Preface


This is a book about the prophecies of Zechariah and their fulfillments and their far reaching and related historical consequences. Although we expect that many Christians will benefit and be enlightened, yet, this book, if read, should produce better understanding between Christians and Jews. We would like our Jewish friends to read this book. It will also undoubtedly help Christians to understand the Jewish religion better. Centuries of coercion, seeking to force the Jewish nation to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, have not only failed to move Jews they have also produced a justifiable paranoia concerning Christian motives.

For this reason we have done our best to be aware of, and adjust, where we can, to the sensitivity of Jewish feelings. This is not always possible for a Gentile who believes firmly that Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the Messianic prophecies. After all, it is He who made me a spiritual Jew. But for this reason we have adopted the Jewish historian's method of addressing historical dates, with only two exceptions. The Christian method is to use B.C. meaning "before Christ" or A.D. meaning "the year of our Lord." Neither is used by Jewish writers, as the scrupulous do not wish to confess, even in this oblique way, what they do not believe. Their method is to use the abreviations B.C.E. meaning "before the common era" and C.E. meaning "common era." They use the dates common in the western world for historical writing and date from the beginning of the Christian era, both before and after. We have adopted this method. The Christian may want to read this abreviation B.C.E. as "before the Christian era" or C.E. as "Christian era." It would not offend the Jew.

"Christ" is a Greek word meaning Messiah or anointed. It has come to refer exclusively to Jesus of Nazareth in the western world. Religiously observant Jews resist saying "Jesus Christ" and rather call him Jesus of Nazareth or simply "The Nazarene." This is really a title of honor, since although there are still many people living in Nazareth, there is only one "The Nazarene." This writer believes sincerely that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. However, for the sake of Jews who I hope will read this book, we do not refer herein to Jesus of Nazareth as "Jesus Christ." Although I believe him to be the Messiah, the Jews are correct in believing that no one is to be coerced or tricked into confessing him as the Messiah. I have tried my best to be consistent with this motive of being aware of Jewish sensitivity. If after reading the text you can suggest further amendment to achieve this goal, I will act on all suggestions, short of making myself appear to be disrespectful or unfaithful to the memory of the "Sage of Capernaum."

Return to Commentary Directory

Go Back to Moellerhaus Homepage