I found the essays interesting and helpful. I often use it as a cross reference when reading any other translation of the Christian testament. ( )

Very interesting view of the New Testament as seen by scholars of Jewish thought and history. Overthrows many of the misconceptions about Jewish practice and thought at the time of Jesus as taught by Christian apologists through the ages. If you memories of the New Testament date mostly to your childhood in Sunday School you will learn from this book. Not quite "everything you know is wrong" but elements.

The intention for publishing The Jewish Annotated New Testament, according to its editors, Amy-Jill Levine and Mark Zvi Brettler is to recognize the growing understanding between Jewish and Christian traditions, and to help further that understanding. The editors of this volume, both distinguished New Testament scholars, had two key reasons for creating this "Jewish Annotated New Testament." First they wanted Christian readers to learn more about the Judaic origins of Christianity and the context surrounding the life of Jesus. Second, they wanted to introduce Jewish readers to what is unquestionably one of the canonical texts in Western Civilization, whether they believe in it or not. On the whole, this volume does a fairly good job of serving these purposes. Many of the glosses found in the text are geared at linking the ideas and events of the gospels to their background in the history of Judaism. Each of the books of The New Testament is accompanied by a brief introductory essay. There are also a number of shorter sidebar essays positioned within each book to help to explain specific passages at greater length. Finally the end of the book contains a number of essays by leading experts on the bible and Jewish history on a broad range of relevant topics. Those who are involved in interfaith dialogue will recognize that this book will be a classic reference work for anyone seriously interested in Judaism in the first century.

I found the boxes and the articles in the back very useful. The notes were often not that different from those in other NT editions, so I often skipped them. But every now and again they were very interesting. ( )

NRSV with commentary