Jewish-Christian Debates: God, Kingdom, Messiah

by Bruce Chilton, Jacob Neusner

Overview

Two eminent scholars, each expert in his own tradition, take Jewish-Christian dialogue to a new level. Aiming at neither mere description nor conversion, each presents the classical elements of his tradition's understanding of three fundamental, common religious questions: where to meet God, how to live, and what to hope for.

Chilton and Neusner's lively comparisons serve as a primer on the defining energies of these twomonumental religious traditions, intertwined in their roots. The reader is invited to identify the traditions'unity of questions and the equally strong differences in answers and thereby to illumine one's own faithcommitments about belief, piety, and the purpose of human life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780800631093
Publisher:	1517 Media
Publication date:	03/18/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	258
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.82(d)

About the Author

Bruce D. Chilton is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College, where he has taught since 1987. In addition to his many celebrated publications on the texts, practices, and beliefs of ancient Judaism and Christianity, he is also the author of popular historical biographies of Jesus, Paul, Mary, and James.

Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism at Bard College and the author of numerous books on Judaism.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

PART ONE: COMMUNION WITH GOD

Meeting God in the Torah

Jacob Neusner

Theology in Hebrew Scriptures

Idiom Alien to Language of Philosophy

The Flow of Dialectical Argument

Religious Encounter in Worldly Form

The Unity of Laws in Law: God's Unity

Quest for Consensus and Rationality of Dispute

The Power of Language in the Torah

A Christian's Response to a Judaist's Communion with God

Bruce Chilton

Engaging with God Through Christ

Bruce Chilton

Introduction

Baptism

Prayer

Ethical Performance

Eucharist

A Judaic Response to a Christian's Community with God

Jacob Neusner

PART TWO: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Living Under the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven

Jacob Neusner

Transfiguring Commonplaces: The Kingdom in Christianity

Bruce Chilton

The Reign of Forceful Grace

Bruce Chilton

The Gospel of the Kingdom

The Catechesis of the Kingdom

Reflection and Controversy

Royal Synthesis: The Kingdom of Christ

A Judaic Response to Forceful Grace

Jacob Neusner

PART THREE: THE MYSTERY OF THE MESSIAH

Bringing the Messiah: The Torah and Responsive Grace

Jacob Neusner

Bar Kokhba: Arrogance against God

The Messiah's Place in History: Sage against Emperor

Linkage of Keeping the Law and Coming of Messiah

Messianic Fulfillment Depends on Moral Regeneration

Sage as Savior

Zekhut: Acts of Supererogatory Grace

Messianic Virtues and the Pleasure of God

Bruce Chilton

Christ: The Bodily Presence of God

Bruce Chilton

A Question for Catechumens: Who Do Men Say That I Am?

A Question for Christians: What Has God Made of Us with Christ?

The Redeemer as Lord and God

The Question of Incarnation

Jacob Neusner

Notes

Index