The Resurrection of Jesus: A Jewish Perspective

Lapide says: 'In the process of the parting of our ways of faith, the resurrection has become a stumbling block between the brothers of Jesus and his disciples, but, as with many of our separations, it can be diffused if it is traced back to its origins.'

Dr. Lapide is an Orthodox Jewish Rabbi, a theologian, a specialist in New Testament studies, and says:

"I accept the resurrection of Jesus not as an invention of the community of disciples, but as a historical event."

Lapide argues in this book that it is Jewish to believe in the resurrection; where Judaism and Christianity part is on the idea of Yeshua as the Messiah. Why, can Yeshua not be the Messiah... because peace has not yet come. There is still turmoil in the world, chaos and destruction. Messiah will bring an end to all such things.

This book, written in the 1980s, is still groundbreaking and wholly relevant to the Christian / Jewish debate. 'This is a work which will certainly excite wide interest. It is 'a truly ecumenical attempt by a sympathetic Jew to understand contemporary Christianity' [Reverend Professor A.T. Hanson].

Lapide concludes:

'[A]s a faithful Jew, I cannot explain a historical development which, despite many errors and much confusion, has carried the central message of Israel into the world of the nations, as the result of blind happenstance, or human error, or a materialistic determinism... the Easter faith has to be recognized as a part of divine providence.'

This book makes a tremendous contribution to Jewish-Christian dialogue. It is sensitive, engaging, well researched, challenging and demonstrates true dialogue at its best.