Misunderstandings in Christianity and twisted Scripture
Peter warned Paul’s writings would be difficult to understand and easy to misinterpret, but the church rearranged his warning to come after Paul’s writings: Kepha Bet (2nd Peter) 3:14-16
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation — as also our beloved brother Shaul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
A lot of people, even in the first century, tried to twist his writings in an effort to make them say things that they really did not. Some wanted to throw Shaul’s writings out, but Kepha (Peter) had said that Shaul’s writings were good: they were just hard to understand; Who were these people? Could it be that these were the forerunners of today’s Christians? It seemed at first preposterous, but it certainly seemed to fit. While they might never admit it, whenever there was an apparent conflict between the words of the Messiah and the words of ‘Paul’, the Church seemed to go with Paul. It was like they felt they could ignore the words of Elohim (G-d), because of the words of one of His followers.
If one really looked, Scripture witnessed silently against not only the Pharisees (the Orthodox Jews), but also against the Christian Church. A friend commented that Christianity was like getting inoculated against the flu: they give you just enough of the faith so you won’t come down with the full-blown thing. They gave you a façade of the faith as a substitute.
The Church teaches so much that either is not supported by His Word, or which contradicts His Word, but the lies of the Church were foretold, and even necessary. Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 16:19 19 YHWH, my strength and my fortress, My refuge in the day of affliction. The gentiles shall come to You From the ends of the earth and say, "Surely our fathers have inherited lies, Worthlessness and unprofitable things.”
[Paul’s writings are the key to understanding the Newer Testament and the key to misunderstanding it.] There is a means of resolving all of the apparent conflicts without having to throw out all of the words of Shaul. This becomes possible when we look at his words from a Hebrew perspective [since he was a Hebrew] and consider words used as slang of his day along with the culture at the time.
The Good News had not been written in a vacuum. Rather, it was written by devout Jews who had been born and raised in a Jewish culture; and therefore the best way to understand their words was to think like a Jew who had accepted Yahshua (‘J-sus’) as the Messiah. The Apostles thought differently than we do. Hebrew is not English. The apostles’ words translate into English fairly well, but they often mean something completely different. For example, the word ‘new’ does not mean ‘brand new’, but ‘renewed’; [the ‘new moon’ is not ‘brand new’ every month, it is ‘renewed’ every month, just as] the covenant is not a ‘brand new’ covenant, but a ‘Renewed’ Covenant (meaning it is a renewal of an earlier covenant). The covenant has been ‘renewed.’
Further, while there is only one word in English for a Gentile, in Hebrew there are two different words; ‘goy’ and ‘ger’ and they both mean different things. Shaul alternated back and forth between the two with ease because one of his means of discussion was to split hairs; but when one could not tell he was using two different words (such as would happen when one read his writings in Greek, or in English), one almost could not help but get things confused.
Religious Jews in the first century used a lot of slang, and as the old saying went, ‘much had been lost in the translation.’ In the centuries before the Messiah, Judea had been overrun by the Greeks, and the Greeks had taught the Jews to keep Greek customs. Devout Jews derisively called those who had converted ‘Greeks.’ Though their heritage was Jewish, the religious Jews called them ‘Greeks’ or ‘Hellenists’ as a means of distinguishing between those who had remained true to the Father’s words, and those who had strayed. If one understands this, it changes the entire picture.
The truth is that the Hellenists and Greeks in these passages could not have been ethnic Greeks, because the first non-Jew to be brought into the faith was Cornelius, in Acts Chapter Ten: Ma’asei (Acts) 10:1-2 10 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, 2 a devout man and one who feared Elohim (G-d) with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to Elohim (G-d) always.
If Cornelius was the first non-Jew to be brought into the faith, then the words ‘gentile’ and ‘Greek’ cannot mean the same thing prior to Acts Chapter Ten as they mean to us today. Therefore, who (or what) are the ‘Greeks’ and the ‘gentiles’ of the Renewed Covenant?
It is unreasonable to think we can understand it without understanding what all of the words really mean. Rather, we can understand it much better if we are familiar with Israel’s history.
In 332 BCE, a few hundred years prior to Yahshua’s ministry, Alexander the Great conquered Israel. Since Alexander was a mild ruler, and he allowed the Jews to continue practicing the Hebrew worship, so long as they paid him tribute (i.e., taxes). Yet around 175 BCE, a new ruler named Antiochus Epiphanies arose, and he decreed that his subjects should worship only Greek gods and goddesses, thereby becoming ‘Greek.’ He also declared that anyone practicing the Hebrew faith should be put to death. 1 Maccabees 1:41-50
41 Moreover King Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, 42 And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king. 43 Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the Sabbath. 44 For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda [Judea], that they should follow the strange laws of the land (i.e., the laws of the Greeks). 45 And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the Sabbaths and festival days: 46 And pollute the sanctuary and the holy people: 47 Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts: 48 That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation: 49 To the end they might forget the Torah, and change all the ordinances. 50 And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he should die.
Verses 42 and 43 tell us that many of the Israelites agree to Antiochus Epiphanies’ commandment. Rather than die, they converted to Greek worship, and, thereby became ‘heathens’ in the eyes of the authors of the Book of Maccabees (verse 42).
In Scripture, race or ethnic heritage is not really what makes one an Israelite. Ruth was a Moabitess, and yet she was the grandmother of David -Ruth 1:4. Ruth became an Israelite when she left Moab and the Moabite worship, and joined herself to the Nation of Israel, choosing to dwell in the Land of Israel, and to worship the Elohim (G-d) of Israel - Root (Ruth) 1:16-17.
While there is a genetic component to the worship, in that one is supposed to raise one’s children in the faith, John the Baptist told the Pharisees that their genetics were not the deciding factor in salvation: Mattithyahu (Matthew) 3:7-9 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his immersion (baptism), he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 9 and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Avraham as our father.' For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Avraham from these stones!”
In Scripture, it is not one’s genetics, but one’s form of worship that determines whether one is an Israelite, a Greek, or a gentile. [worshiping idols and false (pagan) gods and keeping “holidays” that honor them is not part of that path].
If someone believes an incorrect teaching, then they believe a heresy; and indeed, even Shaul warned us about teachings that deviated from the original Nazarene faith: Galatim (Galatians) 1:6-9 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Messiah, to a different Good News, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Good News of Messiah. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed!
The Apostle Shaul self-identified as an Israelite: Qorintim Bet (2nd Corinthians) 11:22
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. He said Elohim had not cast away His people Israel, for he also was an Israelite, even naming his tribe: Romim (Romans) 11:1 11 I say then, has Elohim cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
The Apostle Shaul still plainly thought of himself as a member of the Nation of Israel, and later we will show that he was still very zealous for the Laws of Moses. Further, when he was taken to Rome (where he was finally beheaded), the Jews in the synagogue in Rome said they wanted to hear this teaching, even though it was not accepted by men. In Aramaic the word is “yulpana” ( יולפנא ), which means ‘teaching, instruction, or doctrine.’ Acts 28:22 MGI “Now we want to hear from you what you think, because we know that this teaching (i.e., sect) is not accepted by men.”
In Greek this word is αἱρέσεως, ‘haireseoos’, heresy. However, it can also be translated as an opinion, dogma, or a sect.
Acts 28:22 NKJV 22 But we desire to hear from you what you think; for concerning this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere."
With this in mind, let us return to the topic of what it meant that the Apostle Shaul belonged to the ‘sect’ (or the ‘teaching’) of the Nazarenes. The Greek-based NKJV says ‘sect’ and the Aramaic Peshitta says ‘teaching’. There were two main sects recorded in the Renewed Covenant, and they both taught different things.
The Pharisees were the predominant sect, and they are the ancestors of the Orthodox Jews of today (as they changed the name in the Middle Ages). There were also the Sadducees (from whom the Karaites come). However, history records that there were also other ‘teachings’ or sects, such as the Essenes in Qumran, the Ebionites (the ‘poor ones’), the Gnostics. All of these were ‘sects’ (or teachings, or doctrines) within the Jewish nation at that time; and yet they were all Jews. They were still all part of the literal Nation of Israel.
Shaul warns us about the Gnostics in First Timothy 6:20-21: O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’, 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Favor (grace) be with you. Amein.
In verse 20, the word ‘knowledge’ is Gnooseoos, (γνώσεως), which is where we get the word ‘Gnostic.’ In a sense the Gnostics were related to the Christians, because they taught that the only thing man needed to be saved was the mere ‘knowledge’ that Yahshua was the Messiah. They taught that the Laws of Moses and physical circumcision were no longer required.
The (Gnostic) Gospel of Thomas
53 His disciples said to Him, “Is circumcision beneficial or not?” He said to them, “If it were beneficial, their father would beget them already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become completely profitable.”
Scripture tells us that the Creator never does anything until He first reveals it by the mouth of His servants, the prophets: Amos 3:7 7 Surely YHWH Elohim does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
Nowhere was it ever prophesied that the Laws of Moses or physical circumcision would be done away with at the Messiah’s coming; and in fact the Messiah plainly said the exact opposite: Mattithyahu (Matthew) 5:17-20 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Some thoughts about circumcision:
- According to Torah, circumcision is one of the three eternal signs of the Covenant.
- Avraham was brought into Covenant before he became physically circumcised [, but he still was circumcised later].
- Elohim gave the Gentiles the Spirit before they were physically circumcised [, but they still were circumcised later].
- The Nazarenes continued to practice physical circumcision right up until the Fourth Century, [many years after the death and resurrection of Yahshua] when the Roman Christians finally stamped them out [this is even confirmed by the writings of the Church Father Epiphanius].
- Questions about circumcision were not about whether or not it should be done, but rather some technical point-of-doctrine regarding just exactly how physical circumcision was done, because according to rabbinical law, unless one performs the Commandments precisely
- In accordance with the rabbinical ordinances (man-made procedures) they aren’t done at all.
- In some occurrences of the term “the Circumcision”, itactually refers to a now-extinct sub-sect
Within the first century Body of Yahshua. These Circumcised continued to believe as they had been previously taught by the Pharisees: That even though Yahshua was the Messiah, Salvation still derived from one’s own performance of the Commandments.
It may seem incomprehensible to a modern-day believer that any follower of Yahshua would ever have believed that Salvation derives from the works of one’s hands. However, when we consider how the Pharisees taught their people, it is not difficult to see how The Circumcision arrived at this misconception.
[Many Christians say according to Paul’s writings, circumcision has been done away with, but they fail to recognize places in his writings that say (strongly) circumcision was not done away with. Without an understanding of Hebrew mindset, language, slang, etc., it is easy to see how Paul (Shaul) seems to contradict himself in much of his writings. For example, many Christians don’t realize] Shaul uses the term ‘circumcision’ as a poetic reference to the House of Judah (and the term ‘uncircumcision’ as a reference to the House of Ephraim)
[Another example: Because most Christians don’t have an understanding of first century Jewish religious terms, they don’t understand the term “Custom of Moses” and “Torah of Moses’ don’t mean the same thing.] The term Custom of Moses refers to the set of rabbinical rulings governing circumcision as part of the process of Gentile conversion to Israelite worship.
From an analysis of the [Newer Testament/Covenant] Text, we can see that while the Apostles wanted to give the Gentile Ephraimites time to become physically circumcised, they in no wise ever intended for their writings to be used as an excuse to do away with physical circumcision.
Even though Yahshua clearly said not to think He had come to destroy the Law or the Prophets, that is the very thing the Gnostics taught. While the Gnostics taught that the only thing required for salvation was the mere knowledge of who the Messiah was, Christians teach something very similar.
For a more complete explanation on the topic of circumcision and how it wasn’t “done away with” (including scripture references) Click HERE .
Next Page - The Law Not Nailed to the Cross? - Click HERE .