Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: General and Historical Objections, Vol. 1

by Michael L. Brown

An honest, fair, and thorough discussion of the issues raised in Jewish Christian apologetics, covering thirty-five objections on general and historical themes.

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian, Judaism, Religion, Christianity, Faith

300 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2000

About the author

Michael L. Brown (born March 16, 1955) is a Messianic Jewish Old Testament scholar, professor, activist, itinerant speaker, and author who has preached in numerous countries and written twenty books. He is the founder and president of ICN Ministries. His writings have been translated into more than a dozen languages. He was married to Nancy Gurian on March 14, 1976 and they have two daughters, Jennifer and Megan, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brown, Michael L. Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus vol. 1.  Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

This volume introduces Michael L. Brown’s larger project of Jewish evangelism.  Working through these objections is a neat exercise for Christians, as you get to use your Old Testament knowledge in ways you didn’t expect.

Remind them that the rabbinic traditions which they follow aren’t any older than Christianity.  That means the debate is over who is the best expression of the Jewish tradition: Yeshua Messiah or the rabbis?

The Problem of Interpretation.  The key question is not whether Christianity or Judaism is true.  The key question is which is the biblical faith: the rabbis or Yeshua (Brown 1.7)? 

The first section dealt with general objections to Yeshua.  None were formidable. These are the standard CNN/NPR objections.  In section 2 Brown deals with more scholarly opponents.

Why isn’t there peace on Earth? The OT Messianic prophecies point to worldwide peace.   This is a more sophisticated objection than we might think at first. It's a devastating criticism of amillennialism. The objection is not saying that “We Jews expect a David-like conqueror.”  No, the OT messianic promises point to “the glory of God covering the earth.” 

Brown responds that Messiah must bring purification before peace, judgment before justice (2.1).  The peace that Messiah brings happens at the end of the age (Isaiah 2; Zech. 14). See Hagg. 2:6-9.  See also Daniel 9:24-27.

Daniel 9 is an important chapter for End Times Bible Prophecy, but it also provides an important point here.  Brown notes that “Final atonement for Israel’s sin must be made before the second temple was destroyed.”

If Yeshua is the Messiah, why have wars and famines increased (2.2)?  We’ve already dealt with the faulty premise of the question, as explained in 2.1.  Messiah does not bring in a universal, unqualified peace.

Zechariah’s Sequence of Messiah’s Return

The trumpet will sound; Messiah returns, then Day of Atonement.  Yahweh will protect the City (Zech. 14:1-5), and these nations afterwards will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.  Here is the exciting part: this is laid out in the Jewish calendar: Passover, Firstfruits (Yeshua’s rising from the dead), Shavu’ot/Pentecost [Gap in Time] we are now waiting on the eschatological Feast of Tabernacles following the rescue of Jerusalem.

[Etienne OMNES · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael Brown est un très bon apologète, avec un style et un rhétorique très efficace, en plus d'un coeur très charitable. Ce livre consacré à l'apologétique face aux juifs mérite sa place de référence. Mention particulière aux questions consacrées à l'antisémitisme dans l'église, où Michael Brown a su être très honnête, sans pour autant jeter l'église ancienne à la poubelle, mais au contraire la défendant.

J'ai hâte de lire les autres volumes, où les points les plus techniques seront abordés.

[Nelson Banuchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Brown lists introductory objections by Jews against the Christian faith and answers them. Surprisingly this book is very informative for those unfamiliar with the Jewish faith, like me. Dr. Brown's scholarship always surprises me how, with plain common sense, he answers the most difficult objections with simple logic as well as providing a thorough understanding of Judaism and Jewish history (he is Jewish himself).

"Answering Jewish Objections" is in 5 volumes of which this is the first. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to know our parent faith and seeking to share it with the Jew.

[Joseph Trocchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Brown Books”...

...are filled with blessings. I strongly recommend for serious seekers/believers, both Jewish and Gentile. Rich reads. Eye opening. Very thoughtful and applicable on many relevant issues. His work is a blessing to his People and the Church. 5 Stars are not enough.

I Kindled his latest, The Power of Music , the other day. A subject I’ve wondered about for a long time. Good timing Dr! Re “Objections” and “Blood”, same here!! You reading my mind Dr Brown??!

[Devon Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought all five volumes of this series. I just finished the first volume and it was enlightening. I didn't know that there were that many objections to Jesus, but Dr. Brown answered them superbly with all kinds of evidence, take a look at the notes. Scholarly work.

[Angel Davila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable Resource

Dr. Brown thoroughly goes through the objections to the truth of Jesus being the Messiah. Every answer is explained well and each objection is treated carefully.

[Erick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful.

I've found a source of information clearly explained over this first volume, looking forward to continue all the way through the whole collection.

[CaptKirk42 Classic Whovian · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Either The Massiah came almost two thousand years ago, or the biblical prophets were false prophets - in which case we can throw The Bible out and go join some other religion (or abandon religion completely)."

Answering Jewish Objections To Jesus - Volume One - (General and Historical Objections) Michael L. Brown. This book was intended by the author to be read primarily by a Jewish audience and then secondly by Christians to further understand somewhat were Jews are coming from historically. The book has a basic format of common questions (or objections) that Jews have about Jesus and Christianity, followed by an answer and then often lengthy endnotes as an explanation. It is interesting that many Jews haven't even bothered to find out anything about Jesus. They normally just dismiss anything about him and don't bother with reading any of the New Testament. The author of this book is a messianic Jew, that is someone who was born into a Jewish family and has accepted Jesus as his savior and believes he is The Messiah. Often they call themselves True Christians, many traditional Jews consider them traitors and believers of a cult or of an enemy religion.

I found this book to be a difficult read, since I am unfamiliar with many of the references to Jewish Scriptures that many Jews wouldn't even bat an eye at since it (the original Hebrew scriptures often not found in the Christian Bible) was something they already know and are very comfortable with. I was disappointed when I realized that this book was only the first of a three volume set, and many of the objections that I have heard about (and wanted to hear the answer to) are supposedly in either volume two or more likely in volume three. There is a 3-in-1 Volume available now I think, with updates, and I fear there is also a volume 4 now. I believe that many Jewish readers will still be asking the same questions and will not be satisfied with the answers the author gives.


I reviewed this book in my blog http://klandersen.blogspot.com/ "A Recent Read Number 7"

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books are written with Jews as the target audience, but is basic enough to be interesting for Christians to learn more about how Christian beliefs do fit with it's roots of Judaism. My only disappointment is that there isn't more material.

[Summer Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole Answering series is the best material on the subject of the Messiahship of Yeshua

All should read this series to understand and learn more, thoughtful and accurate, Dr. Brown’s best work despte most of the series being over ten years old now

[Ewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish all my Jewish friends would read this!