News Release
Austin, Texas, July 15, 2014 – In Mishnah and the Words of Jesus, Dr. Roy B. Blizzard presents comparisons between the words of Jesus and the words of rabbis prior to, contemporary with, and following Jesus, recorded for us in the Mishnah, Order Nezikin, Tractate Avot, or the Chapters of the Fathers (Pirkei Avot).
Dr. Blizzard said, "Probably anyone who has ever focused on the teachings of Jesus in any depth is aware that he was a product of the religious milieu that emerged in the 1st century of this present era. The four gospels preserve for us the largest and the best corpus of material relating to the ideas and methods of teaching of the rabbis of that period. As we compare the words of Jesus with the other rabbis of his day, we can begin to understand where some of the ideas originated, the way they were thinking, and the themes upon which they were teaching."
In the teachings of Jesus, there is one underlying and overriding theme, a theme on which Jesus consistently dwells, a theme that serves as the foundation upon which biblical faith is built. That foundational theme is summed up in the Hebrew word tzedakah, the word frequently translated into English as righteousness. Tzedakah is the outstanding, overriding, and yet simple, theme of Jesus.
Biblical faith is not so much man always directing his attention upward toward God but, rather, through acts of "tzedakah", reaching out to others, meeting them at the point of their need and assisting in making them whole. Principles of biblical faith are not directed upward. It is not something one does for God. It is directed outward toward one's fellow man, but in so doing, at one and the same time, one performs the will of the Father.
Throughout Mishnah and the Words of Jesus, Dr. Blizzard points out how the Sages echo one another and how it all harmonizes completely with the words of Jesus.
Available in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon.com, http://amzn.com/B00F8XL9V8, Mishnah and the Words of Jesus is generating exciting reviews by Amazon customers:
"A must for clarifying many verses of the Bible – This book is very informative and clearly written. I am glad to have read it. It will be very useful for ongoing studies in the Bible. This book is a must for those who want deeper studies in understanding the scriptures and for preparing sermons." —Amazon customer review by Leo J. Vanderploeg (Britian), May 8, 2014
"A must read for the church! – Having a Hebraic understanding of the foundational teachings of Jesus gives a richer understanding of His will for us. I recommend this book for everyone who is looking for a better knowledge of the meaning of Jesus teachings. Thank you for this well thought out teaching!" —Amazon customer review by Cheryl Strouse, January 20, 2014
About Dr. Blizzard
Dr. Roy B. Blizzard is President of Bible Scholars, Inc., an Austin-based corporation dedicated to biblical research and education. A native of Joplin, Missouri, Dr. Blizzard has a Ph.D. in Hebrew Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a professor at the American Institute for Advanced Biblical Studies in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Dr. Blizzard has spent much of his time in Israel and the Middle East in study and research. He has hosted over 500 television programs about Israel and Judaism and is the author of numerous books and articles available on the Bible Scholars Website http://www.biblescholars.org
Dr. Blizzard is nationally certified as an educator in Marriage and Family relationships and human sexuality. He is a Diplomate with the American Board of Sexology and continues to conduct a private practice in the field of sex education and therapy.
About Bible Scholars
Bible Scholars is concerned with information of a religious nature, although they are certainly not limited to religious studies in the strictest sense of the word. Their focus encompasses information from all disciplines that will illuminate and educate. Hosea 4:6 states, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
Bible Scholars provides readers with the best, most up-to-date, relevant information available in the various disciplines of religion, biblical studies, history, archaeology, current issues and contemporary events that will assist them in the quest for truth. Bible Scholars seeks to "Question the Answers." Visit the web site at: http://www.biblescholars.org.
Contact: Leah Ciaccio, 512-422-4223, Bible Scholars, Inc., leah[at]biblescholars.org
Visit: Bible Scholars Media Resources for book cover and author photos.
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