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Paul, the Jews
and the Synagogue.
By: Dov Avnon
Paul or maybe better to say, Christ did not tell us anything, about
terms such as acts period, early and prison letters or transition
period. Those are theological terms that people use in order to try
to explain certain issues in Paul letters, mainly in the letter to
the Corinthians. Issues like the Lord supper, Head covering and the
Gifts in 1 cor. Cheapters 11-14. but there of course more like
Romans chapters 9-11 and not to forget certain truth in the letter
to the Galatians.
The question is why someone, will come to the conclusion that there
is different in Paul letters. Or when ever he speaks about Jews and
mention scripture from the old testament it must be because he was
preaching the kingdom gospel, or had a special Jewish ministry.
It can sometime go so fare that while Paul say in one place one
thing. Believers will use the word of the same apostle in other
place to show the opposite. Paul say for example:
that
we are
ministers of the new testament; 2 cor 3:6 or he say: Jerusalem which
is above is free, which is the mother of us all. Galatian 4:26.
and many other scriptures.
I am sure that if you will ask some Bible teachers if Paul was
right when he said that we are ministers of the New Testament. Some
will say NO and use there theological theories to explain why.
Jews and the
Synagogue
Jews and the Synagogue is one of the subjects that made some Bible
teacher to change Paul gospel. You see “if Paul speaks to the Jews
in the Body or to the unbelieving Jews or go to the Synagogue, it
must be because he had then another gospel or it was transition
period.”. This is at least what some may teach?
Christ revealed Paul the gospel of the uncircumcision or what we
know as the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of
the mystery. This gospel has different names, yet it is the same one
that Paul was teaching through his entire ministry.
Christ called Paul by His grace ( at least this what I understand)
for special purpose.
But
when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's
womb, and called [me] by his grace, Galatian 1:15
1
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated unto the gospel of God, Romans 1:1 2 As
they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have
called them. Acts. 13
So from the womb of his mother till the moment that he and barnabas
were separated. The purpose is one. To tell the world something new
which was never known before. It called Christ according to the
revelation of the mystery.
Just to remind the reader, Paul was a Jew by nature. 15 We who
are Jews by nature. Galatian 2:15 Paul was an Hebrew of the
Hebrews;
Philippians 3:4-6
Paul was Saul the one to whom the Lord said: Saul, Saul, why
persecutest thou me? Acts 9:4
Paul is the first one in the
dispensation of Grace 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering,
for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life
everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the
only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1
Timothy 1:16
I born in Israel as a Jew (not religion) and never knew much about
Paul and so there is a multitude of so called Christians who never
heard ….that the gospel which was preached of me is not after
man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it,
but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1
So now after we know that Saul who became Paul received his Gospel
by revelation. We can start study abut the Jews and the preaching of
Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery.
It is most surprising to see how able bible teachers changing Paul
gospel when it comes to the Jews. While Paul is going first to the
Jew, The Bible teach us that he always preach the same gospel that
he received by revelation from the Lord, Christ according to the
mystery.
Jews' religion,
But before we continue with this subject we must first understand
some thing about Jews or Jews religion.
God gave only one religion. the service of God (Romans 9:4)
and it was to the nation of Israel. They had to serve the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob according to what he told them through
Moses. According to this service of God, the tabernacle and later
the temple was the meeting place between the nation and God.
EXODUS 25:22
And there I will meet with thee
The temple was the only place that Israel sacrifices to God.
Paul writes about: 13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time
past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I
persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: Galatians 1
The Jews religion and the the service of God (Romans
9:4) are not the same. The changing start when 1 In the third
year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. Dan. 1
From that period
the Synagogue became the meeting place, the house where Jews
came together. This was the period that the Jews develop their own
tradition together with the Law of Moses. This is the reason why we
read:
MATTHEW 15:2 Why do thy disciples
transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not
their hands when they eat bread.
MARK 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash
[their] hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
MARK 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your
tradition, which ye have delivered
But let not forget that while they follow till certain level their
own tradition they still were the chosen nation. MATTHEW 23:2
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
Jews was the name
to those which came from the tribe of Jude. When they went to
Babylon we read the word Jews in few places. ( see also in the books
EZRA, NEHEMIAH and others.)
DANIEL 3:12 There are certain jews
whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not
regarded thee
for salvation is of the Jews
JOHN Chapter 4:22 means the whole nation of Israel at that time. The
house of Jude and Israel.
JOHN 5:18 Therefore the jews sought the more to kill him, -
Jews means also the religion authority at that time.
So Paul was growing in to this religion
that because of the tradition they could not see Jesus as the
Christ.
5:45 Do not think that I will accuse
you to the Father: there is [one] that accuseth you, [even] Moses,
in whom ye trust. 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me: for he wrote of me. 5:47 But if ye believe not his
writings, how shall ye believe my words? John 5:45
The Synagogue
Please note: The synagogue is not the appointed place according to
the Law of Moses to worship God.
The law of Moses speaks about the tabernacle as the meeting place.
The Synagogue became the meeting place for Jews after
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took them to Babylon.
Those synagogues were not only in Babylon but during the years were
spread through al the region. This why we read later : 21 For
Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being
read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Acts 15
So while the Jews
together with the law of Moses develop their own tradition, Moses
was still preached in every city and the Law of Moses means also
wisdom
21
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not
God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them
that believe. 1 kor 1.
According to the Law of Moses there were certain
rules how to sacrifice and where.
tabernacle
of the congregation - LEVITICUS
Chapter 1 and 17 17:5 To the end that the children of Israel may
bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even
that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them
[for] peace offerings unto the LORD.
17:6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the
LORD [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn
the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
17:7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils,
after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for
ever unto them throughout their generations.
The
Lord Jesus and the
The Synagogue
When Christ was on earth he found an
unspiritual temple. The priests did not do the Job.
MATTHEW 21:12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out
all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the
tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
But let’s not
forget that this was the temple that Herod the king builds and not
the house of God as the Haggai speaks. This temple was empty without
the tabernacle.
HAGGAI 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall
be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts
Now we can
understand why there were still Synagogues. So let see what the Lord
teach at the meeting place of the Jews.
MATTHEW 4:23 And Jesus went about all
Galilee, teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching
the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and
all manner of disease among the people. MARK 1:39 And he
preached in their Synagogues throughout all Galilee, and
cast out devils.
MARK 14:49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching,
and ye took me not JOHN 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast
Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
The
Synagogue of the Libertines
And the
churches of Judaea
ACTS
6:9 Then there arose certain of the Synagogue, which
is called [the Synagogue] of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and
Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with
Stephen.
9:31 Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and
Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the
fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied.
Just note that there is different between the Synagogue of the Jews
who did not accept that Christ is the messiah and the Churches that
were established during the time that the apostles preach the
kingdom gospel.
ACTS 9:2 And desired of him letters to
Damascus to the Synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto
Jerusalem.
Synagogues existed
well before the destruction of the 2nd Temple in 70 CE, communal
worship in the time while the Temple still stood centered around the
sacrificial offerings, brought by the priests in the Holy Temple.
During the Babylonian captivity (586–537 BCE) the Men of the
Great Assembly began the process of formalizing and
standardizing Jewish services and prayers that did not depend
on the functioning of the Temple in Jerusalem. This mean
religion which is not depends on what God first told to Moses.
Some say that synagogues were existing even in the days of Moses as
a teaching place
20
And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them
the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.
Exodus chapter 18
the Synagogues called also:
8
And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of
the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of
Jerusalem. Jeremiah chapter 39
In
Judaism people speak about the
Synagogues as the little
sanctuary which mean that every synagogue building was holy.
16
Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Although I have cast them
far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among
the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary
in the countries where they shall come. Ezekiel chapter 11
But we know that God had only one
sanctuary.
EXODUS
25:8 And let them make me a
sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.
HEBREWS 9:1 Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of
divine service, and a worldly sanctuary
Paul preaching at
the Synagogues
So now when we come to Paul, we understand little bit more about
the synagogue. We know now that at the synagogues, in Paul day,
people learn about the “Jews religion” and not necessarily only
about Moses.
Why
Paul went first to the Synagogues
Why Paul went first to the synagogue? Why People think that if he
went to the Synagogues, he perched the kingdom on earth? Well the
scripture say it in very simple way why he went there. After all if
there were group of people who understood the
oracles of God,
those were the Jews first and not the Romans or Greek of Paul days.
46
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary
that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but
seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Acts 13:46
because
that unto them were committed the oracles of God. Romans 3:2
21
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him,
being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Acts 15
that
the word of God
-
We read in acts 13:46 about the word of God. The question is which
one? . The same word of God that Christ was preaching while on
earth? No! We might not know al the details but what we should know
what is written:
Galatian 1: 12 -18
12 by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 conversation in time past in the Jews'
religion, how 14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many
15 separated me from my mother's womb, and
called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me,
that I might preach him among the heathen;
immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which
were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again
unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem
to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
The Account of
Paul him self telling us that from the moment that God called me
by his grace, he did not learn any thing from the others . It
sounds strange! How did he know things? By the revelation of
Jesus Christ.
Did he went first to get some kingdom education from Peter and the
others?” No!
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to
them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and
returned again unto Damascus
If we really take
God in His Word and believe what Paul is saying to the Galatians.
Then we can understand that Paul talk at the synagogues about the
SON OF GOD and about CHRIST. According the way that God revealed in
him.
20 And straightway
he preached Christ in the synagogues,
that he is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that
destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came
hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the
chief priests? 22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this
is very Christ. ACTS 9:20
Will be continued |
