Course Directory

Christianity’s Hebraic Heritage Part 1: Understanding Jews and Judaism

100 Level — Marvin R. Wilson, Ph.D.

Course 111 features lectures by Marvin R. Wilson, Ph.D., the Harold J. Ockenga Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Gordon College and author of the best- selling book Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith.

This is the first part of a two-part series aiming to help Christians better understand the Hebraic heritage or Jewish roots of our faith, especially in relation to the beliefs and practices of our Jewish neighbors. Part 1 discusses the common heritage of Jews and Christians as children of Abraham, the ancient parting of the Church and Synagogue, and the cruel history of violent contempt against Jews, especially during the Holocaust and continuing in attacks against Jews today. It also discusses modern Zionism in relation to the Bible and Christian-Jewish relations; the search for Christianity’s Jewish roots; and the sources, customs, and subgroups of modern Judaism. It further explores how Christians and Jews might face our differences while seeking a better future through dialogue and mutual witness to our shared heritage.

In this two-part series, Part 1 (course 111) focuses on “Understanding Jews and Judaism,” whereas Part 2 (course 112) focuses on “Theology, Ethics and Community.” This course provides an opportunity to view 44 half-hour lectures by Dr. Wilson on “Christianity’s Hebraic Heritage.” It additionally includes the testimony of Dr. (hon.) Sonia Schreiber Weitz of blessed memory concerning her experiences as a survivor of five Nazi concentration camps.

While the requirements for 111 have been designed for academic credit for undergraduates, a graduate-level version of this course is also available (511), as is the opportunity to view this course’s video lectures for personal development (without academic credit).

Required texts for 111 (for academic credit) include nine chapters of Marvin R. Wilson’s Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith, and three other textbooks: Jacques Doukhan’s Israel and the Church: Two Voices for the Same God, Corrie ten Boom’s The Hiding Place, and Sonia Schreiber Weitz’s I Promised I Would Tell (ed. Susan Belt Cogley). Course requirements also include successful completion of fifteen online tests concerning the readings and videos.

Should you have any questions concerning this course, please feel free to contact its tutor, Robert W. Bleakney, Ph.D., Associate Professor, at rbleakney@hebraiccenter.org.