From the editor – Issue 41
By Russ Resnik
In the last issue of Kesher, Winter / Spring 2022, we considered “Tomorrow Together,” possibilities for a thriving Messianic Jewish future, drawing upon lessons from the past and present. This issue continues the discussion of communal vitality with two major articles by veteran Messianic Jewish leaders. David Rudolph leads off with “Toward Paul’s Ephesians…
What is Our Message?
By Rachel Wolf
I have been occupied for some time past with a work which is of immeasurable greatness. I cannot tell today whether I shall bring it to a close. It has the appearance of a gigantic dream. —from Theodor Herzl’s first entry in his diary, Shavuot 1895, a year before writing his treatise on Zionism Messianic…
Toward Paul’s Ephesians 2 Vision of the One New Man: Navigating Around Hebrew Roots and Replacement Theologies
By David Rudolph
Tens of thousands of Gentile followers of Yeshua have participated in the Messianic movement since the 1970s and have embraced aspects of Jewish life. Often it begins with a visit to a Shabbat service and then a Jewish festival. Next, wearing a tallit, keeping kosher, and hanging a mezuzah by the front door. How are…
Presence and Involvement: The Pre-incarnate Messiah in the History of Israel
By Edjan Westerman
For the interpretation and understanding of Scripture—both Tanakh and the New Covenant Scriptures—it is a hermeneutical prerequisite to be willing to think from within the Israel-centered revelation context and to think along with Israel, and its Messiah. Presuppositions tend to steer and limit our understandings, and results tend to strengthen our sets of presuppositions. To…
The Woman, Her Male Child, the Dragon, and the Rest of Her Offspring: A Non-Supersessionist Reading of Revelation 12
By Boyd Luter and Sarah Sanders
It bears stating at the very beginning of this study that it reflects a non-supersessionist understanding of Revelation 12. Sadly, though the most natural way to take the imagery found in Rev 12 is in a non-supersessionist way, that is far too often not the case. We hope that the following treatment helps to level…
Law-Observance Among Jewish Christians: Benefiting from Augustine’s View
By Etienne Jodar
Abstract: While some church fathers are guilty of antisemitism, many authors have recognized that Augustine’s stance towards Jews and Torah is nuanced. After examining Augustine’s view on the law and its development, this article shows that although Augustine disapproved of Jewish practice, his view was uniquely positive among his contemporaries because he understood a Jewish-gentile…
Supersessionist Teachings in Children’s Biblical Literature
By Justin Wheaton
The teachings of supersessionism, the idea that the Church has replaced Israel, have ingrained themselves so deeply into mainstream Christianity that they are almost inescapable. Children’s biblical education literature is no exception. Because of deep-rooted supersessionist traditions and interpretations, a type of supersessionism that I call “subconscious supersessionism” can become prevalent, especially during childhood. Very…
Book Review
Finding Messiah: A Journey into the Jewishness of the Gospel, by Jennifer M. Rosner
By Jason Moraff
Reviewed by Jason F. Moraff Jen Rosner has gifted us a gem. In Finding Messiah: A Journey into the Jewishness of the Gospel,1 she invites Christians to (re)consider the history that led to the divergence between Judaism and Christianity into discrete traditions and its impacts on understanding the gospel. She introduces her predominantly Christian audience…
