David H Stern

David Harold Stern (1935-2022) was an American-born theologian who later lived in Israel and was a prominent figure in the Messianic Jewish community. He came from a notable early Jewish pioneer family in Los Angeles, with his grandfather being involved in early Hollywood development. Stern pursued advanced studies in economics and theology, earning degrees from UCLA, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton University.

His academic career included teaching economics at UCLA and the first course on Judaism and Christianity at Fuller. In 1979, he moved to Jerusalem, where he dedicated himself to writing and translation. His most significant contribution is the Complete Jewish Bible, an English translation of the Tanakh and New Testament that aims to highlight their Jewish roots. This translation is characterized by its use of transliterated Hebrew terms for Greek proper nouns and its reinterpretation of certain Greek phrases concerning "the law" as referring to "Torah-legalism."

Born in Los Angeles in 1935, David H. Stern hailed from one of the foundational Jewish families in the city, instrumental in establishing the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. His family's influence extended to early Hollywood, with his grandfather, Jacob Stern, owning property at Hollywood and Vine and building the Hollywood Plaza Hotel. Stern himself received a comprehensive education, obtaining a B.A. in economics from UCLA, a Master of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University.

Stern's magnum opus is the Complete Jewish Bible, a translation of the Tanakh and the New Testament (termed the 'B'rit Hadashah' by Messianic Jews). A distinctive feature of this work is its extensive use of transliteration, replacing many Greek proper nouns with their Hebrew equivalents, a method Stern described as "cosmetic." The translation also interprets Greek phrases related to "the law" as pertaining to "Torah-legalism," a concept further elaborated in his writings such as Messianic Judaism: A Modern Movement With an Ancient Past.

Professionally, Stern served as an economics professor at UCLA and initiated the first course on Judaism and Christianity at Fuller Theological Seminary. In 1979, he relocated to Jerusalem, becoming an active member of Israel's Messianic Jewish community. In this capacity, he focused on writing and translation, leaving a significant mark on Messianic Jewish literature and biblical scholarship before his passing in Jerusalem in 2022.