Israel and the Church: Contribution to a Dialogue Vital for Peace

In this book Israel and the Church Markus Barth renews the conversation between those who still wait for the Messiah and those who believe in Jesus Christ. Israel and the church are both brothers and strangers but Dr. Barth shows that they can share their faith in the one living God and help each other in the adversities of this world. In the first of three sections the author poses the question What can a Jew believe about Jesus - and still remain a Jew? The Apostle Pauls reputed anti-Semitism is examined next. Dr. Barth does not criticize the image of Paul in Jewish literature but points out that the trouble lies in the Christian understanding of Paul rather than in Paul himself or in Jewish interpretation. Finally the author deals with Israel and the church in Pauls Epistle to the Ephesians. He shows how Ephesians can throw light on the problems of Christian usage of the Old Testament the mission to the Jews and Christian responsibility in regard to hidden or manifest anti-Semitism.