How Jewish Is Christianity?: 2 Views on the Messianic Movement

A major issue facing first-century believers was what to do with Gentile peoples who wanted to be part of the growing movement of Messiah followers.

Today, the problem is reversed. Is there space within the scope of Christianity for a Messianic congregation: believers of Christ who maintain a Jewish culture that reflects Jewish background and customs?

Understand the scope of this discussion from six contemporary contributors who have lived and wrestled with this issue as they present their arguments for both sides of the debate:

• John Fischer, a rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash and Chairman of Judaic Studies at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary
• Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, who served with the Chosen People Ministries and Christian Jew Foundation and is now the founder and director of Ariel Ministries
• Gershon Nerel, who served as "Israel Secretary" for the International Messianic Jewish Alliance and has also been a member of the executive committee for the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel
• David Stern, the translator of the Jewish New Testament from Greek to English
• Will Varner, a professor of biblical studies at the Master’s College, CA, and the director of the Israel Bible Extension campus of this college in Israel

The book concludes with a chapter on the future for Messianic Jews and a directory of messianic movement organizations.

The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

Stanley N. Gundry (PhD, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago) is an author, editor, and theologian with graduate degrees in historical theology. After serving in pastoral ministry, he taught as an adjunct professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and as Professor of Theology at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught for eleven years. He was a founding board member of Christians for Biblical Equality, serving two terms and later receiving the organization’s Priscilla and Aquila Award along with his wife. He is also a past president of the Evangelical Theological Society. Gundry is the author or coauthor of seven books and has contributed numerous articles to a wide range of publications. Beyond theological circles, he is known for his writings on the restoration of the Studebaker Avanti automobile. He and his wife, Patricia, have four grown children. In recognition of his more than forty years of influence in Christian publishing, he received the ECPA Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.

The late Louis Goldberg (ThD, Grace Theological Seminary), general editor, served on the faculty of Moody Bible Institute for thirty years and was the author of Our Jewish Friends, Are There Two Ways of Atonement? and other books.

William Varner (EdD, Temple University), formerly dean of the Institute of Biblical Studies with Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, is professor of biblical studies at The Master's College in California.

Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (ThM, PhD, New York University) is the founder and director of Ariel Ministries.

David Stern (MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary) is the translator of the Jewish New Testament and the Complete Jewish Bible.