Ontological Torah
This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that endures forever: all they that keep it shall come to life; but such as leave it shall die. Baruch 4:1
Endures forever – (This is a bit scholarly. Don’t give up too soon.) The Book of Baruch is part of the canon of the Septuagint and the Vulgate (the Latin Bible of the Catholic Church). It is not found in the Hebrew Tanakh or the Protestant Bibles. It was written during about the same time as Maccabees, before the birth of the Messiah. Since it isn’t in Protestant Bibles, you might ask why we should bother to consider any of its statements. The answer is this: Baruch gives us insights into the transition between the Testaments. It allows us to see the development of certain doctrines that affected Jewish thought in the first century, and in particular, the influence of Hellenism on rabbinic thought. Undoubtedly, Yeshua was familiar with Baruch. Significantly, He never quotes from it.
Martin Hengel points out that Baruch articulates an ontological concept of Torah.[1] In other words, Baruch suggests that Torah is the pre-existent order of the world, the incarnation of Wisdom, upon which all creation is based. Therefore, all Torah commandments are universal in scope. Torah is to be understood as the eternal light to all men, the absolute definition of what is good. Personified, Torah is the mediator of creation. The 613 commandments of Torah become the cosmic backdrop for all ethical action. “From this there followed with logical consistency both the casuistic securing of the commandments by the oral Torah, the hedge round the law, and the scrupulous fixation of the text. A further necessary development was the unique valuation of the study of the Torah, for only on the basis of constant study was it possible to observe the commandments correctly. . . . This fact also explains the growing intellectual power of the scribes: they were the only authoritative exponents of the Torah, and as the ‘wise men’ has the key to the right understanding of it and thus to the mysteries of the present and the future world.”[2]
Before you stop reading from sheer boredom, do you realize what this means? It means that by the time Yeshua walked the earth, rabbinic Judaism had already evolved a hierarchy of professional clerics, a select group of scholars who held sway over the interpretation of Torah. In other words, the understanding of Torah for the common man was replaced by the exegesis of the scribes who were not simply copyists. They were the keepers of the text, the ones you had to ask if you really wanted to know what it meant. In Christian parallel, these men acted like the priests in the Catholic tradition. They interpreted the Law for the people.
Now you understand why Yeshua has so much conflict with these men. First, He does not come from their circles. He was not trained by their professional academies. He was an outsider. Secondly, He taught that ordinary men can understand Torah. He explained Torah in common images and terms. He encouraged ordinary people to know what Torah said and live by it. And He did not participate in the mystical evaluation of Torah. On every count, He was a threat.
But there is more. Hengel points out that new exegetical methods were adopted by these professionals, methods that were based in Alexandrian philology. Alexandria was heavily influenced by Greek Hellenism. This lead to the beginnings of Jewish mysticism (Kabala) and to a universalist view of Torah. What does this mean? Hengel notes, “this influence was effective not only in combining the divine ordering of the world and personal norms of life through the Torah, but also in the unobjectionable moral and religious conduct. A teacher-pupil relationship was formed in analogy to the Greek philosophical schools which included chains of tradition, the conception of a sacrosanct corpus of holy writings given directly by God or inspired by him, the development of a differentiated exegetical method and finally the adoption of a wealth of foreign views,”[3]
Hengel concludes that this shift brought about the Jewish view that Torah belonged to Israel, not as an historical revelation to its ancestors, but as God’s sign of the rejection of all other nations. Torah became an “essentially unhistorical entity,” a universal and cosmic framework given exclusively to Israel. Therefore, if a man wanted to understand the world correctly, he had to become Jewish, a follower of the Jewish Torah.
This helps us understand the enormous tension between Paul and the Judaizers. Gentile conversion was not simply a question of proper incorporation into a believing community, it is a matter of who will be Jewish since being Jewish is the key to understanding Torah. When Paul suggests that Gentiles are accepted by God on the basis of grace, he challenges the entire philosophical and theological basis of the scribes’ view of Torah. Of course they would object – strenuously!
Once again we discover that a lack of historical understanding of the culture and its influences removes our ability to appreciate the arguments and events in the New Testament text. We read the Bible in the dark. We don’t see it in its context. We moralize the text without knowing why these men wrote as they did.
The Bible is devotional, but it was not written so that we might have a nice religious feeling or find comfort in our souls. The Bible is a book of conflict – between Man and God and between men. It is God’s involvement worked out in the history of men’s motivations. Like any other literature, we need to know the why and the what. And since we are so far removed from the thought of these ancient writers, we will have to work a little harder. Much harder, unfortunately, than simply opening the Bible and pointing to a random verse for today’s encouragement.
Topical Index: Baruch 4:1, Torah, Hellenism
Bless you Skip Moen!
Ditto!
Well i don’t ditto at all because in all actuality this is very disheartening when you/we think/ponder on it. This is telling (as most of what i read here) – that we really don’t have the truth of the matter in the Word of God/text.
that because of man/men & i’m sure some women in the past, things are all screwed up in what we believe about what little of the Word we do know to be truth because it is written in the wrong context (not Hebrew). i do not find this encouraging at all – not that it has to be encouraging but truthful for me.
i say GOD/JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT where were you when man got his hands on the text & changed it around for all to believe what is/was not the truth at all… ???
i really don’t get why THEY let this happen with their WRITTEN WORD/TORAH – so are we only held accountable for what we know – when what we know is not true at all??? what a shame if we have believed lies written by men that twisted them for their historical benefit – WOE UNTO THEM but what about us that have believed every jot & tittle???
no ditto here – only sadness that we have been so deceived by man… 🙁
i can only hang onto what i know & have learned from the past & what i have learned or learning here but not enough to dig like you do Skip or have the resources to do so…
what a sad situation i think – when we believe the only Word(s) we know but don’t know if they even mean what they say… 🙁 sorry girls no ditto here… 🙁 ♥
jan
Hi Jan,
Please don’t be sad! God never withheld His blessings from the ones who are His, in fact from the world! It’s not knowledge that matters, it’s the willingnes to accept Him as your Lord and Master, creator and so on. I have tought things in my church I now see as completely wrong. But I knew no better. So although I regret having done so, I stil know He blessed me in those days.
The beautiful thing is, we know better NOW! What a blessing! I am so glad and greatful that God forced me out of my former life to put me on track of the real thing! I don’t even mind the pain: it was like having to go through that to come to something so much better. Like having a baby (even though I’m a man I can imagine…)
So don’t be discouraged, rejoice!
I know I do!
(sorry for the typo’s and mistakes)
Thank you Kees for your encouragement – i am watching a movie that i don’t think i have ever seen before made in 1941 “John Doe” with Gary Cooper & Barbara Stanwyck:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUbXlkyPhuE
I WON’T BE DISCOURAGED & I AM REJOICING 4 SURE… I KNOW YOU DO TOO… ♥
JAN
Skip,
Very appreciative of your teaching this morning. I have not read Martin Hengel specifically, even though I have encountered him through other scholars who were quoting him for different reasons. Is he not from the Tubingen school of scholars? He is definitely a conservative scholar who gives credence to the Apostolic Writings, unlike his fellow scholars of this school! I will, Lord willing, be looking into his writings.
You wrote-
Hengel concludes that this shift brought about the Jewish view that Torah belonged to Israel, not as an historical revelation to its ancestors, but as God’s sign of the rejection of all other nations.
There is a rabbinic tradition (do not know how old it is) that says that G-d went to the other nations first, and offered them the Torah . . . they refused. It was only then that G-d offered it to Israel, and off course, they accepted.
But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to Your saints at Jerusalem. And he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, ” Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must sufffer for the sake of My name.” Acts 9:13-16 ESV
When we realize Yeshua’s calling for Saul, to bring Gentile and Jew together within this environment of, “You must become a Jew in order to understand the instructions and purposes of G-d!” Paul’s suffering was great because of his faithfulness of carrying His name before Gentile and Jew, so that by grace, both Jew and Gentile could embrace the Messiah and have a common ground of understanding and of embracing G-d’s teaching and instructions for living! Saul/Paul was misunderstood and opposed then, and is misunderstood and opposed now. May we in the body of Messiah become bridge builders in the grace and power of the Ruach HaKodesh, to bring clarity and appreciation to this first century contention and conflict. And may we again stand as One new man before our Messiah and voluntarily submit to G-d’s gracious instructions for living!
When we realize that their conflict and contention is ours too, we will hopefully be ready to move on into maturity of being faithful witnesses to the G-d of Israel. I really enjoyed this teaching very much! Blessings to you and yours on this Shabbat!
Brian, do you realize how poetic your/this/HIS piece is – have you heart(d) the rhythm & rhyme in it – i hope you have & do… ♥
jan
Additional material can be seen and heard on YouTube, where Jeff Benner explains what happens when a people loses it’s country and is forces to use an other language in every day’s life. Very instructive!!
Look at
http://www.youtube.com/user/ancienthebreworg#p/c/0E346CF634AD0E30/13/x8wXqyBodUE
This is part 13 of a very good series of lessons about the Hebrew language and culture.
My personal favorite!
Thanks again, Kees – i subscribed to the channel & will listen for sure…♥
jan
Go AHRC. I am happy that God is raising up more and more servants to restore His true teachings and character in the church.
—Now you understand why Yeshua has so much conflict with these men. First, He does not come from their circles. He was not trained by their professional academies. He was an outsider. Secondly, He taught that ordinary men can understand Torah. He explained Torah in common images and terms. He encouraged ordinary people to know what Torah said and live by it. And He did not participate in the mystical evaluation of Torah. On every count, He was a threat.—
Let us also remember who Yeshua was/is. He is the G-d/man in whom all lives all the fulness of the G-dhead bodily. Let us not make the same mistake Peter made.. (let us build three tabernacles, – one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for (G-d?). Yeshua was/is the Author of the Book of books. Using men as His instruments G-d always speaks to a human heart through a human heart.
The 66 books of the word of G-d (our Bible) were written:
1. On three continents.
2. In three languages.
3. By about 40 different people (kings, shepherds, scientists, attorneys, an army general, fishermen, priests, and a physician).
4. Over a period of about 1,500 years.
5. On the most controversial subjects.
6. By people who, in most cases, had never met.
7. By authors whose education and background varied greatly.
Jan we very much have “the truth of the matter in the Word of God/text” for it was Christ Himself who said- “if you abide in me and my words abide in you..” and “sanctify them through the truth- Your word is truth.” (John 17.17) and “the words I speak unto you- they are spirit and they are life..” (John 6.63)
G-d says what He means and He means what He says.. Remember these three words: ~it is written~
CARL, ~IT IS WRITTEN~ IS WHAT GETS ME THROUGH THE DAYS OF PERDITION… ♥♥
J
Skip,
The statement: “the conception of a sacrosanct corpus of holy writings given directly by God or inspired by him” attributed to Hengel is perplexing to me. What does this say about the “Cannon of Scripture” or the Bible as we know it? The implications of this are enormous!
-MB
Perhaps you would indicate what you think are the implications so that I might respond appropriately. Have we not known for a long time that the Canon is the authorization of material ALREADY considered sacred writing and ALREADY used as the basis for faithful practice? There are many “inspired” writings but only some become the documents of a faith community and are therefore considered sacred. Canonization is simply the process of recognizing what is already in place. Furthermore, canonization serves as a tool of exclusion, placing a boundary around certain documents and denying that status to others.
I’ve settled on TWO major areas where I have faith regarding scripture:
1. INSPIRATION — That God really did inspire men to write things down, so that there are actually ‘Words of God’ available for us to read.
2. PRESERVATION — That God had a hand in preserving His word,… even through selfish and imperfect people (through the acts of canonization), and that our scriptures are a result of God’s preservation of His word.
For example, I love reading the letters of Ignatius — but his letter to the Ephesians uses incredibly strong language to “… regard the bishop as the Lord himself.” If this letter was canonized, I believe the “incorruption of the church” that he suggested would have led to worse dark ages than those already recorded.
First, I suggest that you read the definitive work on the Canon by MacDonald. It’s on the recommended reading list. Not light, but a very scholarly piece. Secondly, inspiration covers too broad a range without careful delineation. Bach is inspired. Shelly is inspired. The Declaration of Independence is inspired. What religious use of the term means is that the believing community treats the words as “God’s communication.” Of course, this depends on the nature of the believing community. So, Mormons believe the angel Maroni left inspired words. Obviously, the Quran makes the same claim. Inspiration ALONE is not sufficient. There must be other tests to determine if the text should be treated as the actual words of God (and then, of course, which of the “inspired” words are actually God’s words – this is the neo-orthodoxy dilemma). Here’s what we know about the Tanakh and the New Testament documents written before 110AD. The believing community trusted these documents as the final authority for faith and practice. There were OTHERS as well, but by the time the Church canonized the Bible, the others were dismissed. Nevertheless, some of the believing community treated these other texts as sacred (e.g. Clemmet). We also know that inspiration did not mean exact translation accuracy (see any number of examples of citations in the NT of OT verses). Jewish rabbinic techniques allowed and accepted variation and manipulation of the Hebrew Scripture when these verses were applied to novel situations. In fact, even Yeshua does this. Until we understand the way the authors of the NT thought about “inspiration,” we won’t have a comprehensive way of handling what actually happens with the text. Oh, yes. It should be noted that Hebrew thought BEFORE the influence of Hellenism among the rabbis doesn’t seem to have worried about this issue very much.
As for “preservation,” while this is a common Christian view it has several significant issues not commonly addressed. First, of course, is the issue of the nature of human intervention with the text. We have looked at many examples of this over the years, places where translators have either introduced or removed words or entire verses. This we might write off as mistakes or theological “corrections,” but when it comes to the actual authors of the NT, these additions, alterations and removals are much more difficult to resolve with this kind of brush stroke. Something else is happening. Of course, it must also be noted that the canonized Bible of the 4th Century was significantly “revised” by the Protestants. Did God supervise the Vulgate? Or did He wait for Luther and the Reformers to remove entire books?
It’s complicated, isn’t it? Maybe that’s one of the reasons that Jewish religion seems to focus on PRACTICE rather than theory.
Thank-you for taking the time to spell it out more clearly. I appreciate partial answers, and I take into consideration that the whole answer would be voluminous.
I think faith in the ‘preservation’ of scriptures doesn’t necessarily suppose perfection in the process. My view is admittedly more hazy, in that God did enough to preserve a massive amount of truth for those truly seeking it.
I look at the corpus of canonized scripture throughout the last ~ 1,000 + years – even with the interesting omissions and what I would consider relatively minimal tampering – I still see enough truth preserved, even in the KJV — for God to make his point to humanity.
“It’s complicated, isn’t it? Maybe that’s one of the reasons that Jewish religion seems to focus on PRACTICE rather than theory.”
I THINK/FEEL IT THE SAME TODAY – THAT US SIMPLETONS ARE CALLED TO BE FISHERMEN/WOMEN OF HUMAN BEINGS BECAUSE WE ARE SO SIMPLE WE KNOW NOT WHAT THEORY IS SO ALL WE CAN DO IS PRACTICE OR NOT… ↨♥
JAN
Of course, practice is a function of knowing, isn’t it? After all, think about all the differences over baptism. Which one do you practice?
YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW OR ARE YOU JUST TRYING TO MAKE A POINT. I WAS BAPTIZED AT 9 YEARS OLD & ONCE IN A SWIMMING POOL WHEN I REALLY KNEW WHAT IT MEANT BUT NOT MEANING MY BAPTISM AT 9 WAS NOT THE REAL THING & I THINK ONE OTHER TIME – SO NOW WHAT KIND OF WEIRD PERSON AM I FOR DOING THAT???
I DON’T PRACTICE SPRINKLING BUT IF THAT IS ALL THE WATER I HAD I WOULD DO IT WITH WHAT WAS AVAILABLE… OR I MAY EVEN BAPTIZE A BROTHER OR SISTER IN A BATHTUB IF NECESSARY… NOT THE METHOD BUT THE PURPOSE…
DON’T KNOW OF ANY OTHER KINDS OF BATPTISM – HOW MANY ARE THERE???
JAN
Skip,
You addressed many of the “enormous implications” I referred to in your last comment. Specifically, what I was referring to is a general trust in what we know as the Bible. As a young student of your work, you’ve certainly thrown a wrench into that, challenging many long-held beliefs and teachings. You quote from Baruch and recently the Apocrypha – books I was taught not to accept as part of “Scripture.”
If there truly is no “conception of a sacrosanct corpus of holy writings given directly by God or inspired by him” – which essentially describes the Protestant bible as I know it (the NIV I’ve been studying/reading for almost 20 yrs now) – both this statement and your teaching shakes to the core my trust in what I’m reading.
Unfortunately, this has produced a distrust in my “bible” and taken me away from “God’s Word” as I knew it, which is sad. Where do I go for trustworthy Scripture that I can rely on and grow with?
-MB
MARKB – I KINDA FEEL THE SAME WAY & I READ THE NIV TOO… 🙁 JAN
MB, of course I am not Skip, but please may I reply to your heartfelt cry above? GOD IS GREATER THAN– EQUAL TO WHAT WE NEED. I AM A 78 YEAR OLD WOMAN –FOREVER A STUDENT OF GOD’S WORD– HE WILL NOT FAIL YOU. I KNOW, I KNOW– OH SURE there are times even now regularly that I must cry out to Him–for help. We are still human– as were all these people that He spoke too, and used throughout the history of His Chosen People. Often they themselves did not even know how they were being used by Him.-
—Above you mention Baruch and the Apocrypha– I have and study from several different translations, including the New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha, Harper’s Bible Dictionary by Miller & published by Harper in the 1950’s–or so–tons of information–much of what Skip has presented–, also Hard Sayings of the Bible— and many other works– I wanted to enter a Seminary when I was about 40 years– and was allowed to audit courses–but not permited to earn a degree from them because I was a female,–but i have not let that deter by studying.–
Back to Baruch, have you studied the complete book of Jeremiah in any of the Regular translations, even NIV–( I use mine regularly with study notes– I think it is great !–but this year the Southern Baptists denounced the new one just coming out–I guess it is the 2012 issue for some reasons, have some information on it but not had time to study what they think is wrong with it)–
– Still back to BARUCH
— ARE you aware that Baruch was Jeremiah’s faithful personal secretary? Chapter 45 in book of Jeremiah-even in NIV states: HISTORICAL APPENDIX: PROMISE TO BARUCH. A profound statement by Baruch to the Lord is given v.1-5,- Baruch says he is worn out and the Lord replys so graciously to him and says in v. 5. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not. For I will bring disaster on all people, eclares the Lord, but WHEREVER YOU GO I WILL LET YOU ESCAPE WITH YOUR LIFE. (He will escape with his life.)— Baruch’s brother Seraiah would occupy an important position with the King Zedekiash, but Baruch himself was not to be ambitious or self seeking. (God would give him his life when the Kingdom of Judah falls and Jerusalem goes too.) Normally these men would have had their lives taken when they went into war and lost. They burned Jeremiahs’ Scroll-chap 36, put him in prison. BUT THESE MEN LIVED ( BECAUSE GOD TOLD THEM HE WOULD PRESERVE THEM) AND RETURNED TO THEIR HOMELAND. –j. EVEN BOUGHT BURIAL LAND THERE—
SEE THe APROCRYPHA IS JUST SOME INFORMATION THAT WAS NOT PUT IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, BUT CONNECTS AND ADDS SOME INFORMATION,–WE STILL HAVE IT–ALTHOUGH IT WAS NEVER A PART OF MY BIBLE STUDY IN THE BAPTIST CHURCHES I GREW UP IN. —— THE INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH, STATES THIS, ” STILL using the NIV STUDY BIBLE, UNDER THEMES AND MESSAGE, ” –an aura of conflict surrounded Jeremiah’s writings almost from the beginning. He lashed out against the sins of his countrymen, scoring them severely for their idolatry.—- much more– SO, TODAY, we still see the word “conflict”— I so appreciated one of THE Counselors here, that stated so well, “WE MUST LEARN TO MANAGE CONFLICT.—IT IS EVERYWHERE”
— iT SEEMS TO ME THAT i HAVE WALKED WHERE YOU ARE, AND I DID NOT LIKE ANY CONFLICT( I still do not, but it is real– so let us ask God how we manage it.–I HAD EXPERIENCED A MARVELOUS AMOUNT OF HERITAGE AND KNEW GOD’S LOVE– I WANTED IT JUST TO STAY THAT WAY –BUT GOD KNOWS WHAT WE NEED, WE MUST HURT–so we can really relate to those hurting. It also keeps us humble– CHANGE AS GOD OPENS OUR EYES TO A DIFFERENT WAY TO WALK WITH HIM. OFTEN, WE MUST BREAK OUR DENOMINATIONAL TIES–BUT NOT WITH ANGER, HURT, OR EVER STOP LOVING THEM, APPRECIATE WHAT THEY HAVE GIVEN US, BUT MOVE OUT TO SEE WHAT THE HEAVENLY FATHER WANTS US TO LEARN. IN ORDER THAT HE MAY USE US IN BETTER WAYS. If you desire, I will pray for you. My e-mail ( no web– no business– nothing to sell) is melshad@cebridge.net. ( God’s Blessings here and in the olam ha’ ba) Skip taught me that.— He is young too, and God is not finished with teaching him yet! What glorious people you can all become, my time on earth is limited but you normally will have many years–if we are willing and do our part of the work. (“Seek not great things for yourself” ) but stay in God’s Word, ” Seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!”— the Lord rebuked me many years ago in my Spirit as that complete verse kept jumping out in my thoughts— and said to my Spirit,, L.B. you forget the part that says ” and all these things will be added –” JUST focus on the first part forever and ever. Thanks if you have read and reread this. In Christ Jesus our Lord, I write to you.
Wow! I thank our Heavenly Father and bless Him for this wonderful and true insight given to you dear Skip. It makes perfect sense to me – an ordinary seeker who cling to Him in love. I would like to encourage all the pure of heart to keep going and keep seeking and testing everyone and everthing and not make the mistake of simply accepting and assuming we know it all already. It is my humble conclusion that we have much more to discover and learn in the days ahead of us. Pure love will get us where we have to go. Moshiach taught that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the learnerd ones. I have come to discover that if one does not study and meditate with love and an open heart one loose the nourishment available when in the wrong frame of mind. a Humble heart is the key to understanding the Word/Torah. Empty the self to be able to receive the nourishment that comes from Wisdom Above.
Just a response in relationship to the Canon.
The TaNaKh is a living text that the Jewish people have embraced for centuries as instructions for living! They knew this text and their story of Redemption inside and out, and therefore a rabbi or rabbis of a particular community could use a particular passage out of context and still remain faithful to the intent of the story of Redemption. It was a living relationship with the ONE and True G-d! The TaNaKh is not about precision and complete accuracy of the text, (even though the text is a faithful witness in the presentation of His story) it is about relatational intention, right intentional living with G-d and with one another. And of course, the TaNaKh gives us an accurate picture and faithful presentation of what G-d’s intentions are! Why should we not embrace this living text and the G-d that it represents?
In regards to the NT . . . I beleive that despite what certain intentions men may have had through the centuries . . . We still get a faithful and startling presentation and witness of G-d’s story in Christ.
Your comments only serve to underscore the significant change that occurred when Greek philosophy and a Greek concept of historiography replaced the ethical relationship trajectory of the Tanakh. Now the Bible is subject to “accuracy” exams since the dominant epistemology of the Greeks is the accurate transfer of information. Christian doctrines of inspiration and inerrancy attempt to articulate “accuracy” within the Greek paradigm. And Judaism under the influence of Hellenism is sometimes subject to the same trajectory. But notice that until Hellenism affected the Jews and later the Christians, there were no discussions about inerrancy or inspiration. There was only a way of living found in sacred words. Should we approach both the OT and the NT with this in mind, we might find a very different view of the Book and of its purposes.
Skip, thank you for your comments.
Yes, I agree that we should approach the NT this way too. The tendency within some aspects of modern scholarship is to demand a Greek mindset from the NT text. This text was written within that world and its language, but it does not find its roots or nourishment there. And I believe by them putting these perimeters and constraints around the text, they have tried to steal (whether intentionally or unintentionally) the breath of G-d from the text and the power to draw us into righteous living with G-d and with one another. This also leads to our unfruitful witness to this world of the distinction and uniqueness of the the G-d of Israel.