The Heart Of The Matter
“Do not think that I came to annul the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to annul, but to fulfill.” Matthew 5:17
To Fulfill – In 144 AD the Church branded Marcion a heretic and rejected his truncated Bible. Marcion taught that Christians had no further use of the Hebrew Scriptures except as a matter of historical interest. He also rejected a great deal of the New Testament books as too “Jewish.” He accepted the gospel of Luke and ten Pauline letters as the only true canon for Christians. The Church rejected this heresy, but it didn’t quite demolish the theological position behind Marcion’s claim. Marcion’s heresy was based on his belief that the Law and, consequently all things Jewish, was done away with in the death and resurrection of the Christ. In other words, Marcion read this verse as follows: “Don’t think I came to erase the Law and the Prophets; I did not come to erase but to finish.” Marcion believed that Jesus completed the Law making it no longer necessary or essential for Christians. The Church threw out Marcion, but it kept his theology.
A few weeks ago, someone wrote to me with the following statements:
“The only parts of the scriptures that are for the Gentiles are Paul’s letters. All of the rest is directed to Israel. Yes, every word that Jesus said while he was the dusty Nazarene here on planet Earth was for Israel, not for us. . . . Skip, grace is the only thing that’s supposed to squeeze through! This is the administration of grace! The administration of law is over! Christ is the end of the law, Rom 10:4. . . The law of Moses is a “dispensation of condemnation” designed to drive one to helplessness in Christ. We are not to go back and follow the law, Gal 4:9 – 11.”
Marcion is back from the grave. Abraham Heschel writes, “Marcion remains a formidable menace, a satanic challenge. In the modern Christian community the power of Marcionism is much more alive and widespread than is generally realized . . .”[1]
Perhaps we could put a stop to this heresy once-and-for-all if we just realized what Yeshua said in Hebrew. Our confusion comes from the Greek word pleroo. The Greek verb means “to make full, to fill up” and specifically with prophecy “to fulfill, accomplish or bring to an end.” There’s the confusion. This Greek verb can be read to mean “to end,” but Yeshua wasn’t speaking Greek. Matthew is a translation from Hebrew and in Hebrew the meaning comes from the root kiyem which means “to cause to stand or uphold.” So, the Hebrew sense of this statement is about interpreting the Scripture correctly. To annul the Law is to misinterpret the Law. To fulfill the Law is to correctly interpret the Law. In either case, the Law remains.
You will notice that Yeshua’s ministry is concerned with correcting the interpretation of the Torah and when the Torah is correctly interpreted, it demands action. To fulfill the Law is to do what is dictated by the Law. That is an on-going consideration obviously not set aside by Yeshua’s death and resurrection. When the Church removed itself from its Jewish roots, it adopted the spirit of Marcion even as it rejected Marcion himself. In spite of branding Marcion a heretic, the Church has adopted his point of view. The idea that the Law has been set aside is a complete bastardization of Yeshua’s statement. From a Hebrew perspective, such thinking is simply impossible. God authored the Law and nothing will annul it, not even the passing away of heaven and earth.
Does Marcion live in your religious assembly? Is he hiding between the pages of your hymnal or peaking over the edge of the pulpit? Is he authoring your Sunday school material or your devotionals? Until you put him in the grave for good, you will be playing silent host to Satan who would like nothing better than your rejection of God’s Torah.
Topical Index: Law, annul, fulfill, Matthew 5:17, pleroo, kiyem, Marcion
[1] Abraham Heschel, The Insecurity of Freedom, cited in Brad Young, Paul the Jewish Theologian, p. 61.
<> (Isaiah 40.8)
Every time you say the church believes this, and the church believes that, you are separating us. Please do not generalize. You are painting once again with the broad brush and grouping us (His bride) as (what?).. Any follower of Christ, any “Christian” anywhere halfway worth his salt will tell you, the Jews are (today)-G-d’s chosen people. Always have been and always will be. G-d is not finished with the Jew. Yes, we agree with you Skip, we need to delight in and return to the foundations of our faith. In the local body of believers where I assemble we teach from G-d’s book. From Genesis to Maps we are blessed to believe and receive the verbal plenary inspiration of the Scriptures. All of it. Not just the O.T., not just the N.T., all of it. Every word of G-d is pure. From “in the beginning” to “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” The folks I hang out with are Goyim. Pork-eating, deep South, “redneck” Gentiles. Sinners, every one of them..(us). We love Israel. We love our Jewish brothers. We know, serve,worship and love the very same G-d as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Not to worry brother Skip..G-d has promised.. “I will build my church”. I didn’t say it, He did. “It is written”. We proclaim Jesus as the risen Son of G-d and as the living Son of man. We proclaim Him as the G-d/man. Totally G-d and totally man. Perfect man and (perfect woman). Never a man spoke like this man. His words are life. Sure would like to hear some more of His words. We don’t need to hear some preacher’s opinions. We don’t need to hear someone’s thoughts or ideas. All of us (all)- need to hear- “thus saith the LORD.” Now, “What saith the Scripture?” P.S. Marcion was an idiot.. the world is full of ’em. Can we return to the Torah now? Don’t waste words on Marcion (the maniac)-tell us of Jesus.. “mighty to save”. Heed the need,sow the seed..G-d’s people feed.
Wow! Sounds like this is your first day reading TW. 🙂 Skip, does more study and explanation of Scripture than any preacher I have ever known. Understanding history through truth and heresy helps me to understand the world I live in much better. So I say, Skip, write about anything that helps with the journey and keeps me in the flow!
Jimmy
Jimmy, In my opinion, you used sarcasm in your remarks above , and then added a smiling face. It makes me sad though, there is no one that has consistently tried to write and speak in balance from the entire scripture, and in love on the DD, more than Carl Roberts.
Also, I want to say to all of us, please do not bow down to Skip, or the intelligentsia. Several times, I have seen people writing in, as Skip was the source of it all!! No, a thousand times No. God has given Skip an intellect in languages, and the opportunity to develop those gifts. He is just one small cog in several thousands of people that are currently writing on these same subjects. These are to be found in several books, magazines, web sites, teaching. I have been with Skip almost since he began, was it 2002? You are limiting yourself in Christian materials & media if you have not found many others. Charisma magazine (now on line) has two or three issues recently mostly on Israel and the numerous people that are teaching, going there, living there and walking out the Messanic Israeli lifestyle. To God, we give thanks for what Skip is able to do.
——NO, we are not to set humans on a pedestal.–if you examine (evaluate–yes very scriptural to evaluate–not judge), you will see that people by “following to closely one person’s teachings and idealizing them, have caused them to become demigods, and they have greatly hindered and caused great damage to the cause of our Lord and Savior. — Many examples will come into all our heads.
MARY, thanks for honest comments for your life, the last paragraph was so on target.
Let us all,” Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” from the Word, & in time of prayer, in many translations, studing for ourselves, and add what we learn from Skip to that search. — He promises us in many scriptures that when we seek with all our hearts, souls, minds, that we WILL FIND HIM. ref. Hebrews 11:6 b, Jeremiah 29:13, Deut. 4:29 & 30.
Let us EXALT only our God, the Creator of the Universe, ( and all of His many names that I could add), and His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus, no matter what language we write or speak. Both Old and New Covenants are necessary. But I promise from the Lord has done through the 76 and 80 years of our lives, that HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE WHO SEEK HIM, AND KEEP ON SEEKING HIM—-
I personally do not think I was denied knowledge from the Old Covenant or New, that was necessary for seeking Him, even though I grew up in the Bible Belt,- Of course being human, we have to relearn things, and only the Holy Spirit can quicken the Word to us.
One reason that some of Paul’s statements are so hard to understand ( even Peter states that they are in 2nd Peter 3:15 & 16) is because most Christian teachers, preachers, have not taught on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or even on the power of the Holy Spirit, or even on the Holy Spirt.—Then when some have taught it, they leveled this magnificent teaching, down to “tongues”. People are so lacking & needy in this doctrine, and experience ( I am not saying tongues, although some have received according to the Word, Paul upheld tongues himself, saying he does more than the rest) But read all of 2nd Cor. 13 on what is more important to experience! —– FYI, God has never given me the “gift of tongues”, but after 37 years of being inudated, immersed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit, I am still open to tongues, if it is according to His Word and in His Love.— I know, I know, most pentacostals and charismatics will say that I never received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. But No One could convince me of that, when my world like Paul’s was turned upside down –all according to God’s Word. The Bible that I had studied for 41 years prior, came alive, I mean the words jumped out off the pages and inside me, I was healed of numerous illness instantly,and that lasted for years. My medical records show that, and on and on it goes. I have blown some of you away if you have read this far. But continue to ” Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness—- stop right there, with that verse until you fully understand it.!
With His Peace, Joy. and God’s Love, L.B. (three-fourths of a century plus one year, husband, Ed is 80, and we have been married for 57 years. It was done as unto the Lord– we could not have made it through one year without God’s grace. We are totally opposites- his gifts, and life was/is athletics. I am not clumsy, but no interest or desire in any athletics for about 50 years now. What has kept us in a marriage that God has blessed so much, and where our descendants are numerous-and being blessed, has been and is our desire to do what God has written for all of us in the Torah, and–many places in the Old and New Covenants for guidelines to live by, and to the best of our abilities we had hearts to follow those teachings..—- Then years later, God rewarded our “seeking first the kingdom of God and His Kingdom”, we give Him the Honor and Glory !
Well put, LaVaye. I would hope that no one places me on any pedastal. I am far worse the sinner than most that I write to. Perhaps that’s why I can appreciate the struggles. I make more mistakes than most. I understand less than most. I fight with God, cry out to Him and too often don’t honor Him as I should. I am a broken cog in the movement toward His holiness.
Yes, there are many others. Yes, there are lots of resources. And each may be important and useful. And each must be checked. But here’s the real lesson. We do not check the spirit of truth with an inward conviction alone, nor do we do so with our own understanding. We are far too vulnerable to self-deception and moral arrogance to allow this. Just another reason for community. In the end, Truth is a communal concept (Hebrew) not an individual concept (Greek).
LaVaye, you are dear sweet sister, much appreciated. What would be the femanine version of Barnabus?
Brother Carl,
I am troubled in responding because you have a wonderful and tender heart and most often I enjoy your comments …. you also do know the difference between the bride and the church! …. At the same time however I believe a response is necessary …. and it may not be popular!
The Gentile church has done the separating all by itself. Once we look beyond those faithful Jews who embraced Yeshua and began walking and preaching the corrected path (haderech) …. history is crystal clear as to what transpired next. Why would you rebuke Skip for bravely “telling it like it was and IS?” What the Gentile church built was of their own making … not of Ruach HaKodesh! Additionally Skip can not know who is or is not of the correct understanding!
The coalition of rebellious Christian institutions (32,000 plus and counting) is not “the body of Mashiach”! The coalition is not “the bride”! Most assuredly some of HIS remain therein for a time but HIS children will heed his voice and “come out” unless directed by HIM to stay and be a messenger!
If the Christian attitude will remain … “let us leave the past in the past” (a completely non-Hebraic perspective) … how do we fully recognize what did go wrong, when did it go wrong, what were the motives, what were the results, and so forth? It is the lack of humility and tender heart which keeps the Gentile churches from looking back and seeing the need to repent! Do we honestly think the church messages in Revelations are not prophetic exhortations for t’shuvah?
And this extends well beyond the grievous transgressions of the “orthodox church” …. despite the unshackling of some chains which came about from the reformation, the result was in no way freedom from the poison which affects mainline Christianity to this very day! Just look around and see what is going on … outright rebellion! One can not silently condone these things without being counted as “in agreement”!
We know that individuals will be grafted into the root … into Yisrael … not churches!
“Replacement Theology” has not been repudiated and still drives the institutions and the adherents down the “broad path”. We will know the works of hasatan because they will be lawless and unrighteous. One can not render the character of ELOHIM as “done away with” and “not for us”. This is nothing but the work of the usurper!
Well the sleepers need to arise and awaken … both Jew and Gentile! It is virtually impossible to deal candidly with the truth until the scales are removed. There will be no mingling of the truth and lies … the dark does not comprehend the light! In the end getting a few core theological truths correct but leading the flock astray will not be tolerated by ELOHIM!
I believe that Skip is not fostering “division” but rather trying to get all who will listen to embrace the “vision”! The Kingdom of Yeshua is not a kingdom which promotes thousands of versions of the truth! The Kingdom of Yeshua is not a kingdom which operates without Torah as the constitutional framework! The Kingdom of Yeshua is about one vision and its citizens being Echad! I don’t see the Christian churches aligned with Yeshua’s vision … Yeshua’s mandate! I don’t see the Christian churches fostering unity but rather division. Division based upon countless self serving doctrines, ear tickling messages and a mistaken belief in presuming to be the one true Israel! I think we know that ELOHIM’s mercy will be balanced by HIS Righteousness.
Oh … it sounds nice … Christians are unified in Yeshua (Jesus) but divided in doctrine, practices and mission! I believe we are at a stage where we need to choose between the institutional dogma and Yeshua! We need to choose between the anti-kingdom and HIS Kingdom!
Please be aware that recognizing the truth of what the Gentile church has become is no small matter. In fact my heart was broken and I still suffer and mourn …. on many occasion! Perhaps there are many at TW who don’t need to hear this truth … but I believe differently. Just like Israel long ago … they thought they could co-exist with those who walked the broad path … as history showed … they were sadly mistaken. We need the zeal of Phineas (Pinchas)!
I do not think that recounting the truth should be taken as “negative campaigning”. It is rather an exhortation to recognize the facts in the hope that the truth can be revealed …. I believe Skip, as well as others, are merely conforming to HIS will and undoubtedly many will find fault with these harsh but needed words.
Well Drew, you know that I concur. I might not be as bold, but I would say virtually the same things. The evidence of the “church’s” anti-Semitism is incontravertible and overwhelming, from the early church fathers through the Refromation (Luther and Calvin) right into contemporary theology. Furthermore, every mainline denomination (and most of their spin-offs) proclaim replacement theology. We have turned the entire Kingdom on its head. Now we think the Jews must be “converted” to Christianity in order to be saved. Can you imagine Paul saying such nonsense? Or Yeshua? What has happened in the Church is the perfect attack of the enemy. Just convince people that believing = leaving Israel to join a “new” religion.
Fortunately, the movement is afoot to restore the roots. It is small, below the radar and grass-roots, but it is real. There will be great weeping and gnashing of teeth in the day when many proclaim, “But Lord, didn’t we preach in Your name.” The only saving grace is that God is merciful and He extends the time so that all might see the truth.
Denominationalism is an overwhemling argument that the new covenant yet awaits us. Jeremiah 31 does not portray differences in doctrine, practice or opinion when the re-newed covenant is written on the hearts of men. Until that happens, we can be assured that the enemy is running amuck.
Hey Carl, my faithful brother in the Lord Yeshua, I so much appreciate your devoted heart. You often all just the right touch of the emotions of believing that evade me. Your comments are always a welcomed addition.
But on this issue, it’s not so simple as treating Marcion as an idiot. His impact on Christian thought, even though the Church rejected his teaching, has been enormous and decisive. For centuried, the Church embraced (and still subtly does) an insipid Marcionism in its denial of the NECESSARY and essential connection between Israel and the church. We have pointed out over and over in translations how replacement theology changes the very words of the text! This is inexcusable and unwarranted, but nevertheless, there it is. Why? Because great Christian thinkers are essentially Marcionites at heart. They might not throw out Jesus and the rest of the Jews of the New Testament, but they certainly want to create a “New Israel”, the chruch, and discard the “disobedient” Israel of Scripture. I urge you not to dismiss this fact too easily. I find it asserted over and over in theological texts, sermons and in the general understanding of the Christian community.
Just ask yourself, “If Christians really believe they were grafted into God’s elect people, Israel, then why do they consistently argue that the instructions of Torah do not apply to them?” The answer is that Christians, by and large, DO NOT BELIEVE that they are grafted into Israel. They have been taught they ARE ISRAEL. Do you see how incredibly damning this is? The Bible clearly teaches that the only way to come to God is through God’s plan and His plan always includes Israel. Israel is the GATEWAY for all Gentiles. Gentiles do not come to the Father without the intermediary of Israel. So, when the Church discards the biblical imperative of Israel, it discards its own vehicle of salvation. That should cause us all to weep!
I am, of course, not saying that God didn’t use men who were mistaken about all this. Clearly, He did! Simpson, Torrey, Finney, Luther, Augustine, Graham, Moody and many, many others were used by God to advance His purposes. But how tragic that they were used IN SPITE OF THEIR THEOLOGY rather than because of their theology.
Let us be ever so careful with our proclamations that we do not perpetrate this real heresy. God chose Israel. We are Gentiles because there is an Israel. Although God always included Gentiles in the faith community, even His Son came first to the lost house of the elect. Basically, we can’t find salvation without them.
Amen Brother Skip. Amen, Brother Carl. I hear both of you. AND I agree with both of you. Leaning too far either way all the time is not profitable. Both sides need to be heard. Without a doubt, the remnant is listening to the Word of the Holy God of Israel. Brother Carl, I am somewhat in the same geographic location-Redneckville, “South”USA. I use that term realistically and lovingly because I, at times have “redneck” ways I am asking God to do with as He chooses. I have lived and travelled from the North, South, East and West, Europe and Asia. Our cultural issues form bonds, commonalities and liabilities as well. The true bond or division lies, however, in our love or indifference for Jesus. Jesus, the Savior, King of the Jews, the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Healer, Peacespeaker, Lover of our Souls, Gentle Shepherd, Conquering King, THE WORD made flesh, our All in All, our Baptizer, the Alpha and Omega. We need to hear the whole truth of where we stand in relation to the Word. To deny that we have somewhat confoundingly been lead away from living/obeying every Word from the mouth of God, is to deny the retarded/disfunctionality of the institution that calls itself the church. Even as we view this message, we must continue our focus on the One who is able to deliver us from skewed versions, misapplications, personal convictions taught as pet doctrines, watered down quarterlies that are easier to carry and “study” than the whole counsel of God, congregants who are glued to the pew and not even hearers of the Word due to sleepiness and being “dull” of hearing. The others, like myself for many years were hearers only and no power resulted. Oh, I could “speak in toungues” with the best of them. But much deception lay in much of what I was consuming and it eventually began to consume me. When I was confronted with the truth of attempting to live by denominationally/cultic/extrabiblicalteaching, it leveled me flat. My religious cathedrals erected in my heart came crashing down around me and I will eternally thank God for those He lead me to, this mininstry of Skip’s in particular. This message is much needed as is a sovereign move of God through the Holy Spirit. In fact, He is using this work mightily and, may I add, you dear brother Carl, are a part of it because you are part of this community of pilgrims, gleaning from God’s handfuls of/on purpose. One without the other is only part of the story. Bless you dear brothers in the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Mary.. I hear your heartbeat and thank you. Brother Drew I want to remind you of a little lady by the name of Ruth. She was a Moabite. A half-breed if you will. She is another picture of the bride of Christ. From every kindred, tribe and nation G-d is calling out a people who will live with Him eternally. This I know. I am exceedingly grateful for this ministry and excited to no end with the possibilities because I know the incredible life giving, life changing power contained within G-d’s book. There is one LORD, one faith, and one baptism. How do I know this? It is written. The Bible of course is our instruction manual and again Yeshua said, “the words I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” “True religion and undefiled before G-d and the Father is this..” We need to know this book and the words contained within. I have been an avid fan of TW for upwards of five years and I promise this ministry has impacted my life exponentially. I have grown more as a Christian in the past five years than I have for the previous forty. Why? – because I have been blessed from above with a megavitamin diet from the word of the LORD thanks to G-d working in the heart of a broken man who was willing to let YHWH lead him into this crucial ministry. Brother Drew when I say “church” I am not talking about the Catholics, Methodist, yada,yada.. I am talking about the “called out ones” our Father knows by name. They come from a wide and varied background -people from every tribe and nation, the family of G-d we will be spending eternity with. That church. You know and I know there are problems with the “church” today. We need to focus on what unites us and that is our love for Yeshua, love for His words, and our love and service toward each other. I do not wish my words to sound condemning at all because I love this ministry and I love the man who shares his heart with us everyday. All of us came to know Christ the exact same way and even though we walk different paths, we share the same book of instructions. The Bible is universal in its appeal but individual in its application. I am able today to spend some time here but not everyday. This ‘site’ is one of my favorite “feeding grounds”. I love your comments and to see what you have written challenges my faith and makes me want to dig even deeper. Speaking of digging- allow me to say one more time- “our Bible is a gold mine when we learn to dig with a Hebrew shovel.” Grace and peace (shalom) to all. May you know the smile of our Father today.
Hi Carl,
Here I am in the mountains of SC with DIAL UP! Anyway, I see that we have a very lively discussion going. SO, I thought I would add just a few remarks as I make my way throught the comments today.
I am glad to see you and Drew hammering out the essentials. Yes, the real church are the called out ones. Of course, the first called out ones are Israel and that’s why we are grafted into them – not the reverse. In fact, you metaphor of Ruth is timely. Ruth, the Gentile, JOINS Israel. If she is a picture of the bride of Christ, it is a very unusal picture. She wasn’t even invited to the wedding. She had to join the true bride. “Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” The bride is the church in this sense: the bride is the called of God, Israel, and all those who join themselves to Israel. The bride is not Gentiles without Jews.
So, on to the rest of the comments while I can still keep online.
Shalom once again Carl … Skip and everyone else at TW! 🙂 Please forgive the length of the comment …. obviously this issue is stressing my Spirit! 🙂
It seems that there is agreement that the “called out ones” are really the constituents of Israel …. be they Jew or Gentile. So what are the called out ones doing …. are they staying in the denominational dogmatic conventions …. secretly believing that they have been “called out”? Are they continuing to mingle?
Please folks do not take this personally. But the question really is this: “what does (called out) mean and what does it look like?” What does “kadosh” mean and what does it look like? Does it mean that we all march to the beat of our own defined drum roll? Does it mean that we all walk down a path that is quite different? Or should it mean that we are those peculiar people? Should it mean that we are those persons defined as clearly being cleaved too and adopted into Israel? Should it mean that we are part of a recognizable community? What does a king or priest of Israel look like? …. I would presume one would look like an Israelite despite one’s nation of origin or ethnic heritage.
Frankly I can not see how we can have it both ways. We are all in or we are not! We are part of Israel and can be identified as such or we are not. And how does one tell an Israelite from the rest of the nations? …. The temporal answer is that the culture of the Israelite is one that is visibly aligned with Torah.
Now admittedly I do not know how Adonai works out such matters within the hearts of individual children! I know not why He has placed upon me and many others the certainty of this truth … but assuredly there are many Gentiles flocking to the roots of our faith and cleaving to anointed Jews who have been raised up in these later days.
Just as in the days of the exodus from Egypt … we Gentiles are crashing the party … just like Ruth … and so on! The mixed multitude is once again being forged and how do things look … well frankly they look like the days of old. The days of community and common purpose …. and a common path. We march to His drum beat and not our own tune! We are different but we are clearly identified as one community having one way!
Conversely I surely contend that there are genuine believers that never come to such depths of revelation or understanding. Perhaps as Skip points out from time to time it is a function of purpose. So without desiring to offend anyone I suppose my purpose is to shout out from the mountain tops that “the way” is no longer invisible. Yeshua is revealing haDerech once again …. Not by power or might but by Ruach!
And Yeshua is doing so in accordance with The Word and the promises of the covenant … He is restoring His own people to prominence so that all nations will be blessed! This is His purpose and His will and who can hold Him back?
Ultimately we do need to focus upon what binds us together. If however this binding does not result in unity, a common path, a visible alignment with Israel and loving submission to Yeshua’s desires and commands for our behavior (Torah) … then we really are not bound … we are only amenable to the same theology … and then we are once again back to the same old end … no real transformation … no community, no commitment to being a citizen of His kingdom!
I just want us all to get there together and I have a real problem with the powers and principalities that hold my brothers and sisters in bondage through the auspices of institutional religion or a false sense of personal determination … we are meant to succeed as a community …. as Israel!
Oh, this is good! Thank you Skip. It is strange to me how I have a sense about things but not the words until I read the words. Then it is like the proverbial light bulb going off in my head. I have new sight.
Thanks Roy.
Hi Skip,
Thanks for all your work to help us to understand. I am not a Bible scholar, but just simply a person trying to do the right thing. My question is pretty simple and probably not very smart; but I’m curious about when or who decided about the animal sacrifices and such. I am confused about what part of the Old Testament we keep, and what part we don’t and how to tell the difference. Do you have a book title that I can get to help me? Thanks.
Can I suggest that you start by listening to Rabbi Bob Gorelik’s THE ESSENTIALS, a CD series you can order from http://www.eshavbooks.org
His mp3 downloads are also very valuable.
Thanks so much. I’ve added the site to my bookmarks. Looks like I have a lot of studying to do 🙂
Mary, Well, I have no idea to your question above on what a feminine name for Barnabas would be, so I went to my Harpers’ Bible Dictionary ( whose first listed author is Madelenine S. Miller–seems like the name is that of a woman–the other author is J.Lane Miller–just noticed that it is a male. Perhaps her husband.
Back to the information given under Barnabas: (“son of exhortation ” or of” prophecy”)——- — — –“Barnabas, otherwise known as Joses or Joseph, a Levite of Cyprus, sold his land and donated the proceeds to the early Church ( Acts.4:36) “, and then there are more things about Barnabas.
What do you think? Maybe the feminine name, then that could come from Joses or Joseph, could be Josie, or Josephine. I will let you choose. Nice just reading a woman’s thoughts written on the DD, and I am always anxious to hear from Christian women that have traveled extensively. What has been/is your profession? —– I came in to the computer room to say good night to my monitor, after completing my baby boy quilt that I have been working on for sometime. FINISHED is such a beautiful word! I had promised myself that I would not peek at the computer, but did, and looked to see if anything needed my attention, and saw your note. Thanks, L.B.
LaVaye,
Actually, knowing a bit of the meaning of the name Barnabus, and having ready many of your posts, I thought of what an encourager YOU are (daughter of exhortation!) You have given testimony many times of giving of yourself to the needs of the community around you, and this also includes the giving of what the Lord has placed in your heart to offer this community as well.
Much of the extent of my travels date to much younger years. My profession is nothing quite so grand except for what the Lord Jesus Christ has accomplished through a sinner that yielded when He made known His wonderful gift of grace. Bless you dear sister.
Mary,
Hummmmm?? I will need to pray and ask the Lord to show me the truth on this one just above..—– I can certainly feel God’s Holy Spirit coming through what you write. I just reread the larger one you wrote on this post, and studied it carefully. I was more blessed today than the first time I read it.( I do not think as fast as I once did. Need to read and reread, pray, think, meditate on what I do read) I had a dear friend in Houston, named Mary. She had come out of the Catholic church and was truly born of God’s Holy Spirit years prior. She never married and spent much time seeking the Lord in His Word, prayer, teachings, etc. Her wisdom in the Lord was so soft and direct. I was always blessed when she talked to me.
Thank you for reading what I have written. I often thought no one paid any attention to a woman, especially one so old. But I told the Lord, that no matter whether anyone read it or not, that it seemed to me, that He was telling me to write. Most of the time when I write, I have planned not to write so much, or at all, but I am compelled to reply when I do. I will close now, need to read today’s material. L.B.
Skip.. we’ve got a beautiful thing going on here!! Praise His name! I love to see the passion of G-d’s people ignited and I believe through witness of these discussions we can see the Holy Spirit is alive and active in so many ways! I am going to go ahead and post this. I’ve been hanging on to it for awhile but this might be the time to “release” it even though I consider it to be rather “raw”. One moment to find it please.. It is rather long but I would welcome any comments (or criticism!)..these are my confessions..
“Shema, O Israel, the LORD our G-d is One”
Israel-One who was, and is, and is to come.
One who prevails with God or Let God prevail
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual person of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual people (chozim) of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual place of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual possession of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual portrayal of God’s passion
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual promise of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual prophecy of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual paradox of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual paradigm of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual purpose of G-d
Israel (who was/is/is to come) reveals both the physical and the spiritual passion of G-d
The nations will know…when, before their eyes, I am set apart through you to be regarded as holy (Ezekiel 36:23).
Israel is God’s picture book, teaching the world that He exists and is supreme and sovereign over all he has created. Israel portrays His purpose for all mankind. God invites anyone to open this book and understand his ways.
We learn from the portrait of Israel that God is a just and righteous God who wants us to order society according to his Torah. If we do, there will be blessing; if not, there will be a curse. The picture book of Israel also teaches us about sowing and reaping, righteous courts, and accountable leaders. In the days of King David and during the early reign of King Shlomo (Solomon), we see a glorious foreshadowing of God’s ultimate Kingdom on earth.
The nation of Israel also provides a picture of God’s long-suffering love. Centuries pass and Israel is faithfully restored to her Land in fulfillment of prophecy. Israel’s feasts are pictures too. Passover is a picture of God’s deliverance.
Israel is not God’s only picture book. We are also a picture book. The Scriptures call this being a “witness.” What kind of a picture book are we?
2 Corinthians 2.3 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
…be a true witness, a picture of God’s grace and righteousness.
a person
Genesis 32:28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, [a] because you have struggled with G-d and with men and have overcome.” NIV
a people
Deuteronomy 21:8 Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed,
a place Aliyah (Hebrew: עלייה, “ascent” or “going up”) is Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel
Aliyah means “ascent.” To migrate to Israel — to make aliyah — means to come from a low place and to “go up.” (from the miry clay to a rock)
You are to come to the place where ADONAI your God will put his name….which is where he will live (Deuteronomy 12:5).
a possession Genesis 13:15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.
a prophecy Deuteronomy 30.3 That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee.
a region
a race
a religion
a relationship
a reality physical, geographical,political,spiritual
a man
a miracle
a message
God always has a way of escape, so that his covenant people may endure.
Remember the way Yeshua taught. It was through parable. Are we now (today) living on “the parable planet? G-d is far from finished with Israel. The salvation of YHWH is (forever) to the Jew first.. and also to the Greek. We are the (Gentile) dogs that eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table..For further study I recommend “The Blood Covenant” by H.Clay Trumbull and also by this same author.. “Friendship:The Master Passion”. “The heart of the matter”is “the matter of the heart”.. “We (all) must be born again”..
Dr Moen,
I appreciate your defense against this view that we must reject the OT. However, as someone with some background in patristics, I must say that it is certainly wrong to say “the Church threw out Marcion, but it kept his theology.” A good day’s reading of Against Heresies by Irenaeus would cast doubt on that statement. Not to speak of Tertullian’s equally massive Against Marcion, etc., both of these written before the year 200.
The person you quote sounds like a hyper-dispensationalist. The idea that there is no grace before Jesus is just plain unbiblical, re: Deuteronomy 7.7-9 and many other OT texts. Here you and I agree.
Some features of Marcion’s theology that aren’t part of modern hyper-dispensationalism:
1. Marcion was an extreme ascetic, denying the goodness of marriage. See Tertullian, Against Marcion 1.29, Ante-Nicene Fathers 3.294.
2. Marcion, like the Gnostics, taught that the God of the OT was an evil lower god whose creation of the world was a great sin.
3. Marcion held to a docetic view of Christ: he appeared to be human but really was not (this due to the influence of neo-Platonic thought).
None of these ideas would any modern hyper-dispensationalist accept.
So, IMHO it is a bit of hyperbole to say Marcion lives in our churches, our hymnals and in our Sunday School materials.
Certainly there is a tendency for many modern evangelicals to ignore the OT. But to call that Marcionism is simply not accurate historically. It would be akin to saying Jehovah’s Witnesses are really just modern versions of Arianism.
Respectfully submitted,
Ernest Manges, Ph.D., EFCA ReachGlobal missionary to Asia
Thanks Ernest, for your insightful and important clarification. Of course, your expertise helps set the historical record straight. The early church fathers provided considerable arguments against Marcionism. Many of Marcion’s theological positions were soundly rejected by the church.
That said, my point is that Marcion’s severe truncating of Scripture still carries over, if not in theological affirmation, at least in church practice. I consistently meet pastors who are Pauline in theological perspective – and not Paul as a Jewish rabbi but Paul as a Greek philosophical advocate. There is an implicit dualism in church practice. Many pastors and a large number of church members are shocked with the suggestion that Jesus (Yeshua) is Jewish in outlook, culture, language and theology. Few church members understand the depth of connection between the OT and the NT, and in fact, act as though the OT is really a Jewish document of historical interest but based on a works-righteousness model. Furthermore, the dominance of replacement theology and the endorsement of the idea that the Church is the “new” Israel can be found in nearly all mainline denominations and in practice seems to be part of the translation committees’ views as well. So, while Marcion’s fuller theology was rejected, this aspect involving the separation of OT and NT into two religions is alive and well in the Christian community. If that were not the case, Jewish thinkers like Heschel would not hold claim against Christians.
I hope you will continue to add to our understanding by providing us with your insights. Thanks again.
I am part of this community and often I choose not to write, but a few words. Reflecting on Today’s Word and the conversation amongst us, I end my work day filled with His Spirit and in awe of His majesty. Honestly, I wish I could spend the entire next day simply studying the context of this devotion. In light of what people may think or say in respect to the condition of the church, who are the “called out ones”, etc. I run to His Word and pray His Word back to our Savior. The church, God’s people, the world with all the lost is in utter chaos. I think on the prayer of Habakkuk, the prophet. He asked the Lord to “revive Thy work in the midst of the years, and in the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember mercy. (Hab 3:2) I ask that He remember His mercy for us all…saved or lost, free or held captive…..be merciful dear God…yes, remember your mercy for this is the cry of my heart. Love to you all dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Kelly
This is my first post, so please be easy on me. I guess I missed it. Did to “fulfill” mean that all was accomplished, nothing more needed to be done. Or was it that He came to teach the scriptures correctly.
Welcome. We will take it easy. Unfortunately, this post is from 2009 and the group has moved a long way since then. Please search the web site for additional material on the Hebraic meaning of “fulfill.” It does NOT mean the same thing that we think of when we use the word. Rabbinic material suggests that the word means “properly interpret.”