they don't even realize they don't know.
They react with 100% certainty that you must simply be a horrible person
if you aren't 100% happy with them all the time.
Customer service? Who, them? They feel it is utterly beneath them
to be asked to deliver on their promises, or line up with their doctrinal statement.
Let alone follow the same rules they impose on you.
Alternative Messianic organizations that do better?
There are so many.
One for Israel.
Jews for Jesus.
Ariel Ministries.
And on and on.
These are proven, balanced, REAL organizations.
Stay away from FFOZ, Torah Club, and their leaders.
They are bent on an agenda
that they seem very sure is from God, yet
in their meetings they sound just like a garden variety marketing scheme.
(Money and numbers are the bottom lines.)
I have to say I don't see them walking by the Spirit at all,
and I don't think they even have any clue what that means.
They certainly don't have the Lordship of Christ in their lives,
because they see him as messiah and future king, but not as Lord.
What they want is your money and allegiance by supporting them
in living out their Torah-esque dream lives (that's where their
self-righteousness comes in). Please don't encourage that.
Oh, and I also own 'Unrolling the Scroll'--a waste of money.
October 14, 2023
I have completed three years of FFOZ's Torah Club,
starting in fall 2020.
Daniel Lancaster (the main teacher) has a weird mixture of thinking in his brain,
having been raised by devout fundamentalist christian parents,
yet by all appearances he is attempting to live indistinguishably
from a jew.
Okay. So far just a little weird (beyond ordinary Messianic stuff).
But ask him where he got his theological training.
Ask ANYONE at FFOZ where they got their theological training.
They teach authoritatively as if they just KNOW things,
because they are jewish (or pretending to be).
But they are missing significant chunks of basic, foundational
biblical understanding, incorporating ALL of Scripture.
I'm talking about Theology Proper 101, as in, "Who is God?"
(Do not dare to attempt to discuss the Trinity with them.)
The language they put in their doctrinal statement all sounds orthodox.
It is NOT how they think or operate day to day.
They have a litany of rules their students are supposed to comply with.
Do they, the FFOZ leaders, apply any of these rules to themselves?
Nope. They have no accountability.
And there is no avenue for raising any concerns with them.
Believe me, I tried. Their solution?
Threw me out of the club without any attempt to answer any questions.
(I was allowed back in, but had to pay for extra months I didn't want.)
They claim their club leaders are "approved."
They don't know their leaders (ok maybe a few of them that live near them),
and there certainly is no screening process.
It is Mad Max theology, just know it going in,
so you will have an idea that anything can (and probably will) go wrong.
FFOZ doesn't have to be this way, if they would just put themselves
under ordinary third-party scrutiny, like all legit organizations,
they could avoid all these problems.
But they are very proud and sure of themselves.
They think they are very discerning, but it is painful how much
they don't even realize they don't know.
They react with 100% certainty that you must simply be a horrible person
if you aren't 100% happy with them all the time.
Customer service? Who, them? They feel it is utterly beneath them
to be asked to deliver on their promises, or line up with their doctrinal statement.
Let alone follow the same rules they impose on you.
Alternative Messianic organizations that do better?
There are so many.
One for Israel.
Jews for Jesus.
Ariel Ministries.
And on and on.
These are proven, balanced, REAL organizations.
Stay away from FFOZ, Torah Club, and their leaders.
They are bent on an agenda
that they seem very sure is from God, yet
in their meetings they sound just like a garden variety marketing scheme.
(Money and numbers are the bottom lines.)
I have to say I don't see them walking by the Spirit at all,
and I don't think they even have any clue what that means.
They certainly don't have the Lordship of Christ in their lives,
because they see him as messiah and future king, but not as Lord.
What they want is your money and allegiance by supporting them
in living out their Torah-esque dream lives (that's where their
self-righteousness comes in). Please don't encourage that.
Oh, and I own 'Unrolling the Scroll'--a waste of money.
starting in fall 2020.
Daniel Lancaster (the main teacher) has a weird mixture of thinking in his brain,
having been raised by devout fundamentalist christian parents,
yet by all appearances he is attempting to live indistinguishably
from a jew.
Okay. So far just a little weird (beyond ordinary Messianic stuff).
But ask him where he got his theological training.
Ask ANYONE at FFOZ where they got their theological training.
They teach authoritatively as if they just KNOW things,
because they are jewish (or pretending to be).
But they are missing significant chunks of basic, foundational
biblical understanding, incorporating ALL of Scripture.
I'm talking about Theology Proper 101, as in, "Who is God?"
(Do not dare to attempt to discuss the Trinity with them.)
The language they put in their doctrinal statement all sounds orthodox.
It is NOT how they think or operate day to day.
They have a litany of rules their students are supposed to comply with.
Do they, the FFOZ leaders, apply any of these rules to themselves?
Nope. They have no accountability.
And there is no avenue for raising any concerns with them.
Believe me, I tried. Their solution?
Threw me out of the club without any attempt to answer any questions.
(I was allowed back in, but had to pay for extra months I didn't want.)
They claim their club leaders are "approved."
They don't know their leaders (ok maybe a few of them that live near them),
and there certainly is no screening process.
It is Mad Max theology, just know it going in,
so you will have an idea that anything can (and probably will) go wrong.
FFOZ doesn't have to be this way, if they would just put themselves
under ordinary third-party scrutiny, like all legit organizations,
they could avoid all these problems.
But they are very proud and sure of themselves.
They think they are very discerning, but it is painful how much
they don't even realize they don't know.
They react with 100% certainty that you must simply be a horrible person
if you aren't 100% happy with them all the time.
Customer service? Who, them? They feel it is utterly beneath them
to be asked to deliver on their promises, or line up with their doctrinal statement.
Let alone follow the same rules they impose on you.
Alternative Messianic organizations that do better?
There are so many.
One for Israel.
Jews for Jesus.
Ariel Ministries.
And on and on.
These are proven, balanced, REAL organizations.
Stay away from FFOZ, Torah Club, and their leaders.
They are bent on an agenda
that they seem very sure is from God, yet
in their meetings they sound just like a garden variety marketing scheme.
(Money and numbers are the bottom lines.)
I have to say I don't see them walking by the Spirit at all,
and I don't think they even have any clue what that means.
They certainly don't have the Lordship of Christ in their lives,
because they see him as messiah and future king, but not as Lord.
What they want is your money and allegiance by supporting them
in living out their Torah-esque dream lives (that's where their
self-righteousness comes in). Please don't encourage that.
Oh, and I own 'Unrolling the Scroll'--a waste of money.
October 3, 2024
September 2026 update
I originally gave this set 5 stars, and I still understand why I rated it so highly at the time. Of the FFOZ commentaries I have read, this is probably one of the best and most enjoyable. I appreciated the way it engages with the Torah and Jewish background of the biblical text, and I found much of the material genuinely helpful and interesting.
That said, I would now add an important qualification. Lancaster does speculate quite a lot, and that tendency is evident here as well. I would therefore not treat his interpretations or reconstructions as established simply because they are presented within a detailed commentary. They need to be tested carefully against Scripture and distinguished from what the text itself actually says.
My assessment of FFOZ's theology has also changed significantly, and I no longer agree with much of its theology. I can no longer recommend the author's books easily the way I once did. I am adding this update because an older 5-star rating could easily be understood as a current recommendation when my overall assessment has changed.
There are also broader theological developments within FFOZ that I now find concerning, including areas of its teaching and appreciation concerning the Church, Kabbalah, the Trinity, etc.
So although I still think this is one of the stronger FFOZ commentaries I have encountered, that is not the same as recommending it today without qualification. If someone is going to engage with FFOZ material, I would consider this among the more worthwhile resources to examine, but I would now do so with considerably more discernment than when I first read it.
My original review below reflects what I thought when I first read the book. It should therefore be understood as a historical reflection on my response at that time, not as my current endorsement of Lancaster, FFOZ's theology, or all the conclusions in this commentary.
I originally gave this set 5 stars, and I still understand why I rated it so highly at the time. Of the FFOZ commentaries I have read, this is probably one of the best and most enjoyable. I appreciated the way it engages with the Torah and Jewish background of the biblical text, and I found much of the material genuinely helpful and interesting.
That said, I would now add an important qualification. Lancaster does speculate quite a lot, and that tendency is evident here as well. I would therefore not treat his interpretations or reconstructions as established simply because they are presented within a detailed commentary. They need to be tested carefully against Scripture and distinguished from what the text itself actually says.
My assessment of FFOZ's theology has also changed significantly, and I no longer agree with much of its theology. I can no longer recommend the author's books easily the way I once did. I am adding this update because an older 5-star rating could easily be understood as a current recommendation when my overall assessment has changed.
There are also broader theological developments within FFOZ that I now find concerning, including areas of its teaching and appreciation concerning the Church, Kabbalah, the Trinity, etc.
So although I still think this is one of the stronger FFOZ commentaries I have encountered, that is not the same as recommending it today without qualification. If someone is going to engage with FFOZ material, I would consider this among the more worthwhile resources to examine, but I would now do so with considerably more discernment than when I first read it.
My original review below reflects what I thought when I first read the book. It should therefore be understood as a historical reflection on my response at that time, not as my current endorsement of Lancaster, FFOZ's theology, or all the conclusions in this commentary.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews