An excellent treatment of the concept of Israel.
A scholarly attempt to reconcile the long-standing theological divisions between Jews and gentiles.
The definition of Israel has always been somewhat contentious; in ancient times, it was more symbolic than tangibly linked to a geographical location. After the rise of Christianity, Jews insisted on the priority of their time-honored rites, and Christians argued that following Christ has nothing to do with Judaic observance. Debut author Mikolajczyk charts a middle ground between these topics that aims to reconcile Jews and gentiles by demonstrating that Jesus is actually the embodiment of the idea of Israel. To that end, he carefully examines the discussions of Israel in both the Old Testament and the New Testament and pieces together what he believes is a coherent, exegetically sound synthesis. Part of the problem he confronts is that historical events, such as the creation of the modern state of Israel, have confused these messages of revelation. In particular, Mikolajczyk discusses “supersessionism,” the view that the Christians simply supersede the Jewish people as God’s special elect, and “premillennial dispensationalism,” which attempts to accommodate Israel’s creation in 1948 by recognizing it as the fulfillment of prophecy, which more thoroughly acknowledges the significance of Jewish heritage to Christians. Although the author is a self-professed Christian, he aims for a theological union of sorts rather than a triumph of Christian theology: “What I mean for readers to gain from this book is that Jesus Christ arrived in the world to reconcile the divisions of God’s people, not to create new ones.” The author’s analysis is consistently fair, painstaking, and lucid, and the treatment of Christ is memorably provocative: “If there is no judgment against those who believe in Jesus (Rom. 8:1), there are likewise no separations based on gender, race, religious background, or socioeconomic status, because he has united the church in his name (Gal. 3:28).” Overall, this book has the virtue of great brevity. That said, the concision is also a touch frustrating, as many readers will be left pining for an elaboration of how the biblical notion of Israel has been transformed by worldly events. Nevertheless, this is an edifying introduction to a historically and philosophically important subject.
An excellent treatment of the concept of Israel.Pub Date: June 3, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5127-4379-1
Page Count: 130
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 8, 2016
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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