The Lost Tribes?
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the dispersion: Greetings. James 1:1 ESV
Dispersion – One of the common claims of some of the followers of the “Messianic movement” is that those who are now discovering their Hebrew roots are part of the “lost tribes of Israel.” But this claim is very strange given Ya’aqov’s greeting. Apparently he didn’t think ten of the twelve tribes were lost. As far as he was concerned, all twelve tribes were easily recognized, even if they weren’t in Israel.
David Stern notes, “‘The Twelve Tribes’ refers to Jews and is not merely a metaphor for Christians, as some Christian commentators maintain. This is clear from the style of the letter generally, and particularly from the fact that they had synagogues (2:2).” Stern goes on to say that while Gentiles were not excluded, Ya’aqov’s address to the “Diaspora” Jews clearly shows that he intends to address Jewish readers.[1]
Why is this important? First, it demonstrates that a large number of Jews embraced Yeshua as the Messiah. The idea that Jews universally rejected Yeshua is simply false. In the first century one might even argue that the majority of believers were Jewish. But even more importantly, these Jewish believers were not asked to give up their community or their code of conduct. They still met in the synagogue. That implies they continued to follow the established patterns of worship and practice. They would not have continued in the synagogue community if they were required to reject their Judaism to become “Christian.” Ya’aqov never mentions any such “conversion” process. The idea that Jews became Christians is a mythological claim of the later Church. As far as Ya’aqov is concerned, he is writing to explain the practical application of Torah to the lives of those who should have known better because they grew up in the culture of Israel. He is writing to instruct these Jewish Messianic believers what following Yeshua means in relation to Gentiles. And what it means is no preferential treatment for Jews and no exclusion of Gentile believers. Any claim to faith (to walking according to the code of conduct given by the One true God) that does not find expression in the active benevolence toward Gentiles in the community is dead! It is not faith. It is useless prattle.
What we learn from the letter of Ya’akov is that the biggest issue of the early assembly was not how Jews become Christians but rather how Gentiles are to be treated within the Jewish Messianic community. Unfortunately, removing the context of Ya’aqov’s letter results in a complete reinterpretation of his words. It’s time to correct this.
Today most of us are Gentile believers. Since we are the majority, we might tend to think of Ya’aqov’s letter as if it were written to us. But it wasn’t. We might think that we are in the superior relationship to God. But we aren’t. We are just slaves to the One true God, exhibitors of His grace and mercy, beneficiaries of His love for Israel. Perhaps we need to absorb this before we can understand why Ya’aqov’s words strike so deeply into the consciousness of his readers.
Topical Index: dispersion, Diaspora, twelve tribes, James 1:1
Great post Dr. Moen. This topic has been on my mind for a while now. Boaz Michael just visited South Africa and basically asked gentiles who are part of the “Messianic Movement” to return to church. In essence, promoting Bilateral Eschatology.
Let me also say that I think Boaz in sincere in his beliefs and I don’t think there is any ill intend in what he is saying. He also does raise some very good points, especially regards the “Messianic Movement’s” general stance towards the church. And I enjoy most of the material produced by FFOZ.
However, I’m just not sure that Bilateral Eschatology is the answer, what G-d intended or how He wants his bride to function. I also do not think, as some scholars and leaders suggest, that Paul intended for Gentiles to “form their own ekklesia” outside of the Jewish Synagogue. I also believe there are some amazing examples of believing communities that show just the opposite, where Jew and Gentile worship our Father together in the way that He wants us to worship Him.
But, having said that, I do believe that the “Messianic Movement” (especially in South Africa, where I am from) are in need of some really strong leaders and people who can lead their communities in truth. Because, as you mentioned in your opening paragraph their are some weird, interesting and sometimes just plain dangerous teachings that do the rounds in our communities of faith.
This is a great post and makes a lot of sense to me. However, I am growing increasingly pessimistic towards reconciliation of Jew and Gentile with regard to the “one man” that Christ gave His life to institute. I do long for this time and it may take a lot more suffering and persecution for those who believe in a closer alignment with historical Biblical lifestyle. In agreement with Jaco’s comment, it will definitely take much courage and boldness to proclaim this message. Thank you for your uncompromising faithfulness, Skip, and others!
I would not have a problem attending Sunday church, if the truth of Sabbath, the Law and Messianic Jews was preached. But the denial of all things Jewish is a huge stumbling block in my return to the christian church.
“I would not have a problem attending Sunday church, if the truth of Sabbath, the Law and Messianic Jews was preached. But the denial of all things Jewish is a huge stumbling block in my return to the christian church.”
Dear saints,
I supported FFOZ for many years. Recently not so much. But nobody is wrong all the time!
Ron and I are often sent by our Father in Heaven to the Church. Not to be fed ourselves but to suffer through proclaiming the truth of Torah obedience to those who are feeding error to the flock and to the flock who gobble it up. We don’t expect to be well received even though we are always hopeful.
1Co 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
If ever there was a foolish, base, weak vessel that is not, it would be us! But all it takes for Him to send such a vessel is this earnest statement from a humbled heart.
“But for Your grace there go I. Here I am Adoni YHVH send me, not my will but Yours be done.”
Ro. 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
In nearly every church you will find preachers or people or both who question the status-quo.
I hear you, Pam. Go in boldness and courage!
~ Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘All of you must be born from above.’ ~ (John 3.7)
I will beat on this drum until it is heard by “all.” Did you hear the word “all?” All (amazingly) means “all.” All are welcome. ‘Whosoever will’ -may come.
But I will guarantee- anyone, anywhere and at any time, “WE”- did you notice the “we?” “all” must be born from above. Yes, you too, Mr. Nicodemus- pay attention to his name- his very name is “Superior”- this guy here is no small potatoes- he is a “ruler of the Jews”- somebody who is ‘someone’- a high muckety-muck but none of this matters. I repeat – none of this matters.
It does not matter your bloodline- whether prince or pauper- all are welcome. It does not matter your family history..- whether a pirate, a poet or a plumber,- “whosoever will” may come.
And listen once again to these words: “ALL” have sinned.. Amazingly, in scripture, “all” means all, y’all.
Jew or Gentile, circumcision does not count. Not the circumcision made by hands, only what God provides and has provided through the Messiah, the LORD Jesus (who is the) Christ, Yeshua HaMashiach- He (alone) is LORD of ALL.
There are none so righteous.. -and where does “righteousness” (right-relatedness) come from? Does it come from “being a Jew?” or being a Catholic? or being “good?” How is a sinful man (any sinful man for all have sinned..) become “rightly-related” to God? -Let’s do this.. but How?
How may “any man” (this is me- ‘any-man’) be “saved/delivered/rescued”- and is there even a need for this “salvation” spoken of by the prophets?
What do the scriptures say? Are we really that ignorant- or is it apathy?
If Nicodemus, apparently an educated, elite, erudite man, a descendant of the tribe of “oh-my!!”-must (according to Yeshua) be born from above- what was ‘so wrong’ with his first birth? For being a Jew, and not only a Jew, but a ruler of the Jews,- he beyond any doubt – a very fine and moral man. So why then, (he inquired) did the Son of God say to this apparently very ‘good’ man- you, sir, need to be ‘born from Above?’ Was there a need for the original Nick-at-nite to be “saved?”
And what about Paul, formerly known as Saul- the one who “righteously” persecuted the church? What ever happened to him? What was his “pedigree?” Brothers, it was stellar. A Pharisee of the Pharisees. This man was listed, (back in the day) in “Who’s Who.”
Whether we are listed in “Who’s who” or “who’s that?”- it does not matter. What matters is this.. -Our relationship to Christ. Do we (now, today, this very moment,) belong to Him and know Him as “both” Savior and LORD? How may we know this? Can we, may we, – be sure of our salvation?
And friends, (of every stripe or color)- if “any man” be *in Christ,*- he (or she) is a new creation- old things are passed away- all things have become new. (henceforth know we no man after the flesh) Either (we are now) *in Christ*- or not. Are you “in?”
What was it Paul said? ~ For I determined not to know anything among you but Jesus Christ and Him crucified ~ What a strange statement, – now why would that be? What does the crucifixion of the Christ have to do with anything? (lol! – only everything!)
~All we like sheep have gone astray..” “All?”- but ahh!, (apparently a few, a remnant) have now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop (overseer) of our souls..
thank you, Fanny J. Crosby, for the wonder of this beautiful prayer-song:
Jesus, keep me near the cross;
there a precious fountain,
free to all, a healing stream,
flows from Calvary’s mountain.
In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.
Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and Mercy found me;
there the bright and Morning Star
sheds its beams around me.
Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
bring its scenes before me;
help me walk from day to day
with its shadow o’er me.
Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
hoping, trusting ever,
till I reach the golden strand
just beyond the river.
In the cross, in the cross,
be my glory ever,
till my raptured soul shall find
rest beyond the river.
From His cradle to His cross to His coronation as King of kings and LORD of lords;
~ and they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.. ~
Where do these ransomed ones come from? -from every tribe and language and people and nation.. ~
and how were ‘they’ (us) redeemed? – by the blood of Calvary’s Lamb.
~ For I (too) am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes, of the Jew first AND of the Greek as well ~ (Romans 1.16)
Have you heard the “Good News?” What exactly, -is the gospel?
~ Brothers and sisters, I’m making known to you the Good News which I already told you, which you received, and on which your faith is based and by it you have life in that message which I proclaimed to you, if you remember, unless you have believed worthlessly. For I have declared to you from the first, according to that which I have received: The Messiah died for the sake of our sins, just as it is written;that He was buried; that He rose to life again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and He appeared to Kaypha, and after him, to the twelve ~ (from 1 Corinthians 15)
His standing open invitation remains for ‘whosoever will’.. ~ Come unto Me..~
As well as all that, in the reign of Jereboam, the righteous of th tribes, left th north and went to the south and strengthened Reheboam in Judah for two years…from then on they were called Judeans, Jews…we have Anna and shaul as at least two other tribes mentioned…
I will beat on this drum until it is heard by “all.”
Dear brother do you really think that we have not heard and have all forsaken the cross?
Once we come to Him wreaking of the filthiness that has resulted from our disobedience to the law, and He receives us in our Torahless condition and forgives our lawlessness should we then continue in Torahlessness doing whatever is good in own own eyes?
As far as I can tell that has never turned out well!
The cross is the beginning of our of our responsibility not the end. Let us go on ever increasing in strength and in the likeness of our Beloved. Demonstrating His character in ever increasing brilliance in it’s multifaceted beauty which is revealed to us in HIS LAW which is contained in HIS Torah for the purpose of imitating it and thereby HIM AS A DEMONSTATION OF THE WISDOM OF YHVH to the powers and principalities.
He tells us in red white and black how to look just likeHIM and how not to misrepresent HIM and then commands us to “JUST DO IT!” What is so hard about that? IT is no burden at all to those of use who’s every aspiration in life is to ‘PRESS TOWARD THE MARK’ for the (PURPOSE OF THE) prize of the high calling “””of “””GOD”””
in Christ Jesus. This would be in opposition to MISSING THE MARK. IMO
There is a reward don’t you know?!
He. 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.
God is permitting us to go on.
Thank You Skip for all your help! great post!
Just a note. While there is no doubt about the importance of the cross in our faith, I am not so sure anymore that it is the place of forgiveness. As recent posts have explored this issue, I will not continue it here, but I will say that a great deal more work has to be done to understand why Paul seems to make it so central and, as the same time, knows perfectly well that it cannot be the place of the altar sacrifice. I will work on this. Just wanted to mention it because Christians tend to make everything about the cross rather than understanding that the cross is a manifestation of conquering death and exaltation – victory. The place of sacrifice where I am saved in the heavenly altar.
Skip,
There was an altar outside the camp where the bull on the day of atonement was killed and burned. Also, the one of the two goats that was killed in the temple was brought out to this altar to be burned. If I am correct and the crucifixion occurred by or near the altar on the Mount of Olives, could that not be the an acceptable altar?
The area was considered an extension of the Temple Mount. It was also the place of Jewish corporal punishment where a person atoned for his crime by his death before the LORD.
You may be correct about the PLACE but consider the requirements for a sin offering. The Levitical priest must perform it. It must be an offering without blemish. If it is a blood offering, the blood must be sprinkled on the altar. On the Day of Atonement, the priest must lay hands on the offering. There is more. None of this seems to fit, does it?
Skip, you may not see this until you get back from South Africa, but have you read any of the books written by Henry Clay Trumbull? You should. Two in particular are directly relevant to this discussion. They are now in the Public Domain and have been digitized by Google Books (as well as others). I have them as pdf files on my web site. Feel free to download them and have a read.
The Covenant of Salt
The Blood Covenant
The Threshold Covenant
I have to research. Was the blood of the bull killed outside the camp sprinkled on the altar inside the temple? Maybe Rodney could help with this one.
Wasn’t our high priest hanging on the cross?
Not a “converted” Jew, but a “completed” Jew- one who is “twice-blessed” because of his or her knowing the Messiah who came unto His own and wept over the city of Jerusalem. According to Rabbi Sha’ul- “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God about the Jews is that they would be saved.” (Romans 10.1) Let’s bring it to the front of the table, then.. Do the Jews need to be saved? Are they “sinners” also? Just because the Bible says “all” have sinned, does this mean “all” have sinned? The Jew too? Gentiles AND Jews, sinners all and “all” are in need of a Savior.
Yes, obedience to the Torah but whose Torah? And obedience not to be saved, but because I am saved,-to show to others (the unsaved) we now belong to Him. It is God’s instruction, God’s Law, found in God’s (Blessing) Book, our Bible. Not just the first five books found in the O.T. (I am by no means discounting these or setting these aside, I would only like to include the remaining sixty books as also included as God’s Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. ~ Every word of God is pure ~ (from stem to stern),- “it’s all good!)
Dear Carl,
This idea that a Jew needs to be “completed” is actually quite insulting and not in alignment with Scripture. The phrase comes from a history of anti-Judiasm and an underlying assumption that Judaism is incomplete with the Messiah, by which most Christians mean “Jesus,” the Christian Messiah. Think of it this way. Jews need only accept Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah. Gentiles are the only ones who are converted, grafted in and incomplete without the Jewish Messiah – and incomplete without a transfer to the House of Israel and the House of Judah. Yes, we all need a Savior, but He happens to be Jewish and as a Jew we can hardly argue that other Jews somehow need to be more than Jews to regard Him as their Savior. Yes, Torah obedience is crucial (but not for salvation, as you note) but I would argue that the reason I obey is because of hesed, not because of evangelism. Anyway, just some food for thought.
None of us truly knows our ancestral origins. We are what we think we are. For that matter, the paternal-maternal-cultural-religious criteria used for establishing “Jewish” identity today is highly subjective. The Cohen gene offers the most objective measure and even then, rabbis will reject DNA as a Jewish marker. Then there’s those “gentiles” who’ve discovered their anscestors lost their Jewish identity over the past few hundred years to evade the anti-semitism of christian Europe. Some of these “gentiles” are genetically more Jewish than Jews who have declared them to be gentiles. Seems the criteria for identifying Israel is a bit self-serving whether it be FFOZ, Judaism, or christian replacement theologians.
Confusion over corporeal Israel’s ID is consistent with the confusion surrounding the question from reading scripture. Our Father has marked His scattered Israel and He sees what we do not. He will reunite scattered Israel (Jeremiah 31, Ezekiel 37) inspite of who we think they/ we are. That’s the promise of Moshaich. That’s the major theme underlying the Bible – the restoration of Israel/ Eden.
The foregoing issues were present when James addressed the scattered tribes. How could James possibly identify and address those who assimilated as gentiles centuries earlier? Not one of us can can be certain about our own ancestors, let alone who is truly a “Jew” today. We really can’t draw any conclusions from James letter.
Maybe it is just a cosmic coincidence, but in the movie Hombre, Paul Newman plays the Hero
He is a “half breed,” half Native American or “Indian”
And if you have ever watched the movie, you would know that the Indians are somehow different
Than the Americans
They are tribal, live in touch with nature, and have a somewhat noble quality
When compared with the Americans
In one famous scene, the wealthy American woman makes the following comment
Riding in a stagecoach across from Hombre, who is an Indian dressed as an American
She says “those dirty Indians eat dog’
And Hombre calmly replies:
“Have you ever been hungry Lady? I don’t mean ready for dinner, I mean so hungry your belly swells up? You’d eat dog Lady. And you’d fight for the bones”
Another one of my favorite movies/books is The Last of the Mohicans (Mos)
A Theory is Born
One of the first books to suggest the Native American Lost Tribe theory was written by a Jew, the Dutch rabbi, scholar, and diplomat Manasseh ben Israel.
In The Hope of Israel (1650), Ben Israel suggested that the discovery of the Native Americans, a surviving remnant of the Assyrian exile, was a sign heralding the messianic era.
Just one year later, Thomas Thorowgood published his best seller Jewes in America, Or, Probabilities that those Indians are Judaical, made more probable by some Additionals to the former Conjectures.
The Lost Tribe idea found favor among early American notables, including Cotton Mather (the influential English minister), Elias Boudinot (the New Jersey lawyer who was one of the leaders of the American Revolution), and the Quaker leader William Penn.
I read, rather recently, some American Indian pottery inscriptions contained Hebraic lettering. Of course, there was argument against it, but after reading your post, wondered if the horrific historic treatment of the AI population, could somehow be connected with anti-Semitism? If not, in conscious imperialistic attitude, but in an inherent intent to judge the unfamiliar as undesirable?
I doubt there is any historical connection between anti=Semitism and the American Indian, except the human record of ethnic intolerance and bigotry. And similarity in letters, especially in pictographic languages, would not be unusual either. I imagine that some Chinese letters also look Hebraic, but that does not mean that they are connected.
Agreed, the letters involved with language are fascinating and this may be quite the stretch to suggest ties to Semitic origin. I don’t discount similarities either, because of the diaspora. I do think Scripture makes it clear that the heart of a true Jew is defined by the love for YHWH expressed by obedience: a “true” Jew lives by faith, and that faith, according to Scripture comes by hearing (and doing) the Word of our Abba.
I also look back on the attitude of many christians historically, who thought to conquer territory for the “sake of the gospel” through intimidation and brute force. This was at the heart of my comment actually. I see it in so many aspects…convert or die and go to hell basically is just another form of intimidation without allowing others to consider the cost of true “conversion”.
“horrific historic treatment of the AI population”
Hi Mary,
I agree with Skip, but might add a dimension to the discussion of history that may seem alien
In my view, the concept of “class struggle” is an important component in the process
For example, native American “Indians” could not compete with the European immigrants
In our industrial capitalist economy
On the other hand, many of the European immigrants have been highly educated Jews
And more recently, many of the Asian immigrants have been highly educated Indians, etc
Many of these Jews and Indians are now leaders in our new economy
Not to mention the fairly wealthy “working class”
Over the last ten years, I have worked on teams with many more young Indians and Asians
Than old white folk like myself, or young white folk, with obvious exceptions
I’m somewhat concerned that at some point in this everlasting economic downturn
Racism against the new American Indians, Arabs, and Asians might rear its ugly head
If I am a gentile believer, and I am grafted in, would I not become part of one of the 12 tribes of Israel? It would seem James is addressing all of Israel when he says 12 tribes to me. I am not sure I follow or understand the “…discovering their Hebrew roots are part of the “lost tribes of Israel” comment. I am not sure how I (or anybody) would really know if I were born by tribe, or grafted in at this point. The result is the same…I am saved by faith, faith comes through hearing, hearing is obeying, and that means obeying the Torah with my actions, not words. What is the differentiation? or is that the point?
Mark
Just a small note – ‘gentile believer’ is an oxymoron. If you are a gentile, it meant you were not part of the Commonwealth of Israel, i.e. NOT a believer – ‘of the nations – gohim.’ If you join yourself to Israel, you become a ger and are no longer a gentile. You are now part of the Commonwealth of Israel, grafted into the natural tree – part of the gerim. There is now no difference between the Jew and the Gentile, once you are grafted in.
I agree with Mark’s comment above about becoming part of the 12 tribes – there are only 12 gates into Jerusalem. There is not an extra gate for the ‘gentile belivers.’