Our Hebrew HeritageExploring the Jewish Roots of Christianity
Years ago, Edith Schaeffer, the wife of the great Christian thinker Francis Schaeffer, wrote a book entitled Christianity is Jewish. This title might upset some Christians, but we must not ignore the fact that Christianity is richly and deeply rooted in the Jewish religion. Most churches and Christian educational institutions largely ignore this subject today. This is unfortunate since, even though we’re no longer judicially subject to the OT law, we can't fully comprehend many Christian doctrines without understanding their foundation in Jewish thought and culture. After all, Jesus, the Prophets, the Apostles, and the inspired writers of Holy Scripture (with the possible exception of Luke) were all Jews. The NT authors were raised on Hebrew theology, history, and culture, therefore their New Covenant Scripture writings contain much OT terminology. Our modern minds are often conditioned by Western philosophies, so knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity will provide us with a clearer interpretation of the Scriptures, and a more complete understanding of our faith.
In this section (created August 2009), we'll feature various articles to increase our awareness of our vast Hebrew heritage, which in turn should provide us with a greater appreciation of our Christian religion. We'll explore our Jewish roots from a biblical and historical perspective, examine its nature, and discuss its importance in relationship to a number of Christian doctrines and themes.
Note to our Jewish Friends: This section is written primarily for non-Jewish and Jewish Christians (becoming a Christian does not mean you are no longer Jewish, but you have now recognized and trusted the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua as your personal Lord and Savior). Jewish non-Christians may find some of the articles somewhat confusing. If you would like to receive more information about Yeshua that has been written specifically with you in mind, please contact our friends at Jews for Jesus or Trumpet of Salvation to Israel, or you may contact us and we'll have them send information. Shalom.
- Hebrew / Jewish Heritage - General
- Jewish Feasts, Festivals and Holy Days
- Current Issues
- Christian - Jewish Relations
- Palestinian - Jewish Relations
Hebrew / Jewish Heritage - General
- Introduction to Leviticus (wayyiqra’ - and He called) - Relevance to Christians; Historical Background; Themes; Interpretation Hints etc
- Typology in Leviticus - How the Events Prefigured Christianity
- Introduction to Numbers (bemidbar - in the Wilderness) - Relevance to Christians; Historical Background; Themes; Interpretation Hints etc
- The Jewish Sacrificial System (in progress)
Jewish Feasts, Festivals and Holy Days
- Hebrew Feasts and Festivals - An Introduction to the Jewish Holy Days
- Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)
- Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah - Assembly of the Eighth Day and Rejoicing in the Torah
- Passover (Sukkot) and the Lamb of God - A Foreshadowing of the Gospel
- Feast of FirstFruits (Hag ha-Bikkurim) - (in progress)
- Feast of Weeks (Shavu'ot) - (in progress)
- Feast of the Trumpets (Yom Teru’ah) / Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) - (in progress)
- Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - (in progress)
- The Ancient Jewish Wedding (in progress)
- Biblical Roots of American Thanksgiving - Connections to Sukkot
Current Issues
Christian - Jewish Relations
- Traitor or Faithful Servant - Messianic Jewish Christians and Orthodox Jews
Palestinian - Jewish Relations
- Once an Arafat Man - How a Former PLO Terrorist Came to Love the Jews