Amy-Jill Levine is a distinguished scholar whose work delves into the intricate relationship between Judaism and Christianity, particularly as it pertains to the New Testament. Her writings explore how the Jewish context of Jesus and his teachings shaped early Christianity, and how these two traditions interpret the same stories. Levine is known for her sharp analytical insights and her ability to make complex theological concepts accessible to a broad audience. Through her prolific writing and extensive public engagement, she fosters a deeper understanding of the diverse ways sacred texts are read across different faiths.
The book explores Jesus's profound historical and cultural impact, presenting him as a figure of interest and relevance to both believers and nonbelievers. The author, a distinguished biblical scholar, delves into the complexities of Jesus's life and teachings, highlighting their significance in contemporary discussions and their ability to provoke thought across diverse audiences.
In Be Strong, Be Wise, psychotherapist and youth advocate Amy Carpenter provides all the information teens and young adults need to feel safe and confident in their relationships and in the world.
"The editors of The Jewish Annotated New Testament, Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Brettler, explore how Jews and Christians can learn from and understand each other better by exploring how they read many of the same Bible stories through different lens"--
Focusing on the biblical texts related to Jesus' birth, this guide delves into the narratives of key figures like Zechariah, Elizabeth, and Mary. It highlights the connections between the Gospel and Old Testament, emphasizing the role of women in first-century Jewish culture. The exploration includes the significance of Mary's visitation and her revolutionary Magnificat, as well as details about the census, stable, and the journey of the Magi. This work invites readers to engage deeply with these foundational stories of Christmas.
The renowned biblical scholar, author of The Misunderstood Jew , and general editor for The Jewish Annotated New Testament interweaves history and spiritual analysis to explore Jesus’ most popular teaching parables, exposing their misinterpretations and making them lively and relevant for modern readers. Jesus was a skilled storyteller and perceptive teacher who used parables from everyday life to effectively convey his message and meaning. Life in first-century Palestine was very different from our world today, and many traditional interpretations of Jesus’ stories ignore this disparity and have often allowed anti-Semitism and misogyny to color their perspectives. In this wise, entertaining, and educational book, Amy-Jill Levine offers a fresh, timely reinterpretation of Jesus’ narratives. In Short Stories by Jesus , she analyzes these “problems with parables,” taking readers back in time to understand how their original Jewish audience understood them. Levine reveals the parables’ connections to first-century economic and agricultural life, social customs and morality, Jewish scriptures and Roman culture. With this revitalized understanding, she interprets these moving stories for the contemporary reader, showing how the parables are not just about Jesus, but are also about us—and when read rightly, still challenge and provoke us two thousand years later.
What the Bible Really Says About Politics, Sex, Creation, Suffering, and More
In the The Misunderstood Jew, scholar Amy-Jill Levine helps Christians and Jews understand the "Jewishness" of Jesus so that their appreciation of him deepens and a greater interfaith dialogue can take place. Levine's humor and informed truth-telling provokes honest conversation and debate about how Christians and Jews should understand Jesus, the New Testament, and each other.