The Jews in the Time of Jesus: An Introduction

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Summary: A great read for Christians...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this title. Although I am no Christian scholar, I am well informed about my faith in Jesus. I think that this book has given me improved insight into the faith that a Jew who lived in Jesus' era might have had.

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Summary: A Helpful Guide to Undestanding Judaism in Jesus' day
Review: Knowledge of the Jewish faith is essential to any serious study of the Christian scriptures. Stephen Wylen's THE JEWS IN THE TIME OF JESUS is an essential tool in understanding the Judaism of the days of Jesus Christ. The book is written in a manner that is both academic and personal. The author is a rabbi by profession but also has a keen understanding of Christianity. His writings are meant to educate Christian readers about Judaism but at time it also confronts misconceptions about Judaism.

The topics in the book include historical details regarding the Greeks, Romans, the Maccabees, etc. While this information is informative, it is not the book's greatest strength which can be found in the way the author paints a picture of Jewish life at the time of Jesus. Rabbi Wylen pays close attention to the various groups within Judaism: The Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, as well as the other figures we find in the gospel. The book helps the reader get a sense of the world of Jesus' day and the audience to whom Jesus spoke. The information about Jewish rituals and festivals is also helpful. The book also contains a great deal of information about the Temple and its history, including the revolts which led to the break between Christianity and Judaism. This information is critical in understanding the differences between the two great faiths. We also get some wonderful information about the great rabbis of Jesus' day and in the years of early Christianity.

The book is easy to read and can be used as a quick reference for people involved in preaching, Bible study, or religious education. The book has an informative bibliography which includes editorial comments by the author. While some readers may disagree with some of his opinions, they are still helpful as Christians and Jewish people try and come to an understanding of each other.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Start!
Review: Rabbi Wylen is, himself, something of an extraordinarilly ecumenical individual: a Jew occasionally teaching at a Catholic University. It comes as no surprise, then, that he has written an extraordinarilly ecumenical text. Reviewing a wide variety of sources Wylen displays an encyclopedic knowledge of Jewish life, law, and practices during the period of the Second Temple. He firmly places Jesus of Nazareth within the context of normal, first century, Galilean, Jewish experience.

Rabbi Wylen's work would seem to be of the greatest value for Christian non-scholars seeking to better understand the circumstances surrounding the earthly life of the one whom they worship. Rabbi Wylen exposes widely held myths, long promulgated by ignorant preachers (e.g.: the "lex talio" was no longer practiced in the first century), and helps us to better understand particularly difficult passages of the New Testament (e.g.: the Palm Sunday Gospel appears to include practices reserved for Sukkoth). In the process he more clearly illuminates the Gospel and the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.

This is a wonderful book for those who are serious about Biblical scholarship: who do not mind having their assumptions challenged. If you want to be comfortable, buy another book. If you want to learn, purchase this one.

Rating:
Summary: A needed book.
Review: Stephen Wylen's book, "The Jews in the Time of Jesus" is another important work in the ongoing situation of Judaeo-Christian relations. For me, it was another stepping stone to understanding the roots of my Christian faith.

Wylen gives the reader a good understanding of the religious, cultural and political scenes at the time of Christ. Although early on in his book Mr. Wylen stated, in light of the often delicate sensibilites on both sides, that he would attempt to present a dispassionate work, I was actually pleased to see his dispassion sprouting up at times into opinion. For me, those opinions are the support rails on the bridges to understanding. They are things upon which I can grasp hold and keep moving forward. This book was valuable to me, and I recommend it to Christians who not only seek to understand their Jewish roots, but who wish to add to their understanding of what it means to be Jewish in a largely Christian world.

Did I disagree with some of the things put forth in this work? Yes. But it didn't prevent me from enjoying the work and appreciating the reason for the book to be.

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Summary: Excellent survey of Early Christianity and Judaism
Review: The subtitle of this book is "An Introduction" and I think it is aptly named. For the interested non-specialist, Wylen lucidly explains the opinions and debates of interpreters and scholars in the many fields touching on this subject. He convincing places Jesus as a Jew in the context of the great diversity of Jewish practices and beliefs in the first century. He demonstrates the evolution of ideas such as the physical resurrection of the dead and the concept of an immortal soul. Sources discussed include the apochrypha, pseudepigrapha, the apocalyptic writings, Philo, the New Testament, Josephus, and the Misnah and the Talmud.

I have read other works that touched on some of these subjects, but what impresses me about this book is it's readability and clarity.

Rating:
Summary: Useful reading, with limitations
Review: This is indeed a good book for the non-scholar who wishes to disentangle some of the history relating to the time of Jesus. It does not assume that the reader has great knowledge of the subject.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wylen resorts too easily to labels (The pious believe this, the irreligious believe that). He dismisses some interpretations as "legends" without corroboration, usually the ones he obviously disagrees with. His views about Christianity are too biased for my taste - while constantly decrying Christian bias against Judaism. In fact, I am left with the impression that he believes that any criticim of Judaism is "prejudice", as if it were impossible that at times Judaism, too, needed reform and that Jews, too, have treated others unpleasantly. For instance, Christians have oppressed Jews, but Christians only "felt" oppressed by Jews. Meaning that the Jewish majority at no time oppressed Christians in the time of Jesus, but the Christians sect within Judaism only "felt" oppressed.

He takes it upon himself to define the difference between "anti-Judaism" and "anti-Semitism", but fails to adhere to his own definitions. As a result, Christians behaved "anti-semitically" even before the term was coined! Similarly, his comments in the Recommended Reading section make a point of recording his views that such-and-such an excellent book is tainted by prejudice. This reader finds it hard to believe that all criticism of Judaism is prejudiced and unjustified, while all criticism of Christianity is warranted and legitimate. (However, let me hasten to add that this in no way is intended to suggest that Christians very often failed towards their Jewish brothers.)

As a non-Christian, Mr. Wylen understandably rejects some fundamental Christian views. However, I would suggest that Mr. Wylen does not have as good a grasp of the reasons for the point of view of "the other side" as he claims, and that he carefully cultivates a low-key standoffish posture.

The book contains some useful basic historical information but does not further interfaith dialogue.