KREGEL TITLE GAINS RECOGNITION FROM CHRISTIANITY TODAY

To the Jew First is given an Award of Merit in the 2009 CT Book Awards.

Christianity Today Magazine announced their 2009 Book Award winners this week, and among the Award of Merit recipients in the Apologetics/Evangelism category is To the Jew First: The Case for Jewish Evangelism in Scripture and History (Kregel Academic & Professional 2008), edited by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser.

To the Jew First is based upon the biblical mandate to take the gospel “to the Jew first.” There has been a renewed effort among Christians to bring the gospel of Jesus to the Jewish community. The book is a comprehensive resource that looks at the historical, theological, and biblical context for doing so, and provides encouragement for Christians and Messianic Jews engaged in evangelism.

Darrell L. Bock is research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. A former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, he is the author of the best-seller Breaking the Da Vinci Code and numerous works in New Testament studies, including Jesus According to Scripture.

Mitch Glaser is the president of Chosen People Ministries. Mitch and his wife, Zhava, are Jewish believers in Jesus and have each labored for more than twenty years in ministry among the Jewish people. Mitch holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies.

For two decades, the Christianity Today Book Awards have drawn attention to books that illuminate people, events, and ideas that play a pivotal role in shaping evangelical life, thought, and mission. According to a CT press release, this year’s judging process began with 436 titles from 67 publishers, and was narrowed down to ten winners and eleven notable Award of Merit winners.

In response to the news of the award, Kregel publisher Dennis Hillman said, “To the Jew First has received a well-deserved honor, and we are thrilled to have partnered with Darrell and Mitch to produce this needed resource. Our hope is that this book will achieve its purpose: to equip Christians to share the good news of Messiah’s coming with the Jewish people.”