Reviews
Emslie s work on Philippians is a highly useable tool among any responsible teacher s biblically-based shelf of academic resources. One is struck not only with Emslie s sound theological scholarship but with his equally outstanding demonstration o fidelity to Jewish apostolic piety. Any Christian pastor, Messianic rabbi, or Bible teacher can greatly benefit from the plumbed depths and profound findings of Emslie s faithful labor which is fully supported by his genuinely Messianic Jewish biblical scholarship.
Raymond L. Gannon, Ph.D.; Messianic Jewish Bible Institute, The King s University.
R. Sean Emslie expounds Philippians with the conviction that Paul remained a Torah-observant Jew throughout his life. He does so from the perspective of a Messianic Jew who believes in the authority of the New Testament and the enduring covenantal standing of the Jewish people. His voice, therefore, stands out from the majority of commentators who have read Philippians from quite different viewpoints. The commentary will prove useful within the burgeoning spectrum of Messianic Judaism as it continues to develop its own tools for understanding Scripture. But Christian readers can also benefit from this work, written in a clear prose that renders accessible a new Messianic Jewish understanding of Paul that converges in fascinating ways with the "Paul within Judaism Perspective."
Dr. Isaac W. Oliver, Associate Professor in Religious Studies, Bradley University.
Sean Emslie's new commentary on Philippians combines clarity and accessibility with lively interaction with contemporary scholarship. It draws upon the current Paul-within-Judaism approach without dismissing other perspectives. It should become an essential resource for reading, discussing, teaching, and preaching Philippians within the Messianic Jewish community and beyond.
Rabbi Russ Resnik, Rabbinic Counsel, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations.
"THE missing element in our exposition of holy Scripture is our failure to interpret the Bible in light of its Jewish origins. This is especially true of the New Testament. Now, Sean Emslie has expertly bridged that gap with his commentary on the lovely little book of Philippians. I will wait with eager anticipation for his next expositional offering."
Dr. Dewey Bertolini, Teaching Shepherd, Safe Haven.
Sean Emslie has made an important contribution to the emerging field of Messianic Jewish commentaries on the Bible. This work is a useful tool for readers interested in a close engagement of the text from the vantage of Messianic Judaism, that simultaneously integrates scholarly approaches.
Anne K. Knafl, Ph.D.
Bibliographer for Religion, Philosophy and Jewish Studies
The University of Chicago Library