Israel and the Church - Paperback

by Markus Barth (Author), Eberhard Busch (Foreword by)

In this book, 'Israel and the Church', Markus Barth renews the conversation between those who still wait for the Messiah and those who believe in Jesus Christ. Israel and the church are both brothers and strangers, but Dr. Barth shows that they can share their faith in the one living God and help each other in the adversities of this world. In the first of three sections, the author poses the question, What can a Jew believe about Jesus - and still remain a Jew? The Apostle Paul's reputed anti-Semitism is examined next. Dr. Barth does not criticize the image of Paul in Jewish literature, but points out that the trouble lies in the Christian understanding of Paul rather than in Paul himself or in Jewish interpretation. Finally, the author deals with Israel and the church in Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians. He shows how Ephesians can throw light on the problems of Christian usage of the Old Testament, the mission to the Jews, and Christian responsibility in regard to hidden or manifest anti-Semitism.

Author Biography

Markus Barth (1915-1994) studied Protestant theology in Bern Basel, Berlin, and Edinburgh, and received his Th.D.from the University of Goettingen in 1947. He served as pastor in Bubendorf, Switzerland, from 1940-1953. Thereafter, he taught New Testament at theological schools in Dubuque, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Basel. His books include The Broken Wall, Conversation with the Bible, and Jesus the Jew.