Prophecy and History in Relation to the Messiah

The heart-felt goal of Alfred Edersheim's books was to help the average Christian gain a better understanding of the Jewish customs and the historical significance behind Scripture. This work which chronicles Edersheim's Barburton Lectures from 1880-1884, discusses the prophetic history of the Messiah from the time of Garden of Eden to the coming of John the Baptist. Unlike Edersheim's other works, this volume involves a much higher degree of criticism on the topic of prophesy, and other sub topics such as prophetic and heathen divination, the moral element in prophecy, true and false prophets, the progressive character of prophecy, and its spiritual element. About the Author Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889) was born in Vienna, Austria to Jewish parents, and was brought up in the Talmudic traditions and customs of the Jewish faith. He was converted to Christianity in Budapest through the ministry of a Scottish missionary, John Duncan. When Duncan was appointed professor of Hebrew in New College, Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1843, Edersheim accompanied him and enrolled as a student. After studying at the University of Berlin, Edersheim became a minister—first Presbyterian, later Church of England. He served from 1846 to 1849 as a missionary to Jews in Romania. From 1849 to 1882 he was pastor of several churches in Great Britain. Edersheim's unique position as a scholar trained in both the Jewish and the Christian traditions including all the Biblical languages and his extensive knowledge and understanding of the culture and religious beliefs in early first century Roman-ruled Judea made him quite an authority on all things Biblical. Some of Alfred Edersheim's most widely read works are: The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Sketches of Jewish Social Life and The Temple: Its Ministry and Services.