Resources
I don't consider this list exhaustive by any means, but hope that it is a starting point. As I continue my own studies, research, and writing, I've no doubt this list will expand. This page contains the following sections:
My Books
So I may be a little biased here, but this is where you will find books that I (Jonathan) have contributed to. Currently there is one such volume to speak of, title "How I Love Your Law" and it is a sort of devotional commentary that follows the weekly Torah portion.
You can find it below here:
You can find it below here:
Study Resources
In our pursuit of the Truth we often find ourselves at somewhat of a loss. Most people find themselves hindered by their inability to read a language outside of English (particularly Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Beyond just the language itself, most also lack an in-depth understanding of Biblical context. This is not to shame the cursory reader of the Scriptures, but it is simply fact.
And this fact is a difficult one to overcome. Indeed many people over the centuries have spent their entire lives studying just Hebrew, or just Greek, or just Ancient Near Eastern cultures. Yet all of these areas play an important role in understanding the Scriptures. I have often been asked by people - both in person and via e-mail, "Isn't studying the Bible enough?" My response is somewhat more complex. First we must clarify the question. Enough for what? Enough for salvation? Absolutely. The heart of the Gospel message - that Yeshua died so that we could live forever with God - is simple enough for a child to understand. So the next question then: is the Bible enough for training and instruction in righteousness? Yes! But the Scriptures were not written in a vacuum, and they were not the only books being written throughout history. As Dr. Michael Heiser has said before (though I doubt he coined the saying): The Bible may have been written for us, but it wasn't written to us. And that is the case.
If you truly want to understand the context of Scripture, you must understand the culture. To understand the culture, you must also understand the history. But now we're back at where we started.
On account of these difficulties, I've put together this page to offer links to various study and learning resources that I believe would benefit the reader tremendously. As with anything I share from outside sources, I will never say that I agree with it 100%. Nonetheless, there are some great resources available that contain a treasure trove of information.
And this fact is a difficult one to overcome. Indeed many people over the centuries have spent their entire lives studying just Hebrew, or just Greek, or just Ancient Near Eastern cultures. Yet all of these areas play an important role in understanding the Scriptures. I have often been asked by people - both in person and via e-mail, "Isn't studying the Bible enough?" My response is somewhat more complex. First we must clarify the question. Enough for what? Enough for salvation? Absolutely. The heart of the Gospel message - that Yeshua died so that we could live forever with God - is simple enough for a child to understand. So the next question then: is the Bible enough for training and instruction in righteousness? Yes! But the Scriptures were not written in a vacuum, and they were not the only books being written throughout history. As Dr. Michael Heiser has said before (though I doubt he coined the saying): The Bible may have been written for us, but it wasn't written to us. And that is the case.
If you truly want to understand the context of Scripture, you must understand the culture. To understand the culture, you must also understand the history. But now we're back at where we started.
On account of these difficulties, I've put together this page to offer links to various study and learning resources that I believe would benefit the reader tremendously. As with anything I share from outside sources, I will never say that I agree with it 100%. Nonetheless, there are some great resources available that contain a treasure trove of information.
Logos Bible Software
More than any other tool that has benefited my personal study (including the posts I have written here), is Logos. It's not a new tool by any means. In fact, the precursor to Logos was created in 1986 as a way of searching the text of the KJV. Today, Logos has tens of thousands of resources. I really cannot praise it enough. The biggest benefit to it, is how it all links together. Click a word in your English translation (of which there are many), and you'll get information about the Hebrew/Greek word used. You can highlight a verse (or verses), and pull up commentaries. You can click on a person's name and get a dictionary bio on them. You can click the name of a city, and get a background on it.
Now I could literally go on and on, but here's the catch: it's not cheap. The Logos 9 Basic is free (soon to add L10), and is enough to whet your appetite. If you're like me, and you often crave more resources, books, dictionaries, commentaries, histories, etc. then you'll quickly want to upgrade. The Logos 9 Fundamentals is usually $99, but you can follow this link to get it for $49. Then you can purchase individual resources to add to your library, and link together.
Best I can say is, save up your money and purchase a package. I purchased the Messianic Jewish Gold package, and added the BDAG/HALOT bundle (the premiere Hebrew and Greek lexicons). But I wanted access to a lot of extra-Biblical works as well, especially as it pertains to ancient Judaism. Part of the bundle includes the entire Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, also indexed and searchable and linkable.
Now full disclosure: I am a Faithlife Affiliate. But I didn't obtain that until after I spent months digging through the incredible resource of Logos 8. That said, using my links can help you get discounts, and purchasing through them (even when Logos runs extra discounts) grants me a small bonus. No cost to you, just a bonus for me. But I only do this with products I believe in.
And having said that, I am now also linking to both physical resources (usually from Amazon) as well as Logos, when applicable.
If you want more of an introduction, check out my reviews of Logos 9 and more recently Logos 10. Additionally, check out my YouTube playlist of Logos videos I put together, specifically for BibleHub users. It is for Logos 9, but everything in it carries into 10, and there are only a handful of major differences in L10 (which, coincidentally, I cover in my review of it).
More than any other tool that has benefited my personal study (including the posts I have written here), is Logos. It's not a new tool by any means. In fact, the precursor to Logos was created in 1986 as a way of searching the text of the KJV. Today, Logos has tens of thousands of resources. I really cannot praise it enough. The biggest benefit to it, is how it all links together. Click a word in your English translation (of which there are many), and you'll get information about the Hebrew/Greek word used. You can highlight a verse (or verses), and pull up commentaries. You can click on a person's name and get a dictionary bio on them. You can click the name of a city, and get a background on it.
Now I could literally go on and on, but here's the catch: it's not cheap. The Logos 9 Basic is free (soon to add L10), and is enough to whet your appetite. If you're like me, and you often crave more resources, books, dictionaries, commentaries, histories, etc. then you'll quickly want to upgrade. The Logos 9 Fundamentals is usually $99, but you can follow this link to get it for $49. Then you can purchase individual resources to add to your library, and link together.
Best I can say is, save up your money and purchase a package. I purchased the Messianic Jewish Gold package, and added the BDAG/HALOT bundle (the premiere Hebrew and Greek lexicons). But I wanted access to a lot of extra-Biblical works as well, especially as it pertains to ancient Judaism. Part of the bundle includes the entire Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds, also indexed and searchable and linkable.
Now full disclosure: I am a Faithlife Affiliate. But I didn't obtain that until after I spent months digging through the incredible resource of Logos 8. That said, using my links can help you get discounts, and purchasing through them (even when Logos runs extra discounts) grants me a small bonus. No cost to you, just a bonus for me. But I only do this with products I believe in.
And having said that, I am now also linking to both physical resources (usually from Amazon) as well as Logos, when applicable.
If you want more of an introduction, check out my reviews of Logos 9 and more recently Logos 10. Additionally, check out my YouTube playlist of Logos videos I put together, specifically for BibleHub users. It is for Logos 9, but everything in it carries into 10, and there are only a handful of major differences in L10 (which, coincidentally, I cover in my review of it).
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (Amazon)
Strong's is a staple for any student of the Word. It has been the standard for categorization and organization of Biblical Hebrew and Greek words for more than a century. It's numbering system is easy to use and, most times, gives a very good introductory definition. While it is a great resource, it should not be confused with a dictionary or lexicon. Strong's is a lookup tool, not a definition tool.
Strong's is a staple for any student of the Word. It has been the standard for categorization and organization of Biblical Hebrew and Greek words for more than a century. It's numbering system is easy to use and, most times, gives a very good introductory definition. While it is a great resource, it should not be confused with a dictionary or lexicon. Strong's is a lookup tool, not a definition tool.
Hebrew & Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (Amazon; Logos)
While a bit pricey, these two volumes are the height of linguistic and cognate lexical research when it comes to the Hebrew and Aramaic OT.
While a bit pricey, these two volumes are the height of linguistic and cognate lexical research when it comes to the Hebrew and Aramaic OT.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon (Amazon; Logos)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon is a wonderful resource for studying the Greek words of the New Testament. Not only does it give a lexical entry and definition of each word, it also shows the usage of the word in Classical Greek (Homer, Herodotus, etc.) and many times also gives the Hebrew equivalent found in the Septuagint.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon is a wonderful resource for studying the Greek words of the New Testament. Not only does it give a lexical entry and definition of each word, it also shows the usage of the word in Classical Greek (Homer, Herodotus, etc.) and many times also gives the Hebrew equivalent found in the Septuagint.
Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar (Amazon; Logos)
The title is completely self-explanatory. This is a textbook-style book that includes everything one would learn at a first-year Biblical Hebrew course. I still reference the text periodically myself, as it is such a wonderful work. While it can be found used, I recommend purchasing it new as it will include a CD-ROM that is very helpful in learning the language. This is for the 3rd Edition which is 12 years newer than the previous one, I believe.
Also available is the workbook (Amazon; Logos).
The title is completely self-explanatory. This is a textbook-style book that includes everything one would learn at a first-year Biblical Hebrew course. I still reference the text periodically myself, as it is such a wonderful work. While it can be found used, I recommend purchasing it new as it will include a CD-ROM that is very helpful in learning the language. This is for the 3rd Edition which is 12 years newer than the previous one, I believe.
Also available is the workbook (Amazon; Logos).
Basics of Biblical Aramaic (Amazon; Logos)
As with the above, this is also a great resource for anyone studying the Tanakh in its original languages. It is a lexicon, grammar, and workbook all in one. It is strongly advised that one complete the Basics of Biblical Hebrew prior to beginning Biblical Aramaic, as this text will build upon a foundation shared by Hebrew and Aramaic.
As with the above, this is also a great resource for anyone studying the Tanakh in its original languages. It is a lexicon, grammar, and workbook all in one. It is strongly advised that one complete the Basics of Biblical Hebrew prior to beginning Biblical Aramaic, as this text will build upon a foundation shared by Hebrew and Aramaic.
Basics of Biblical Greek Just as the two texts above are great resources for learning Hebrew and Aramaic, this is perhaps the best available for learning Greek. A secondary option is listed below, but both are good. This one is just a little more common, and has been used for over 20 years.
Lexham Press Greek and Hebrew Texts
- An Introduction to Biblical Greek: A Grammar with Exercises (Amazon; Logos)
- Learning Biblical Hebrew: Reading for Comprehension: An Introductory Grammar (Amazon; Logos)
- Biblical Greek Made Simple: All the Basics in One Semester (Amazon; Logos)
- Learning Biblical Hebrew Workbook: A Graded Reader with Exercises (Amazon; Logos)
Schottenstein Interlinear Complete Chumash
Chumash is a Hebrew word (חומש) derived from the word meaning "five." The full phrase is chamishah chumshei Torah, which means "five fifths of Torah." It is a printed codex (book) of the Torah and includes commentary. This particular Chumash, the Schottenstein Interlinear by Artscroll, provides the Hebrew text word-for-word with a direct English translation beside it. It also features the Aramaic text of Targum Onkelos and Rashi (though no translation of either), and footnotes with commentary in English. It is very similar to the Stone Edition Chumash, which is a full translation by Artscroll, not an interlinear. However, if you're looking for an English-only Chumash, I actually recommend one by Koren Publishers instead of Artscroll.
Chumash is a Hebrew word (חומש) derived from the word meaning "five." The full phrase is chamishah chumshei Torah, which means "five fifths of Torah." It is a printed codex (book) of the Torah and includes commentary. This particular Chumash, the Schottenstein Interlinear by Artscroll, provides the Hebrew text word-for-word with a direct English translation beside it. It also features the Aramaic text of Targum Onkelos and Rashi (though no translation of either), and footnotes with commentary in English. It is very similar to the Stone Edition Chumash, which is a full translation by Artscroll, not an interlinear. However, if you're looking for an English-only Chumash, I actually recommend one by Koren Publishers instead of Artscroll.
Babylonian Talmud - Neusner Translation (Amazon; Logos)
I fully believe that by studying the practices of ancient Judaism, we can get a closer glimpse at the culture that Messiah Yeshua lived in. The Babylonian Talmud is a great resource, and it is HUGE (some translations and commentaries contain over 70 volumes). I own a set that includes an English-only translation, and it is still 22 volumes. However, this entire 22-volume set can be read on the computer from this CD. If you're more interested in the entire printed set, it can be purchased here at an incredible price.
Jerusalem Talmud - Neusner Translation (Amazon; Logos)
Just as with the above, the Jerusalem Talmud is a great resource, albeit much smaller in terms of content than the Babylonian.
Combined Set: Logos.
If you're getting into Logos, ESPECIALLY if you're looking for great study materials, Logos actually sells a bundle that includes both the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds together. You can grab it here, for not much more than just the Babylonian.
Further, there is the book Everyman's Talmud by Abraham Cohen. This book offers a wonderful overview of the beliefs of Judaism as espoused not just by the Talmud, but also by the Midrashim, the Zohar, and other Rabbinic texts. Cohen offers the "proofs" behind the Jewish beliefs regarding Heaven, Hell, Messiah, Redemption, Angels, the Devil, Freewill, and more.
I fully believe that by studying the practices of ancient Judaism, we can get a closer glimpse at the culture that Messiah Yeshua lived in. The Babylonian Talmud is a great resource, and it is HUGE (some translations and commentaries contain over 70 volumes). I own a set that includes an English-only translation, and it is still 22 volumes. However, this entire 22-volume set can be read on the computer from this CD. If you're more interested in the entire printed set, it can be purchased here at an incredible price.
Jerusalem Talmud - Neusner Translation (Amazon; Logos)
Just as with the above, the Jerusalem Talmud is a great resource, albeit much smaller in terms of content than the Babylonian.
Combined Set: Logos.
If you're getting into Logos, ESPECIALLY if you're looking for great study materials, Logos actually sells a bundle that includes both the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds together. You can grab it here, for not much more than just the Babylonian.
Further, there is the book Everyman's Talmud by Abraham Cohen. This book offers a wonderful overview of the beliefs of Judaism as espoused not just by the Talmud, but also by the Midrashim, the Zohar, and other Rabbinic texts. Cohen offers the "proofs" behind the Jewish beliefs regarding Heaven, Hell, Messiah, Redemption, Angels, the Devil, Freewill, and more.
The Mishnah (Amazon; Logos)
The Mishnah is the heart and soul of the Talmud, minus the Gemara (ancient Rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah). If you're looking for a very solid translation with some great additional information, this translation by Herbert Danby is one of the finest. (Note: Danby's translation of the Mishnah is not available as a Logos book as of yet, so I have linked to Neusner's instead)
The Mishnah is the heart and soul of the Talmud, minus the Gemara (ancient Rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah). If you're looking for a very solid translation with some great additional information, this translation by Herbert Danby is one of the finest. (Note: Danby's translation of the Mishnah is not available as a Logos book as of yet, so I have linked to Neusner's instead)
Messianic Commentaries
While there are some very good Christian commentaries out there (Keil & Delitzsch on the OT, Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, the Pulpit Commentary, etc.), these are all a little old, and as such the language may be difficult for some. They also only reference the KJV (as modern translations did not yet exist). However, there is an author today who is a Torah Observant man that received formal training from Seminary. He is a master of the Greek language, and a very capable exegete.
J. K. McKee has published commentaries on almost all of the NT, and though we disagree on a number of points, I still find them to be very well-written, well-researched, and chock full of vital information. He has published them on Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, the Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and James. He is currently working on commentaries for 1 & 2 Corinthians, as well. These 'Practical Messianic' commentaries are at the height of NT scholarship, but are written in such a way that you do not need a college degree to understand them.
While there are some very good Christian commentaries out there (Keil & Delitzsch on the OT, Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible, the Pulpit Commentary, etc.), these are all a little old, and as such the language may be difficult for some. They also only reference the KJV (as modern translations did not yet exist). However, there is an author today who is a Torah Observant man that received formal training from Seminary. He is a master of the Greek language, and a very capable exegete.
J. K. McKee has published commentaries on almost all of the NT, and though we disagree on a number of points, I still find them to be very well-written, well-researched, and chock full of vital information. He has published them on Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, the Pastoral Epistles, Hebrews, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, and James. He is currently working on commentaries for 1 & 2 Corinthians, as well. These 'Practical Messianic' commentaries are at the height of NT scholarship, but are written in such a way that you do not need a college degree to understand them.
This, then, brings me to websites. The sites offer various levels of assistance, from teachings, to brief FAQs, to lexicons and dictionaries and original languages texts.
Biblehub.com is perhaps my favorite Bible study website. There are many translations available to read from, as well as access to the Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek texts themselves, which are keyed to Strong's, Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, and the NASB concordance just by clicking on them. Before I got Logos (which can do all this and infinitely more if we're being honest), pretty much all of my posts were written with help from Biblehub. For a free tool, it's hard to beat.
CAL - the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. This website can be a little difficult to follow, but it features a database of all sorts of Aramaic texts, most of which are linked to definitions within the lexicon. Whether you want ot read the Aramaic text of Targum Onkelos, or the Syriac text of the Gospel of John, or even the Aramaic fragments of the book of Enoch, they can all be found on the CAL website. If you have Logos Bible Software you can actually get a Logos resource and dataset that includes all of these same texts from the CAL, plus indexes them and links them to other Logos resoruces.
Dukhrana - This site features a dictionary and lexicon, fonts, as well as the Dukhrana Peshitta tool. Though it is for NT only, it features the three major English translations of the Syriac Peshitta NT (Etheridge, Murdock, and Lamsa), along with the Syriac text of the British Foreign Bible Society's Peshitta and the transcribed Khabouris Codex. Further, where applicable, it includes the Syriac text of the Old Syriac Gospels (Curetonian and Sinaiticus), as well as various Greek texts. You can also read an Afrikaans or Dutch translation of the Peshitta, the Hebrew text of Franz Delitzsch's Hebrew NT (11th Ed.), the English KJV, the Clementine Latin Vulgate, or a French Bible.
Biblehub.com is perhaps my favorite Bible study website. There are many translations available to read from, as well as access to the Hebrew/Aramaic/Greek texts themselves, which are keyed to Strong's, Thayer's Greek Lexicon, Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, and the NASB concordance just by clicking on them. Before I got Logos (which can do all this and infinitely more if we're being honest), pretty much all of my posts were written with help from Biblehub. For a free tool, it's hard to beat.
CAL - the Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. This website can be a little difficult to follow, but it features a database of all sorts of Aramaic texts, most of which are linked to definitions within the lexicon. Whether you want ot read the Aramaic text of Targum Onkelos, or the Syriac text of the Gospel of John, or even the Aramaic fragments of the book of Enoch, they can all be found on the CAL website. If you have Logos Bible Software you can actually get a Logos resource and dataset that includes all of these same texts from the CAL, plus indexes them and links them to other Logos resoruces.
Dukhrana - This site features a dictionary and lexicon, fonts, as well as the Dukhrana Peshitta tool. Though it is for NT only, it features the three major English translations of the Syriac Peshitta NT (Etheridge, Murdock, and Lamsa), along with the Syriac text of the British Foreign Bible Society's Peshitta and the transcribed Khabouris Codex. Further, where applicable, it includes the Syriac text of the Old Syriac Gospels (Curetonian and Sinaiticus), as well as various Greek texts. You can also read an Afrikaans or Dutch translation of the Peshitta, the Hebrew text of Franz Delitzsch's Hebrew NT (11th Ed.), the English KJV, the Clementine Latin Vulgate, or a French Bible.
Recommended Ministries
These days I find myself more likely to recommend ministries and teachers to AVOID, than ones I would endorse. But I'll try to be a bit more helpful than that. So here's a few, though not really in any particular order.
The Naked Bible Podcast (Michael Heiser, Ph.D) - Dr. Heiser has run this podcast for years now. He has a Patreon set up to fund it. Before you ask, no, Dr. Heiser is not a Torah Keeper. (Though you'd be impressed at the episode he did on the words "all Israel shall be saved.") He is, however, a Semitic (Hebrew/Aramaic) language scholar. Dr. Heiser has also written multiple wonderful books, such as Unseen Realm (and its abridged counterpart, Supernatural), Angels, and Demons. Each is a book covering exactly what the title entails, and covers a myriad of examples from Scripture, 2nd Temple Jewish texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls, and more. Dr. Heiser is a fine scholar, a very wise Bible teacher, and a man of solid principles and conviction. While I certainly do not agree with everything he says, at the very least his methodology is solid and evidence-based. Plus, he's not a Calvinist, which is always a win in my book.
David Wilber - David is a writer, apologist, and Bible teacher. He has worked with Founded in Truth Fellowship as well as Freedom Hill Community. He is also an occasional teacher / presenter for 119 Ministries. David has authored a handful of very useful books that provide introductions as Biblical instruction on various topics. These include A Christian Guide to the Biblical Feasts (great intro for newbies, as well as to show your friends and family in the normative Church), Is God a Misogynist, and When Faith Works: Living out the Law of Liberty According to James.
Faith of Messiah Ministries (Ryan White, M.A.) - Ryan has worked on producing a lot of great historical content. Ryan holds a Master's in Biblical Studies and tends to produce content on a little more of an academic level. His website has various membership levels where you can access different types of content and even some Yeshiva (Seminary) style online courses.
Torah Resource (Tim Hegg, Th.M, M.Div) - A great number of resources from a veteran teacher in the Torah Observant / Messianic Jewish world. Tim has been a staunch defender, for decades now, of what he calls "One Law" theology. Simply put, the belief that we would pretty much all agree on around here, that Torah is for all of God's people, not just Jews. Tim has produced many wonderful commentaries such as on Hebrews, Romans, Galatians, and the Johannine letters. He has also produced various other books such as on Christology (study of Messiah), Ecclesiology (study of the Church / Assembly), and more. He has produced a Siddur for erev Shabbat and Shabbat use, as well as materials on establishing a Torah-based, Yeshua-honoring community. My only major complaint with Torah Resource is that it is pretty staunchly Calvinist. There is also a Torah Resource podcast now available (including on Spotify) that usually has the previous week's Bible study led by Tim.
Soteriology 101 (Leighton Flowers, Ph.D) - This is a ministry that really only deals with one subject: Calvinism. And, in particular, countering Calvinistic arguments. Dr. Flowers is the leading proponent of what he considers Provisionism (aka Traditionalism). I have described myself as 80% Provisionist, 20% Arminian. But that's beside the point. If you want to see some exposition of Biblical passages that might sound heavily Calvinistic, due to the baggage they now carry, check out Dr. Flowers. He's done some great work on it, and has hosted other non-Calvinistic scholars as well (Dr. David Allen, Dr. Roger Olson, Dr. Ken Wilson to name a few). Dr. Flowers has authored two books on the matter: The Potter's Promise, and God's Provision for All.
Beit Shalom Messianic Congregation (Matt Nappier, M.A.; other teachers) - They stream their services, which is a great benefit for folks needing to watch a congregation on Shabbat. Matt Nappier in particular, who holds a Master's and is a current Doctoral student, is a profound teacher. Matt has a tendency to reach beyond sensationalism, which I greatly appreciate.
Messianic Apologetics (John K. McKee, M.A.) - The personal ministry site of author J. K. McKee, he has many articles and FAQs available that answer many of the top pressing questions going around. While he and I do not agree on everything, I certainly respect him, and would recommend anyone and everyone check out his site.
The Naked Bible Podcast (Michael Heiser, Ph.D) - Dr. Heiser has run this podcast for years now. He has a Patreon set up to fund it. Before you ask, no, Dr. Heiser is not a Torah Keeper. (Though you'd be impressed at the episode he did on the words "all Israel shall be saved.") He is, however, a Semitic (Hebrew/Aramaic) language scholar. Dr. Heiser has also written multiple wonderful books, such as Unseen Realm (and its abridged counterpart, Supernatural), Angels, and Demons. Each is a book covering exactly what the title entails, and covers a myriad of examples from Scripture, 2nd Temple Jewish texts like the Dead Sea Scrolls, and more. Dr. Heiser is a fine scholar, a very wise Bible teacher, and a man of solid principles and conviction. While I certainly do not agree with everything he says, at the very least his methodology is solid and evidence-based. Plus, he's not a Calvinist, which is always a win in my book.
David Wilber - David is a writer, apologist, and Bible teacher. He has worked with Founded in Truth Fellowship as well as Freedom Hill Community. He is also an occasional teacher / presenter for 119 Ministries. David has authored a handful of very useful books that provide introductions as Biblical instruction on various topics. These include A Christian Guide to the Biblical Feasts (great intro for newbies, as well as to show your friends and family in the normative Church), Is God a Misogynist, and When Faith Works: Living out the Law of Liberty According to James.
Faith of Messiah Ministries (Ryan White, M.A.) - Ryan has worked on producing a lot of great historical content. Ryan holds a Master's in Biblical Studies and tends to produce content on a little more of an academic level. His website has various membership levels where you can access different types of content and even some Yeshiva (Seminary) style online courses.
Torah Resource (Tim Hegg, Th.M, M.Div) - A great number of resources from a veteran teacher in the Torah Observant / Messianic Jewish world. Tim has been a staunch defender, for decades now, of what he calls "One Law" theology. Simply put, the belief that we would pretty much all agree on around here, that Torah is for all of God's people, not just Jews. Tim has produced many wonderful commentaries such as on Hebrews, Romans, Galatians, and the Johannine letters. He has also produced various other books such as on Christology (study of Messiah), Ecclesiology (study of the Church / Assembly), and more. He has produced a Siddur for erev Shabbat and Shabbat use, as well as materials on establishing a Torah-based, Yeshua-honoring community. My only major complaint with Torah Resource is that it is pretty staunchly Calvinist. There is also a Torah Resource podcast now available (including on Spotify) that usually has the previous week's Bible study led by Tim.
Soteriology 101 (Leighton Flowers, Ph.D) - This is a ministry that really only deals with one subject: Calvinism. And, in particular, countering Calvinistic arguments. Dr. Flowers is the leading proponent of what he considers Provisionism (aka Traditionalism). I have described myself as 80% Provisionist, 20% Arminian. But that's beside the point. If you want to see some exposition of Biblical passages that might sound heavily Calvinistic, due to the baggage they now carry, check out Dr. Flowers. He's done some great work on it, and has hosted other non-Calvinistic scholars as well (Dr. David Allen, Dr. Roger Olson, Dr. Ken Wilson to name a few). Dr. Flowers has authored two books on the matter: The Potter's Promise, and God's Provision for All.
Beit Shalom Messianic Congregation (Matt Nappier, M.A.; other teachers) - They stream their services, which is a great benefit for folks needing to watch a congregation on Shabbat. Matt Nappier in particular, who holds a Master's and is a current Doctoral student, is a profound teacher. Matt has a tendency to reach beyond sensationalism, which I greatly appreciate.
Messianic Apologetics (John K. McKee, M.A.) - The personal ministry site of author J. K. McKee, he has many articles and FAQs available that answer many of the top pressing questions going around. While he and I do not agree on everything, I certainly respect him, and would recommend anyone and everyone check out his site.
Teachers / "Ministries" to Avoid
This section will mostly be useful to newcomers, since they are still getting their bearings in this walk. I won't list out all my grievances and disagreements with those listed below. I'll just say if a teacher / ministry is listed here, it is because they actively promote doctrines and/or practices that directly violate one of more of the following foundational Biblical doctrines: that YHWH Elohim is the Creator of the Universe; that Yeshua the Messiah is His Unique, Divine Son; that Scripture is composed of the 66 books that are commonly called "the Bible" today; that salvation is by faith in Yeshua Messiah, and while works are evidence of faith, no amount of work grants salvation; that God's covenant is with the descendants of Abraham who, like Abraham, are children of faith. So with that said, avoid these:
Christian Truthers (now disbanded after the founder left the Faith entirely); MTOI (Messianic Torah Observant Israel, aka Beth Shalom Messianic Congregation, aka "Rabbi" Steve Berkson); Paul Sides (aka "Rav Sha'ul", aka Sabbath Covenant); Torah to the Tribes (Matthew Nolan); StraitwayTruth (aka "Pastor" Charles Dowell).
There are many reasons I could add others for disagreements, but I don't consider most disagreements worthy of such. Only those that I believe are inherently teaching a false Gospel, false message of salvation, or denying the authority of God and His Word. Hence why those listed here, are here.
Christian Truthers (now disbanded after the founder left the Faith entirely); MTOI (Messianic Torah Observant Israel, aka Beth Shalom Messianic Congregation, aka "Rabbi" Steve Berkson); Paul Sides (aka "Rav Sha'ul", aka Sabbath Covenant); Torah to the Tribes (Matthew Nolan); StraitwayTruth (aka "Pastor" Charles Dowell).
There are many reasons I could add others for disagreements, but I don't consider most disagreements worthy of such. Only those that I believe are inherently teaching a false Gospel, false message of salvation, or denying the authority of God and His Word. Hence why those listed here, are here.
Bible Translations
I get asked this question at least a couple times a month: what Bible translation is best?
To me, this is a bit of a loaded question. I'd say, "Best for what?" Not all translations perform the same job. Nevertheless, here's my recommendations of best (and worst) translations, and a brief explanation of why.
To me, this is a bit of a loaded question. I'd say, "Best for what?" Not all translations perform the same job. Nevertheless, here's my recommendations of best (and worst) translations, and a brief explanation of why.
Recommended
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
I like the TLV because it uses ADONAI and Yeshua Messiah, which I personally prefer over Lord and Jesus Christ. And while it also transliterates some other terms (sheol and shofar, for example), it doesn't get tedious. It's also easier to read aloud from, without having to struggle through names like Chizqiyahu and Shimshon. (Sorry, but Mephibosheth will also sound awkward).
I also like that it was completed by a committee of dedicated people, predominantly of the Messianic Jewish persuasion. It is not heavily Calvinistic, as Messianic Jews tend to learn more Arminian, and indeed Dr. Michael Brown (prominent Arminian) was on the translation and theology committee. It maintains a healthy respect for Torah and tradition, without adulterating the translation with anachronistic terminology (see CJB below).
The TLV is a literal translation, and sometimes even rivals the NASB for more literal rendering. It is highly readable, and is built on a solid text based as found in the Nestle-Aland 27th Ed. Greek NT. My only complaint here is that it sticks solely to the Masoretic text. While I wholeheartedly believe the Masoretic text has accurately preserved the Hebrew Scriptures, I also believe it is deficient in some instances. By using reason ecclecticism and applying a text-critical approach to translation, I believe it is best to supplement the Masoretic text with the occasional weight of evidence from the Greek Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac Peshitta, Samaritan Pentateuch, and even the Latin Vulgate. There are various methods and approaches to do this that I won't go into, but suffice it to say this is my only real complaint with the TLV: it doesn't consult the LXX or DSS at the very least.
You may notice that the TLV is the only "Messianic" bible translation that makes my recommendation list. Call me jaded, biased, or cynical, but while there are many options for "Torah Observant" translations, I have found them to be very poorly produced and/or doctored to suit a theological bend.
I also like that it was completed by a committee of dedicated people, predominantly of the Messianic Jewish persuasion. It is not heavily Calvinistic, as Messianic Jews tend to learn more Arminian, and indeed Dr. Michael Brown (prominent Arminian) was on the translation and theology committee. It maintains a healthy respect for Torah and tradition, without adulterating the translation with anachronistic terminology (see CJB below).
The TLV is a literal translation, and sometimes even rivals the NASB for more literal rendering. It is highly readable, and is built on a solid text based as found in the Nestle-Aland 27th Ed. Greek NT. My only complaint here is that it sticks solely to the Masoretic text. While I wholeheartedly believe the Masoretic text has accurately preserved the Hebrew Scriptures, I also believe it is deficient in some instances. By using reason ecclecticism and applying a text-critical approach to translation, I believe it is best to supplement the Masoretic text with the occasional weight of evidence from the Greek Septuagint, Dead Sea Scrolls, Syriac Peshitta, Samaritan Pentateuch, and even the Latin Vulgate. There are various methods and approaches to do this that I won't go into, but suffice it to say this is my only real complaint with the TLV: it doesn't consult the LXX or DSS at the very least.
You may notice that the TLV is the only "Messianic" bible translation that makes my recommendation list. Call me jaded, biased, or cynical, but while there are many options for "Torah Observant" translations, I have found them to be very poorly produced and/or doctored to suit a theological bend.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
The NASB has been around for over 50 years now. It's tried and true, and has earned a rightful title of literal translation. While I still enjoy the NASB, I believe some of the language and phrasing is a bit difficult.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV has quickly become a favorite of many conservative believers, and has soared to the top of the list for most Reformed believers (Presbyterian, Reformed Baptists, as well as many Messianics who hold a more Reformed-like doctrinal persuasion). Being published by Crossway (predominantly Reformed), this makes sense. There are special edition Lutheran and John MacArthur versions of the ESV, Archeology Study Bibles, and more.
The ESV is easy to read; easier even than the NASB. It features cross-references and influences from the LXX and DSS. The Greek NT is based on the 28th Edition of the Nestle-Aland.
The ESV is easy to read; easier even than the NASB. It features cross-references and influences from the LXX and DSS. The Greek NT is based on the 28th Edition of the Nestle-Aland.
Not Recommended
The Scriptures 1993, 1998, 2009 (by ISR)
Yeah, I know. I await the hate mail. This one is definitely the most popular "Messianic" version. But it has plenty of issues.
It started with the 1993 edition by Dr. CJ Koster (a medical doctor; not a Biblical scholar). Dr. Koster took issue with what he perceived as rampant paganism in the Church and Church terminology. This is further attested in his book, "Come out of Her My People." (A terrible book filled with as many historical inaccuracies as Hislop's The Two Babylons).
Koster started with a KJV, and worked through multiple revisions. First, updating the language (to make it not Elizabethan English). Then he changed what he considered "pagan" words. This lent itself to using odd terms like "slaughterplace" instead of altar, and "sovereign" instead of king. This makes for especially awkward readings when you get to words like "slaughterplace of incense." It also makes Andrew (the disciple) out to be a Hebrew name using Andri instead of the Greek Andreas.
Koster also believed the name Paul (Gk: Paulos, Lat: Paulus) to be a reference to a pagan god, and so he opted for Sha'ul instead. When having to deal with Acts 13:9 (where we have both Saul and Paul used in the same verse), the 1993 and 1998 editions simply removed the text of the verse. To be fair, the 2009 edition added the text back in. But this clear bias shows the dangers of translation that are put together by a single person.
On matters of textual basis, ISR uses mostly the Masoretic text, with little to no LXX or DSS influence. For the 2009 edition at least, it uses a cherry-picked set of texts, preferring whichever variant reading fit Koster's theology. The introduction to the translation says they preferred the "Hebrew" Matthew (a reference to a medieval translation of Matthew from Greek and Latin into Hebrew), and the Textus Receptus (a Greek text prepared by Catholic scholar Erasmus in the 1500s based on a handful of Greek and Latin manuscripts) and Greek Majority text (a textbase which very precious few scholars believe to be representative of the original).
While I can appreciate the "Hebraic" flavor of it, the scholarship is beyond lacking. The pseudo-scholarly organization "The Institute for Scripture Research" that Koster started was run, for a few years, by Lew White. Recently, a small group of people operate it mostly in anonymity (never a good sign), and continue to print and sell The Scriptures. The translation itself, though, is mostly built on the premise of "everything is pagan" and promoting theological understanding over principles of Biblical translation. Put simply: the bias is prevalent.
It started with the 1993 edition by Dr. CJ Koster (a medical doctor; not a Biblical scholar). Dr. Koster took issue with what he perceived as rampant paganism in the Church and Church terminology. This is further attested in his book, "Come out of Her My People." (A terrible book filled with as many historical inaccuracies as Hislop's The Two Babylons).
Koster started with a KJV, and worked through multiple revisions. First, updating the language (to make it not Elizabethan English). Then he changed what he considered "pagan" words. This lent itself to using odd terms like "slaughterplace" instead of altar, and "sovereign" instead of king. This makes for especially awkward readings when you get to words like "slaughterplace of incense." It also makes Andrew (the disciple) out to be a Hebrew name using Andri instead of the Greek Andreas.
Koster also believed the name Paul (Gk: Paulos, Lat: Paulus) to be a reference to a pagan god, and so he opted for Sha'ul instead. When having to deal with Acts 13:9 (where we have both Saul and Paul used in the same verse), the 1993 and 1998 editions simply removed the text of the verse. To be fair, the 2009 edition added the text back in. But this clear bias shows the dangers of translation that are put together by a single person.
On matters of textual basis, ISR uses mostly the Masoretic text, with little to no LXX or DSS influence. For the 2009 edition at least, it uses a cherry-picked set of texts, preferring whichever variant reading fit Koster's theology. The introduction to the translation says they preferred the "Hebrew" Matthew (a reference to a medieval translation of Matthew from Greek and Latin into Hebrew), and the Textus Receptus (a Greek text prepared by Catholic scholar Erasmus in the 1500s based on a handful of Greek and Latin manuscripts) and Greek Majority text (a textbase which very precious few scholars believe to be representative of the original).
While I can appreciate the "Hebraic" flavor of it, the scholarship is beyond lacking. The pseudo-scholarly organization "The Institute for Scripture Research" that Koster started was run, for a few years, by Lew White. Recently, a small group of people operate it mostly in anonymity (never a good sign), and continue to print and sell The Scriptures. The translation itself, though, is mostly built on the premise of "everything is pagan" and promoting theological understanding over principles of Biblical translation. Put simply: the bias is prevalent.
Eth Cepher
Again, I know; hate mail time. I've even been called a "lying, demon-possessed Pharisee" because I have such disdain for the "Eth Cepher." There are many issues with it, not the least of which is its one-man translation-ness.
First of all, it's nothing special in terms of translation. Like the ISR, it started as a KJV with a revised English text. Then the creator (a lawyer who operates a conspiracy news website) took from Bill Sanford's "Eth" (alef-tav) theology, adding the untranslated Hebrew את into the translation. Odd and not really useful (see my article here on that), but whatever. But it doesn't end there.
Like ISR, the Cepher also picks and chooses its text-base, and includes not only the Apocrypha but also books that have never been canonized as Scripture by any agreement, Jewish or Christian (such as the medieval Book of Jasher); and others like Jubilees and Enoch that, aside from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, have never been considered canon. It even includes the alleged 29th Chapter of Acts, which has many issues (not the least of which is no manuscript evidence at all). This may sound like a cool way to have a bunch of books all bound together, but in fact it demonstrates a very low view of Scripture (thinking the canon is just whatever we want it to be).
It also uses weird and inaccurate terminology like "Yahuah" and "Yasharal" that make it very difficult to read through as a regular Scripture study resource. In short, it's something born of:
To read my full review of the Cepher, click here.
First of all, it's nothing special in terms of translation. Like the ISR, it started as a KJV with a revised English text. Then the creator (a lawyer who operates a conspiracy news website) took from Bill Sanford's "Eth" (alef-tav) theology, adding the untranslated Hebrew את into the translation. Odd and not really useful (see my article here on that), but whatever. But it doesn't end there.
Like ISR, the Cepher also picks and chooses its text-base, and includes not only the Apocrypha but also books that have never been canonized as Scripture by any agreement, Jewish or Christian (such as the medieval Book of Jasher); and others like Jubilees and Enoch that, aside from the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, have never been considered canon. It even includes the alleged 29th Chapter of Acts, which has many issues (not the least of which is no manuscript evidence at all). This may sound like a cool way to have a bunch of books all bound together, but in fact it demonstrates a very low view of Scripture (thinking the canon is just whatever we want it to be).
It also uses weird and inaccurate terminology like "Yahuah" and "Yasharal" that make it very difficult to read through as a regular Scripture study resource. In short, it's something born of:
- Sacred nameism (from ISR)
- Eth theology (from Bill Sanford's Aleph-Tav Scriptures)
- Yasharal-like terms (from whoever came up with this ridiculous non-Hebrew)
- Expanded canon (from a lot of people who think Enoch and Jubilees were "removed" from Scripture)
To read my full review of the Cepher, click here.