Two eminent scholars, each expert in his own tradition, take Jewish-Christian dialogue to a new level. Aiming at neither mere description nor conversion, each presents the classical elements of his tradition's understanding of three fundamental, common religious questions: where to meet God, how to live, and what to hope for. Chilton and Neusner's lively comparisons serve as a primer on the defining energies of these twomonumental religious traditions, intertwined in their roots. The reader is invited to identify the traditions'unity of questions and the equally strong differences in answers and thereby to illumine one's own faithcommitments about belief, piety, and the purpose of human life.
Bruce D. Chilton is the Bernard Iddings Bell Professor of Religion at Bard College, where he has taught since 1987. In addition to his many celebrated publications on the texts, practices, and beliefs of ancient Judaism and Christianity, he is also the author of popular historical biographies of Jesus, Paul, Mary, and James. Jacob Neusner is Distinguished Service Professor of the History and Theology of Judaism at Bard College and the author of numerous books on Judaism.
Preface Introduction PART ONE: COMMUNION WITH GOD Meeting God in the Torah Jacob Neusner Theology in Hebrew Scriptures Idiom Alien to Language of Philosophy The Flow of Dialectical Argument Religious Encounter in Worldly Form The Unity of Laws in Law: God's Unity Quest for Consensus and Rationality of Dispute The Power of Language in the Torah A Christian's Response to a Judaist's Communion with God Bruce Chilton Engaging with God Through Christ Bruce Chilton Introduction Baptism Prayer Ethical Performance Eucharist A Judaic Response to a Christian's Community with God Jacob Neusner PART TWO: THE KINGDOM OF GOD Living Under the Yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven Jacob Neusner Transfiguring Commonplaces: The Kingdom in Christianity Bruce Chilton The Reign of Forceful Grace Bruce Chilton The Gospel of the Kingdom The Catechesis of the Kingdom Reflection and Controversy Royal Synthesis: The Kingdom of Christ A Judaic Response to Forceful Grace Jacob Neusner PART THREE: THE MYSTERY OF THE MESSIAH Bringing the Messiah: The Torah and Responsive Grace Jacob Neusner Bar Kokhba: Arrogance against God The Messiah's Place in History: Sage against Emperor Linkage of Keeping the Law and Coming of Messiah Messianic Fulfillment Depends on Moral Regeneration Sage as Savior Zekhut: Acts of Supererogatory Grace Messianic Virtues and the Pleasure of God Bruce Chilton Christ: The Bodily Presence of God Bruce Chilton A Question for Catechumens: Who Do Men Say That I Am? A Question for Christians: What Has God Made of Us with Christ? The Redeemer as Lord and God The Question of Incarnation Jacob Neusner Notes Index
