Monday 13 January 2014

The Bible, the Jerusalem Council, and 'Hebrew-Roots' Christianity

Some modern so-called Hebrew-roots believers argue that the Council at Jerusalem had in mind the objective that Gentile believers should keep the Law.

But in fact the Council had the opposite objective, as I will demonstrate:  

ACTS 14:27,28
27And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. 28And there they abode long time with the disciples.
God had opened the door of faith to non-Law-keeping Gentiles.

ACTS 15:1-16:5
And certain men which came down from Judæa taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

If Paul believed and was teaching that Gentiles should keep the Law, he would not have had any dissention with those who came down from Judaea and taught such a thing. 


And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren. And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

The idea that Gentiles should keep the Law didn't originate with Paul, nor with the Apostles and elders, nor with believers generally in Judaea - the dispute originated with believers who were Pharisees.

And the issue was not merely about traditions additional to Moses' Law - but about Moses' Law itself.

And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. And when there had been much disputing, 

The dispute existed because there was no widespread belief amongst the Apostles and elders that Moses' Law should be insisted on amongst the Gentiles.

Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 

Peter pointed-out that in his own ministry God had powerfully demonstrated His full acceptance of Gentiles even without them keeping the Law. 

10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 

The yolk Peter referred to was the obligation to keep Moses' Law - for the whole dispute was about nothing other than Moses' Law (see verse 5).

And Peter said they ought not to demand that the Gentiles keep it.

11 
But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.

Jewish believers, like the Gentile believers, had only God's grace to depend upon for salvation, seeing that despite having the Law, they had been unable to keep it. 12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me: 14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

David's dynasty had been rebuilt through the sending of Jesus Christ, the son of David.

17 that the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

The salvation of the Gentiles was prophesied.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: 

Therefore they decided not to trouble the Gentile converts, by refraining from requiring them to keep Moses' Law.

20 but that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols,
and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. 

Only these things need be asserted in the churches - but Moses' Law need not be taught in the churches, they decided, because...

21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

...because any Jewish members of the churches, who may still wish to keep the traditions of Moses' Law, have the opportunity to hear about those traditions in synagogues everywhere every sabbath.

Not that the Gentiles were expected to keep Moses' Laws also. For if that had been the case, no dispute would have arisen in the first place; and this decree from the Council at Jerusalem would have served no purpose at all.
 
22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 and they wrote letters by them after this manner;
The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: [referring to Moses' Law] to whom we gave no suchcommandment: [we had given no commandment to keep Moses' Law] 25 it seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth [in order to demonstrate the agreement of thought that existed between the Jerusalem church and Paul's team].   28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; [we're not requiring you to keep Moses' Law, but merely that you...]  29 that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well. 
30 So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle: 31 which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.

It consoled them because it solved the dispute. The dispute had been about the necessity of keeping Moses' Law. They were affirmed in the negative: they were not required to keep it.

 
32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them
They confirmed them without requiring that they keep the Law.

33 And after they had tarriedthere a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles. 34 Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still. 35 Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36 And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do. 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark. 38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work. 39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; 40 and Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. 41 And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.

Confirming them in the message of grace, without the requirement of keeping Moses' Law.


16 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek. 

Paul circumcised Timothy not because Paul believed Gentiles ought to be circumcised and to keep Moses' Law, but to avoid unnecessarily offending the Jews in those quarters who rightly assumed that Timothy had not been circumcised despite having a Jewish mother, since his father was known to be a Greek.

And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The churches were established in the faith that they could be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ without the works of the Law.

When the decree was mentioned again by James years later, it is again clear that the Council had no thought in mind that the Gentiles should somehow keep Moses' Law:


ACTS 21:17-30ff

17 And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. 19 And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry. 20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

Not Gentile believers, but Jewish believers, were still zealous for the Law (but as we shall later see, it was expected that even Jewish believers would soon stop observing Moses' Law).

21 and they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

There was a widespread belief amongst the Jerusalem believers about Paul which had not been taught to them by James. This widespread persuasion had come from an outside source. 

22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come. 23 Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them; 24 them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.

That was for the Jews. But as for the Gentiles...

25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing [NO SUCH THING - referring to Moses' Law - and to anything associated with it - they need not observe any such thing], save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 

This reaffirms that the positive objective for which they had written to the Gentiles was to confirm that they were not requiring them to keep Moses' Law.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

Since the positive objective of the Council's decree was to inform the Gentiles that they were not requiring them to keep the Law, it follows that this further statement by James did not mean that he expected the Gentiles to follow Moses' Law.

The sense was more that, "These decrees are sufficient for the [predominantly Gentile] churches, seeing any Jewish members of the churches who may wish to hear Moses' Law can easily do so by visiting any local synagogue."

(And as we shall later see, that need would soon cease to exist even for Jewish believers.)

26 Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.

That Paul did this does not mean he believed Gentiles should keep the Law, for...

27 And when the seven days were almost ended, the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up all the people, and laid hands on him, 28 crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teacheth allmen every where against the people, and the law, and this place: and further brought Greeks also into the temple, and hath polluted this holy place. 29 (For they had seen before with him in the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the temple.) 

...for the men with whom Paul did this were not Greeks after all.

Paul's reason for doing it was not even because he believed Jewish believers should keep the Law.

It was more a case of:

I CORINTHIANS 9:19-23

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

It wasn't that Paul really felt Gentiles or even Jews should always continue to keep the Law.

It was more a case of:

I CORINTHIANS 10:32,33

32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

(Paul himself taught that Law-keeping would soon vanish, even for Jews. And indeed it did - the Law vanished for everyone including for non-believing Jews. Law-keeping is not something which God commands modern-day Jews to do today even just as a national tradition.) 

From verse 30 and onwards into the following chapters, Paul then defends that he as a Jew had never broken Moses' Laws, and that he as a Roman had never broken Roman law.

If Paul was insisting that even the Gentiles should keep the Law, then the Jews could not have mistakenly thought that Paul went so far as to teach that even Jews should stop keeping the Law. Obviously Paul was not teaching that Gentiles should keep the Law.

So we see that the Council at Jerusalem - and Paul - alike, did not have in mind that the Gentiles should keep Moses' Law. 

Moses' Law didn't require that the Gentiles keep the Law - Moses' Law was always exclusively for Jews. Now that the Gospel was inclusive of the Gentiles, the Gospel didn't require that Gentiles keep the Law either.

Paul understood that not everybody was so strong in faith and grace. Some people still felt the need to observe days and avoid certain meats.

Paul's attitude in non-essentials was to give each other space to follow their conscience as their faith grew.

He asserted our freedom from the law, but at the same time encouraged us to allow each other some space, in non-essentials. 


But what about Jews of today - should they keep the Law?

The short answer is they can't. The possibility no longer exists.

Paul taught this. He wrote in Hebrews that the Law was vanishing away, that it was soon to pass:

HEBREW 8:13
13In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old isready to vanish away.

And it did vanish away soon afterwards

The hardware required to keep Moses' Law no longer exists, since the destruction of the altar, Temple, and Levitical genealogies.

The traditions that exist today are not actually Moses' Law - because if you didn't keep all of the Law, you weren't keeping the Law at all.

And it isn't God's plan to restore Mosaic worship in Israel in future. The Old Testament prophecies which foresaw the restoration of Temple worship in Israel were spoken during captivity in Babylon before the Temple was rebuilt and before Israel was regathered into their land. The prophecies came to pass within the timeframe prophesied by Jeremiah. And into that context Messiah came, just as prophesied. The Apostles explained how these things were fulfilled by Jesus' time - they didn't write that they were expecting a delayed fulfilment of such things in future. That would mean going back to shadows. It would mean ending the new covenant and going back to the old covenant. Ours is an eternal covenant: 

HEBREW 13:8
8...through the blood of the everlasting covenant...

Theirs was temporary. God doesn't intend reverting to shadows.

Nevertheless, seeing some of these things are non-essentials and are not Moses' Law anyway, we can allow each other some space to follow their conscience while they grow.

While their heart is growing in faith, built-up by the message of God's grace, that we all - whether Gentile or Jew - are completely complete in Jesus, without the works of the Law.

Ours is a work of faith - not the works of the Law.

Our message is with demonstrated power - not just with words.

Wonderful Jesus!

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