Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel

 

I first listened to the unabridged audio version of The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Rabbi Jason Sobel and Kathie Lee Gifford, which is wonderfully narrated by Kathie Lee Gifford. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this work of nonfiction and hope to listen to it again.

Ever since listening to The Rock, the Road, and the Rabbi by Rabbi Jason Sobel and Kathie Lee Gifford, I've been meaning to read Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel. This is the year I made this goal happen. 

As a side note, I had a dream earlier this year where my deceased, paternal grandfather wanted me to read Mysteries of the Messiah!! He was a deeply religious man in his later years and also very outspoken. So, when ancestors speak to us in our dreams, perhaps it is wise to sit up and take notice. This dream was another reason to move Mysteries of the Messiah up on my reading list.

How did I like Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel? It's packed with biblical information!! I am not very well versed with regards to any particular religion, so I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of information presented in this book. I will most likely have to revisit Mysteries of the Messiah a few times before it all sinks in due to the fact that I am not well versed with the bible or other Judeo-Christian texts. Overall, I really liked Mysteries of the Messiah.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Mysteries of the Messiah, which I felt was passably narrated by Neil Hellegers. My chief complaint regarding the narration of Mysteries of the Messiah is that I felt that Neil Hellegers read this book too quickly.

Below is the publisher's summary for Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel:

Highlighting connections that have been hidden from non-Jewish eyes, Rabbi Jason Sobel pulls back the curtain to shed God's light on the holy scriptures.

Most people do not understand how the Bible fits together—even people of faith. Too many Christians accept half an inheritance in that they are content to embrace merely the New Testament. On the flip side, Jews often experience this by embracing only the Old Testament. But God has an intricate plan and purpose for both.

In Mysteries of the Messiah, Rabbi Jason Sobel, raised in a Jewish home in New Jersey but now a follower of Yeshua, pulls back the curtain to show the many connections in Scripture hidden in plain sight. Known for his emphatic declaration "but there's more!" he guides readers from the story of creation through Revelation to see the passion and purpose of the Messiah, the Torah, and several of the patriarchs and prophets.

God's Word, written by many people over thousands of years, is not a random selection of people and stories, but they have intricate connections. Rabbi Jason connects the dots for readers, helping them see with clarity what God intended.

Also, see the short book trailer below for Mysteries of the Messiah where the author, Rabbi Jason Sobel, plugs his book.

I am giving Mysteries of the Messiah by Rabbi Jason Sobel a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin

 

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin was the first audiobook I finished listening to in 2023... It was supposed to be my 100th read of 2022, but I wasn't able to finish listening to it until the beginning of 2023.

The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin was an unexpected choice/read for me as I am not a member of any particular religion, nor do I attend any religious services, or have a deep knowledge or understanding of any one particular religion.

Christianity is the prevalent religion in western culture and has a long, rich, complex, and varied history over the centuries. Due to Christianity's long history and significant, cultural impact on society, I found myself wanting to listen to the history of the bible through David Zachariah Flanagin's exploration of '2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact'... Especially with the Christmas holiday fast approaching at the end of December when I initially began listening to this audiobook. 

I wasn't expecting 'to be wowed' The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin, but this audiobook greatly exceeded my expectation. David Zachariah Flanagin is a professor of theology and religious studies at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. So David Zachariah Flanagin really knows his subject matter well. David Zachariah Flanagin narrates his own audiobook too and you can hear his passion about the subject matter.

Additionally, The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact has been published by Learn 25. Learn 25 reminds me a lot of The Great Courses. I have enjoyed listening to a few other works published through Learn 25 about the US Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall, and the American Constitution. If you like The Great Courses format, then you'll probably enjoy the Learn 25 programs as well.

Below is a summary for The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin from Audible:

Explore the 2,000-year impact of the most-read book ever written.

The Bible’s importance can hardly be overstated: Jesus and the earliest Christians shaped their self-identity from its pages, medieval monks spent countless hours meditating on the sacred words, and reformers have been inspired by its radical message to speak the truth of the Gospel. While its message has unified believers through the centuries, debates about biblical interpretation have also caused divisions among the faithful.

This 24-lecture audio course, taught by award-winning professor Zach Flanagin, guides you through over two millennia of biblical interpretation. You will explore the most important ways people have read the Bible in ancient history and in modern times.

After looking at how early Christians inherited scriptural approaches from Judaism, you will explore the tradition of allegorical interpretation in antiquity and the Middle Ages. Next, you will survey the important movements of scholasticism, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, and the Enlightenment, which led to profound debates about the nature of the authority of the Bible and the Church. Finally, you will consider the current state of biblical interpretation, where many different voices are being heard.

I am giving The History of the Bible: Explore 2,000 Years of Biblical Interpretation and Cultural Impact by David Zachariah Flanagin a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!