You are obviously not seeing the big picture here. Your position that Paul continued to support the Jewish faith cannot be supported when you examine the totality of the circumstances. First off, the time period of the apostles was a transitional phase. Switching from Judaism which existed for over 1300 years to Christianity in a few years was not an easy task even if Catholicism is the fulfilment of Judaism as Rabbi Zolli explained. Councils starting with the council of Jerusalem were a necessity according to the needs of human nature; this is why God established the church as the pillar and foundation of truth and not ones individual interpretation of scripture.1 Timothy 3:15. The priests of the New Testament which were prophesied in Malachi 1:11 and Malachi 3 had to be distinguished from the priests of the temple that offered sacrifices of bulls and goats. During the transitional phase they were simply understood as elders or the learned or presbyters which over time was shortened to the word priest in the English translation. After God destroyed the temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD the priesthood of the Old Testament order was abolished according to Gods plan and therefor there was over time no longer any difficulty distinguishing one from the other. From the very earliest writings of the disciples of the apostles the priesthood was understood as those who were instructed in the job of being a priest and who were ordained priests through apostolic succession through the laying on of Hands and anointing with oil as Moses and Aaron did before them. “Let the priests that rule well, be esteemed worthy of double honour: especially they who labour in the word and doctrine: 18For the scripture saith: Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn: and, The labourer is worthy of his reward. 19Against a priest receive not an accusation, but under two or three witnesses. 20Them that sin reprove before all: that the rest also may have fear. 21I charge thee before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by declining to either side. 22IMPOSE NOT HANDS LIGHTLY UPON ANY MAN, neither be partaker of other mens sins. Keep thyself chaste.” 1 Timothy 5:22 DRB. The DRB was written before the KJV. Your attempt to simply ignore one verse in order to find your support in another is not logical. Scripture when placed in proper context and when hermeneutics is applied does not contradict itself. When you have verses that look conflicting then you have to look for a different meaning. Example; how can you say Paul continued to live by the rules of the Jewish faith when he makes the statement: “Be not led away with various and strange doctrines. For it is best that the heart be established with grace, not with meats; which have not profited those that walk in them. 10We have an altar, whereof they have no power to eat WHO SERVE THE TABERNACLE. 11For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into THE HOLIES BY THE HIGH PRIEST FOR SIN, are burned without the camp.” Hebrews 13:9. Paul obviously is making a distinction between the Christian faith he is now living and the faith of Judaism which he has left. He says we, as in the church of the baptized have an altar that those of the Jewish faith have no right to participate in or, also like the Old Testament priesthood; eat of the sacrifice that was placed on the altar. Those who were not baptized into the church were not allowed to participate in this altar nor the ceremony performed. “The cup of benediction that we bless is it not participation in the blood of Christ? This is Paul making a rhetorical statement to those who were living the new faith of the New Covenant and new altar. From the very beginning of Christianity those who were only fed with milk and not meat and also who were not yet trustworthy enough to participate in the liturgy of the Eucharist were asked to leave after the liturgy of the word which is the first part of the Mass. “Do not give what is holy to the dogs do not cast your pearls before the swine or they will tear you.’ Persecution had a major effect on how information was spread. But we will not simply look at 1 verse to establish our point. Why does Paul tell the Colossians “Let no man therefore judge you in meat or in drink, or in respect of a festival day, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbaths, 17Which are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.”? Is not Paul negating the value of these Jewish laws expressing that they are now fulfilled in Christ? “But before the faith came, we were kept under the law shut up, unto that faith which was to be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our pedagogue in Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after the faith is come, we are no longer under a pedagogue. 26For you are all the children of God by faith, in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if you be Christs, then are you the seed of Abraham, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:24- Did the Old Testament scriptures contain the shadow of the gospel that had to be opened up; Epatha? Did Christ rebuke the Pharisees for not understanding their own scriptures? Were they kept hidden in the law? “ Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought; 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory : 8Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1 Corinthians 2. What Satan and his demons has an absence of is the key; humility. Blessed are the meek… Does Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 contradict his statement to no longer be concerned with Sabbaths and new moons or further support it? Is Paul saying that those who are baptized into Christ are no longer Jew or Gentile? If you are no longer a Jew then are you still required to follow laws that pertain to the Jewish religion alone? “The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath”. If Paul started to enforce Jewish law, then would he not be contradicting himself? Can you show me anywhere in scripture where Paul says we must keep Jewish law? “O senseless Galatians, who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been set forth, crucified among you? 2This only would I learn of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3Are you so foolish, that, whereas you began in the Spirit, you would now be made perfect by the flesh? 4Have you suffered so great things in vain? If it be yet in vain. 5He therefore who giveth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you; doth he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of the faith?” Galatians 3:1- Is Paul saying that returning to the Jewish law is returning to the flesh after you were in the spirit? We have been made heirs to the promise of Abraham by Baptism into Christ Jesus which fulfilled the pedagogue of Circumcision is what Paul taught. Does Paul say we should keep the law of circumcision? “Beware lest any man cheat you by philosophy, and vain deceit; according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ: 9For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporeally; 10And you are filled in him, who is the head of all principality and power: 11In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in DESPOILING OF THE BODY of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ: 12Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead.” Colossians 2:8 The law is a pedagogue fulfilled in Christ, the pedagogue of circumcision is fulfilled in Baptism. The temple sacrifices are fulfilled in the altar that those who serve the tabernacle are not allowed to participate in. Christ our true paschal Lamb has been sacrificed let us keep the feast. ..not with the old Levin, wine, and Lamb of the Jewish Tamid (Exodus 29:38-42; Leviticus 6:1-6;) and Todah (Leviticus 7:12-15; 22:29; 2 Chr. 29:31; 33:16; Psalms 50:14,23; 56:12; 107:22; 116:17; Jeremiah 17:26; 33:11; Amos 4:5.) of sin and redemption but of thanksgiving for the cross of the true Lamb of God; Eucharistasis in truth. And giving thanks he took the cup…The third cup of the Sabbath Seder. The fourth was reserved for him alone, the moment of his glory on the cross in which he fulfilled the Sabbath, Tamid and Todah establishing the Mass, do this in remembrance of me; the memorial offering of the life giving cross. The Tamid was occurring in the temple at the same time he was on the cross crying father forgive them. Study the Tamid and Todah. My God My God why have you forsaken me…a Todah prayer. PSALMS 22. In Peters vision was God telling Peter to continue the Levitical laws which established clean and unclean animals or to do away with them? “And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth:12 Wherein were all manner of four footed beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air.13 And there came a voice to him: Arise, Peter; kill and eat.14 But Peter said: Far be it from me; for I never did eat any thing that is common and unclean.15 And the voice spoke to him again the second time: That which God hath cleansed, do not thou call common.16 And this was done thrice; and presently the vessel was taken up into heaven.” Acts 10:11- The life force is in the blood says the Book of Leviticus. What is the mystery? My flesh is true food my blood is true drink, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him and I will raise HIM up on the last day. Man does not live by bread alone but by every word of God. Do not look to the laws of science in the words of God who transcends science. The eternal life force of God is in the glorified blood under the symbol of wine. We walk by faith not by sight. Did the first council of Jerusalem come to a conclusion that supported Peter’s vision or did they succumb to Baptized Jews who were trying to force mosaic law on Gentile converts? “And some coming down from Judea, taught the brethren: That except you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved. 2And when Paul and Barnabas had no small contest with them…But there arose some of the sect of the Pharisees that believed, saying: They must be circumcised, and be commanded OBSERVE THE LAW OF MOSES… And God, who knoweth the hearts, gave testimony, giving unto them the Holy Ghost, as well as to us; 9And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10Now therefore, why tempt you God to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, we believe to be saved, in like manner as they also.” Is Peter saying we should keep mosaic law or is Peter saying that even the Jews could not keep it and that it is a burden that is no longer required because we are saved by grace? Is Peter explaining that being that the law is impossible to bear and that we are saved by grace, then there is no longer any need to continue to follow it? Did Paul say anything different? Paul taught that the law was not evil but was a pedagogue of Christ. The Jewish law is 613 commandments including ritual law, secular, ceremonial and the laws in the commandments that effect grace which are the laws within the law that have eternal value. Paul often does not distinguish between the laws of the flesh and the laws of grace; this is why Peter says Paul’s letters could lead to the destruction of those who are unlearned and unwise. “How can one preach unless he be sent?” The Bereans studied to confirm what the church revealed. Paul did not see the baptized Jews who practiced the Jewish laws as a problem unless the baptized Jews (known as Judaizers) were trying to force the laws on Gentile converts. Jude addresses this same problem in Jude 1 when he says these people are deriding majesty and going in the way of Core. Core was challenging the authority of Moses and he and his followers were swallowed up by a fiery chasm that opened up in the earth. The Judaizers are challenging Gods authority on earth in his church which he calls the pillar and foundation of truth. The laws were a pedagogue of Christ and slowly going away. Paul was a pragmatist who understood they had no effect on grace either way as long as those who were following them were living in faith and charity keeping the laws of love. Circumcision no longer had effect either yet Paul circumcised Timothy as a pragmatic decision in order to, when going among Jews in the synagogue, not to scandalize when they were trying to evangelize. James was thinking the same thing at the council of Jerusalem when he said: “But that we write unto them, that they refrain themselves from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.” Acts 15:20. But even James was going too far. Soon after, blood was no problem. Paul also expressed this same Idea blatantly when he said: “For whereas I was free as to all, I made myself the servant of all, that I might gain the more. 20And I became to the Jews, a Jew, that I might gain the Jews: 21To them that are under the law, as if I were under the law, (WHEREAS MYSELF WAS NOT UNDER THE LAW,) that I might gain them that were under the law. To them that were without the law, as if I were without the law, (whereas I was not without the law of God, [Faith worketh through charity, Faith without works is dead] but was in the law of Christ,) that I might gain them that were without the law. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak. I became all things to all men, that I might save all. 23And I do all things for the gospels sake: that I may be made partaker thereof. “ 1 Corinthians 9 “For when the Gentiles, who have not the law, do by nature those things that are of the law; these having not the law are a law to themselves: 15Who shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness to them, and their thoughts between themselves accusing, or also defending one another, 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. “ Romans 2:14. The Gentiles lived by the laws of grace which keep our conscience clean when we see the face of God so that we can live in eternal joy and not die in guilt. I thought Paul was a Jew how did he become a Jew after he was a Jew? When did he stop being a Jew in order to become a Jew again? Is not Paul distinguishing a difference from those who are under the law and himself who is no longer under the law?( WHEREAS MYSELF WAS NOT UNDER THE LAW )The same Paul who said do not be concerned with new moons and Sabbaths? The same Paul who scolded the Galatians who were returning to the laws of the flesh when they were baptized into the spirit water and blood and living in the grace of faith and charity? The same Paul in Acts 15 who had no small contention with the baptized Jewish Pharisees who were trying to force mosaic law on Gentile converts? Again; context and hermeneutics. Paul says Abraham was not saved by works James says Abraham was saved by works. Abraham was not saved by the works of the mosaic law which did not exist during the time of Abraham. This is what Paul was trying to convey to those who were falling into the flesh. Abraham was saved by God’s grace which established faith that worketh through charity which was the life he lived. Faith alone does not save nor charity alone but the love of God acted out through us to the least of or brethren. Paul creates his armor out of both faith and charity together. “Lay aside, therefore, the evil, the old, the sour leaven, and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be salted in Him, lest any one among you should be corrupted, since by your savour you shall be convicted. It is absurd to profess Christ Jesus, and to Judaize. For Christianity did not embrace Judaism, but Judaism Christianity, that so every tongue which believes might be gathered together to God.” Ignatius (30- 110 AD) Disciple of John, according to St Chrysostom, placed as Bishop of Antioch by Peter.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 21:59:57 +0000
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