One of the best Forewords I’ve ever read
I picked up several interesting looking books at ETS this year and have begun to sit down and get into them. Today I started reading To the Jew First: The Case for Jewish Evangelism in Scripture and History (Kregel, 2008; ISBN:0825436583), which was edited by Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser. Several very prominent scholars have contributed to this volume of articles that cover biblical, theological, and missional topics related to Jewish evangelism in the 21st century. I’m both curious and eager to read through it. One of the reasons is that Walter Kaiser, Jr., wrote one of the best forewords to a book that I’ve ever read. I wanted to share a little excerpt to whet your tongue for more. He said:
The so-called Gentile church does not have any grounding if it does not find itself grafted into the roots of the patriarchal promises made in Genesis 12-50 and the trunk of the Olive Tree, which is Israel (Rom. 11:11-24). A church cut off from Israel is a church that merely floats in the air with no past, no grounding, and no promises on which to build her present or her future. It simply is a figment of our imagination if it loses its grounding and support. Without these promises made to Israel in the Tanakh, there is no “good news” to be shared with anyone – including the Gentiles!
(7)
And,
There is good news for all Jewish people whether they currently live in Israel or in the Diaspora around the world: Messiah still is seeking all who will listen to the promises made in the Tanakh and repeated in the New Testament. Even if many Jewish people have given up hope, God has not given up and he declares that he has no plans to do so in the future – if only all (Jew and Gentile) will receive the good news, for it is the power of God to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and then to the Gentile.
(8)
I share these sentiments with Dr. Kaiser, and hope you do as well! I’m looking forward to reading what leading scholars are saying about Israel in biblical, theological, and missional terms. If any issue was at the heart of Paul’s biblical theology, this one was. I hope this book will give direction to Gentile believers, who in my experience (myself included!) are far too ignorant and confused about what to think about the future of Israel.
If I remember, I will review the book when I’m finished.
Many blessings,
Andy
Hey Andy,
I think this is a collection of talks given in NYC a few years ago, organized by Chosen People Min. I’ve listen to those talks many, many times and am happy to see them in book form. As you allude, I’m sure the fwd is worth the price alone!