Surely you know Taylor Marshall from his blog, Canterbury Tales. He’s frequently linked from here. A teacher at the University of Dallas, he ponders things patristic. Now he’s committed a book, and just in time for you to order it for friends for Christmas. It’s called The Crucified Rabbi: Judaism and the Origins of Catholic Christianity. I read it while I was traveling, a little over a month ago, and I’ve been meaning to post a review. As that becomes a less realistic expectation, I’m reduced to regurgitating my blurb —  or reblurbitating my gurge — as it appears on Taylor’s website:

John Henry Newman famously said ‘To be deep in history is to cease to be a Protestant.’ Taylor Marshall helps us to be more Catholic by taking our faith to its most profound depths — its ancient roots in the religion of Israel, the Judaism beloved by the Apostles, the religion of the Temple and Synagogue, the Torah and the sacrifice. Jesus said he came not to abolish that faith but to fulfill it. In this book, we see that fullness down to the smallest details. I treasure this book.

I think this book’s market should not be limited by its subtitle. Taylor digs into areas that will fascinate Christians of all sorts. He is especially keen on the influence of ancient Jewish liturgy on the rites of emerging Christianity. It’s all well documented, to satisfy us nerds and send us on to the primaries and the wider contexts.

The chapters: 1. Jewish Messiah – Catholic Christ; 2. Jewish Kingdom – Catholic Church; 3. Jewish Tevilah – Catholic Baptism; 4. Jewish Passover – Catholic Mass; 5. Jewish Kohenin – Catholic Priests; 6. Jewish Vestments – Catholic Vestments; 7. Jewish Temple – Catholic Cathedral; 8. Jewish Synagogue – Catholic Parish; 9. Jewish Nazirites – Catholic Monastics; 10. Jewish Marriage – Catholic Marriage; 11. Jewish Holy Days – Catholic Holy Days; 12. Jewish Tzaddikim – Catholic Saints; 13. Jewish Afterlife – Catholic Afterlife.

Along the way, he answers many burning questions — though some of those questions, for some of us, were burning deep underground like a mine fire. (I’m from anthracite country. I work with what I have.) Taylor’s book made them flash to the surface of consciousness.

A sampling of subsections: How has the Jewish Temple influenced traditional Christian architecture?  How does Jesus fulfill over three hundred Messianic prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures? How does the Old Testament relate to the New Testament? Is Catholicism inherently Anti-Semitic? How does Jewish thinking presuppose devotion to Mary? Is the Catholic Church a fulfillment of historic Israel? How did the Israelite identity of the twelve Apostles influence the early Church? How do Jewish water rituals relate to Catholic baptism? Is the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a Passover meal? Should the Catholic priesthood conform to the priesthood established by Moses? Does the Pope wear a yarmulke?

I give Taylor Marshall’s The Crucified Rabbi my strongest recommendation. Use it as a stocking stuffer!