The Divinity of the Messiah

Frey's 'The Divinity of the Messiah' is an excellent book to furnish the believer with un-refutable biblical proofs of the deity of the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. Steeped in Jewish learning, Frey was able to fluently read the Torah in Hebrew by the age of six. From six years and upwards, he was personally instructed in the Talmud, the rabbinic commentary on the Scriptures. At the young age of twenty-one years he became a leader in one of the local synagogues in Germany. Frey battled with the theological ideas of Christianity and underwent several years of internal struggle. Finally, in the year 1798, Frey was born again at the age of 27, accepting the Lord Jesus as his Messiah and Saviour.

With such a background, Frey took in hand to write a series of letters to his unbelieving brother, Benjamin, convincing him both from the Scriptures and from the rabbinic writings of the validity, biblical and logical consistency, and the irrefutability of the essential doctrines of Christianity. The entire correspondence is titled 'Joseph and Benjamin: The Most Important Doctrines of the Messianic Faith' and is printed in two volumes, available from Keren Ahvah Meshihit. The book, 'The Divinity of the Messiah' comprises all the correspondence from Joseph to his brother touching the topic of the Messiah's deity. It was separated into a small volume in its own right because of the immense importance of the topic, especially amongst Jewish believers of the present day.

With a vast spectrum of arguments, Frey proves that the Messiah's deity is consistent with both Old and New Testament teachings. Besides the more conventional proofs of Messiah's deity, he cites remarkable rabbinic statements about the triunity of God, which uncover the Scriptures in a new light altogether. Commenting on Isa 6.3, ("Holy, Holy Holy is the Lord of Hosts, the whole earth is full of His Glory") Frey quotes R. Simeon ben Yarchi: "Holy, that is the Father; Holy, that is the Son; Holy, that is the Holy Spirit". Frey continues, "Another of our Rabbins says, "There are three degrees or excellencies in God, and every one is called Kavod, (i.e glory), or panim (i.e faces or persons)" ". Frey quotes not only from the more orthodox Jewish writings but also delves into the writings of Jewish mysticism. He quotes the author of the Zohar stating, "Come and see the mystery in the word Elohim; viz there are three degrees, and every degree is distinct by himself; and notwithstanding they are all one, and yield in one and one is not separated from the other."

Frey multiplies witness on witness to testify of the concept of the triunity of the Godhead in the Jewish writings. He notes the significance the Jewish writers of old placed on the mentioning of three names of God together in one place, eg Ps 50.1 and Josh 22.22 where the Hebrew text reads "El, Elohim, Jehovah". Frey quotes the Midresh Tehillim in Loco, saying "Why does he mention the name of the blessed God three times? It is to teach thee that the blessed God created his world by these three names".

The book finishes with two letters on the subject of the deity of the Holy Spirit. Overall, this book is a valuable treasure for believers, both to strengthen their own faith and to furnish with biblical proofs in the face of those that deny Messiah's deity. "Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law"!

'Divinity of the Messiah' by Frey, is printed by Keren Ahvah Meshihit, Jerusalem.