Review of Messianic Jewish Christologies - now needs updating but was current at the time. Jesus the Messiah in Messianic Jewish Theology: The Shaping of Messianic Jewish Christology LCJE International Conference Finland August 9th, 2003 1. Introduction Some fifty years ago Jacob Jocz wrote: At the centre of the controversy between Church and Synagogue stands the Christological question. This is not a question whether Jesus is the Messiah, but whether the Christian understanding of the Messiah is admissible in view of the Jewish concept of God. Here lies the dividing line between Judaism and Church. On this point neither can afford to compromise. But as Messianic Jews we challenge the reality of this dividing line. In constructing the boundaries of Messianic Jewish identity we claim to be members of both Christian and Jewish communities. Does this mean that we present an unacceptable compromise on the uniqueness of Christ? Or does our understanding of the nature of the Messiah and the being of God clash with the fundamental tenets of Jewish monotheism? And if our belief in Jesus as Messiah is acceptable within a Jewish frame of reference, how is the Christian community to react when it appears that the key doctrine of the Triune nature of God is being challenged?