One Plus One
These are the statutes and the judgments and the laws which YHWH has given between Him and the sons of Israel, in Mount Sinai, by the hand of Moses. Leviticus 26:46
Laws – Did you realize Yeshua and all His followers believed in more than one Law?There was the Law of God, written by the hand of Moses.We call this Law the Torah.But in the time of Yeshua, that wasn’t the end of the matter.The “canon” of Yeshua and the apostles wasn’t confined to the books we call the Old Testament (the Tanakh).There was more – a good deal more – most of which we have never heard.
Consider this quotation from Sifre Torat Kohanim, an ancient rabbinic commentary. On this passage from Leviticus, the rabbis taught:
“These are the rules and judgments and laws which the LORD established between Himself and the children of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai.” The “rules” refer to interpretations of the text, “judgments” refer to the principles of jurisprudence, and “laws” [torot, plural] teach that two laws were given to Israel on Mount Sinai: one written, and the other one was given orally.”
When Rav Sha’ul asserts he believes everything that is in accordance with the Law and the prophets, he positions himself among the Pharisees who accepted both the written and oral Torah as God’s holy word. Rabbi Sha’ul says he is a follower of the Way which some call a sect. Notice that he does not consider it a sect of Judaism. It is the real religion of the Jews, firmly set on the Law and the Prophets, hoping in the one redeemer Yeshua who lived and died in Sha’ul’s own experience.There can hardly be a stronger case for the absolute unity of the Torah in the Tanakh and the Ketuvim Netzarim (the writings of those who follow the Nazarene).
Have we settled the issue? “Paul” is not a Greek-thinking convert to a new religion called Christianity. He is a rabbi who follows Yeshua, holding fast to all that YHWH has revealed to His people Israel. What does this mean for us today? It means we need to re-read, re-think and re-evaluate everything “Paul” says in light of his rabbinic commitment. He isn’t the man the Church has pretended to find among the pages of the New Testament (the Ketuvim Netzarim). He is much closer to Moses than Martin Luther, much more like Amos and Aquinas and a thinker like Solomon, not Schleiermacher. Everything he says has to be filtered through the eyes of a Jewish rabbi who encountered a Jewish Messiah on that road. It’s time to go back. Maybe then we will discover that some of those difficult passages in his letters aren’t quite so strange after all. Are you ready to look with eyes that see and listen with ears that hear? Are you ready to sit at the feet of rabbi Sha’ul and hear him in his own worldview? Or do you still think Paul is the first “Christian” missionary?
Topical Index: Paul, Sha’ul, rabbinic, Ketuvim Netzarim, oral torah, Acts 26:46
For today’s photo, click here – and be amazed!
Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. Old things have disappeared, and-look!-all things have become new! (2 Corinthians 5.17) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3.11) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3.28) Here is unity; Here is “shalom”, here is peace, here is pardon, here is purity,here is purpose: That is, that God was in Christ making peace between the world and himself, not putting their sins to their account, and having given to us the proclaiming of this news of peace. (2 Corinthians 5.19) Our new creation starts with Christ on the cross. For as in Adam all die, even so “in Christ” shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15.22) Paul was right: “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:24, 25). (Remember)- In fact, under the law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of the blood there is no forgiveness. (Hebrews 9.22) Alas and did my Savior bleed and did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head for such a worm as I? Jesus paid it all- all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain- He washed it white as snow. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1.18) “cleansed with blood?”- “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9.12) And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for G-d with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5.9)
Good morning Skip,
A lengthy response … but a very touchy topic! 🙂
I can concur my brother and perhaps over the course of days you will be providing details regarding the development of the Mishnah, related Tannaitic writings and the Gemara? Maybe?
However please let us be clear on a number of matters:
1) There is no irrefutable written support in The Word for the “Oral Tradition” …. it is implied;
2) It is presumed that there was not consensus and unity regarding the role and relationship of the “oral tradition” respective to “Torah” and Israelite society.
3) The recording of the Oral Tradition (Mishnah … around 200 CE) was necessary because of the destruction of the Temple and Jewish society;
4) The commentaries and evolution of Rabbinic thought in response to the Mishnah, resulted in two major recensions of the Gemara – (One compiled in Israel around 375 CE and one compiled in Babylonia around 500 CE) The later one commonly dominating in acceptance!
5) Assuredly the influence of the Babylonian Talmud came from a significant population of Jewish sages which did not return from Babylonia.
6) The Talmud in Rabbinic (a.k.a. mainstream Jewish) culture rose to equal importance to the Torah and in fact is viewed as being integral to Torah (Talmud + Books Of Moshe = Torah)
7) Despite the tremendous efforts it must be admitted that ultimately these works evolved under the guidance of a Rabbinic “See” that did not accept Yeshua! Essentially at best it was developed in partial blindness!
My point is that caution is necessary when the topic of Oral Tradition is invoked. I agree Skip that it is a topic that simply can not be brushed under the rug.
Certainly there was Oral Tradition (as you point out) that we will never have available to us. Teachings and traditions by Yeshua and subsequently Sha’ul and all of the early Apostles, et. al., lost forever to antiquity. Yet we must remain leery because the early Gentile Church (Rome) used this “oral tradition” mandate to develop and justify much doctrine and theology which we know is simply counter to ELOHIM’s WORD! a.k.a. “Church Tradition”.
From a personal perspective (opinion) I approach the Talmud as being a much more transparent development process. The Talmud, unlike church tradition, most assuredly provides us a far better glance into the roots and thought processes of the Hebrews. The Talmud most assuredly shows us a better model for community based halakha … the Talmud clearly can help us see our roots … but …
The Oral Tradition is lacking a fundamental component …. it is not reflective of the reality of Yeshua (The Beginning and End of all things). We can thus debate all day long the wonderful merits of the Oral Tradition, but in the back of my mind I always consider how these works would differ if these Rabbis knew Yeshua (We must admit the Oral Tradition would be different … no?). I always wonder what influences living in Babylonia affected the outputs of the works. I always wonder where the roots of Rabbinic mysticism emanated from and the impacts to these works. Essentially I exercise caution and frankly so does the Rabbi of my own Messianic Jewish congregation.
If over the years of studying these materials and associated history I have developed some wrong concerns, Skip or anyone else in the community … please let me hear the alternative views. The Talmud represents an amazing corpus of works and undoubtedly the best views we can get into the mindset of “The Hebrew”. As for me however I have never been convinced that Oral Tradition should held in the same light as “The Written Word”.
Thanks for the long and considered addition. Your points are well-taken, especially about Yeshua. My point is that we as Christians have been led to believe there were no other influences on the development of religious thinking during the time of Yeshua. That, of course, isn’t true. While we may not know what exactly the parts of that corpus of work influenced Yeshua, Sha’ul and others, we certainly know that they were influenced by material that most Christians either ignore or discard. Too bad because it helps us see into this world.
Since Oral Tradition acts in parallel only in communities where there is a prophetic stream involved in daily life, we are now so far removed from this kind of living that we imagine it as foreign and unnecessary. But it was essential to the religious views of the first century. Whatever helps us get closer to the thinking of Yeshua, helps! That doesn’t mean it is divinely inspired. It means it is helpful.
Thanks again, Drew. Your contributions are vital to the process.
Hi Drew,
I share your views exactly. Thank you for your thoughtful comments.
I sent the folloowing comments to my brother-in-law who is a died in the wool Greek thinking Christian. I will let my comment stand without further comments:
I think some of Skip’s writings are a bit upsetting to you. Yet you read them and yes, he is a good writer. I think what Skip is saying is said in this article. That unless we know and understand Paul as a Hebrew, which is what he was and is, we can never understand what he is saying. I have believed for a long time that the translations that we have are not very trustworthy. Things were so changed in the second and third century that it took away the Hebrew world view and adopted the Greed world view. The question for today is how can we have a Christian worldview if we do not understand the Hebrew worldview out of which it comes?
Great comments, especially Drew’s.
Roy, May I suggest that you pray for the Spirit’s illumination and drawing power with regard to your brother. God can use Skip’s writings as seed, and/or water for the work as He chooses. I can understand your zeal in your expanded revelation…PRAISE GOD!…and appreciate your desire for what seems to have eluded many of us for years. Know that Jesus came to set the captives free. He came that the law of love would be fulfilled through Him. That we could know that the goal of the law is love…love as God designed it. I have many precious friends and family that do not know this peace although they claim salvation through the Prince of Peace. They do not live according to the dictates of a merciful and compassionate Savior although they claim to have a relationship with the Wonderful Counselor. Many claim the “baptism” of the Holy Ghost and yet refuse to be buried with Christ through denying pride and self. Many claim their lives are “hidden in Christ” and still cling to the riches, trends, mannerisms and vain philosophies of this present world which is carnality and leads to spiritual death. BUT for GOD! As one who knew absolutely NOTHING of God, Jesus Christ or the reality of being born from above, for many years, I only “knew” what I was taught. BUT for God! The Holy Spirit has so gently and kindly brought me to learn of the teachings in the context of what is in agreement with the whole counsel of God and many of the contradictions and paradoxes that could not be explained away have begun to be opened up and understood as much as my faith will allow. I am asking the Lord for continued illumination. I am asking Him for the voice to speak it audibly to those He puts in my pathway. This “speaking” or “conversation” is through the way I live and move and have my being in the Him, that His light will shine through me because I am no longer having to make another argument or defense for the One who Created me to glorify Him. He is the King of Glory and I am His obedient slave. He has spoken it and it is so. The arguments end with the fulfillment of the law, Yeshua, which God writes upon our hearts as we trust Him and LOVE Him enough to obey. As Skip has pointed to, this obedience comes out of our knowledge of His Authority, not as a means or method of gaining His favor. His favor is already Present. Praying for you, your brother, my church, my family and friends and this community. May the power of the Almighty One Who IS rest on us.
Shalom Mary …. just a beautiful testimony …. praise ELOHIM!