Bob Gorelik comments on Acts 15
Recent discussion about the issue of salvation and the place of Torah in the first century church prompted me to ask Bob if he would comment. As a Jewish rabbi and believer in the Messiah, I thought the rest of us would like to hear what he has to say about this difficult passage in Acts.
The Jerusalem Council
The context of the “Council’s” deliberations is established in Acts 15:1-2
1Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” 2This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.”
Acts 15 preserves an account of the most difficult and argued-over issue among Believers in the 1st-century! And, here we see the impact it had on the entire Messianic community. So much so that it brought well-intentioned, loving people into a “sharp dispute and debate” with each other over the question – “How do Gentiles get ‘saved.’” Unfortunately, in the 1st-century the “status” of Gentiles, vis-à-vis their relationship with God was not so easy to come to terms with:
1) By the 1st-century, there was a long-standing “feud” between Jews and Gentiles – the “cultural” barriers between them were enormous.
2) The Gentiles represented a “mixed-bag” for most Jews in the 1st-century. There were those who believed Israel had a moral obligation to reach out to them, i.e., to be a “light” to them – and others who were afraid of what would happen if Israel’s “ranks” were “swollen” by too many.
3) There was never a question among Jews whether or not Gentiles could be “saved” – but how they get “saved.” And, the other thing that is important is understanding the profound difference between what Christians think of when the word “saved” is used and what Jews think of. For Jews, being “saved” means being connected to the Covenant that God made with the Jewish people.
In the 1st-century, most Jews (including Peter) believed that Gentiles must convert to Judaism in order to be “saved.” The “men (who) came down from Judea to Antioch” in v. 1 of Acts 15 were typical – not atypical of the larger Jewish community. The discussion between James, Paul, Peter (and the others) clearly establishes several principles regarding the Gentiles and salvation. But, they really boil down to a single one, i.e., that Gentiles are no more “unclean” by virtue of their being Gentiles than Jews are “clean” by virtue of their being Jews (a lesson that Peter learns is Acts 10). Therefore, Jews and Gentiles are both “saved” in the same way – “through the grace of our Lord Yeshua” (v. 11).
As it turns out (contrary to what Martin Luther taught about this issue), the Torah and circumcision have nothing to do with salvation – for Jews and/or for Gentiles. Both are “saved” by grace! That this has always been the case is emphasized by what Peter says (above), i.e., that Jews and Gentiles come to God in the same way – by faith. Now, this does not change the fact that God made a Covenant with the Israel, i.e., with the Jewish people – but it does mean that Gentiles who have a heart for God and want to connect themselves to God’s people can do so. This is why James says what he says. The four “things” that he mentions all have to do with idolatry (they all happen to be in the Torah too). In other words, he is saying that in order for Gentiles “to be saved” they must turn away from idols and worship the One True God. Then he goes on to say something very important;
“For Moses has been preached in every city from the earliest times and is read in the synagogues on every Sabbath” (Acts 15:21).
In my opinion, this reflects the view of the early leaders that while the Torah is not something to impose on the Gentiles for salvation, it is something that they will learn in the synagogues that they attend. The fact is, almost all of the Gentiles that both Peter and Paul reach-out to in the Book of Acts were in synagogues worshipping God as “God-fearers” (with very few exceptions). The references are many, e.g., Acts 13:26, 44; 14:1; et al.
What is perhaps even more important, at least for the purpose of this discussion, is what did the believing Jews and Gentiles do when they withdrew (or were asked to leave) whatever synagogue they were attending when they came to faith in Yeshua? It is not reasonable to assume that they started churches when they left. The church paradigm was unknown, i.e., the “church” did not exist in spite of the way that the Greek word ekklesia is usually translated. In Greek literature, an ekklesia is a secular assembly, not a religious assembly. Luke uses the word ekklesia the way that it is used in the Septuagint – as a translation of the Hebrew k’hilah – a synagogue (“of the Jews”). By the way, this is also why the word synagogue (when it is used in the Book of Acts) is qualified as being an assembly “of the Jews,” since the Greek word synagogeen can refer to any type of religious assembly.
When the early Jewish and Gentile believers left whatever synagogue they attended (for whatever reason) – they formed new ones. I know that this view flies in the face of most (if not all) Christians, but given what else is said in the Book of Acts (and the rest of the New Covenant for that matter), it is the most reasonable conclusion to draw. These early “assemblies” were organized like synagogues – in fact, the “leader” of the group was known as the “president” – not “pastor” – until 165 C.E. A “president” is the leader of a synagogue – not a church, in the 1st-century.
Call it an “inference” if you want to – but if believing Jews and Gentiles did not worship together in “messianic” synagogues, then why does James even mention the teaching of the Torah? As I mentioned earlier, the Torah was not given to “save” – but it was given to equip for ministry. Isn’t that what Paul tells Timothy? 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Tim 3:16). The only “Scripture” that existed at the time was the Torah – a term used in the 1st-century to refer not just to the Five Books of Moses – but to the entire Bible.
Anyway, hope this helps – and that you are not more confused than before. It is a complicated issue – unfortunately, made much worse since the 2nd-century.
Be well. Shalom uv’rachot (Peace and Blessings).
Bob
P.S. The italic, underlined, bolded and colored texts are used for emphasis – I am not “shouting” either.
Sadly we can not undo church history but we can certainly examine it …. challenge it!
The historical record is pretty clear that in the second century, after the death of John the Apostle, certain Gentile factions, particularly those in Rome and Alexandria, began an assault on the Hebraic foundation of the faith. With deviants such as Marcion of Sinope running around spewing poison the young church split along Hebraic vs. Gentile lines in the mid-2nd century. The issue used to polarize the body of Mashiach was the Easter vs. Passover dilemma.
Although this issue continued to fester, by 190 CE at the Ephesian Council it was decided that “Easter” (first Sunday in spring after the Equinox) and not Passover (Nissan 14) would be celebrated. This led to the excommunication of many elders/leaders.
In spite of these edicts by church rulers many continued with the Passover Festival … finally giving way in 325 CE (Council of Nicaea). There was not much defiance anywhere after Constantine laid down the law!
Here are parts of Constantine’s 325 CE Epistle to those Bishops not attending the Council:
“It was, in the first place, declared improper to follow the custom of the Jews in the celebration of this holy festival, because, their hands having been stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily blinded. By rejecting their custom, we establish and hand down to succeeding ages one which is more reasonable, and which has been observed ever since the day of our Lord’s sufferings. Let us, then, have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries. For we have received from our Saviour another way. A better and more lawful line of conduct is inculcated by our holy religion. Let us with one accord walk therein, my much-honoured brethren, studiously avoiding all contact with that evil way. They boast that without their instructions we should be unable to commemorate the festival properly. This is the highest pitch of absurdity. For how can they entertain right views on any point who, after having compassed the death of the Lord, being out of their minds, are guided not by sound reason, but by an unrestrained passion, wherever their innate madness carries them. …..
I hope the response herein from folks is not simply “so what”. If people don’t know about this history then they will never know that for a few hundred years things were very very different within the early church of Mashiach. Things were very Hebraic in many areas of the Empire. Certainly after 325 CE however no person can dispute that the church pursued a path away from its Biblical heritage! In rejecting the Jews the church rejected its roots. Of course it had to construct a new root system. Hence all of the confusion because the church roots don’t match the biblical roots!
But praise YHVH in all things. As promised and in mercy He has kept a remnant and is now in the later days raising them up. The heritage can be reclaimed!
Bob, I enjoy your teachings very much, your insights are invaluable.
Please help me straighten out my Gentile thinking.
In this article you said, “In other words, he is saying that in order for the Gentiles “to be saved” they must turn away from idols and worship the One True God”.
Ok, if the Gentiles have to turn away from these four things, before they can be saved and these four things are listed in the Torah, then isn’t turning away from them “works of the Torah”. And if so, is the scripture teaching that the Gentiles have to do these works of the Torah before they can be saved? Or in other words, Is this a scriptural definition of Gentile repentance?
Or is repentance laying down your life and taking up the life of Yeshua and stepping down off of the throne and enthroning Him as the King of our internal kingdom? Bob, this has been my view of repentance and so I have looked at the four requirements listed in Acts 15 as the good works that testify of Messiah’s life within us, or what we do because we are saved and not something we do in order to be saved.
Can you clarify this for me?
Thanks
Skip here. I think you have it a bit backwards. Just because there are significant comments in Torah about what and what does not constitute idolatry does not mean that those signs of worshipping a false god become a means for EARNING grace. Rather, the shoe is on the other foot. Those who do not give up the signs and symbols of idolatry are not experiencing God’s grace because they have refused His offer to be the King of their lives. The evidence of this refusal is seen in their practices. So, the Jerusalem council says, “You can’t continue to practice the outward signs of idolatry and at the same time claim that God is your king. You must give up the outward signs as a reflection of your acceptance of His grace.” You can’t be a citizen of Italy and continue to live according to the constitution of South Africa.
So, even though the council says that Gentiles must give up these practices, and these practices are described in Torah, that does not imply that giving up these practices EARNS you salvation. The council does not argue that Gentiles have to do these things in order to be saved. It argues that anyone who is saved will do these things.
Salvation…, that is coming into a covenant relationship with the Almighty… has always been a precious gift flowing from His grace. o/o/o/
The issue of Acts 15 deal with how we respond to that gift. If we accept Him as our King, then we do as He says. We are accepted BEFORE we learn all of His ways and are walking in them. We are still responsible to what He reveals. Walking in His ways is our response to His gift, and not a means of acquiring it. 🙂
However since covenant relationship is a gift, it is not forced upon us. We are given the volition to choose to accept it (and its privileges and responsibilities)…, or not. He covers us when we fall short, as long as we continue walking towards Him and not away from Him. Reading Num 15:30 and Heb 10:26-31 will give us an idea of what He has in store for those who reject His gift. 🙁
This is essentially what Skip declared. The repudiation of the outward old self is witness to acceptance of “the gift” … Yeshua HaMashiach! And yes we need to walk closer to Him and not away …. with the walk being very different for different people it would seem.
However is there not a point when the lack of transformation depicts a rejection of “the gift”? I believe this is what Skip alludes to. (Maybe Skip will chime in … I don’t want to speak for any one else). But one can’t wholly be unchanged (remain the same old self) and claim that “the gift” has been accepted …. or do folks believe this is the case? 1st John speaks to this!
I personally get very squeamish about man’s attempts to cheapen grace (not implying that Tom is doing so by any stretch of the imagination 🙂 ) When people believe that grace is a “get out of sheol card” that entails no Spiritual re-birth …. then this is a false faith.
Ultimately Spiritual re-birth has got to result in a changed life to some degree …. and this changed life can not look the same as the old life …. it is not earning grace (ever) …. it is simply letting Ruach HaKodesh confirm that the gift has been bestowed and accepted. Because without The Spirit …. I know I can’t change and I am doomed. It is The Spirit that transforms people …. not people transforming by themselves. Lest we go down the other path where we end up with “dead works”!
In some notes I had written on the trip to Israel in Oct., I had written, ” Skip’s Rabbi, Bob Gorelik,”, but I had not looked up any information on him, and so yesterday very early in the morning I opened the computer and noticed there was this article written by him. And decided to delay my plans for the morning and read it.
Sir, you are welcome to shout with bold, underlind or colored words to me! Most of us “ordinary” people need and want all the help we can get. I appreciate the Amplified Bible (Expanded Edition) because I need all the words possible to expand the meaning and help me. And I think the things you mentioned at the bottom are great. I dislike not being able to underline in this reply area.
I do not think there was any confusion in what you wrote; I came awake and joyful, as I read such a consise well organized document. Yes, it is a complicated issue. When I try to analyze my own teachings and learning on these discussions that Skip has been hammering away on for several months, I know it has been a lifetime: all through the 76 years of my life: some through osmosis of hearing and reading of some excellent teachers, and studying the tools within my own reach. Our cultural experiences, no matter how Godly they were, if we have gone out into the world to earn our livings, they have/do rub off on us. “We are in the world, but not of the world.” But the cares of the world rob us much of God’s availabilty to us.
I am so thankful to our Heavenly father, to live when and where there is so much knowledge available to so many people. I say thank you Skip’s Rabbi Bob Gorelik for your years of study and work. Now, you can be our Rabbi, too.——————————————–
Thanks to all who comment, all of you make us think one way or another, and study, pray to try & learn who is correct. —- If you think you are not scholarly enough to write, as a retired teacher, I urge you to write your thoughts out in a place elsewhere, computer, paper, whatever. Yes, it may be necessary to rewrite many times, but God will reward you for your efforts and Bless you greatly. Then put them on the reply. I had never written on a blog ( or even read them–etc. until a few months ago. I goofed, that is okay!
DREW, I “plan” to write on the first reply that you wrote above: historical knowledge and the importance of it– 325 Council of Nice or Nicea, called by Constantine the Great, and attended by 318 bishops.—– Yes, Americans and the World, are so ignorant of History, or even today’s world situation. God forgive us all for opting for the pleasure of the world. L.B.
What a wonderful observation …. We do live in a time where a little effort can provide so much in the way of acquiring information. We have a tremendous advantage today; even over our own situation just 15 years ago.
As such …. to who much is given much is expected …. we should exercise this luxury we have and earnestly seek the truth in matters that were shielded from the generations that came before us. We really have no excuses whatsoever …. we have a tool set that enables us to “seek him” like no other generation before us. We have an obligation to defend the truth as it becomes manifest!
Thanks LaVaye for pointing out so clearly this blessing that He has provided. Sometimes the blessings are staring us in the face and we just can’t see past our noses … shame on me! The next time I am conducting research I will certainly thank Him! I remember the old days when we went to libraries! LOL …. I hope I did not date myself with this last comment! 🙂
As I was reading this, the picture of being “grafted into the vine” came to mind. I’ve always understood that to mean we were grafted into the Body of Christ, or the New Covenant, etc. However, could it mean that we are also to be grafted into the ways of the Torah and the way the Jews worshiped?
Grafted in, indeed, but Paul makes it abundantly clear that we are grafted in to the COMMONWEALTH OF ISRAEL. Yes, that is also the Body, but the Christian perspective often overlooks the fact that the commonwealth of Israel is a political entity, a kingdom, with its own constitution and King. That constitution is Torah. So, how is it that we all speak of being grafted into the “Body” but we have missed the part that the Body is the living expression of Torah obedience – the “law” of the Kingdom?
Skip
My brother Jay …. great observation …. or question!
In response to salvation given freely to believers, Ruach HaKodesh apparently works on some within the Body of Mashiach in different ways. I for instance am a grafted in gentile who had little choice but to seek out a community that embraced the biblical ways … the ways of The Root as manifested through the natural branches … Israel. This is where Ruach HaKodesh led me!
Our community of both Jews and Gentiles is bound in unity not just by our faith in Yeshua but also by our submission to the ways of old. We submit and are joined together as best we can be in obedience to The Master Of All Creation!
So our lives are more closely aligned with each other as we flow through the cycle of life detailed in The Word. We move from one Shabbat to another …. from one New Moon to another …. from one Sacred Festival to another. We pray in both English and Hebrew … we chant in both English and Hebrew …. we study in a manner that gets us back to what things meant in Hebrew and to Hebrews. Our approach to life as Skip would say … is less Greek and more Hebraic. For us it is a true blessing!
I must add that to some extent there are varying degrees of conviction for different individuals and it is important that submission be in faith and not for rote or mere assimilation. For instance … one may wear Tzits Tzits while another does not have this conviction yet. If there is no spiritual struggle for the one who does not wear Tzits Tzits then I, as one who does wear them, also does not struggle.
Ultimately for some there is a deep yearning …. a spiritual awakening that leads us to a place where we understand that the Biblical ways were given to us for a reason …. a purpose and our response to grace is to accept these timeless and treasured behavioral patterns. Accept them in faith and trust so that we can be unified and also show this world that our allegiance is to The King Of Kings and we are willing to abide in His ways and not the ways of this world. We can show that His culture can overcome the age old differences between Jew and Gentile.
Admittedly for many this close identification with the roots of our faith in Yeshua is viewed as being way to Jewish (a stumbling block)! This however is not a problem for me and others. In fact we view the return to the Hebraic roots as inevitable. I for one believe the baby was supposed to be kept when the bath water was cast out. Others may not agree and the difference may simply be a matter of our purpose to Him and nothing more!
So my brother … in the end it is much more than a matter of worship …. for some believers it is a matter of total life style re-engineering! Why the conviction? I simply can’t explain it except to say that it feels natural and gives me a deep sense of alignment with Yeshua. I can tell you that it is not the result of a rationalized decision! I can assure you … as it pertains to this world … there are very few people that consider my life style modifications over the years to be rational. 🙂
Most think that I am strictly a loon! Yet I know what it is like to have freedom in Him without fear!
Shalom
Greetings, I would desire to express a comment if I could. First, there was no term used such as Messianic in the First century. Nor were there Churches, Or Messianic Congregations. I understand what the term means, and what the Messianic Movement tenants of faith is, and beliefs! But their are no records Of the term Messianic that describes Jews who believe in Rabbi Yeshua as the divine Tzaddik. ha darek, followers of the way, yes, notzrim, Nazarenes yes. The two times in the “New Covenant”, if I may use that term, that the word (Christians)..was applied, it was to Gentiles who accepted Yeshua as the Messiah, (Moshiach), and was used as a slam by Gentile non-believers, an insult, Not to the Nazarene Sect in Judea as it was called, and small Jewish believing groups throughout the Roman world , esp. as they grew. Though the Nazarene sect also was harassed, it was mostly by the Orthodox Jews who rejected the teachings, and of the Jewish Orthodox followers of Rabbi Yeshua. I am not trying to split hairs. Our Orthodox Nazarene movement accepts the Torah, and the full weight of Oral tradition, just like the first century! and with proper Halachah, determine our daily walk through our plurality of Rabbis throughout the world, As it is needed. Our belief is, The Halachic extentions of the Torah, as some call the B’rit Chadasha, Is looked upon through the eyes of the Torah and Oral tradition, as the Divine Presence directs us. There are many many Jews who believe in the Divine Tzaddik, Rabbi Yeshua, Who are Orthodox in expression, And see the relevancy of Both the Law, the Holy scriptures, the halachic extentions of the law, and the Oral tradition. The Tenackh remains fixed, the Oral law is in flux, allowed by haShem to determine everyday determinations, individually, and community wise. I believe in Acts 15, that we see this as being activated and was simply apart of the daily walk of believing Orthodox Jew’s who loved Yeshua, and the leadership making proper decisions for the new non Jewish followers, and admonishing the Nazarene community, to love and accept the non Jew as apart of G-d’s kingdom. We also believe that the Nazarene community was far more organized in daily life then was thought to have been believed. Thank you for your time, Sincerely, Rabbi Yosef P. Hilbrant, B’rit Avraham Orthodox Notzrim Shul.
Thank you for your addition to the dialogue. Would you mind telling me where you are located?
I am sure that Bob and I would both agree about your comments on the use of “christian” and “Messianic” but of course you understand that the audience I write to commonly uses these words to describe what you have more accurately noted. You might also find Daniel Gruber’s analysis of the Greek term translated “Christian” in the passage you cited to be revealing. Not even and insult. Much more a complete confusion.
Shalom Skip Moen, Thank you for your kind thoughts. Rabbi. Gorelik licensed me in 1990 at Adat haMashiach Messianic Congregation. The Rabbi is truly an example of love and and understanding. He made a lasting impression on me so long ago. I’m thankful for him. I moved on through the years, continuing my education, and received my Masters in Theology and a honorary Doctorate in Philosophy. But primarily we have been busy training several through our School, ” the Centre of Hebraic Insights and Torah Observance, as well as being the Full time Rabbi for the last 19 years, At B’rit Avraham Orthodox Notzrim Shul in Sun City, a community of Menifee Ca. We now have community plants, or outpost if you will, of small Orthodox Jewish Nazarene communities in Montana, Missouri, Nashville, Sun City, Ca, Three Orthodox Nazarene Jewish communities in Ethiopia, (one in addis, and two in Gondar.) We are thankful for the blessings the l-rd has enriched us with. On another note, Dr. Bruce Stokes at Cal Baptist University, has been a good friend of mind the last 25 years. He knows about our Orthodox Notzrim Synagogues. We are not with any Conference, we are our own. But, we thank haShem for everybody, and we have no need to compete with anyone. We also have several Gentile Churches that we have excellent relationships with! Our Jewish commonwealth communities does its best to cater to the Orthodox Jew, so 65-75 % of our Synagogues are Jewish, with a much smaller amount non-Jewish. May they both be blessed in haShem’s kingdom, But, in closing, whats a big part of our movement, is emphasizing the importance of love, If a person comes to one of our Jewish communities and only wants a title, instead of a loving testimony, then they won’t last. Its so important that we all stop fighting, and treat each other with love, understanding, kindness, tenderness, respect, and being sweet to each other as brothers and sisters in the kingdom. That we attempt to outdo each other as being servants. Our motto here is ,”Love the people, serve the people, and make it your commitment to excellence.” Rabbi Joseph P. Hilbrant
Thank you for this testimony, Joseph. The most common heartache of those I meet is simply, “I’m alone.” Perhaps now I will be able to direct those in your areas to a place of refuge.
Dear Rabbi Joseph,
I just read your post and wondered where your group is in Missouri.
Shalom daughter, We have a small outpost in Independence, Missouri. Called Brit Avraham. If you could email me your Telephone number or email address, I will forward it to Rabbi Bradley Cox and his wife Beth. They will attempt to reach you. I do hope that this coming Passover will be full and joyous time, Blessings to you, Chief Rabbi. Joseph P. Hilbrant
Shalom Skip Moen, Happy Passover to you and your family and friends. How very kind of you that you would even consider us, May haShem, the Master of the Universe, and his son, Moshiach Rabbi. Yeshua of Nazareth, bestow upon you, his riches blessings. That you would help the poor, the needy, the widow, and those who have been thrown away! Perhaps someday you, and I, and Rabbi. Gorelik, will have coffee together, you are welcome to contact me directly through my email address, Shalom, all my hopes, Rabbi. Joseph P. Hilbrant
Rabbi Hilbrant
Do you happen to have any connections in Virginia at all?
Cheryl
Dear Cheryl, Rabbi. Daniel Thompson is in Virginia. He is Orthodox and believes as we do pretty much. , but not apart of our movement. But, he is someone who we trust and is a gifted teacher, I think his website is “through Jewish Eyes”. Hope it helps, Rabbi. Hilbrant