TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Number

Abstract ii

Acknowledgements iii-v

Chapter One – Introduction 1-7

Chapter Two – The Biblical Background of Jewish Identity, 8-33

and the Significance of the New Covenant

Chapter Three – A Theological Reflection: Supersessionism 34-52

and its Impact; Remedies and Results

Chapter Four – One Cohort’s Experience with Jewish Brethren 53-61

Chapter Five – Conclusion 62-69

Endnotes 70-78

Appendices

Appendix I – Initial/Baseline Investigative Instrument 79

Appendix II – Liturgical and Community Activities 80-82
Appendix III – Cohort De-Brief and Reflection Curriculum 83-84
Appendix IV – Terminal Investigative Instrument 85-86
Appendix V – Data Fields and Quantified Assessment 87-95
Appendix VI – Toward Jerusalem Council II Position Papers 96-101

Works Cited 102-104

Selected List of Works Consulted 105-107

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 ABSTRACT

Recovery of a Biblical Worldview in a Postmodern Context Informed by

the Hebrew Scriptures as Enhanced by Graced Interaction Between
Gentile and Messianic Jewish Faith Communities

by

Nicholas Arthur Marziani, Jr.

This study investigates the impact of focused and intentional interaction between

Gentile and Messianic Jewish believers on the ability of Gentile Christians to appropriate

and apply the Hebrew biblical canon to their lives and ministries. Insights are drawn from

a cohort of Episcopalians and members of a Messianic Jewish synagogue in the Fort

Worth-Dallas area who associated in worship and fellowship throughout a three month

period. The study considers the biblical and theological issues concerning ongoing Jewish

identity in the Christian church, and the place of the Jewish believer in the life of the

church and the economy of salvation. The central question of this study is whether or not

observable and repeatable improvements in Old Testament comprehension, appreciation

and application occur in Gentile Christians as a result of structured interaction with

Jewish believers. An ancillary question explores whether or not the church was ever

designed to fruitfully function without a lively Jewish presence in its midst.

In considering the ongoing development of thought in the Gentile cohort, the

study proposes that the Holy Spirit will utilize biblically responsible interaction between

Gentile and Jewish believers to enhance recovery of a fully informed biblical worldview

and ministry capacity with special application to the themes of our postmodern world.

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 Acknowledgments

In dealing with the topic under investigation in this study, there is a plethora of

God’s people who have significantly influenced the development of the researcher’s

thoughts. Such is certainly the case here. Having wrestled with questions concerning the

place of the Jewish people in history and prophetic literature for over a quarter century,

God placed a number of special members of his ancient covenant people in my path for

the better part of my adult life. My relocation from my native Philadelphia to the

Washington, D.C. area on a wintery, January day in 1980 was largely prompted by the

common life of Messianic congregation Beth Messiah in Rockville, MD, and of

particular note its teaching-pastor, Daniel C. Juster. It is amazing to me that well over

twenty years later, and in the wake of early relational difficulties between us and even

after devastating personal tragedy in the Juster family, Dan continued to graciously serve

as a true friend and companion in the Gospel, and a vital scholarly link to an ever-

broadening literature concerning the role of the Jewish people in world redemption. Dr.

Juster secured my participation in the work of the Toward Jerusalem Council II initiative;

to its Executive Board and numerous associates and supporters, I also owe a debt of

gratitude.

I also wish to acknowledge another true son of Abraham, who, although he does

not profess a creedal faith in Yeshua (Jesus) as Messiah, is nevertheless one of the most

gracious and humble men I ever met. To Dr. Gideon Frieder of the George Washington

University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science I owe, in an interesting way,

even my priesthood (a long and awesome tale itself, best left to Eternity to develop its

full grace and significance). Gideon continues to model for me the very hope of Israel,

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this son of the Holocaust, who almost “adopted” me as a little brother. Gideon, my dear

friend, to you and the memory of your slain family I bow in respect and gratitude.

There are numerous others, scores of Jewish believers, in Israel and in the

Diaspora, as well as Gentile Christians like myself sympathetic to our Jewish brethren,

who influenced my life and thinking, and I bless them all. I find it most significant that at

important inflection points in my life and the life of my family, both spiritually and

materially, Jewish people and Gentile served as catalysts to my/our progress. This is a

vital principle-in-action, something I attempted to “capture” and document in this study.

More recently, there are the “cheerers-on” at Trinity Episcopal School for

Ministry, and in my Episcopal study cohort, who greatly encouraged me in this project. I

especially recall the gentle but powerful ministry of then Doctor of Ministry dean, the

Reverend Dr. Sudduth Cummings, who served not merely as an academic resource, but a

working pastor, during a difficult phase of my ministry in Texas. He and his wife,

Charlotte, continue to bless me and my wife, as we labor together now in the Diocese of

Florida. I must also cite the ministry of encouragement provided by study cohort member

and former parishioner, Betty Abney, who advised me in no uncertain terms that it was

the sovereign “will of the Lord” that I complete this thesis project and doctoral degree;

appreciation also goes to my current parishioners at St. Mark’s, Palatka, Florida, who

prayed for their Interim Rector during this process. I also wish to thank the Reverend Dr.

Henry “Laurie” Thompson, current Dean of the Doctor of Ministry Program, and the

Reverend Canon Jerry Smith, Academic Dean pro tem, for their solicitation in helping

me complete this project, to which there was more than originally met the eye! I also

wish to thank my other readers, Professor Dean Ulrich and the Rev. Dr. Bruce Robison

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for forcing me to sharpen my argument and document in detail the considerable labor this

project represents. Without their input, this thesis project would be far less useful to

God’s people. I also wish to thank Dr. Paula Miller, Dr. Timothy Johnson, Mr. Michael

Gallen and Mr. Jack Daniels of Flagler College in St. Augustine, FL, my new hometown,

who were all instrumental in securing excellent library facilities and services for me as I

researched and addressed the issues raised by the thesis project defense committee.

Many thanks to my copyeditors, Drs. Tamara and Jim Wilson of Flagler College who

rendered a professional quality text from a penultimate draft very much in need of their

services.

I could go on and on, and must therefore apologize for failing to cite the many

other folks who truly deserve recognition, but in the interest of space I must close with

this final round of acknowledgements: first to my parents, Nicholas Sr. and Carmella,

who brought me into this world and endured such travails as I am only beginning to see

with my own children, and then secondly and at last to the two most important factors in

my life today, my wife, Joanne of thirty-two years, and our Triune God, Father, Son and

Holy Spirit. The prayers of the former re-connected me through living faith to the latter

early in our marriage, after years of youthful confusion, and Joanne continues to serve as

her Hebrew name suggests, a “Gracious One of God” whose quiet spirit and inner

adornment (1 Peter 3: 3-4) are more than a match for her at times overly intense husband.

And I bow the knee before the Most Gracious God in Three Persons whose wisdom is

past finding out (Romans 11:33). To this Holy and Awesome God, Who is Love-in-

Relationship, and Ultimate Model of mutual blessing, I dedicate and lift up this priestly

offering. May it be something of a sweet savor to Him, and truly to His Glory.