The Jewish 
Annotated
New Testament
Annotated
New Testament
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds.
OK, let me be honest: every time I hear a homily given by a priest during the celebration of the Eucharist, and he sounds stupidly ignorant about Jews and Judaism, whether in Jesus’ time or our own, I want to stand up and scream. Yes, “scream”! I realize that probably sounds histrionic, immature, or both, but at this point in my life, I can’t help it. Sometimes I think to myself, “Don’t these guys pay attention to the Pope and the Vatican, their decrees, letters, and example when it comes to teaching and preaching about Jews and Judaism since Vatican II?” And, of course, what about nuns? Are we any better?
I would like to recommend The Jewish Annotated New Testament to anyone who takes seriously – or wants to take seriously – Vatican II’s encouragement to Roman Catholic Christians to get back to scripture, back to the sources of our faith, back to Jesus, the observant, loving, compassionate Jewish itinerant preacher and teacher who faithfully lived the religious tradition into which he was born. Sometimes I think we forget that Jesus, the Christ of God, was a Jew. Enough of this teaching and preaching that always pits Jesus against “the Jews” and Judaism in the New Testament.
There has never been an edition of the New Testament that addresses its Jewish background and the culture from which it grew – until now. In The Jewish Annotated New Testament, eminent Jewish experts of New Testament literature, under the general editorship of Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler, put these writings into the context of their original authors and audiences. And they explain how these writings have affected the relations of Jews and Christians over the past two thousand years.
The Jewish Annotated New Testament will give readers new insight into the New Testament’s meaning and significance. In addition, there are thirty essays on historical and religious topics – Divine Beings, Jesus in Jewish Thought, Parables and Midrash, Mysticism, Jewish Family Life, Messianic Movements, Dead Sea Scrolls, questions of the New Testament and anti-Judaism, and others.
The Jewish Annotated New Testament neither proselytizes for Christianity nor denigrates Judaism. It is a wonderful translation and commentary on the Christian Scriptures – the New Testament – and would make a great gift for all priests, nuns, and lay people. And for sure, it could serve as an aid to our prayer, preaching, and teaching too. Give it a try. I recommend it highly.
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds. The Jewish Annotated New Testament: New Revised Standard Version Bible Translation. New York: Oxford University Press, 2011.
Books
Edward Daly
The Jewish Annotated New Testament
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler, eds.
Tom Roberts
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