Reading What We Are Taught
Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. Galatians 5:2 NASB
Circumcision – Who am I to tell the former Chief Rabbi of Great Britain that his exegesis of Paul is incorrect? But listen to what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks says:
“It was among this group that Paul’s teachings resonated, especially when he shows that to be a Christian it was not necessary either to be circumcised or to keep the full Mosaic code with its principle (613) commandments. In fact, he argued, the new dispensation changed the very terms of the covenant. It was no longer a matter of law but of faith. In essence, Paul had founded the Gentile, or de-ethnicised, church.”[1]
This is a case of reading what you have been taught. Jewish rabbis are taught that Paul denied the place of Torah in the lives of believers. Rabbis are taught that Paul initiated the Christian religion. Rabbis are taught that Paul was a Christian, a convert from Judaism. Rabbis believe that Paul was the emissary of grace in opposition to law.
And all of this is false. But that doesn’t prevent them from thinking it is true. Why? For exactly the same reasons that Christians believe Paul is a Christian, Paul endorsed grace over law (works) and Paul did not expect Gentiles to keep the law. This is also false. But both views are pervasive because we read according to the paradigm we have been taught rather than go to the original material and set aside our religiously colored glasses.
How could either of these positions account for Paul’s claim before Felix or James’ request that Paul pay for a fulfilled vow? Both positions make Paul either a liar or schizophrenic. Why don’t we listen to what the man says and stop trying to make his statements fit our preconceived theological framework? The answer is simple—and disturbing. Jews and Christians both have enormous invested capital in continuing the schism. We see what we want to see because it validates what we want to see. That’s the classic operation of a paradigm, and it is just as potent in Judaism as Christianity.
Mark Nanos (among many others) has thoroughly dispelled this paradigmatic blindness by asking the obvious question: Who was Paul writing about? Until we can answer that question, we have really no idea why Paul says what he says. Our paradigmatic views are the equivalent of claiming that the earth is flat because I don’t see a curve at the horizon. We see what we want to see. And even a Chief Rabbi can make a mistake.
The “law and grace” nonsense of Luther has been read back into the words of Paul with such ecclesiastical zeal that most Jews really have no idea what Paul was all about. That isn’t Paul’s fault. That is the Church’s fault. It’s time to admit that Luther was wrong and start to heal this tragic separation.
Topical Index: circumcision, Sacks, Nanos, paradigms, law, grace, Galatians 5:2
[1] Jonathan Sacks, Not In God’s Name, p. 93.
So both Jews and Christians agree with Luther. Hmm. Isn’t anyone disturbed?
Polar opposites – the artificial dialectic – I have noticed, always are going to agree on what artificially divides them as humans. What divides us is always going to be wrong, likewise. We all agree to fight but at that point no one has an incentive to look the mutual terms in the mouth. Sigh.
En un Nuevo Testamento que tengo, en el verso 4 leo: Los que procuráis ser declarado justos por una obediencia legalista venida de una interpretación torcida de la ley divina, del mesías os desligáis
It seems to me: There is faith, one faith.
And a world full of paradigms.
God’s Word says: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all,
who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
Am I missing something?
AMEIN AMEIN
“Our paradigmatic views are the equivalent of claiming that the earth is flat because I don’t see a curve at the horizon.”
Or as paradigmatic as claiming the Sun only appears to set because the Earth revolves around the Sun. Both views are driven by paradigms, one heliocentric, the other geocentric.
I love to ask the question, ‘and you know that how?’ Take as an example, ‘the Rupture’, oh I meant the Rapture. It’s taught in most Christian circles, based upon one text from Thessalonians. It’s made a couple people wealthy and driven Rapture doctrine deep in the minds of believers, where normally, that is the end of it. It becomes part of the believers ‘belief system’ and to challenge it can be harrowing. And there lies the root cause of many misunderstandings in scripture. One has to dig and dig and dig to really get to what the writer of a text really meant. With the Rapture, the digging is really not that deep. Scratch the surface and you will quickly find the source of it all, i.e., 1.) a vision seen by a very sick teen age girl in Scotland around 1830. 2.) a vision seen by Margaret McDonald while in a trance around 1830 or 3.) a revelation given to John Darby in 1827. You pick one, but that is where the idea was born. One can still believe it, if you choose, but at least you have dug a little and discovered its’ source. Physical and mental laziness are symptomatic in the human creature and I am no exception. Maybe it’s just one of those ‘facts of life’. But with Holy Writ, I draw the line. This is God speaking through His agents and not ‘Pastor So-and-So’. And so it’s important to dig and dig for truth and understanding and enlightenment. Paul encouraged all to ‘test everything’ for truth. I can sit in church and accept everything as truth or I can open the scriptures and look beneath the surface. You will get your fingernails ‘dirty’ but you just might have a “Road to Emmaus” experience.
Hello Skip and others,
I too echo Pam’s amein, amein. Hanging on to the classic paradigm may well be an issue of security be it financial, community-oriented, mentally settling, or plenty other reasons. For myself, it took several months to go from calling myself a Christian to now calling myself a Messianic Believer. I changed out of respect to the Jewish people, because I was re-taught Yeshua means salvation, Messiah in Hebrew means anointed one. I too have parted from some key tennets of the Lutheran faith but still attend that denomination with my wife out of respect for our marriage, our shared belief that Yeshua provided the means for our salvation and in some small way witness to the benefit of being Messianic, Shabbat oriented, sharing another viewpoint. Leaving or breaking away to date has not been accomplished or advised by those I consider as a mentor. Prayers for staying the course appreciated!
David R
Hearing you… and seeking ABBA’s help and strength for you on this challenging but so profitable journey! Stand firm in His ways! Shalom and blessings!
TO shift the paradigm we all need to come back to zero… Forget what others say and share about how they understand it and start anew one change at a time (Like Paul I die thousand deaths everyday) to get a glimpse into YHVH’s intent with the creation of this realm…
An atheist once remarked – Is the God people serve so self centered that it is all about praising and glorifying him. This stuck with me for a long time. Then a christian commented is the God we serve not a man made entity. Now that shocked me. Saying that all religions do not want to join out of what “Fear of losing YHVH’s reward”… Has this not been the reason why Yeshua’s teachings where initially rejected…
Reading the scrolls from the Dead Sea I read that Moses specifically said the circumcision is from Ear to Heart… No mention is made of the foreskin yet the Old Testament let’s it sound as if the circumcision is of the foreskin… Is this why Paul also used the Dead Sea scrolls version and not the general indication of the rest of the Old Testament’s explanations. And the reason for this division in understanding of the reference to circumcision???
I hope there is more to come. I was just getting into it when–The End. More please.
I believe that Hippolytus’ mention of the “Sicarii” Essenes clarifies Paul’s reference.
“But the adherents of another party, if they happen to hear any one maintaining a discussion concerning God and His Laws and, supposing such a one to be uncircumcised, they will closely watch him and, when they meet a person of this description in any place alone, they will threaten to slay him if he refuses to undergo the rite of circumcision. Now, if the latter kind of person does not wish to comply with this request, (a member of this Party of Essenes) will not spare (him), but proceeds to kill (the offender). And it is from this behavior that they have received their appellation being called (by some)’Zealots’, but by others ‘Sicarii’.”
“It’s time to admit that Luther was wrong and start to heal this tragic separation.”
How do we begin Skip?
By convincing Jews we are not the enemy. Admitting that Christianity is responsible for the horrendous acts of the past is necessary. And then asking them to show us how to worship YHVH without insisting that Yeshua is the Messiah. Of course, I am convinced that he is, but given the Church’s doctrines this is nothing but a further impediment. No one will believe until they first trust so building trust is the first priority.
I read in the records of the gospel of grace that they just explained that salvation is achieved by those that do the will of YHVH through deeds from the heart and not through consideration of the consequences, purpose and or the punishment and judgments of the law…
For me it is as a traffic light, it’s purpose is to protect the users through specific guidelines. The more we drive past one and apply the lights principles the easier and quicker we respond to the changing lights. The less we see them the more we are forced to study (reflect on) their location layout, purpose, colours and or images highlighted by the lights going on.
So are the Torah (The light in God’s words), the more we actually follow their directions in everything we do the easier we conform to their principles, this is grace. The less we are actually applying their purpose the more we are forced or reminded of and revisit the reason behind the laws at specific stages in our travel to our eternal home…
This is how I understand the circumcisions differ – once at the age of 8 days or though-out our lives…
The most impact is achieved by which circumcision we desire: foreskin or ear to heart… Each to decide and follow through as they believe will be most purposeful to achieve their end result of faith – the salvation (Yeshua) of their soul (In their lives). Both circumcisions direct us unto salvation just when we experience it will be determined by the circumcision.
Seekers Finders
Is God capable (still) of revelation?
Open my eyes, that I may see
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may hear
voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
and while the wavenotes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Silently now I wait for thee,
ready, my God, Thy will to see.
Open my heart, illumine me, Spirit divine!
Clara H. Scott, 1841-1897
Is tHis promise still valid?
~You will seek Me and [you will] find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart~ (Jeremiah 29.13)
Christ-Centric
Good Teacher, what do students do?
Er… study?
“You diligently search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life;”
it is these that testify about Me.. (John 5.39)
Has the good news (the gospel) of God’s long- promised Messiah been revealed within the Old Covenant Scriptures?
Has One (who according to the proclamation of John the Immerser), been sent from God to take aways the sins of the world?
What was Paul’s proclamation? “This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: Yeshua HaMashiach came into the world to save sinners — and I am the worst of them.” (1 Timothy 1.15)
It is written: “Whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD shall be saved..” Does “whosoever” include the Jew? Does “whosoever” include the Gentile? Who is the gospel (the Good News) for?
Has Christ EVER refused anyone who came to Him in repentance and faith?
How many have never heard this “Good News?” ~ For I am not ashamed of the Good News of the Messiah, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes; for the Jew first, and also for the Greek ~ (Romans 1.16)
Peter proclaimed: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16.16) – Is He?
In Revelation 5.12, Who are these people ~ saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing?” ~
They is us!! — And I am one of them. Will you be there?
And again, when God brings His Firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
Carl…
Let me see if I understand these verses:
Call on His name – this for me implies following and living out His teachings as that is how I understand the ancient Hebrews acknowledged some-ones submission to the guidance given by someone else.
Nobody can debate that the teachings of Yeshua did not bring about salvation to those that heard in that it transformed their lives to something worth focusing on. Be it wellness, wealth, health or support to overcome their current dilemma.
Those bringing about peace, righteousness and joy in someone’s life can surely be deemed an anointed from God, today as well as 2000 years ago.
Yes the lamb was slain, the earthly vessel made to none but the Torah remained unchanged in take therefore the bones of the lamb were never damaged. For me this is as long as I follow the principle of following the teachings of Yeshua I will still be maintaining the Torah being an example for others. This truth will set me free and all that cross my path – should I not be “on holiday”…
And so shall we all be united as fruit from the first born according to the order of which Christ has manifested in our lives, given we are the vessels for those that are called unto this way of salvation: Prayer, Truth, Righteousness and Joy not in this world or man made things but in the spiritual gifts we have been endowed with – sealed unto salvation through the works that YHVH has called us to do not our choice but His will…
More depth in these few verses than what we would normally considered…
“We see what we want to see because it validates what we want to see”, and believe, when we choose to have our minds /hearts set in concrete on a journey of learning will not benefit us in any way. Too much distortion in translations when ‘understood’ and interpreted by men, taught by men with/ without theological agendas, a paradigm taught and hung on to by many even after coming out of church systems.
Law and Grace has been from the beginning, in the Garden, and throughout the history of mankind. How great is our LORD יְהֹוָה !
Law and Grace came from יְהֹוָה The Creator. Yeshua HaMeshiach is the Begotten, and so are we, by יְהֹוָה ‘s Spirit.
These daily TWs that Skip shares with us, have shown / given us much insights beyond the written Word- “It is the Spirit that quickens;” “he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”,”for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” I have capitalized the “S” in Spirit, as I believe it is יְהֹוָה ‘s Spirit that gives life!
May we not be ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of truth!
2Tim 3:7 And may we never be filled just with knowledge, but shining it forth from our lifestyles. Shalom!