Alfred Edersheim, surprised by the teachings of Rabbi Yeshua (1825-1889)

Alfred Edersheim was born in Vienna, March 7, 1825 in a well-to-do family. He grew up in the upper-class Jewish circles of Vienna. He spoke Latin fluently and knew Greek, German, French, Hebrew, Hungarian and Italian.
In 1847 he went to study in Budapest. His mentor introduced him to several English-speaking Christian leaders of the city, when he came into contact with the famous Dr. Duncan and some of his Presbyterian colleagues. Dr. Duncan was a passionate Christian and a man whose knowledge of Hebrew was well respected among Jews. Edersheim felt very much attracted to Duncan and it didn’t take long before a close friendship developed between them.

The depths of the New Testament

Through these preachers Edersheim got hold of a New Testament. Edersheim: “I had never seen a Brit haChadashah. I started reading it from the very beginning. I shall never forget the first impression of ‘The Sermon on the Mount’, nor yet the surprise and deep feeling, by which the reading of the Brit haChadashah followed. That which I had so hated was not Christianity at all but was entirely Jewish! That which I had not known and which opened such untold depths, was the teaching of Rabbi Yeshua of Nazareth.”

Follower of Rabbi Yeshua

In Yeshua, Edersheim found his Messiah. He came under the teaching of the Holy Spirit and was very much impressed by the deity of the Messiah. Trusting in His One Sacrifice and filled with the peace of God, he gave himself up to be His servant in any way it might please God to direct him.
His faith in Yeshua started great consternation among the Jewish community, but it didn’t withhold him to witness openly about his love for the Messiah. He accepted, for example, a position to teach the students English on the condition that the Bible should be their only lesson book!

Beloved preacher

After Edersheim was baptized, he went to Edinburgh to complete his theological studies. He was ordained as minister and left for some time to work as a missionairy amongst the Jews in Iași in Romania.
He returned and became a minister in several places in Scotland and England. Edersheim was a beloved preacher and must have been the first Hebrew Christian that was asked to preach in Westminster Abbey. In 1883 he resigned and settled in Oxford to pursue his literary and academic activities.

Valuable author

Edersheim wrote more than twelve major works and made many important contributions in periodicals and commentaries. His works are extremely valuable because he was able to deal with his subjects both from the standpoint of a learned Jew and a learned Christian. His most famous books are the unparalleled ‘Life and times of Jesus the Messiah’ and ‘The temple: its Ministry and Services as they were at the time of Jesus Christ’.

The greatest glory to Christ

Later in his life he would say, “I can say a great many things in favour of the Lord Yeshua Mashiach, of His Power, Grace, and Love. But the greatest I can say of them is that He has received me. Thus, the faith of the poorest sinner brings the greatest glory to Christ.”