Alfred Edersheim

Alfred Edersheim (1825–1889) was a Jewish-born biblical scholar and theologian who converted to Christianity and became one of the 19th century’s most respected authorities on Jewish history and customs. Educated in Vienna, Edinburgh, and Oxford, Edersheim served as both a minister and a lecturer, combining pastoral insight with rigorous scholarship. He is best known for his enduring works The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, The Temple: Its Ministry and Services, and Sketches of Jewish Social Life. His writings draw deeply from rabbinic literature, archaeology, and Scripture, making them indispensable resources for understanding the Jewish background of the New Testament.