Preface
Louis Goldberg
Introduction: The Rise, Disappearance, and Resurgence of Messianic Congregations Louis Goldberg
1. Messianic Congregations are not necessary
William Varner
Responses
Yes, We do need Messianic Congregations!
John Fischer
A Danger of Throwing Out the Baby with the Bath Water
Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum
Living the Messianic Jewish Lifestyle
Louis Goldberg
Modern Assemblies of Jewish Yeshua-Believers between Church and Synagogue
Gershon Nerel
2. Messianic congregations may exist withhin the Body of Messiah, as long as they don't function contrary to the New Testament
Arnold G. Fruchnetbaum
Responses
Messianic Congregations Should Exist and Should be very Jewish
John Fischer
Testing how Jewish We should Be
Louis Goldberg
Torah and Halakhah among Modern Assemblies of Jewish Yeshua-Believers
Gershon Nerel
In Search of...a Jewish Identity
William Varner
Summary Essay: The Future of Messianic Judaism
David H. Stern
Appendix; Messianic Movement Organizations
Scripure Index
Subject Index

Diverse perspectives about the messianic movement ― from six contributors.Are Messianic congregations necessary or should Jewish believers be incorporated into the Gentile church? This is the topic of the latest volume in the Counterpoints series. The question of how Christian Jews relate their Jewish practices and customs to the church has been an issue within Christianity since the first century. Contemporary contributors who have lived and wrestled with this issue present informed arguments and counter-arguments. The book concludes with a chapter on the future for Messianic Jews and a directory of messianic movement organizations.Contributors include: • John Fischer (ThD, California Graduate School of Theology, PhD, University of South Florida) is a rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash and Chairman of Judaic Studies at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.• Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (ThM, PhD, New York University) has served with the Chosen People Ministries and Christian Jew Foundation in the past and is now the founder and director of Ariel Ministries.• Gershon Nerel (PhD, Hebrew University, Jerusalem) has served as “Israel Secretary” for the International Messianic Jewish Alliance and has also been a member of the executive committee for the Messianic Jewish Alliance of Israel.• David Stern (PhD, MDiv) is the translator of the Jewish New Testament from Greek to English to express its Jewishness; his version of the Tanak is the Complete Jewish Bible.• Will Varner (EdD, Temple University) servers as professor of biblical studies at the Master’s College, CA, and the director of the Israel Bible Extension campus of this college in Israel.The Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on issues important to Christians. Counterpoints books address two categories: Church Life and Bible and Theology. Complete your library with other books in the Counterpoints series.