Product Description
In this book Ernst K�semann — celebrated initiator of the twentieth-century “New Quest of the Historical Jesus” — examines the problem of the relation between discipleship and faith. / K�semann first tackles specific passages in the Synoptic Gospels dealing with the summons to discipleship. He makes clear the relevance of the biblical message to human existence even today. In the second half he explores how themes relating to specific contemporary problems fulfill that message. / Here is a theologian who is radically and passionately committed to discipleship of the crucified Jesus of Nazareth — and who is not afraid to share that commitment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Continental Theology You Don't Expect
Most Americans who read theology read exclusively native English language works.There is more than enough produced, and the continental output usually gets maligned with the vaguely heretical brush.The specter of Bultmann hangs over all of it.Ernst Kasemann was a student in his younger days of Bultmann.It would be easy to take that as excuse enough to avoid reading.And that would be a shame.

I do not know enough of Kasemann's work to judge if there is any radical change.Most of these essays, sermons and lectures here seem to come from the last fifth of his life - when reputation and standing would have been set.They are the unpublished works collected and translated by admirers after his passing.What they do ring clearly with is the freedom of the Gospel.And not just a platitude freedom, but the freedom of being a disciple.The type of freedom that makes the powerful uncomfortable and the timid wish for the easy life in Egypt.Kasemann seems to affirm old doctrines like original sin in new ways, and his old teacher's project of de-mythologizing does hang as a specter, but one that says there is something wrong with us because we feel the need to whitewash our sacred texts instead of interact with them.

The text itself is demanding.It is not that the translation is poor, but that the meaning is dense.Rarely did a paragraph pass that did not require a stop.Knowing a little about the continental background is helpful, and the editors have included a short review by Kasemann himself just before his death in the foreword.If you want a challenging and insightful read that is probably out of the common zone, this volume of Kasemann rewards the effort. ... Read more

Product Description
You probably meet them every day.At the grocery store.On the highway.In your neighborhood.They come in all colors, shapes, and sizes.But they are a global community, and they are held together by a bond of faith.They are Nazarenes.And they share a dream.Around the turn of the 19th century, the Holiness Movement blossomed in America.Wesleyan-Holiness denominations sprang up all over the country.In 1907-08, five of these joined together to form the Church of the Nazarene.The dream that drew the founders together was a believers’ church in the Wesleyan tradition.It is the same dream that guides the Church of the Nazarene today.But how does that translate into a world where denominational lines don’t seem to matter as much as they used to?How is a Nazarene different from a Presbyterian, Baptist, or Pentecostal brother or sister in Christ?What Is a Nazarene?, the abridged version of the book Here We Stand, answers those questions in concise, easy-to-understand terms, as it examines the similarities and differences between the Church of the Nazarene and other mainline Christian denominations.With refreshing insight and candor, What Is a Nazarene? will acquaint you with the heritage that birthed a vision that made a dream come true.Paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Much more than the title implies...
I approached this book with some negative expectations, viewing it as a required reading rather than a rewarding experience. I was pleasantly surprised to find it easy to read, informative and enlightening. The author presents a concise comparative analysis of the church as it compares to other Christian denominations and it presents a fair and surprisingly unbiased profile. I would recommend the book to anyone seeking to better understand the differences in Christian denominations.

Great Introduction
This book is a great introduction to what the Church of the Nazarene is all about.It gives a brief historical overview and treatment of the denomination's beliefs.Most of the book, however, is taken up by a comparison of the Church of the Nazarene with other Christian denominations and presents a solid introduction to each without passing judgement.This is a great book for those looking for a quick introduction as well as for long-time members looking for a reminder of what the Nazarenes are all about. ... Read more

Product Description
After a century of study and debate, the doctrine of sanctification, formulated by John Wesley in the 18th century, has resulted in two contemporaneous and competing definitions of entire sanctification in the Nazarene denomination. Mark Quanstom examines the gradual change in understanding this doctrine by focusing on its history and development in a balanced and well-researched perspective.’Quanstrom effectively follows the various understandings of holiness that have shaped and been shaped by the Church of the Nazarene.His engaging style and clear writing makes this work valuable to laymen, ministers, students, and scholars.’-Dr. John C. BowlingPresident, Olivet Nazarene University ’This work is a welcome contribution to the contemporary conversation about Holiness theology.Quanstrom’s thoughtful and careful scholarship produces a balanced study of the historical development of the understanding of holiness. . .It calls us to an awareness of the dynamic character of this tradition and to an active engagement with the doctrine of Christian perfection that remains at the heart of who we are.’-Dr. Carl M. LethChairman Division of Religion and Philosophy, Olivet Nazarene University ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Book for Nazarene Honiness History
This is a good book to learn of the history of the Holiness of the Nazarene Church. It was needed in a class at Nazarene Bible College.

An Excellent Historical Analysis of the Nazarene Church
I have often wondered how Nazarene's deal with the "Pentecostal" language (and almost theology) in their churches.The two movements (Wesleyan-Holiness & Pentecostal) are so closely related that the early Pentecostals actually used Nazarene theology books and other Wesleyan texts for their Bible training (see Donald Dayton's THE THEOLOGICAL ROOTS OF PENTECOSTALISM).However, the Nazarenes and other Wesleyan-Holiness groups quickly distanced themselves from the early Pentecostals and even becoming some of the Pentecostals biggest persecutors.

This excellent work by Mark Quanstrom is a well researched and theological look at the changing of the teaching of the doctrine of entire sanctification.Quanstrom shows how the early Nazarenes taught and practiced the doctrine versus modern Nazarenes.Sadly, with time many Nazarenes have dropped much of their distinctive doctrines such as entire sanctification and Spirit-Baptism language for more evangelical terms.Further, many have moved away from their historical roots based strongly on Wesley and Arminian teachings toward more Calvinistic and progressive sanctification views.

A well thought out, well researched, well written overview of Nazarene theology over the past 100 years.

If you are a Nazarene--get this book
An interesting book by Mark Quanstrom for Nazarenes interested in the shifts in holiness theology in the 20th century.He argues that there are two competing theories of holiness today-generally represented by Richard Taylor and Mildred Wynkoop.The book is only what it claims to be--the hundred-year story of the doctrine of holiness among Nazarenes... if you are not a Nazarene you'll be disappointed at how significant matters relating to changes in holiness doctrine that happened outside of the Church of the Nazarene are ignored or treated lightly.If you are a Nazarene buy it, if not wait until someone emerges about 2015 to write about the entire movement and not merely one denomination. (Maybe Donald Dayton?)--Keith Drury, Associate Professor of Religion, Indiana Wesleyan University ... Read more

Product Description
Nazarene Jewish Christianity is a comprehensive study of the heirs of the earliest Jerusalem church, their history and doctrines, their relations with both synagogue and the growing Gentile church. The author analyzes all sources, Jewish, Christian, and pagan, which can throw light on the sect and its ultimate mysterious disappearance. He also deals with the Birkat haMinim and historicity of the flight to Pella. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

The Definitive Source of the Real Apostolic Church
This book is a gem which should never go out of print. It is the definitive book regarding the true heirs of the original followers of Jesus who started the faith in Jerusalem under James and the Apostles. Every college, university, and seminary which teaches the history of Christianity should use this book.

This very concise book is not an overview of Jewish Christianity but is focused solely on the Nazarenes, who the author proves to be the true heirs of Jesus, James, and the Apostles in Jerusalem.The author concentrates primarily on the earliestand most reliable sources who spent time in Palestine and had first-hand knowledge of the Nazarenes, namely Justin, Origen, Epiphanius, Jerome, and Hegesippus.Much of this source material is polemic in regard to the Nazarenes and therefore, is not a biased attempt to make the Nazarenes conform to orthodox gentile Christianity.

The research that went into this book debunks some far-fetched and sensational theories which have been conjured up by pseudo-scholars who are biased against the New Testament and whose sole agenda is to disprove Christianity.

The author demonstrates how Jewish Christianity was similar to gentile Christianity in developing schisms within its own ranks over a period of time after it was removed from its base in Jerusalem.The Ebionites, who disparaged Paul as well as the Temple and the sacrificial system were not the direct heirs of James' Jerusalem community.They did not come into existence prior to the end of the first century or the beginning of the second century. Some of the breakaway Jewish Christian sects of the second century developed gnostic tendencies later on. Gnosticism was never part of the original faith.

The author also demonstrates how there was never a pre-Christian Essene Nazarene sect.The Nazarenes had no connection whatsoever to certain groups known as the Nusairi or Nazoraioi other than similar sounding names.The Mandaeans of Mesopotamiawere not descendants or heirs of any first Century Palestinian Jewish sect and their knowledge of John the Baptist was probably taken from the Gospels from which they created their own myths.

The earliest followers of Jesus probably referred to themselves as "The Way" and were referred to by others as Nazarenes or Iessaians.These terms do not refer to any pre-Christian sect but to Jesus' messianic status in regard to Isaiah 11:1, ie Netzer (branch) of Jesse.

The lack of polemic against them in the earliest Christian writings demonstrates that they were not considered a heresy by the earliest gentile Christians.The only criticism directed against them in later writings was the fact that they continued to adhere to the Mosaic Laws concerning circumcision, diet, and worshipping on the Sabbath.Their final rejection probably came about in the fifth century as a result of Augustine.

Their core doctrines and Christology were orthodox.They were trinitarians who believed Jesus was the Son of God and was born of a virgin.They accepted Paul's status as an apostle and supported his mission to the gentiles.They used a Hebrew version of Matthew which was probably not very different than the canonical Matthew.The author demonstrates from their interpretations of Isaiah that their main adversaries in the earliest stages were the Scribes and Pharisees.They rejected the oral law and refused to accept rabbinic authority which is what finally separated them from mainstream Judaism.They were subsequently cursed in the synagogues as heretics.

This book is somewhat laborious and will not appeal to people who want to be entertained or have their curiosity dazzled.But for those of us who are seeking honest answers to the origins of the Christian faith and feel like we have been searching for a diamond in a manure pile, this is the diamond.

A "what if" that was.
What if Jews had accepted Jesus?In fact they did, and this is their story.

I borrowed this book from my parents, read it, and re-read it.It is written in the voice of a quiet academic; the reader is offered a treasure of research from which to assemble a perspective unguided other than by the heart to do the work in the first place.The story that emerged for me, was that of the Jewish believers' fate to hold on to their faith for hundreds of years, only to ultimately evaporate in the desert.

Maybe it will revive.

Having disciplined myself to buy only books worth re-reading, I added this one to my wish list.

Should be frontpage news
Ray Pritz has done the whole religious world a great service in uncovering this needy topic.I know of no other work [despite hard effort to find] that so adequately covers the obscure topic of The Earliest Followers of Jesus, who were primarily from Jesus' own Jewish religion.

The loss of the history of these earliest Christians is a tragedy to Christianity of all time, and, I would argue, a great loss to the Jewish community as well. These resilient early followers of The Way were the most pressured, most persecuted, hated, and reviled of all believers, squeezed in the vise between the unbelieving Jews and the Hellenistic gentile fledgling Church. What they believed, how they lived, and their scant obscure legacy are treasures worth un-earthing for our modern time.

Its hard to fault this book:I loved the painstaking, granular sifting of evidence via several academic disciplines:a forensic quest rivaling the most detailed of investigative journalism.What did I not like??... The brevity.I was left wanting more.

This book belongs in the library of every serious school and student of Christian Church history.

Messianic Judaism in the Early Centuries
I know of no other book that traces as faithfully and as well documented as this book by Ray Pritz.He quotes the early church fathers, tracing Jewish believers who believed in Jesus until the third century.TheGentile Church did not know how to handle them because they remainedJewish.The Jewish Community did not know what to do with them becausethey believed that Jesus was their Messiah.They were caught in between,much as the Messianic Jewish synagogues of today. ... Read more

Product Description
Articles of Faithaddresses the 16 articles that make up the foundation of the Church of the Nazarene.Each of these 16 articles is examined and presented with a fresh and contemporary explanation to provide you with a clearer understanding of what these articles teach and how they can be expressed in your daily life. A deeper understanding of these articles will help you determine how you will live and how you will relate to one another and the world around you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Church of the Nazarene beliefs
This book is a short look at each of the sixteen Articles of Faith of the Church of the Nazarene. Written by various authors, it's not intended as a comprehensive theology, but more of an introduction. For as concise as the book is, the depth of each short chapter is surprisingly insightful. It will certainly compel you to want to explore the doctrines of the church further. Reading through section 6 dealing with the Atonement written by Dr. Thomas Noble brought tears to my eyes. ... Read more

Product Description
The story of Jesus is told by three different witnesses: Cornelius, Pontius Pilate's governor of Jerusalem; the fragmentary gospel of Judas Iscariot; and the narrative of Joseph, a young student of Nicodemus, presenting a sweeping panorama of the Holy Land nearly two thousand years ago. Reprint. NYT. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Still hungry...
Sholem Asch's `The Nazarene` attempts the impossible:to fill in the gaps left by the Gospels and retell the story of Yeshua, Rabbi of Nazareth.From the mammoth, gilded Herodian palace to the refuse-strewn back alleys of lower Jerusalem, the reader is transported back 2,000 years to Roman Palestine.

Jesus` story is retold in parallel with that of an aged, sickly Polish scholar of antiquity, Pan Viadomsky, who languishes on his Warsaw death bed just before the outbreak of WWII.Discredited in his field, Pan Viadomsky has become a bitter old man, prone to grand delusions.Claiming to have stumbled onto a hitherto unknown version of the New Testament, Pan Viadomsky believes he has the final word on Yeshua ben Joseph.Unfortunately for Viadomsky, the secret text is written in Hebrew, a language abhorrent to the virulent anti-Semite.Yet, he hires a young rabbinical student to help unearth its mysteries.In his dark, manuscript-strewn apartment, Viadomsky and his unlikely assistant begin deciphering the manuscript.During their work, the deluded scholar declares himself to be the spirit of Cornelius, the mighty centurion of Pilate's Jerusalem garrison.

At first, Viadomsky`s assistant is incredulous of the old man's apparent transformation.Yet, something makes him stay by the scholar's bed and hear out `Cornelius's` tortured story.The reader is compelled to read on as well; Viadomsky`s tale promises a new angle on an ancient story.Entranced by Cornelius` words, the young translator as well falls prey to the manuscript's magic and claims to be Josephus, pupil of renowned scholar and gospel character, Rabbi Nicodemus.

Asch weaves together these two very disparate viewpoints, one Roman, one Jewish, into a fascinating narrative web.Both Cornelius and Josephus escort the reader on Jesus`s journey. This journey centers around the two main focal points of Jesus` adult life: K`far Nahum (Capernaum) and the holy city itself, Jerusalem.The episodes of Jesus`s early years---the miraculous conception, the harried escape from Bethelem, and even his baptism--are all but left out.Those wanting insightful anecdotes about the Nazarene's early years will be disappointed.Instead, the Jesus we meet is the grown man of spiritual and intellectual maturity, the divinely empowered Son of Man who arrives in K`far Nahum in search of disciples and miracles.

While Rabbi Yeshua begins his mission of healing and teaching, Asch's tale begins a new twist.A new narrator steps onto the scene:Judah, man from Kiriot.Asch goes out of his way to portray Judah as not only physically unattractive but extremely unbalanced as well, prone to manic extremes of both elation and depression.Asch's Judas is a tortured soul perplexed as to the true nature of the Rabbi.Much of Judas` narration centers around his constant questionning:Is the Rabbi indeed the Messiah, liberator of Israel or just another righteous teacher?

As the Passover sacrifice nears and Yeshua and his disciples move into Jerusalem, the narrative switches again.Judas` vantage point is replaced by that of Cornelius and Josephus. Here, Asch overplays some events (i.e. Jesus`s clash with the moneylenders), while understating others ( i.e. Nicodemus`s night meeting with Jesus).Yet, the Passion is depicted with both authenticity and pathos.Asch's depiction of the tortured Jesus in Gethsemane and the near-broken man carrying his burden to Golgotha are both quietly affecting.Asch carefully avoids the more sensational aspects of the Christian passion:the gawking crowds, the flail of Roman whips, the wailing women....Instead, the Passion described here is a solemn and profoundly solitary affair, all the more affecting with its sorrowful silence.The Rabbi's death is described in all its horrifying detail, from the nails pounded into alabaster palms to the contorted body struggling to maintain itself upright.These gruesome and painful details are made all the more powerful by their authenticity.

After the crucifixion, `The Nazarene` ends rather abruptly. Asch refuses to wander into the minefield of Christian orthodoxy and speculate on the `risen Christ`.Instead, he leaves that to Paul, Origen and later Christian apologists.Asch's Yeshua never leaves his rightful Jewish milieu.The resurrection is left as one option of reverence for the the Nazarene.Josephus mentions that his fellow Nicodemian pupil, Rufus, became one of those believers in the `risen` Rabbi.Josephus, on the other hand, along with Rabbi Nicodemus, remains content that "...memory of the righteous shall be invoked with blessing."

And thus ends Sholem Asch's interpretation of the greatest story ever told.Asch leaves the reader with a Jesus whose memory shall provide eternal spiritual support for the believer.Yeshua`s final image is that of man of supreme righteousness, the highest accolade Jewish tradition bestows upon mortals.But `The Son of God`?The Messiah?Asch lets the reader draw his/her own conclusions.Asch's Jesus never quite evolves into `The` Son of God.

`The Nazarene' includes all the diverse Gospel characters, some more developed than others.Judas is particularly well-drawn if one-sided.Simon Peter is there as the bear of a man with a heart of wax as is Mary of Magdalene with all seven of her demons meticulously detailed.But others like mother Mary, father Joseph, cousin John the Baptizer, all remain in the background as distant shades.On the other hand though, Pilate is one of Asch's best characterizations.Fattened and brutalized by Rome's excesses, Pilate is very believable as a man little tormented by regret.

Asch also includes characters the Gospels hardly mention.The high priests of the Hanan family and the Sadducees are shown to be mercenary wielders of political power, ultimately responsible (thinks Asch) for the Rabbi's death at Roman hands.Unfortunately, too little is shown of the Pharisee class, those excessively pious, hypocritical, and self-righteous interpreters of Jewish law that catch the full brunt of Jesus`s wrath in Matthew.In fact, Asch seems to suggest that the Nazarene was himself a Pharisee albeit a rebellious one.

In conclusion, Scholem Asch's Nazarene isn`t that different from the Saviour found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: a stainless, transformative and utterly original individual.What is lacking from `The Nazarene` is a peek into the heart and mind of this phenomenal individual.What I missed most from Asch's monumental work were the unknowns, the uncertainties of Jesus`s character.Did he struggle with his `mission`?Did dark doubt ever assault his Masada of faith?Was the Son ever disappointed in, disenchanted with his Father?Little blasphemous delights to be sure, but such examinations would have made this book an even richer experience.

`The Nazarene` exhaustively details the environment of Rabbi Jesus but leaves the man as enigmatic as do the Gospels. For those whose faith demands fewer questions of the historical Jesus, reading `The Nazarene` will be a profoundly enriching experience. For those who seek more answers about the Son of Man, Asch's work ultimately fails to satisfy the hunger.

A Good Read & Historic Overview
I just finished The Nazarene, and it found a wonderful drama and synchronization of where Christians can agree with Jews, and visa versa, or where most of each could.For perspective of events and how contemporaries likely construed them, it seems a well-grounded book.I'll now order another of his works.Even in 2009, such matters matter much.

Great historical narrative of Biblical times
The Nazarene paints a vivid, colorful picture of the historical era of Christ in the land of Israel.Asch excels in describing the culture, geography, politics and religious atmosphere in which Christ lived.Although, this book is slow in action, it is truly rich in character and background development. Readers of the Bible will see many of its holes filled in by knowledgeable contentions on the part of Asch who seems a keen expert on the times of Christ.

He oddly uses a narrative technique involving citizens of 1930's Poland who have connected with their past lives.In their past lives, they interacted in the events surrounding Christ's life, and they tell the story from their past lives' perspective.I found this aspect of the novel strange and unnecessary.Asch could have excluded the "reincarnation" scenario and just scripted an historical novel based on the known events of Christ's life.

This is not a quick read and was slow and methodical but provides such insight into Biblical events that it is worthwhile.Asch is a jewish writer but does not contradict Christian beliefs; he rather offers the reader varying accounts of characters in the book, as history itself has done.

Reading it leaves you humble.
I finished this book a couple of nights ago. I felt as if a I were reading the Bible and understood it better, especially the Jewish religion. I wasn't sure which was fiction and which was taken from the Bible, but it didn't really matter. Reading it gave me a better understanding of the Jewish culture and why they still believe the Messiah hasn't come yet. I'm not sure I believe in regression and past lives, but it was used as a good vehicle to tell an age old story in a new light. I'm going to pass my copy on to a Methodist minister and I will be curious to see his reaction after reading it.

A Spiritual Masterpiece
Being a voracious and discriminating reader who has constantly read and reads books of quality and depth, there have been only rare occasions when a book has awakened and uplifted my soul. In other words, reading such a work went much further than the mere act of reading; I can look back and remember it as an *experience* transcending cognation. My encounter with such a book and author turned out to be a major event in my life, as real as birth, death, marriage, etc. I just now realize in writing this, that it was thirty years ago this month when I first read those words that began on the first page of THE NAZARENE: ". . . our senses are haunted by fragmentary recollections of another life. They drift like torn clouds above the hills and valleys of the mind, and weave themselves into the incidents of our current existence . . ."This novel begins in the old Jewish quarter of Warsaw, just prior to WWII, as Sholem Asch reveals that the truth of Yeshua the Nazarene is also the truth of the TORAH.
Also, there is an additionalpoignancy if one looks at the date when THE NAZARENE was published: 1939. The "modern" sections of the book took place in the Jewish physical and spiritual environment that soon faced its Passion.
THE NAZARENE is truly a spiritual classic. ... Read more

Product Description
Believe anything you want.The twentieth century has brought with it a myriad of opinions, philosophies, doctrines and ideologies.Each one of them important; each one valid.And the world says, ’Believe what you want.’Authors Wes Tracy and Stan Ingersol have authored Here We Stand to shatter that conclusion.More than ever, it is important that we know what we believe.Here We Stand is a comprehensive study of a wide range of beliefs and where Nazarenes fit into the ideological puzzle.Tracy and Ingersol provide the most contemporary and complete overview of major religions and religious beliefs since Why I Am a Nazarene.Nazarenes have the unique opportunity to reestablish their identity with a new generation of people. Here We Stand gives a clear view into other traditions in a language and approach understood by today’s pastors and laymen.Here We Stand contributes to the distinctiveness of each group without sacrificing the Christian community as a whole.Pastors, Sunday School teachers and new Christians will find this unabridged version of the book What Is a Nazarene? an excellent resourcebecause it lends a knowledgeable, objective voice to discussions of doctrine, witnessing and spirituality. Here We Stand provides the historical and theological background needed to establish identity and ownership among new and life-long Nazarenes.Kivar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good dose of church history and theology
This would be a great indepth follow up to "Articles of Faith: What Nazarenes Believe and Why." I read this in preparation for the Centennial Celebration of the Church of the Nazarene on October 5, 2008. While "Here We Stand" was published nearly a decade ago, it's just as pertinent if not more so in today's kaleidoscope of religious belief. The issue addressed in the book is exactly where does the Church of the Nazarene fit in the larger scope of Christendom and religious belief. On page 16, Wes Tracy says, "Not every Christian would make a good Nazarene," and having been a Nazarene pastor for 10 years now, I concur. The Nazarene call to complete surrender to Christ followed by the entire sanctification of believers is simply not what all followers of Christ are willing to commit to. An important read that will give you a good dose of church history and theology while helping you better understand what the Church of the Nazarene is all about. ... Read more

Product Description
Explains from Scripture and the works of the early Church fathers what the original first century faith of the Apostles actually was, and why it is being re-established by the hand of the Creator in the modern day.Digs deep into prophecy and its modern-day fulfillments.See www.nazareneisrael.org for more information ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Life Changing !!!

I will never be the same after reading this book.
All Things in this book can be looked up and studied yourself.
Its not to hard or overly written . Plain and simple truth.
I would advise all those that, seem like their is something wrong in your Christan walk.
Have you ever questioned why things are and how did they come to be this way?
Is this what Jesus Meant church to be?
How did the Apostle do this church thing?
Are you Just plain bored with the church Christan thing?!
READ THIS BOOK!

Nazarene Israel
There are things in the bible that I have glossed over or had no info on the matter, this book has explained many of those away. I sense I have grown more knowledgeable on what was really going on in early bible days.
Thank you

Great Book
To all who are interested in learning a new way to walk out your faith.This is the book for you.This book is like a primer and takes you step by step in a concise yet easy to understand way to new truths.Truths you were never taught in "church".There is a wisdom and quiet understanding, that comes across with a maturity that makes you want to learn and delve deeper into a true understanding of your new found faith.Even if you have been a believer for a while maybe even a long while you may find that you have become born-again, again.As you take this next step to understanding and appreciatewho you are in Yeshua.This book will open your eyes and your heart and lead you on a journey that you never thought existed or that you would ever take.I advise that you read all three of Norman's books.This one as well as The Post Millennial Return and The Torah Calender.This trio of books will take you on your way to a deeper understanding of what Nazarene Israel is all about and if this is the new walk that you have been called to.You may not always agree with every word, but that is okay.
These books will help you learn who you are and where you stand.The books are full of scripture references and the reader is encouraged to look them all up for themselves.Learn and understand as you go.You will be better off for the journey.And the insight and depth of knowledge that you will glean from these books will take you far.
Be blessed and enjoy, become all that you are being called to become.I did.I will never be the same and I have no need to look back because I have come so far.These books were like manna to my hungry soul.As I now have a closer and deeper walk with my L-rd and Saviour, I am truly blessed.I pray the same for all of you.

Hebrew roots of Christianity
This book really helped me to solidify my faith as a disciple of Yahushua HA Moshiach Melech. The roots of the Chrisitian Faith are semitic and this book does much to help believers understand the true mission and purpose of Y'shuas first earthly ministry. I highly recommend this book to any jew or gentile who seeks a closer understanding of their faith and what it really means to be a doer and not just a hearer of the word.

Great study on the early church
Nazarene Israel is probably one of the top best if not thee best book on the early church history in terms of understanding the early Christians doctrinal belief. Examples would be they worshipped on the Sabbath and not Sunday, that they kept the Ten Commandments, and Kosher food laws, and pretty much followed all 613 laws long after Jesus died and long after the Temple was destroyed. This book is a must have whether you are a believer, or just plan interested in history/religion. Once again, it is a must have, and a must read. ... Read more

Product Description
This study of the growth of the Church of the Nazarene traces the denomination s doctrinal roots to the English Reformation and then explores the church’s historical, intellectual, and doctrinal development.Giving special attention to the church s distinctive belief in entire sanctification and emphasis on education, the authors colorfully retell the story of the church from its humble origins in Pilot Point, Texas, to its expansion into an international community reaching the world through a warm-hearted faith. ... Read more

Product Description
A readable and comprehensive little book on the development and current state of the church.Includes information on history, doctrine, growth, government, and its various agencies.Designed as an introduction to the church.Paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

What Is the Church of the Nazarene?
This small brochure was written by a Nazarene leader and is very succinct.I am a new Nazarene Church member and have heard many terms used but without any understanding.It covered them all; The Manual, District Assembly, District and General Superintendent, Phineas Bresee, John Wesley etc.It was a good brief history as well. ... Read more

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Product Description
Cyril Scott felt that if the Christian religion wasto survive, its esoteric aspects must be presented to the readingpublic and not merely remain the knowledge of a select few.The Vision of the Nazarenereveals Jesus of Nazareth in alight hitherto unknown and unsuspected by most. It also gives thekey to many of his teachings which have not been correctlyunderstood. 2 illustrations. Introduction. Afterword. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

For open minded thinkers!
One of the best books of it's kind in print.Cyril Scott lays out in lament easy to understand terminolgy the philosphy of the way christianity should be viewed and taught, and not traditionally believed.Gives plain and simple explanations on how scriptures can be misrepresented, and how wrong thought process can discourage the novice christian believer.

Jesus the master is seen from a most wonderful, realistic, down to earth point of view.The writer paints a Jesus or Nazerene that is for the most part real and beliveable. ... Read more

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The Nazarene Gospels Restored is Robert Graves's major work on the life of Jesus, written in collaboration with the distinguished Hebrew scholar Joshua Podro. The research and writing occupied them for over five years, in a working relationship compounded, in John W. Presley's phrase, 'of argument, scholarship and mutual respect', in which the imaginative writer and the Hebraist drew on their vast knowledge of the ancient world to reveal an extraordinary new, 'true' story of Jesus. The result is, as Graves wrote to T.S. Eliot, 'a very long, very readable, very strange book', and one that Presley argues is as central to Graves's writing as The White Goddess. The Nazarene Gospels Restored was controversial when first published: the Church Times refused to advertise it, reviews were hostile, and Graves twice sued for libel. In the twenty-first century it is possible to read it in the contextof a continuing engagement with the historical Jesus, both scholarly and popular - nothing in The Da Vinci Code, Presley notes, would have surprised Graves or Podro.In this new edition, John W.Presley gives a detailed account of the composition and reception of the book, setting it in the context of Graves's writing and of biblical scholarship. An appendix of Graves's Foreword and annotations for a projecte drevised edition make this an indispensable resource. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A most enlightening Telling
The Nazarene Gospel Restored is probably the only real construction of the actual story of the Jewish prophet, Yashua (Jesus to modern ears) by two of the worlds leading scholars of Ancient Greek and Jewish Mythology: Robert Graves and Joshua Podro. This is a great tome, not for an afternoon's read; it will take much time to discover the truths laid out in the decipherments of the myths behind the Jesus Story. But well worth the effort. If you have a REAL interest in what the Christian mythos is based on, the stories behind the story, then this is the book for you. It is rare and hard to find a copy, and with its nearly thousand pages filled with captivating prose, a seemingly great task to read. But in the end, it will be discovered to be, probably, the most interesting read one could undertake. I HIGHLY recommend this book to any one questioning the New Testament story: and an eye opener for anyone seeking knowledge of Middle-Eastern Mythology. ... Read more

Product Description
As Mary Hamilton flies from America to Scotland, she dreams of living happily ever after with her new husband in a cozy cottage. But instead she's pulled into the raging fires of war-torn Ireland. Mary's life becomes entangled with the struggles of Ulster's early Scots immigrants. Through them she relives the terrors of Cromwell's violence and the agony of the potato famine, and reaches the shattering conclusion to her search for peace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great read on Irish History
As I loved Donna's book about Scotland, "The Field's of Bannockburn" I am not a bit surprised that I loved this book too. I am glad I read the one about Scotland first, as one of the stories included in it, is also continued here, the story of Mary and Gareth. As Mary returns to Scotland to marry Gareth, she finds he has agreed to work with the Protestant and Catholic dissidents in Ireland to try and bring them together under the banner of one God and as Christians. Using a storyteller once again, Donna delves into Ireland's past, and begins in the 1600's when many Scots went to Ireland to settle there because of available land. The hatred between Catholics and Protestants moves to ireland, which being mostly Catholic, is still unde the rule of England. Greatly resented by native Irish, most want it to be a republic. With a fictional family, Donna traces the history of the Island along with the religious strife through the centuries until the final time when Ireland becomes a free country, but the Ulster region remains under Emnlish rule. Most of the story tales place in this region, and that is where mary and Gareth travel to try and help the people to learn to live together without hatred and violence. It also shows the closeness of the Irish and the Scots, and why to this day, many families trace their ancestry to both countries. Highly recommended.

Good Read
Donna Crow completes her trilogy of the British Isles with this book.Along with Glastonbury, and The Fields of Bannockburn this is another good book describing the spread of Christianity through Ireland.This is a good read, well written and a book I would recommend.

Extremely good!
Very imformative of history in an entertaining way.The love story is a continuation from another book - The Fields of Bannockburn.Loved it and would highly recommend it for high school and up.

Be ready for a heart-rending read
This book tore at my heart as I read through the bitter history of Ireland.A must read for all who have even the smallest bit of Irish blood.The passion of the Irish people is absolutely amazing.

A Haunting Novel of Love and Hate
This novel is an incredible tribute to those who work to do the Lord's will no matter what the circumstances. How hard is it to hope, love, and give mercy to those who hate you? Ireland has a sad history, and this novelpoints to the only way humans can overcome their hatred and fear- by givingtheir lives to Jesus. I reccomend this book to anyone who desires tounderstand forgiveness and/or the history of Ireland. ... Read more

Product Description
Assembled from 20 years of writing by historian and archivist Stan Ingersol, Nazarene Roots is a collection of the heroic stories of people who have shaped the Church of the Nazarene. Every healthy plant has roots that feed, anchor, and give it shape. This book is about Christians whose faith and witness nourished the roots of the contemporary Church of the Nazarene. ... Read more

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’Some of our best ’men’ are women’’An oft-repeated folklore tells us that Phineas Bresee, one of [our] main denominational founders, was fond of saying, ’some of our best ’men’ are women!’Who were these women?Rebecca Laird offers a fascinating historical glimpse at 12 pioneer women ministers who helped shape the Church of the Nazarene, including:Lucy Pierece KnottMary Lee Harris CagleOlive M. WinchesterFrances Rye McClurkanSusan Norris FitkinThese women’s lives and ministries step from the pages of the early 20th century and speak to us today with significant questions past and present.Paper. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Great
I am satisfied with this product. I received the book quickly, and despite the highlighting the book was in great condition once I received it. ... Read more