Current Issue:
The February 2012 Olive Press Research Paper, A Pilgrim's Progress by Rev Alex Jacob.
Previous Issues:
A Critical Consideration of Primo Levi on the Common Humanity
First published November 2011
Naomi Barker produced this paper, originally, for her dissertation. Studying the writings of Levi Primo, who wrote about his time as a prisoner at the notorious Nazi Concentration Camp, Auschwitz (Primo's book is entitled "If this is a man" for those who would like to follow up on Naomi's article).
Naomi seeks to engage critically with Primo Levi and his concept of a common humanity, in terms of recognising our shared potential capacities and encouraging responsibility towards one another. She suggests how Levi's concept can be extended to avoid potential difficulties, by including one's capacity for choice, and argues for the crucial importance for retaining the concept of a common humanity.
Practical Foundation For a Post-Holocaust Messianic Soteriology
First Published July 2011
Martin Goldsmith, Vice-President of CMJ, missionary, theologian and lecturer, has written many books. In February 2011 Martin presented the contents of this paper, at the first gathering of The European Messianic Theological Symposium, in Berlin.
The theme of the symposium was ‘Towards a Messianic Maturity’. Over 30 theologians and Church leaders, including CMJ’s Acting-CEO Rev Alex Jacob, gathered from across Europe and Israel.
The Story of Sabbati Sevi and its Significance Today
First published in March 2011
Believers in Jesus, Gentile or Jewish, on first encountering this episode in Jewish history, may be surprised at the extent and persistence over the last two thousand years of a vibrant stream of mystical religion within Judaism. Michael Eldridge studies the story of Sabbatai Sevi, whose “messiahship” was announced to the world in May 1665, based upon the mystic Messiah of Kabbalism, which took the world by storm. What lessons can the Church learn from this, in our quest to see Jewish People recognise Yeshua as the One True Messiah?
And its Application to Believers Through the Feasts of the Lord
First published: November 2010
Greg Stevenson explores the meaning of the Shofar and its relation to the Biblical Feasts. The shofar is made from the horn of a kosher animal, usually a horn from a ram (having identity with the Akedah, the binding of Isaac, where the Lord provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice in place of Isaac in Genesis 22) or from an antelope, commonly a kudu.
The primary functions of the shofar are as a method of proclamation, or alarm, as a warning, or as an instrument of praise and prayer. It is one of the earliest musical instruments. But, the shofar speaks to us in a way that words cannot. Thus it is important to hear the shofar in order to sense its message. But there is an outer hearing, and an inner hearing.
First published: January 2010
Rev Alex Jacob explores the Covenants, Israel and the Church and the understanding that God is faithful. God is the promise keeping God.
First Published: June 2009
Michael Eldridge discovers the warmest place in Charles Simeon’s heart for the Jewish People and his connection with the early ministry of the Churches Ministry among the Jewish People. He was a household name in his day, influential in the lives of many generations of Curates, Vicars, even Bishops, yet he is little known to many Christians today. Who knows how many people, over the years, were impacted by his frequent visits to preach to the Jewish People in London, or the many long deputations on behalf of the Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews made in 1813 (including Bristol and Leicester); in 1817 (Bristol, Shrewsbury and several of the Northern industrial towns); and in 1825 (the North of England)?
Bishop John Taylor's Bicentenary Sermon
First published: May 2009.
This is a transcript of the CMJ Bicentenary Service at Christ Church, Spitalfields, delivered by Bishop John Taylor, Patron of CMJ.
First Published: February 2009
Winston Churchill's relationship with the Jews was attributed, "the faithful friend of Zionism", but for many Jews, Churchill proved a great disappointment and they hold that he did little to help them. The case to this effect is strongly argued by Michael Cohen, Professor of Bar Ilan University, whose 1985 book, “Churchill and the Jews”, was republished in a second edition in 2003. Gilbert's 2007 book, also titled “Churchill and the Jews”, includes Cohen’s book in his bibliography but otherwise he simply ignores it. Michael Eldridge explores two studies in an attempt to find where the truth lies?
First published: August 2008
An initial response, by Rev Alex Jacob, to Stephen Sizer's 2007 book: Zion's Christian Soldiers? In his response, Alex looks at why Stephen Sizer’s book is important and why it demands a coherent response. He also focuses on four main weaknesses within Stephen's book, namely 1) His over simplistic defining of Christian Zionism. 2) His dependence on secondary sources. 3) His largely polemic style and 4) His repeated Biblical and Theological errors.
Implications for Remnant Theology in 1 Kings 19
First Published: May 2008
Frank Booth shows, how 1 Kings 19.15-18 is a crucial passage for understanding the theology of covenant and promise in Israel’s history, and in later Judaism. While this passage deals with several themes, notably the Word of the Lord and the nature of divine revelation, the narrative functionality of the plot centres around Israel and the divine covenant. Until 1 Kings 19, Elijah’s ministry was concerned with bringing repentance and restoration to Israel; from 1 Kings 19 that ministry of restoration is rescinded and the judgement of Israel is initiated, leading eventually to the Exile. In terms of Israel’s covenant history, 1 Kings 19.15-18 should be seen as a hinge on which the history of Israel swings.
Exploring relationship models between the Messianic Jewish Movement and the wider Church community.
First published: May 2007
In recent years many aspects of the wider Church community has gradually become aware of the Messianic Jewish Movement (MJM) with its intention to establish and sustain vibrant congregations. In this research paper, Rev Alex Jacob discusses: How does this new current affect the quest for unity within the Church? What model(s) of co-operation should be employed? What are the implications for ministry, authority and submission? These and many other related questions have impacted many within the wider Church community and such questions have a particular resonance for us within the Church’s Ministry among Jewish People (CMJ) and for others in similar ministry and mission contexts.