During the past year I have had to re-evaluate my thinking, on several things. While believing that the primary "religions" of the world worshiped the same God, I felt they simply had different stories to tell about how they came to "know" their God. I believe there is "One" God and that we all belong to Him.
Recently, I started to take a closer look at the Bible. The history of the Bible, and the people that selected the writings that would eventually become the New Testament. This in turn led me to look into the early years, right after the Crucifixion. Some of the things I found have caused me to re-evaluate the way I had been taught.
I believe that what we have been taught or given to accept as true in the New Testament, has been carefully selected by the those we think of as the First Christians, whatever that term may have meant at the time, and is a misrepresentation of what actually happened, especially in the very earliest days of Christianity.
There are some truths in the New Testament, and it is because of these truths, that I was able to find what I think is a great deception. While doing searches, I found that I was not alone in these beliefs.
The First Christians were Jewish. The first church was the Jerusalem Church, comprised of Hebrew Christians. The leaders of the Jerusalem Church were "James the Just" (Jesus' brother) and Peter. But, since Paul saw things differently, the first schism occured and the first break away from the "true church". The Catholic Church (the Roman Catholic Church) was formed. It's interesting to note though that Stephen was stoned for suggesting that the Mosaic Laws were no longer in effect after Jesus came and was crucified.
Accordingly, Stephen was stoned for blasphemy, for desecrating the Temple. Paul assented to this...(which means, he agreed), (Acts 8:1-2) Yet, later on, Paul would change his tune a little bit. Some members of the Jerusalem Church went to Antioch, and requested that the "converted Christians", (those coming from the Greeks, pagans or other non Jews), follow the Mosaic Laws. Paul refused and some of them went to Jerusalem to talk to James. (Gal 2:3-5) Paul also refers to these members of the Jerusalem church as being "false brothers". It was decided that the converts needed to follow certain laws.
Gal 2:3-5
3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.
4 [This matter arose] because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves.
5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
Why not? If one is converted to something, this means they are willing to live according to the laws (rules and regulations) of the group they have joined. Sort of like "being adopted". Would you adopt a child and not expect them to follow the rules and regulations of your household� Rules that other children and family members were expected to follow? Of course not! Acts 15 discusses the Jerusalem conference.
It is interesting to note that after the conference Paul was to go on another of his missionary journeys. When it was suggested that John go along like the previous journey, Paul said he thought it was not a good idea. Seems there was a disagreement between John and Paul in Pamphylia, and John would not continue with that missionary journey, but chose to return home instead. I sure would like to know what that disagreement was about.
Acts 15:33-41
33 After spending some time there, they were sent off by the brothers with the blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them. [4]
35 But Paul and Barnabas remained in Antioch, where they and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord.
36 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns
where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing."
37 Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,
38 but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and
had not continued with them in the work.
39 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and
sailed for Cyprus,
40 but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.
41 He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
So, here in the early beginnings of the church, we have James and John disagreeing with Paul's teachings. Yet, Paul is credited with writing much of the New Testament.After the Jerusalem conference Paul wrote Galatians. It is generally accepted that Galatians was written at about the same time as the Jerusalem conference in 49 or 50 AD., though some date it as late as 53 or 58 AD. Galatians is considered one of Paul's earliest writings.
In Gal 3:19-25� Paul says:
19 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the
Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was put into effect through angels by
a mediator.
20 A mediator, however, does not represent just one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been
given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.
22 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was
promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
23 Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be
revealed.
24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ [1] that we might be justified by faith.
25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.1.24 Or charge until Christ came
Paul says that we are no longer under the supervision of the law. This is not what was decreed at the Jerusalem conference. I suppose one might argue that he wrote this just prior to the conference, though that is unlikely since most dates for this tend to be later than the conference. So, he writes this in defiance of what was decided by James, the head of the Jerusalem Church. But, it does not stop there. In Colossians, dated from 60-63 AD. Paul writes:
Col 2:13-17
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, [1] God
made you [2] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,
14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood
opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them,
triumphing over them by the cross. [3]
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious
festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.1.13 Or your flesh
2.13 Some manuscripts us
3.15 Or them in him
Paul again writes against what he was told at the Jerusalem conference, and pushes the envelope a little further in doing so.
But, is this what Jesus said? Let's look.
Matthew 5:17-18
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least
stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.But, Paul says:
Gal 3:25
25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
Gosh, I wonder who I should listen to, Jesus or Paul?
First, what are the Mosaic Laws? They are the 10 commandments PLUS Deut. 12 .
Let's take another look at:
Matthew 5:17-18
17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to
abolish them but to fulfill them.
18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least
stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
So, what does this mean?
The Hebrew Bible, the same Old Testament that we have in the Christian Bible, is divided into three categories.1. TORAH: (Law) the first 5 books of the Bible, which contain the Divine Instruction.
2. NEBI"IM: (Prophets) contains the writings of the prophets of the Bible, such as Isaiah, Jerimah etc...
3. KETHUBIM :(Writings) contains the writings that do not belong to the other categories, such as the writings of Solomon.
So, when we look at verse 17 with a little more knowledge of the Hebrew, we see, the Messiah is saying, He did not come to abolish the TORAH (Law) or the NEBI"IM (Prophets), but to fulfill them.� He's referring to what was written about Him, centuries before.
This doesn't sound like we do not need to follow the laws anymore.� In fact one might point out that Jesus followed the laws.
It would be difficult to find a competent scholar in early church history who would not acknowledge that the first Christians, "the Hebrew-speaking" believers continued their observance of the Sabbath. (Saturday) As Jewish Christians still sacrificed in the temple (Mt 5:23-27)and paid the temple tax (Mt 17:23-27), so they kept the Sabbath holy in obedience to the Law.
Mt 5:23-27
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has
something against you,
24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then
come and offer your gift.
25"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are
still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you
over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
26I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. [1]
27"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' [2]1.26 Greek kodrantes
2.27 Exodus 20:14Mt 17:23-27
24After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax
came to Peter and asked, "Doesn't your teacher pay the temple tax [1]?"
25"Yes, he does," he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak.
"What do you think, Simon?" he asked. "From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty
and taxes--from their own sons or from others?"
26"From others," Peter answered. "Then the sons are exempt," Jesus said to him.
27"But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first
fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to
them for my tax and yours."1.24 Greek the two drachmas
From what Jesus said above, I think we can see that he followed the Mosaic Laws and instructed others on how to continue doing so as well.
Is it any wonder then that the Jerusalem Church and it's Hebrew Christians, were upset with Paul? Paul was distorting the words of Jesus, by saying that the Mosaic Law was no longer necessary. Also, in Colossians 2:16 Paul paves the way for pagan beliefs to enter the church.
Col 2:16
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious
festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.
In reading the book of Acts, Luke tells us about Paul's last visit to Jerusalem about 57 AD. Paul meets with James and is reminded of the Jerusalem council of 49 AD. and the decisions made in regards to telling the Gentiles that they needed to follow certain Mosaic Laws pertaining to food and immorality.When Paul speaks at the Temple, everything is fine until he mentions the Gentiles, then the people listening to him become enraged. Why? They know that God declared through Isaiah (Isaiah 49:6) that Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles and His salvation would spread to the ends of the earth. Isaiah 60:1-3 proclaims that Gentiles shall come to the light that spreads from Israel through the Messiah. So, why do the people become angry with Paul? Because he will not make the converted Gentiles follow the Mosaic Law, and he teaches that the Mosaic Law is no longer in effect. The Mosaic Law is the very foundation of the Hebrew Christians. Jesus followed and instructed others in how to follow the Mosaic Law.
The crowd tries to kill Paul, and Paul relies on his Roman citizenship to be rescued by the soldiers and he is escorted out of town and returns to Rome.
We often hear of the Christianization of Rome, but it was really the Romanization of Christianity. (The Introduction of Pagan days of worship into Christianity)
In Colossians Paul says:
Col 2:16
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious
festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day.The statement above leaves the door wide open. It again goes against the food laws stipulated at the Jerusalem council of 49 AD., but it also opens the door to celebrating any religious festival one wants including celebrations to the New Moon, and leaves it up to the person if and when they choose, to keep the Sabbath. So, how did the Sabbath change from Saturday to Sunday? (How Did Sunday Get to be the Sabbath Day?)
By Paul's refusal to enforce the Mosaic Laws with the Gentile converts, he allows them to continue the pagan practices they had before, and in time through Constantine� they become part of the church. At no place in the scriptures does Jesus ask that His birthday be remembered and celebrated. The celebration of birthdays is a Roman tradition not a Jewish one. In Ecclesiastes 7:1 "A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth?" When Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me", He was referring to the cup of Salvation in the ritual Seder of Passover. Some call this Easter, but that too is a pagan change. (Easter or Ishtar or Passover?) Paul's form of Chrisitianity if far different than the Christianity of the Jerusalem Church and the Hebrew Christians. Rather than enforce the Mosaic Laws and the words and actions of Jesus, Paul lets the Gentiles have free reign on how they worship. Paul's version of Christianity becomes the Roman Catholic Churchform which other forms of Christianity come from.
And what about the Trinity? The doctrine of the Holy Trinity was begun with the first First Council of Nicea 325 AD., and the curses laid by these "holy fathers" on whosoever shall not believe exactly as they tell them that they must. It was at this council that Jesus was changed by the Roman church from a suffering Savior into a God. This was also a subject of great debate and caused the next schism or separation. The fight over the "Trinity" lasted a long time and many members of the Roman Church would be excommunicated (removed) because they did not go along with their interpretation.
�
�There is so much more that needs to be covered to understand what really went on in those early days of the Christian church. A Christian is someone that believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior/Messiah. The Hebrew Christians believed this and they accepted and believed in the resurrection as well. That is not what all the controversy in the early years was about. The controversy arose because of Paul's teachings. The anger the Hebrew Christians (the Jerusalem Church) felt towards Paul was because he refused to accept the Mosaic Law. He refused to make the Gentile converts follow the Mosaic Law, and the Mosaic Law is fundamental. Jesus himself said, that He did not come to abolish the Law, and we saw how in fact He followed those Laws and gave instructions on how to follow them.In closing, I would like to say that I think the reason it was said that so few would make it to heaven, is because so many would be deceived. I have said before, what better place for "satan" to disperse his lies than sandwiched between the truth? What better way to gain a multitude of souls? When the day of judgement comes I would rather explain to God that I failed because I was weak, than try to explain to Him that I failed because I listened to Paul's teachings . . . instead of Jesus' teachings . . .
Additional Links
This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page
