Surprised by Christ
My Journey from Judaism to Orthodox Christianity
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Buy for $24.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
A. James Bernstein
About this listen
Raised in Queens, New York, by formerly Orthodox Jewish parents whose faith had been undermined by the Holocaust, Arnold Bernstein went on his own personal quest for spiritual meaning. He was ready to accept God in whatever form he chose to reveal himself and that form turned out to be Christ. But Bernstein soon perceived discrepancies in the various forms of Protestant belief that surrounded him, and so his quest continued - this time for the true Church.
Surprised by Christ combines an engrossing memoir of one man's life in historic times and situations from the Six-Day War to the Civil Rights Movement to the Jesus Movement in Berkeley with an examination of the distinctives of Orthodox theology that make the Orthodox Church the true home not only for Christian Jews, but for all who seek to know God as fully as he may be known.
©2008 Ancient Faith Publishing (P)2018 Ancient Faith PublishingListeners also enjoyed...
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
Rock and Sand
- An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings
- By: Archpriest Josiah Trenham
- Narrated by: Father Josiah Trenham
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook has been made for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox listener with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.
-
-
The rest of the story like Paul Harvey says
- By David A Burrows on 04-07-19
-
Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century
- By: Stephen De Young
- Narrated by: Stephen De Young
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young, creator of the popular The Whole Counsel of God blog and podcast, traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.
-
-
The first Christians did not “invent” anything
- By Petar Jovanovic on 06-24-21
By: Stephen De Young
-
Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you an Orthodox Christian who wonders how to explain to your Baptist grandmother, your Buddhist neighbor, or the Jehovah’s Witness at your door how your faith differs from theirs? Or are you a member of another faith who is curious what Orthodoxy is all about? Look no further. In Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick covers the gamut of ancient heresies, modern Christian denominations, fringe groups, and major world religions, highlighting the main points of each faith.
-
-
Christian Denominations in a Nutshell
- By Melissa C. on 11-04-21
-
The Crucifixion of the King of Glory: The Amazing History and Sublime Mystery of the Passion
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou PhD
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are central events in our salvation. Yet few Christians have a good grasp of the first-century historical and religious context in which the crucifixion took place, nor of its true significance for the people of that time - and hence for our time as well. Biblical scholar and attorney Dr. Jeannie Constantinou puts modern listeners in the center of the events of Christ's Passion, bringing the best of modern scholarship to bear while keeping her interpretation faithful in every particular to the Orthodox tradition.
-
-
Might be the best book I've ever heard on audible.
- By Chris Russi on 12-26-22
-
Know the Faith
- A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers
- By: Michael Shanbour
- Narrated by: Darrell Smith
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the centuries since the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, the two groups have diverged to the point that they often no longer understand each other’s vocabulary, let alone the fundamental concepts on which each faith is built. Know the Faith is an attempt to present Orthodox Christianity in a way Western Christians can understand, grounding each point in Scripture and patristic theology, with comparisons to what Catholics and Protestants believe.
-
-
A handbook for everyone!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-01-21
By: Michael Shanbour
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
Rock and Sand
- An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings
- By: Archpriest Josiah Trenham
- Narrated by: Father Josiah Trenham
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook has been made for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox listener with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.
-
-
The rest of the story like Paul Harvey says
- By David A Burrows on 04-07-19
-
Religion of the Apostles: Orthodox Christianity in the First Century
- By: Stephen De Young
- Narrated by: Stephen De Young
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Rev. Dr. Stephen De Young, creator of the popular The Whole Counsel of God blog and podcast, traces the lineage of Orthodox Christianity back to the faith and witness of the apostles, which was rooted in a first-century Jewish worldview. The Religion of the Apostles presents the Orthodox Christian Church of today as a continuation of the religious life of the apostles, which in turn was a continuation of the life of the people of God since the beginning of creation.
-
-
The first Christians did not “invent” anything
- By Petar Jovanovic on 06-24-21
By: Stephen De Young
-
Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy: Finding the Way to Christ in a Complicated Religious Landscape
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you an Orthodox Christian who wonders how to explain to your Baptist grandmother, your Buddhist neighbor, or the Jehovah’s Witness at your door how your faith differs from theirs? Or are you a member of another faith who is curious what Orthodoxy is all about? Look no further. In Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick covers the gamut of ancient heresies, modern Christian denominations, fringe groups, and major world religions, highlighting the main points of each faith.
-
-
Christian Denominations in a Nutshell
- By Melissa C. on 11-04-21
-
The Crucifixion of the King of Glory: The Amazing History and Sublime Mystery of the Passion
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou PhD
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou
- Length: 15 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ are central events in our salvation. Yet few Christians have a good grasp of the first-century historical and religious context in which the crucifixion took place, nor of its true significance for the people of that time - and hence for our time as well. Biblical scholar and attorney Dr. Jeannie Constantinou puts modern listeners in the center of the events of Christ's Passion, bringing the best of modern scholarship to bear while keeping her interpretation faithful in every particular to the Orthodox tradition.
-
-
Might be the best book I've ever heard on audible.
- By Chris Russi on 12-26-22
-
Know the Faith
- A Handbook for Orthodox Christians and Inquirers
- By: Michael Shanbour
- Narrated by: Darrell Smith
- Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Over the centuries since the Great Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches, the two groups have diverged to the point that they often no longer understand each other’s vocabulary, let alone the fundamental concepts on which each faith is built. Know the Faith is an attempt to present Orthodox Christianity in a way Western Christians can understand, grounding each point in Scripture and patristic theology, with comparisons to what Catholics and Protestants believe.
-
-
A handbook for everyone!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-01-21
By: Michael Shanbour
-
Apocrypha
- An Introduction to Extra-Biblical Literature
- By: Stephen De Young
- Narrated by: Stephen De Young
- Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many Christians today divide ancient Jewish and Christian literature into two categories: what is in the Bible and what is not. The Christian East, however, has traditionally described a third category considered beneficial for Christians to listen to in the home: “apocrypha.” These texts, from the centuries before and after the Incarnation of Jesus Christ—beyond even the larger canons of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Old Testaments—reveal to us the religious world and theological framework of the apostles and early Church Fathers.
-
-
Great Intro Into Apocryphal Literature
- By Christina on 07-15-23
By: Stephen De Young
-
For the Life of the World
- By: Alexander Schmemann
- Narrated by: Zachariah Mandell
- Length: 6 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The audiobook version of this book on an approach to the world and life within it stems from the liturgical experience of the Orthodox Church. The author understands issues such as secularism and Christian culture from the perspective of the unbroken experience of the Church, as revealed and communicated in her worship, in her liturgy—the sacrament of the world, the sacrament of the Kingdom.
-
-
Transformative presentation of the core of the Christian vision.
- By Ushiwaka on 08-01-24
-
The Whole Counsel of God
- An Introduction to Your Bible
- By: Stephen De Young
- Narrated by: Stephen De Young
- Length: 3 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Whole Counsel of God, popular writer and podcaster Fr. Stephen de Young gives an overview of what the Bible is and what is its place in the life of an Orthodox Christian, correcting many Protestant misconceptions along the way. Issues covered include inspiration, inerrancy, the formation of the biblical canon, the various texts and their provenance, the place of Scripture within Orthodox Tradition, and how an Orthodox Christian should read, study, and interpret the Bible.
-
-
A good intro to The Orthodox approach to Scripture
- By Josh on 11-07-22
By: Stephen De Young
-
An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith
- Linked to the Bible; Includes Footnotes
- By: Saint John of Damascus
- Narrated by: Peter Brooke
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this classic book, John of Damascus laboured to form one complete, clear, and brief theological work that would summarize all Christian doctrine that had been passed down and agreed upon. The following was said of the book: The result was an inexhaustible storehouse of tradition in which nothing is to be found that has not been either approved by the ecumenical synods or by the established leaders of the Church.
-
-
the ruler cut off this saints right hand.
- By Trevor J. on 09-08-21
-
When the Church Was Young
- Voices of the Early Fathers
- By: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Narrated by: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marcellino D'Ambrosio dusts off what might have been just dry theology to bring you the exciting stories of great heroes such as Ambrose, Augustine, Basil, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, and Jerome. These brilliant, embattled, and sometimes eccentric men defined the biblical canon, hammered out the Creed, and gave us our understanding of sacraments and salvation. It is they who preserved the rich legacy of the early Church for us.
-
-
Masterful summary of the early Church Fathers
- By Mike C on 08-22-14
-
Nihilism
- The Root of the Revolution of the Modern Age
- By: Eugene (Fr. Seraphim) Rose
- Narrated by: David A. Conatser
- Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1962, the young Eugene Rose - the future Hieromonk Seraphim - undertook to write a monumental chronicle of the abandonment of truth in the modern age. Of the hundreds of pages of materials he compiled for this work, only the present essay, on nihilism, has come down to us in completed form. Here Eugene reveals the core of all modern thought and life - the belief that all truth is relative - and shows how this belief has been translated into action in our era. Today, more than half a century after he wrote it, this essay is more timely than ever.
-
-
Reads very current
- By Judith Glass on 09-05-22
-
God Is a Man of War
- The Problem of Violence in the Old Testament
- By: Stephen De Young
- Narrated by: Stephen De Young
- Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Violence in the Old Testament has long been a stumbling block for Christians and skeptics alike. God Is a Man of War offers a fresh interpretation of Old Testament accounts of violence, by exploring them through the twofold lens of Orthodox tradition and historical context. Father Stephen De Young examines what these difficult passages reveal about the nature of Christ and His creation, bearing witness to a world filled not only with pain and suffering - often of human making - but also with the love of God.
-
-
AWESOME
- By Sk on 11-03-21
By: Stephen De Young
-
Becoming Orthodox
- A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith
- By: Peter E. Gillquist
- Narrated by: Fr. Peter Gillquist
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This revised edition includes a new epilogue, "Coming up on Twenty-Five Years" since the entry of the Evangelical Orthodox into the Holy Orthodox Church. This is the story of a handful of courageous men and their congregations who risked stable occupations, security and the approval of life-long friends to be obedient to God's call. It is also the story of every believer who is searching for the Church.
-
-
Inspiring and Informative
- By Timothy D. Rask on 06-13-16
-
Arise O God
- The Gospel of Christ’s Defeat of Demons, Sin, and Death
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 2 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about what Jesus can do for your life. It is not even the answer to the question, “How can I be saved?” It is the declaration of a victory. In his coming to earth, his suffering, and his Resurrection, Christ conquered demons, sin, and death. In Arise, O God, author and podcaster Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick introduces us to the spiritual war that Christ won by his victory, how we are caught in that war’s cosmic crossfire, what the true content of the gospel is—and how we are to respond.
-
-
Clarity
- By Genevi on 08-31-21
-
Father Arseny
- Priest, Prisoner, Spiritual Father
- By: Fr Arseny
- Narrated by: Peter Bouteneff, Vera Bouteneff
- Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It is one of the great mysteries of life that in atmospheres of the harshest cruelty, a certain few not only survive, but emerge as beacons of light and life. Father Arseny, former scholar of church art, became Prisoner No. 18736 in the brutal "special sector" of the Soviet prison camp system.
-
-
Lovely book, beautifully read
- By Carol Sheehan on 02-28-23
By: Fr Arseny
-
Mere Christianity
- By: C. S. Lewis
- Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard
- Length: 5 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Mere Christianity is C.S. Lewis' forceful and accessible doctrine of Christian belief. First heard as informal radio broadcasts and then published as three separate books, The Case for Christianity, Christian Behavior, and Beyond Personality, Mere Christianity brings together what Lewis sees as the fundamental truths of the religion.
-
-
A Classic That Gets Better & Better With Time!
- By Tim on 05-14-05
By: C. S. Lewis
-
The Rational Bible: Genesis
- By: Dennis Prager
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 19 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Many people today think the Bible, the most influential book in world history, is not only outdated but irrelevant, irrational, and even immoral. This explanation of the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, demonstrates clearly and powerfully that the opposite is true. The Bible remains profoundly relevant - both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life. It is the greatest moral guide and source of wisdom ever written.
-
-
So glad I bought this!
- By Alex Martinez on 06-10-19
By: Dennis Prager
Related to this topic
-
Reasons to Believe
- How to Understand, Defend, and Explain the Catholic Faith
- By: Scott Hahn
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Reasons to Believe, Scott Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, explains the "how and why" of the Catholic faith - drawing from Scripture, his own struggles, and those of other converts, as well as from everyday life and even natural science. Hahn shows that reason and revelation, as well as nature and the supernatural, are not opposed to one another; rather, they offer complementary evidence that God exists. He is someone, and He has a personality, a personal style, that is discernable and knowable.
-
-
A Catholic for convition and tradition
- By benigno on 05-29-12
By: Scott Hahn
-
Understanding the Koran
- A Quick Christian Guide to the Muslim Holy Book
- By: Mateen Elass
- Narrated by: Don Reed
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A quick non-technical introduction to the Koran designed to help Christians understand a hidden book revered by 1.3 billion Muslims, covering the background on its writing, a summary of its contents, a perspective on how it’s used and viewed by Muslims, a comparison of differences and similarities to the Bible, and some suggestions on how it should and should not be used in conversations with Muslims.
-
-
Favors Christianity
- By Dianne on 12-18-15
By: Mateen Elass
-
Swear to God
- The Promise and Power of the Sacraments
- By: Scott Hahn
- Narrated by: Brian Keeler
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written in an accessible style, Swear to God is a testament to the seven sacraments, which Hahn sees not as boring rituals, but as powerful reminders of our covenants with God.
-
-
Swear to God
- By LW on 07-03-24
By: Scott Hahn
-
The Jesus Manifesto
- It's Time to Restore the Supremacy of Jesus Christ
- By: Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology and not a philosophy. Christianity is the Good News that beauty, truth, and goodness are found in a Person. And conversion? It's more than a change in direction; it's a change in connection.
-
-
Excellent book
- By Peter C. on 01-06-18
By: Leonard Sweet, and others
-
When the Church Was Young
- Voices of the Early Fathers
- By: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Narrated by: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marcellino D'Ambrosio dusts off what might have been just dry theology to bring you the exciting stories of great heroes such as Ambrose, Augustine, Basil, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, and Jerome. These brilliant, embattled, and sometimes eccentric men defined the biblical canon, hammered out the Creed, and gave us our understanding of sacraments and salvation. It is they who preserved the rich legacy of the early Church for us.
-
-
Masterful summary of the early Church Fathers
- By Mike C on 08-22-14
-
Paul and Jesus
- How the Apostle Transformed Christianity
- By: James D. Tabor
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Historians know virtually nothing about the two decades following the crucifixion of Jesus, when his followers regrouped and began to spread his message. During this time the man we know as the apostle Paul joined the movement and began to preach to the gentiles. Using the oldest Christian documents that we have - the letters of Paul - as well as other early Christian sources, historian and scholar James Tabor reconstructs the origins of Christianity.
-
-
Paul or Jesus?
- By James on 01-29-13
By: James D. Tabor
-
Reasons to Believe
- How to Understand, Defend, and Explain the Catholic Faith
- By: Scott Hahn
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Reasons to Believe, Scott Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, explains the "how and why" of the Catholic faith - drawing from Scripture, his own struggles, and those of other converts, as well as from everyday life and even natural science. Hahn shows that reason and revelation, as well as nature and the supernatural, are not opposed to one another; rather, they offer complementary evidence that God exists. He is someone, and He has a personality, a personal style, that is discernable and knowable.
-
-
A Catholic for convition and tradition
- By benigno on 05-29-12
By: Scott Hahn
-
Understanding the Koran
- A Quick Christian Guide to the Muslim Holy Book
- By: Mateen Elass
- Narrated by: Don Reed
- Length: 5 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A quick non-technical introduction to the Koran designed to help Christians understand a hidden book revered by 1.3 billion Muslims, covering the background on its writing, a summary of its contents, a perspective on how it’s used and viewed by Muslims, a comparison of differences and similarities to the Bible, and some suggestions on how it should and should not be used in conversations with Muslims.
-
-
Favors Christianity
- By Dianne on 12-18-15
By: Mateen Elass
-
Swear to God
- The Promise and Power of the Sacraments
- By: Scott Hahn
- Narrated by: Brian Keeler
- Length: 5 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Written in an accessible style, Swear to God is a testament to the seven sacraments, which Hahn sees not as boring rituals, but as powerful reminders of our covenants with God.
-
-
Swear to God
- By LW on 07-03-24
By: Scott Hahn
-
The Jesus Manifesto
- It's Time to Restore the Supremacy of Jesus Christ
- By: Leonard Sweet, Frank Viola
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more, nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology and not a philosophy. Christianity is the Good News that beauty, truth, and goodness are found in a Person. And conversion? It's more than a change in direction; it's a change in connection.
-
-
Excellent book
- By Peter C. on 01-06-18
By: Leonard Sweet, and others
-
When the Church Was Young
- Voices of the Early Fathers
- By: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Narrated by: Marcellino D'Ambrosio
- Length: 9 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Marcellino D'Ambrosio dusts off what might have been just dry theology to bring you the exciting stories of great heroes such as Ambrose, Augustine, Basil, Athanasius, John Chrysostom, and Jerome. These brilliant, embattled, and sometimes eccentric men defined the biblical canon, hammered out the Creed, and gave us our understanding of sacraments and salvation. It is they who preserved the rich legacy of the early Church for us.
-
-
Masterful summary of the early Church Fathers
- By Mike C on 08-22-14
-
Paul and Jesus
- How the Apostle Transformed Christianity
- By: James D. Tabor
- Narrated by: Robertson Dean
- Length: 9 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Historians know virtually nothing about the two decades following the crucifixion of Jesus, when his followers regrouped and began to spread his message. During this time the man we know as the apostle Paul joined the movement and began to preach to the gentiles. Using the oldest Christian documents that we have - the letters of Paul - as well as other early Christian sources, historian and scholar James Tabor reconstructs the origins of Christianity.
-
-
Paul or Jesus?
- By James on 01-29-13
By: James D. Tabor
-
AfterLife
- What You Really Want to Know About Heaven and the Hereafter
- By: Hank Hanegraaff
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In AfterLife, Hank Hanegraaff, one of the most remarkable theological minds of our time, explains how life in the present intersects with life after life and, ultimately, life after life after life. With laser-sharp clarity, this surprisingly insightful audiobook demonstrates that death is not the end - in fact, it’s just the beginning. AfterLife will forever change the way you view your eternal destiny!
-
-
hank is awesome!
- By Kim Kern on 12-28-15
By: Hank Hanegraaff
-
The Power of the Cross
- Putting It to Work in Your Life
- By: Tony Evans
- Narrated by: Calvin Robinson
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Power of the Cross, Tony Evans applies Christ's work to life today. He systematically and pastorally explains three aspects of the cross: its person, its purpose, and its power.
-
-
Power of the Cross
- By Donnie Thomas on 06-07-23
By: Tony Evans
-
Following God Fully
- An Introduction to the Puritans
- By: Joel R. Beeke, Michael Reeves
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 4 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Puritans, as a body, have done more to elevate the national character than any class of Englishmen that ever lived. Ardent lovers of civil liberty, and ready to die in its defense - mighty at the council board, and no less mighty in the battlefield - feared abroad throughout Europe, and invincible at home while united - great with their pens, and no less great with their swords - fearing God very much, and fearing men very little - they were a generation of men who have never received from their country the honor that they deserve.
-
-
Great book!
- By Daniel on 07-20-20
By: Joel R. Beeke, and others
-
Understanding the Bible
- By: John R. W. Stott
- Narrated by: Simon Vance
- Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Understanding the Bible will provide you with a foundational comprehension of the entirety of Scripture with a focus on broadening your vision of Jesus Christ.
-
-
Excellent exposition of the Christian faith
- By GW on 02-25-12
By: John R. W. Stott
-
Open to the Spirit
- God in Us, God with Us, God Transforming Us
- By: Scot McKnight
- Narrated by: Jeremy Richards
- Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? What does he do in our lives? How can we know him more deeply, and is it possible to tap in to his power? Should we pray to the Holy Spirit? Is it possible to be aware of his promptings and speaking into our lives? Dr. Scot McKnight answers these questions and more in this comprehensive examination of what the Bible says about this divinely important but often confusing member of the Trinity.
-
-
The Spirit Is Essential.
- By Adam Shields on 09-03-19
By: Scot McKnight
-
Reading Judas
- The Gospel of Judas and the Shaping of Christianity
- By: Elaine Pagels, Karen L. King
- Narrated by: Justine Eyre, Robertson Dean
- Length: 3 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Two celebrated scholars illustrate how the newly discovered Gospel of Judas provides a window into understanding how Jesus' followers understood his death, why Judas betrayed Jesus, and why God allowed it. Presented with the elegance, insight, and accessibility that has made Pagels and King the leading voices in this field, this is a book for academics and popular audiences alike.
-
-
Judas Iscariot: Betrayer or Saint?
- By Diane on 08-21-12
By: Elaine Pagels, and others
-
Spirit and Sacrament
- An Invitation to Eucharismatic Worship
- By: Andrew Wilson
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 4 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Spirit and Sacrament by pastor and author Andrew Wilson is an impassioned call to join together two traditions that are frequently and unnecessarily kept separate. It is an invitation to pursue the best of both worlds in worship, the Eucharistic and the charismatic, with the grace of God at the center. Wilson envisions church services in which healing testimonies, creeds, exuberant praise, and ancient liturgy coexist, and in doing so, deepen our worship and increase our joy.
-
-
Is not what I was hoping
- By KIM SMITH on 01-16-23
By: Andrew Wilson
-
Jesus on Trial
- A Lawyer Affirms the Truth of the Gospel
- By: David Limbaugh
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 12 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Jesus on Trial, New York Times bestselling author David Limbaugh applies his lifetime of legal experience to a unique new undertaking: making a case for the gospels as hard evidence of the life and work of Jesus Christ. Limbaugh, a practicing attorney and former professor of law, approaches the canonical gospels with the same level of scrutiny he would apply to any legal document and asks all the necessary questions about the story of Jesus....
-
-
What a disappointment
- By JB on 10-07-14
By: David Limbaugh
-
Rescuing the Gospel
- The Story and Significance of the Reformation
- By: Erwin W. Lutzer
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 5 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Reformation unfolded in the cathedrals and town squares of Europe - in Wittenberg, Worms, Rome, Geneva, and Zurich - and it is a stirring story of courage and cowardice, of betrayal and faith. The story begins with the Catholic Church and its desperate need for reform. The dramatic events that followed are traced from John Wycliffe in England, to the burning of John Hus at the stake in Prague, to the rampant sale of indulgences in the cities and towns of Germany.
-
-
Great book for Protestants & Catholics
- By Michael Novak on 09-23-18
By: Erwin W. Lutzer
-
The Unshakable Truth
- How You Can Experience the 12 Essentials of a Relevant Faith
- By: Josh McDowell, Sean McDowell
- Narrated by: Jon Gauger
- Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Know why you believe. Pass on what you've experienced. Many Christians are unsure about what they believe and why. They may wonder if their faith is meaningful and credible. Because of this, they struggle with passing on a relevant Christianity to their families and friends. That’s why Josh McDowell and his son, Sean, have created this comprehensive yet easy-to-understand handbook.
-
-
Use what they give you.
- By Jon on 08-10-11
By: Josh McDowell, and others
-
Unbelievable
- Why Neither Ancient Creeds nor the Reformation Can Produce a Living Faith Today
- By: John Shelby Spong
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Five hundred years after Martin Luther and his Ninety-Five Theses ushered in the Reformation, best-selling author and controversial bishop and teacher John Shelby Spong delivers 12 forward-thinking theses to spark a new reformation to reinvigorate Christianity and ensure its future. Spong contends that there is mounting pressure among Christians for a radically new kind of Christianity - a faith deeply connected to the human experience instead of outdated dogma.
-
-
great
- By Brian Diffley on 03-27-21
-
The First Paul
- Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's Conservative Icon
- By: Marcus J. Borg, John Dominic Crossan
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Paul is second only to Jesus as the most important person in the birth of Christianity, and yet he continues to be controversial, even among Christians. How could the letters of Paul be used both to inspire radical grace and to endorse systems of oppression - condoning slavery, subordinating women, condemning homosexual behavior? Borg and Crossan use the best of biblical and historical scholarship to explain the reasons for Paul's mixed reputation and reveal to us what scholars have known for decades: The later letters of Paul were created by the early church to dilute Paul's message.
-
-
A Liberal Paul
- By Kayla on 05-12-20
By: Marcus J. Borg, and others
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
On the Incarnation
- By: Athanasias of Alexandria
- Narrated by: Gabriel Travesser
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nothing except the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a greater miracle or wonder in human history. God becoming flesh in human history is the greatest marvel. Jesus of Nazareth was foretold in the Torah and the Prophets centuries before his appearance, and he was proved to be real and not a pretender due to his death and Resurrection. The early church grappled with all of this intellectually.
-
-
Excellent!!!
- By C. Gravely on 10-28-15
-
Rock and Sand
- An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings
- By: Archpriest Josiah Trenham
- Narrated by: Father Josiah Trenham
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook has been made for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox listener with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.
-
-
The rest of the story like Paul Harvey says
- By David A Burrows on 04-07-19
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
The Eastern Orthodox Church
- A New History
- By: John Anthony McGuckin
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations.
-
-
Solid, brief history of Eastern Orthodox Church
- By Pedro S. on 04-19-21
-
An Introduction to God: Encountering the Divine in Orthodox Christianity
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to non-believers and believers alike, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick attempts to create a sacred space in which we can encounter God. In this compact volume, he distills the essence of the traditional Christian faith, addressing the fundamental mysteries of where God is, who God is, why we go to church, and why Christian morality matters. If you’ve only heard about the Protestant or Roman Catholic version of Christianity, what he has to say may surprise you—and make you long to encounter God in Jesus Christ.
-
-
A better apologetic than some actual apologetics
- By A.Cuffee on 08-27-22
-
Reclaiming the Atonement: An Orthodox Theology of Redemption
- The Incarnate Word, Volume 1
- By: Patrick Henry Reardon
- Narrated by: John Maddex
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In response to popular demand, Patrick Henry Reardon explores redemption and salvation through the lens of Scripture, patristics, and liturgics, as well as through history, philosophy, language, literature, and psychology. He brings all these perspectives together to show how the whole of Christ’s work—from Incarnation to Ascension—accomplishes the “at-one-ment” of God with man.
-
-
fantastic!
- By Jordan McGuire on 02-08-24
-
On the Incarnation
- By: Athanasias of Alexandria
- Narrated by: Gabriel Travesser
- Length: 2 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Nothing except the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a greater miracle or wonder in human history. God becoming flesh in human history is the greatest marvel. Jesus of Nazareth was foretold in the Torah and the Prophets centuries before his appearance, and he was proved to be real and not a pretender due to his death and Resurrection. The early church grappled with all of this intellectually.
-
-
Excellent!!!
- By C. Gravely on 10-28-15
-
Rock and Sand
- An Orthodox Appraisal of the Protestant Reformers and Their Teachings
- By: Archpriest Josiah Trenham
- Narrated by: Father Josiah Trenham
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This audiobook has been made for three purposes. First, to provide the Orthodox listener with a competent overview of the history of Protestantism and its major traditions, from its beginnings in the 16th century to the present day. Second, to acquaint Orthodox and non-Orthodox listeners with a narrative of the historical relations between the Orthodox East and the Protestant West. Finally, to provide a summary of Orthodox theological opinion on the tenets of Protestantism.
-
-
The rest of the story like Paul Harvey says
- By David A Burrows on 04-07-19
-
Thinking Orthodox: Understanding and Acquiring the Orthodox Christian Mind
- By: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Narrated by: Eugenia Scarvelis Constantinou Ph.D.
- Length: 19 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
What does it mean to "think Orthodox"? What are the unspoken and unexplored premises and presumptions underlying what Christians believe? Orthodox Christianity is based on preserving the mind of the early Church, its phronema. Dr. Jeannie Constantinou brings her more than 40 years' experience as a professor, Bible teacher, and speaker to bear in explaining what the Orthodox phronema is, how it can be acquired, and how that phronema is expressed in true Orthodox theology.
-
-
Thinking Orthodox
- By Megan on 05-09-21
-
The Eastern Orthodox Church
- A New History
- By: John Anthony McGuckin
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this short, accessible account of the Eastern Orthodox Church, John McGuckin begins by tackling the question "What is the Church?" His answer is a clear, historically and theologically rooted portrait of what the Church is for Orthodox Christianity and how it differs from Western Christians' expectations.
-
-
Solid, brief history of Eastern Orthodox Church
- By Pedro S. on 04-19-21
-
An Introduction to God: Encountering the Divine in Orthodox Christianity
- By: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Narrated by: Andrew Stephen Damick
- Length: 3 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Speaking to non-believers and believers alike, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick attempts to create a sacred space in which we can encounter God. In this compact volume, he distills the essence of the traditional Christian faith, addressing the fundamental mysteries of where God is, who God is, why we go to church, and why Christian morality matters. If you’ve only heard about the Protestant or Roman Catholic version of Christianity, what he has to say may surprise you—and make you long to encounter God in Jesus Christ.
-
-
A better apologetic than some actual apologetics
- By A.Cuffee on 08-27-22
-
Reclaiming the Atonement: An Orthodox Theology of Redemption
- The Incarnate Word, Volume 1
- By: Patrick Henry Reardon
- Narrated by: John Maddex
- Length: 11 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In response to popular demand, Patrick Henry Reardon explores redemption and salvation through the lens of Scripture, patristics, and liturgics, as well as through history, philosophy, language, literature, and psychology. He brings all these perspectives together to show how the whole of Christ’s work—from Incarnation to Ascension—accomplishes the “at-one-ment” of God with man.
-
-
fantastic!
- By Jordan McGuire on 02-08-24
What listeners say about Surprised by Christ
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paul
- 07-21-21
Hearfelt autobiography
This audiobook read by the author, reflects, relates, and connects profoundly with interpersonal, historical, existential, and spiritual dimensions of ancient Judaism, The Jewish roots the Orthodox Christian Church, and the author's personal experience of growing up as a Jew in the United States exploring various branches of Christianity and eventually discovering and joining the ancient Orthodox Church. It is a humble yet powerful story that made me laugh, relate, cry, and re-connect with and praise God in my heart as I listened along Mr Bernstein's narrative of his life as it unfolded over the second half of the 20th century.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Judaism, Christianity, and their continuing legacy and personal impact on the lives of people from ancient times up to the contemporary world. Δόξα τώ Θεώ! Glory to God!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 01-10-22
Personally Inspiring and deeply informed.
This work is a wonderful combination of one man’s spiritual journey, together with his immediate family, and a richly historical retelling of the experience of his extended family and ancestry as Jews living through the tumultuous past century.
And excellence material for anyone who wants to understand the spiritual core of Orthodox (Christian) theology, including Orthodox Christians themselves.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- ElzabetG
- 05-17-19
Surprised by Depth
The positive
Surprised By Christ is an autobiography that reads like a novel underpinned by a theological treatise lived out by someone who sought and found wonder.
As a convert from evangelical Protestantism who always heard that Eastern Orthodoxy was very similar in many respects to Judaism, I have always been curious about how. I know very few Jewish people and none of them are practicing. Fr James’ book really opened up a whole new vista of understanding how the two faiths are related and where they diverge.
"Why would God want to become man? . . . Jews believed that sacrifices were not necessary for God to forgive. We held that there are no constraints on God's forgiveness other than the repentant heart of the sinner. To view a payment to God as a necessary requirement for His forgiveness was for us akin to saying that God could not absolve sin unless he was bribed. That God had become human in order to be able to forgive sins did not make sense. The belief that God the Father had to kill God the Son in the flesh (a form of God killing himself) in order to forgive sin made even less sense…
"As an Orthodox Christian, I came to understand that the focus of the Incarnation was not to enable God to forgive; the emphasis was on the healing, purification, and ultimate transfiguration of mankind. The goal of the Incarnation was to energize our fallen human nature and to make it godlike--a process variously referred to as deification, divinization, or theosis. The Orthodox teach that God in His wisdom chose to accomplish this by assuming our human nature and transforming it from within--not from without." (p278)
That quote right there solved a personal issue I had always had with the Incarnation since my evangelical Protestant life. It made no sense to be that God—Who owns everything— needed to be paid a ransom or that He would need to pay a ransom to anyone or anything else. And that was always the explanation, that Christ was either a ransom to God for us or to Death for God’s sake. These two paragraphs alone explained it simply and beautifully.
The entire book is like this.
As an audio book it reads very well. You can tell Fr James hails from Brooklyn. All of that upbringing is in his voice as he tells his story. And his storytelling is on point. Sometimes his voice can become a little “drone-y” but the story of his life and the depth of his knowledge overpower that.
The negative
There are times when he seemed to get bogged down in details but that is just me—I like things to get to a point and so Fr James’ penchant for telling the ENTIRE story around his point sometimes made me want to skip ahead but there is wisdom in that as well
4.5 stars
Full Disclosure #1: I was given an Audible credit to purchase this book in return for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity to do this, AFP!
Full Disclosure #2: I listened to the audiobook twice and then purchased the hard copy so I could take notes in it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Jodi S.
- 03-19-19
Very long but so worth it.
Surprised by Christ by Father James is amazing. I am a recent convert from Byzantine Catholicism which is close to Orthodoxy in so many ways but I have so much to learn. This book is so instrumental in helping anyone learn more about the faith. It’s a little bit biography, history both of the Church and of the life and times in which he grew up and grew in Christ.
Full disclosure- I received the audio version for free in exchange for a review and I’m so thankful. It is a wonderful book but I would not have had the time to read the actual book. It is quite long and I’m a busy mama of 6. I love his voice and it was a pleasure to listen along in the car. The only problem with that is that I couldn’t take notes. I will probably end up buying the hard copy to go back through and underline all the things that really spoke to me.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- CLC
- 01-25-19
A Wonderful Story and a Great Lecture
Every once in a while I’ll choose a book simply because it’s available. I was recently offered the chance to listen to Surprised By Christ in exchange for an honest review. Though I knew nothing about the book aside from the title, I jumped at the opportunity. Once I had an audio code, I quickly read the blurb about the book, which piqued my interest - I thought it would be fascinating to hear the author’s tale, and I looked forward to hearing him read the tale himself. I also noticed that it would be 16 hours of listening - that seemed daunting, but I jumped in and started listening.
There are a few parts to the book, but my mind has since divided the book into two sections - the story and the lesson. I LOVED the story. Reverend Bernstein shared his autobiography - from childhood in New York, to his conversion to Christianity, then his time in college and experiences in Berkeley and beyond. Each moment of the tale I felt I was sitting with a grandfather who had a wealth of tales to tell. It never got tiring. He laced his tale with details about popular culture and major historical events and figures. I loved every minute of it.
The “second half” of the book, the lesson, was equally fascinating, though it required a different level of attention. While I could listen to the leisurely story, I found that I needed to speed up the audio in order to be attentive to the lecture. Reverend Bernstein provided a comparative breakdown of many aspects of faith in the Orthodox Church, especially as compared to Protestantism. What I found even more interesting was that he also paired it with Judaism and showed how the two aren’t mutually exclusive, but how Orthodoxy is the fulfillment of the Jewish faith, showing how Christ fulfilled the law as well as prophecy, and how Christianity is still tied to its Jewish roots.
Having listened to the book in its entirety, I would listen to it again. I am also planning to purchase a hard copy of the book so that I can spend more time in the second half of the book and study the information presented. Whether you listen only for the story, or whether you follow through with the whole book, it is worth listening to. Whether you agree with the author or not, the information he presents is well thought out, reasonable, and full of scriptural references. I highly recommend this book to anyone with the time to listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 12-24-23
Profound truths told as a story.
Loved everything including how it was spoken by the author. Worth every minute. I plan to go back and relisten to many of the chapters.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 01-16-19
Will Change Your Understanding of Christianity
Since the book "Surprised By Christ" is an intensely personal account, I'll start my review on a personal level, and disclose that I am an Orthodox Christian convert from Roman Catholicism, into which I was baptized and raised from infancy. Because of this, I have always felt somewhat handicapped at understanding both Judaism and the Old Testament. I'm very aware that I can only view either through the lens of the Western Christianity I've inherited. I don't even know the right questions to ask. I was so attracted to Judaism that in my 20s I nearly converted, myself, and that journey caused me to approach Christianity differently. Christianity views itself as a descendant from Judaism, but as modern Christians, in a culture that has claimed Christianity for so long, how much do we really understand about the relationship between our faith (Christianity) and its mother faith, Judaism? (Not much, as it turns out, which is why this book is so illuminating.)
This is what I appreciated so much about Fr James Bernstein's approach to describing his transformation from a cradle Orthodox Jew into, ultimately, an Orthodox Christian priest (via a long trek through Evangelical protestantism). Recounted in first-person autobiography, throughout the story he shares the assumptions he inherited as an Orthodox Jew and the questions they generated as he approached Christianity. It's extremely revealing to hear his reactions as he learns about his new faith after converting. For instance, much of Western Christian salvation theology finds its basis in the idea of sacrifice, which we assume directly descends from Old Testament concepts of sacrifice. But do we have the remotest understanding of what sacrifice meant to an Old Testament-era Jew? Modern Jews have retained a sense of the significance - modern Christians clearly have not. And yet, it's integral to our understanding of our life in Christ and the identity of Christ, Himself. This is just one example in which Fr James brilliantly clarifies Christian theology through the light of his Jewish background.
Do not, however, assume that this book is any kind of dry theological treatise. Important as the concepts presented are (and richly supported through scriptural references and quotes from early Christian fathers), listening to the audiobook was more like sitting down to coffee in the company of a friend, and hearing a long, lovely and fascinating story. Fr James artfully weaves together his personal thoughts and questions, experiences of spiritual growth, and encounters with significant history (a front-row seat in Israel's 6-Day War, a narrow escape from Vietnam conscription, participation in the lively Berkeley culture of the 60s and 70s). The author reads the book at a leisurely pace, which enriches the story and also makes it easier to follow when he delves into rich theology and scripture.
This book is so multi-layered it will bear repeated listening. I am very grateful to Fr James Bernstein for having written it, because it presented answers to questions I didn't know I had, but that prove critical to my understanding of my faith. If you are already a Christian, this book will enrich your understanding of Christianity in unexpected ways: be prepared to let go of what you think you know. And if you aren't a Christian, enjoy a great story that will still enlighten you about parts of our cultural history that are, in general, meagerly understood. Fr James Bernstein brings an invaluable voice to the conversation of culture, history and faith.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Kristin Ulrich
- 05-29-19
A Wonderful Surprise
Curiosity drove me to select this book. I have no connection to Judaism or any real conversion story, but the topic itself sounded crazy enough to be interesting—an Orthodox Jew converting to Orthodoxy and becoming a priest? Well, I wanted to see how that could possibly happen.
When I first started listening to this book (through Audible), I started to regret my choice. The introduction talked about how this book would be wonderful for anyone of the Jewish faith considering Orthodoxy or wishing to understand more about the connection between the Jewish faith and Orthodoxy. That was absolutely not me and I began to worry that my curiosity had driven me astray (as it has done before, from time to time). But, I continued reading and, just like the title “Surprised by Christ,” this book surprised me by how fascinating and compelling the story as well as how, convert or not, Christ has likewise surprised me in my life and continues to do so in little things every day.
The author evocatively leads us through his life, painting a picture of his childhood, his curiosity about faith, and ultimately the way all of his experiences led him to the priesthood. What struck me most was how the book made me realize how many little “conversion” events of my own I had had throughout my life—those little moments in life that led me to a deeper faith, a more profound understanding, and a reminder to keep searching. Life never takes you where you think it will, whether it is from Judaism to Orthodoxy, or from a childish understanding of faith to something more, to be more childlike rather than childish. This author and this book surprised me in the best sort of way.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Stephen
- 03-23-24
informative and insightful
the history of the world, as well as Father's personal journey through various iterations of faith, makes this a book I will read again and recommend to others - I listened at 1.5x speed MJD
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Amazon Customer
- 01-13-21
Great personal story mixed with theology
The weaving together of his life story with the theology of orthodoxy was done very well. He also outlines clearly the difference between orthodox beliefs and those of Catholics and Protestants. Highly recommend for any faith background.
He speaks a bit slow for me, so I just listed at 1.3 speed and it was wonderful.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
2 people found this helpful