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This Messianic movement of the first century in Israel faced a problem of the highest magnitude within twenty years after the time depicted by the New Testament for the existence of the Jewish Christ: "What are we going to do with these Gentiles who claim to be followers of Jesus and who are turning from idols to serve the God of Israel? The solution: "We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." (Acts 15: 19-21). Yacov (James) and the head zakenim (elders) then proceeded to mention "4 abstentions" for these Gentiles who wished to be part of the Jesus Movement:
To twentieth century Western people this list seems pretty
simple--the only abstention those in our society have to worry about is
#2--sexual immorality. So now it's clear sailing for all those Gentiles.
Thanks a lot for reading this article. But wait, this subject matter is
not as simple as the English makes it seem, for the Christ of the New
Testament is Jewish and the "mind of Christ" is "Jewish"
and without a proper understanding of the language of Hebrew, the Greek
language from which the Hebrew was translated, the history, and the
culture of the first century, and the Jewish religious belief system in
the first century then you and I cannot be assured we have the correct
understanding of this Acts 15 passage let alone if our lives as Christians
are actually pleasing to God. Since
God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, then let us never forget
that obedience is better than any sacrifice today as well as yesterday
(first century church).
As you read this article, as well as others I have researched and
prepared, you should have easily seen by now that reading the English of
our Bibles "only" often leads us astray from this "mind of
Christ". You may say " You mean it's not quite that easy and
clear?" You may say "You mean to tell me there may be more to
understanding what James is telling the Gentiles than meets the eye from
simple reading of the passages in the New Testament? Do you mean more
important information lies beneath the simple reading of these texts than
I first assumed that has the potential to have a startling impact upon my
life as a typical Christian? That is exactly what I am telling you as you
will shortly understand. Let us investigate to see this for ourselves as
our studies increase.
The truth about the historical situation in Acts 15 must be uncovered in order to understand the impact and importance of these 4 abstentions for Gentile believers in the first century, so we as good Christians and followers of "the Christ" can then apply that understanding of Biblical truth to our lives today; especially in light of what we have been taught by Christianity and its dogmas. It must be constantly remembered that this decision regarding the "non-Jews" coming to God without full conversion to Judaism required certain actions on the part of these "non-Jewish" believers that are called "necessary" and which "seemed good to the Holy Spirit" in the words of James who was the leader of this Jerusalem congregation at that time. In speaking of the "non-Jewish" world who were turning to God as the result of the efforts of Paul who was bringing these "non-Jews" to God without full conversion or circumcision James says:
Acts 15:28-29 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 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. (KJV)
"Necessary" is a scary word if it is found later to apply to us as being "disobedient" to the precepts described above. I found upon serious study of the above text and its "theology" that I was at one time as a Christian totally ignorant of these things and my life was devoid of these things and such conduct as Christian. You will as well as you study. Upon serious study and reflection upon this passage with full understanding as my studies increased I was found to be "disobedient" to these "necessary" things that the Jerusalem Church required of the "non-Jewish" world to be accepted into the Israel of God. I had to repent the more I studied and studied as I was beginning to see a whole new world that lays silently behind the original words and historical analysis of what I was reading in my New Testament. Add to this process the tragic observation that the vast majority of today's Gentile Christian congregations in the world totally ignore these 4 simple instructions and it becomes clear that this decision by the Jerusalem Assembly from long ago which was intended for ALL GENTILE BELIEVERS has been blatantly misunderstood and or ignored for the past 19 centuries.
Today's Christians who understand the Jewish Christ's words "why do you say you love me and not obey ye" should be open to repentance when in-depth Bible study recovers long-lost truths which never changed; "truths" that both challenge and correct their Christian religious belief system and conduct today
We must, with a good conscience, apply these truths to our lives today, regardless if it seem different from what you have heard or weren't previously aware of before reading this article. If today's Christians want to uncover these truths and their significance for their lives, and live a life of higher obedience toward our God, then it will be a difficult but not unfruitful task as we uncover such challenging "truths" from such study but such is the test given us that indicated the level of love we have for God. Let us continue in this pursuit of truth for our love for God is manifested through our obedience and not a mental ascent to a "creed" given to us by those who changed this "faith once given the saints" back in the 3rd through 5th century. We must rise up in righteous responses to what we uncover in such in-depth study and turn in obedience to "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." This is of major importance if we truly love God, not to mention the rewards and treasure laid up in Heaven on day that comes only in response to obedience.
It is important as we begin to understand who these Gentile believers were that were being spoken of by James. The overwhelming majority, if not all, of these Gentiles wanted to be accepted as full participants in this Jewish faith but rejected "circumcision" and this was a "thorn" for Judaism in the first century. These "non-Jews" were in a special category of believing Gentiles called "Godfearers" and this is how they are described in the "New Testament.
Acts 10:2 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (KJV)
Whether you are aware of it or not, we as Christians are called "Godfearers" in the New Testament. Let's investigate these questions:
"Godfearers" in the technical sense of the word used by both Luke and Josephus ("Sebomenoi" and or "Phoboumenoi" in Greek) and refer to that special group of Gentiles who worshipped in synagogues and adopted a Jewish belief system and dogmas and a Jewish life-style for themselves, stopping just short of formal conversion in that they failed to be circumcised. Had they been circumcised then they would have been considered "full proselytes". This is the big difference that lays at the heart of much of the New Testament but "hidden" beneath the context of many texts.
Answer for yourself: As Christians, have you accepted the God of Israel and worship Him in your churches? Are you aware that had you done the same some 2000 years ago that your "religious belief system" would have been entirely different from what it is today since what we are taught as "Christians" today stemming from Roman theology is completely different from what these "non-Jewish Godfearers" were taught some 2000 years ago? Notice if you will I am referring to a time period "after" the supposed time for this Jesus when saying this. If one does serious study on the "Kodak moment" of Cornelius and what these "non-Jews" were taught in coming to the God of Israel and then compare with what we are taught today in a post "Nicean Council" world you will be horrified at what you see and the changed brought by an antisemitic Roman Church over the last 1,700 years.
Answer for yourself: As Christians, can you see that you fit the "pattern" of the New Testament "Godfearer" in that you have not made conversion to Judaism and not become a proselyte to the Jewish faith yet believe and follow the God of Israel?
The word Sebonenoi (with or without Theos) means "Godfearer" and is based on a parallel term for "non-Jewish" worshippers of other deities. What you don't understand about this former statement yet is that it can be shown that mankind, since the beginning of recorded time, worshipped this Creator and Cosmic Uncreated Energy of the Universe we simply call "God" today but used many different "names" and "terms" for this same Divine Principle. They were all "Godfearers" in this right and man has "interpreted" this Creative Energy called "God" alike but reinterpreted this God through the unique development of the particular nation in which they were born. But behind it all they understood this same Divine Principle but expressed it somewhat differently in the unique ways by which they were indoctrinated in the particular nations that they happened to be born. Judaism expressed the Egyptian religion through "Jewish" eyes if you get my point. Implicit in the term are the concepts that these "non-Jewish" people claim to worship the only true God, and that they worship Him with specific acts as the product of their "faith"; not just with their "mental attitude and mental ascent" to the existence of this Divine Principle we call God. The Book of Acts mentions "Pheboumenos" five times, and mentions "sebonenos" six times with or without the addition word "Theos-god" to denoteGentile adherents to the Jewish faith who were NOT proselytes or full converts. In this context, these two terms are a "functional equivalent" of each other. Thus, these "Godfearers" were NOT merely well-intentioned Gentiles walking around worshipping the God of Israel in their own privatenon-structured way or in a way that leaned on their own understanding. Rather, there were certain requirements and Laws which must be adhered to and obeyed to be considered as a "Godfearer."
Answer for yourself: Has your church or Pastor instructed you in these Laws and requirements to be part of the Israel of God in the same way both James and Paul commanded the "non-Jews" of their day? We must remember that this instruction was given long after the time for the New Testament Jesus and this must take into account of the "status quo" that existed in light of any existing "theology" that might be connected to this Jesus or actions taken on his part.
Answer for yourself: In other words if "this was the way it was done long after the time for this Jesus" then what has changed since then to replace these requirements given the "non-Jews" coming to the God of Israel? If this was the "Pattern" followed by the Jerusalem Church and the "real" Paul and not the one of Rome's later invention then how can Nicea and Constantine change all of this and we accept it today" as if it is the "will of God" from a God "who changes not"?
Emil Schurer quotes archeological inscriptions which point to "a defined category of Gentile Godfearers attached to the Jewish community". This refers to those "grafted into Israel" as Paul describes in Romans). Speaking of "non-Jews" Paul states concerning these "Godfearers":
Rom 11:17 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree (speaking of "non-Jews" and "non-Converts"....the "non-circumcised non-Jew"), wert graffed in among them ("believing Israel, the Jews), and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree (the Israel of God); (KJV)
The Dictionary of the New Testament Theology adds that ''Sebonenos" was the regular term for "non-Jews" who attached themselves (grafted into Israel) to the synagogue in this precise and specific way. Speaking again of these "non-Jews" and the requirements given them to adhere to the Covenant of Noah and the Laws of Noah in Acts 15 James says:
Acts 15:21 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. (KJV)
This is a clear indication that "non-Jews" were attending the Synagogue on the Sabbath to learn of the God of Israel, the Creator of all. The clear conclusion reached about both terms in Acts (i.e. phoboumenoi and sebomenoi) is that "with this concept...we are dealing with a technical term (to be distinguished from Theosebes [godliness]) which specifically describes a defined category of Gentiles associated with the synagogue and Judaism!!!
It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the first Gentile believers who came to the knowledge of the God of Israel are termed Godfearers in the New Testament as the Greek terms clearly indicate, and are NOT Gentiles who only felt warmth and emotional attraction to the God of Israel. The Godfearers ALREADY had received considerable Jewish (understood as Biblical) training and had made a considerable Jewish commitment (understood as Biblical) as I am attempting to demonstrate through the continued teachings of Bet Emet Ministry. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament sums up the situation: "Thus the first conversion of a Gentile under Peter in Acts 10 is strictly the winning of a marginal member of the Jewish community(Cornelius was ALREADY a worshipper of the true God of the Bible before the message of Jesus was brought to him) for the Christian community." According to Schurer, John 12:20 probably reflects this group in describing "Greeks (Godfearers) who went up to worship (at the Temple) at the Festival (Passover) time". Again we see Greeks (Gentile Godfearers) keeping the Biblical Festivals such as Passover and if you look into this you find "non-Jews" observing the Passover in Egypt thousands of years before there were ever a "Jew" born. This should make you wonder what really lies behind these "appointed times with God"; these Equinoxes and Solstices termed "Biblical Festivals and Feasts" today which the Jews would later adopt which were kept long before them by the Gentile world. We address this on our Egypt-Christian website and our Astro-theology website but this is very in-depth study and I recommend that you wait until your foundations grow deeper in this Jewish expression of mankind's Ancient Faith in God before you attempt such study.
It is important to realize that these Gentile
Godfearers were integral parts of synagogues within Israel and
throughout the Diaspora (exile). And as noted above, Gentile
Godfearers worshipped God with specific Jewish actions (understood as
Biblical) after the time allotted by the New Testament for this Jesus, and
not just with mental assent to a set of beliefs or creeds or doctrines
that later came to be associated with Rome's depiction of this Jesus in
their New Testament. These
specific acts required of Gentiles
which are called "necessary things"
in Acts 15:28 PRIOR to being admitted to the Israel of God
following the ruling of the Jerusalem Council
in 50 C.E. (which was headed by James and which wrote letters in Acts 16
given to Paul and others to be given to all of the Gentile churches in
Asia Minor). These letters were intended to strengthen the Gentile
congregations and in these letters it was required of "non-Jews"
turning to God to:
Answer for yourself: If this was required of Gentiles to be part of the Israel of God and a part of the Jerusalem congregation and "mother 'church'", can we be a part of the church that this Jewish Christ is building (for I will build MY church) without obedience to these "necessary things" or are we members in good standing in man's church (the word "church" is understood as an "assembly")?
These Laws of Noah seem simple but really they are "deep" and affect almost all aspects of the "non-Jew's" life and coupled with this further instruction was expected of these "non-Jews" as they learn more of the God of Israel as "Moses is read in the synagogues every Sabbath". It would be here, in the synagogue as the Torah was taught that these "non-Jewish" Godfearers would learn of the Laws and Commandments of God and invoking Isaiah 56 they could adopt and incorporate into their lives these Laws and Commandments of God, as seen in Second Temple Judaism (Judaism during the era 100 B.C.E.--70 C.E.), as not only the bedrock of Jewish observance but their lives as Godfearers as well. Gentiles desiring to "imitate this Jewish Christ" should want to do the same and learn the same things as were taught to these Godfearers and will want to do and live out these same things as Christians or else they as Christians are but a " poor shadow" of the real "Christ".
Dear Christians please understand that ANY other Jewish observances beyond these "necessary things" (understood as the Laws of Noah) would have been a matter of personal choice (Isa 56). Historically these Gentile Godfearers were encouraged by Jewish teachers within the synagogue structure to be circumcised, thus completing their "conversion" to Judaism; and according to G. F. Moore, "it was not uncommon for the next generation (their children) to be circumcised." But understood for these "Godfearers" by a part of Judaism was the eternal truth that this circumcision and full conversion of the "non-Jew" to Judaism is optional and never commanded of them by God as was required by many Jews in the first century which the Jerusalem Council stood against as well as other Jews who supported this interpretation of the Torah (like Rabbi Hillel and his school of Pharisees). What escapes us at present is the big rift inside Judaism in the first century as to just how these "non-Jews" were to be "accepted" into the Israel of God and this is the real reason for the writing of Galatians by Paul. The matter of circumcision for the "non-Jew" coming to God was a terrible dividing issue in Judaism in the first century and split Judaism right down the middle and the Shammite Pharisees, who mandated it, were opposed by the Hillel Pharisees. Such was the religious tension that surrounded this momentous decision made the the Jerusalem Council that took the side of the Hillel School of Pharisees.
Cornelius, the Gentile Godfearer mentioned in Acts 10, was a centurion at Caesarea and serves as a good example of what a Godfearer did religiously. First, he and his household were devout (the Greek word is "eusebes") and Godfearing ("Phoboumenos Ton Theon"), which is a double adjective referring to him and his family which shows their exemplary lives characterized by Jewish norms and values which they modeled daily before their neighbors.
Please understand when I say "Jewish norms and values" I am not asserting conversion to Judaism, but lets face it, Jewish values and norms happened to be expressions of BIBLICAL VALUES AND NORMS! Luke also mentions that Cornelius prayed constantly to God and gave alms liberally to people in need (which the Rabbis call Tzedakah). These two actions (prayer and alms giving) would be actions even beyond the call of "Jewish duty," even more than the minimum for Jews. Interestingly enough, one afternoon during his regular 3 o'clock prayer time (the "ninth hour" was a prescribed Temple prayer time which survives in synagogue practice today and was the hour evening incense was offered in the Temple and Cornelius, a "non-Jewish" Godfearer adopted this pattern of prayer for his life) an angel came to Cornelius in Caesarea (a totally Gentile-built and Gentile-run city), to tell him that his prayer that his alms "had come up for a memorial" before God. That means that Cornelius' (an uncircumcised Gentile believer in God who followed the Laws of Noah and whom at that time knew nothing about some Jesus as the Messiah) prayers and alms had been accepted by God in the same way that the incense at the Temple and the smoke of a burnt offering "went up" and were accepted by God on behalf of the Jews. The same Greek word (snebenov) is used to translate in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) the Hebrew word for offering: "olah"-literally, "an ascending" (understood as smoke ascending to God in an acceptable sacrifice).
Answer for yourself: Was a Godfearer who prayed continuously and gave alms acceptable to God prior to his understanding about this Jesus as we find Peter later coming to him in order to bring him supposedly this "gospel"? It surely appear it was from the text. This may be hard for you to admit considering what you have heard your whole life in the Christian Church and their exclusive teaching of "no salvation" outside of accepting the "theology" of Jesus, but the text I just showed you, as well as Jewish history and teachings of the Jewish faith for 2000 years say that "non-Jews", patterned by Cornelius for us, have been accepted with God always if they adhere to the basic Laws given them in their Noahide Covenant with God. And this, mind you, is not dependent upon any "theology" made necessary by Rome for "salvation" which they later connected to the Jesus of their creation. This is simply shown by a study of Acts 21 where blood sacrifices and atonement offerings were commanded by this same James and the Jerusalem Church of Paul which he does (around 60-65 A.D.) when observing a Nazarite vow some 30 years after the supposed "theology" connected with the death of this Jesus as Rome decries. Evidently the Jerusalem Church and Apostles and Disciples of this "Jewish Jesus" did not believe in their day that this death of Jesus was the final sacrifice and atonement for anything. Such is the fruit of serious study of our own Christian Bibles which sadly hides the real truth beneath the original languages and contexts of what we read and never fully understand and never look into being falsely assured Sunday after Sunday that we alone "have the truth".
You might be surprise to know just how important the doctrine of "Tzedakah" is in Judaism and its importance for the "non-Jew" as well for it is connected to "Eternal Life" throughout the Jewish Bible over and over again and "leads to life". No wonder we find references to Dorcas, who was "raised from the dead" and the only mention about her is that she gave "alms" (love in action which reflects the Second Tablet of the Law). If you find the time I recommend that you read and study the articles on comparing the Gospels of this Jesus against the Gospel of Rome (called the Gospel of Paul) in our Bibles today and be ready for an eye-opening experience.
Then the angel instructs Cornelius, to get in touch with Peter, who was in Jaffa, and the rest, as they say, is history. But note that what Cornelius did to deserve the commendation were concrete religious actions which Judaism strongly teaches and not his faith alone in God; in other words not just any old good deed would do but those that respond in obedience to the Laws and Commandments of God and that they (his righteous works) were accepted by the Jewish God using Jewish terminology and concepts, even though Cornelius was "technically" a Gentile. Let us never forget that there were more than just this one man who was a Godfearer in that there was a whole groups of Godfearers all around the Roman world who totally identified themselves with the Jewish community, except for circumcision which was the final step in commitment as a Jewish proselyte in the process of conversion.
Many Gentiles, while not prepared to enter this Jewish community as full proselytes through circumcision, were attracted by the simple monotheism of Jewish synagogue worship and by the ethical standards of the Jewish way of life. We may indeed say that Cornelius had every qualification short of circumcision which could satisfy Jewish requirement for full inclusion into Israel (grafted into Israel) with equal rights (could own land, hold offices in synagogues, etc.). It would be such Gentile Godfearers who would form the nucleus of the Christian communities in one city after another throughout the nations of the world in the first century follow the time allotted for the New Testament Jesus.
Obviously, as we have seen, Godfearers were more than "pagans" or "foreigners" but less than proselytes. Let's examine now these differing communities of people and their status in the eyes of the Jewish community during Second Testament times.
Underlying the worldview of the Greco-Roman culture at the time is an unsympathetic attitude towards Jews. In Greek and Roman literature of the time the judgments about Jews are in general very derogatory. Seen in its most militant state, during Seleucid rule, Greek culture felt that Judaism was extremely old-fashioned and too highly nationalistic to fit in with the concept of the modern Greek world. Roman culture, beginning in 70 B.C.E. in Israel under Pompey, tolerated Jewish belief as long as it allowed for Rome to have the final governmental power. Rome tended to want to keep peace in its provinces and allowed different groups under its rule to have their own religious and cultural differences. Jewishness to Rome was a "quaint," unattractive religion which served well to keep the Jewish nation "unified" and serving Roman interest.
Passages from writers of the time such as Josephus, Juvenal, and
Tertullian give us the impression that the Greco-Roman culture saw
Jewishness as quite ridiculous. Thus,
becoming a Godfearing person was not a popular action designed to move a
person to a more influential sphere, in fact, it would have quite the
opposite effect.
Living within Israel itself at the time there were Godfearers, exemplified by Cornelius and presumably also the Centurion in Luke 7 and Matt. 10, but "making proselytes" in an active "missionary" way was not common within Israel. As a rule, proselytes and Godfearers were welcomed by the Jews and regarded very highly, but there was in Palestine no active propaganda to further the cause of proselytism.
However, proselytism and Godfearers were very active in the Diaspora (the Jewish communities outside of Israel). According to Josephus in Antioch and Syria large numbers of Gentiles attended Jewish services. In Damascus almost the whole female part of the population was devoted to Judaism and it was quite often women of higher social standing who followed this trend. Evidently these Jewish communities encouraged and welcomed both Gentile proselytes and Godfearers.
Hellenistic Judaism developed an offensive against Roman paganism. They were eager to show up the immorality and senselessness of idolatry and display the rationality and sublimity of Jewish monotheism. Hellenistic Judaism had an apologetic ideology as there were many Godfearers who accepted the one God of the Jews, but not all the Laws of the same God. Hellenistic Judaism had almost succeeded in making Judaism a world religion in the literal sense of the words. Early Christianity then won the victory over Roman paganism using Jewish customs, traditions, and teachings.
This knowledge of history sheds much light on James' closing remarks to the zakenim (elders) and sh'likim (apostles) in Acts 15:21: "For Moses (the Pentateuch) has been preached in every city (in the Diaspora) from the earliest times (since 722B.C.E., over 700 years) and is read in the synagogue on every Sabbath." In other words, these Gentile Godfearers who want to become full-fledged believers in God have ALREADY received Moses' instructions concerning how people are to live (as taught in the Noachide and Sinatic covenants since when Moses (Pentateuch-first 5 books of the Bible) is taught, such teaching encompasses both the Laws of Noah and the Mosaic Covenant) and they heard this taught over and over again as they attended the Synagogues in Asia, Minor, as well as in Palestine.
Through attending synagogues in their own cities where the Torah (Mosaic writings were taught), Gentiles were ALREADY familiar with the basics of having a relationship with the one true God of Israel.
Now please pay close attention to what comes next.
James,
the pastor of the Jerusalem Synagogue or Church, called the Messianic
Movement within Judaism, is REQUIRING these 4 further instructions for
Gentiles who want to be Messianists and a part of the Israel of God
without submission to circumcision.
Notice Acts 15:28 states , that it seemed "good to them and the Holy Spirit" to REQUIRE these adherences of Gentiles.
Answer for yourself: Since God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and since it seemed good to the Holy Spirit (20 years after the death of Jesus) to require as "necessary" of Gentiles to be adherent to the Laws of Noah, to be adherent to the Sabbath requirements, and to be adherent to "clean/unclean" food laws in order to be included within the congregations of Israel (becoming part of the Israel of God), then do these "required things" apply to us today as well?
Answer for yourself? If these "necessary things" [adherence to Laws of Noah, adherence to Sabbath requirement, adherence to kosher laws given the "non-Jews"] were required before Gentiles could be part of the Israel of God as commanded by James, the Lord's brother and head of the first Christian Church, then are we part of Jesus' church if we neglect or are ignorant of them in our lives?
This Apostolic decision was made to make sure that there is no question as to what the "bottom line" of observance that is required of Godfearing Gentiles: the Noachide commandments, the Sabbath and dietary laws.
The Jewish religious concepts of the Second Temple period understood that the other nations of the world who did not follow the one true God were Godless (goyim-at least without the true God) and or pagan. However, for purposes of God's judgment of other nations (including his right to judge them), the Sinaitic covenant did not apply to these "goyim," having been given exclusively to Israel (Israel must be understood as a mixed multitude of Jews and Gentiles as well who accepted God's Covenant as Sinai). Don't get tripped up by failing to understand that WITHIN THE MOSAIC COVENANT AND LAWS IS CONTAINED ALL THE LAWS IN THE COVENANT OF NOAH. Conversely, there were many Laws contained in the Mosaic Covenant that were not included in the Covenant of Noah (Gentiles were not given all of the Mosaic Laws). Instead the rabbis felt, as seems clear from the passage in Gen. 9:1-18, there is a covenant for all the children of Noah (i.e. the whole world), including not only people but all living creatures (see v.10). Based on this section of Scripture, the rabbis found 7 major requirements incumbent for all nations:
To these generally agreed tenants some rabbis added others such as taking blood from a living animal. Several also mention prohibitions against witchcraft and other spiritual sorcery such as found in Dt. 18:10-11.
These then are the major categories by which God would judge all nations outside of Israel. To the rabbis it was clear that although God loved all His creatures and His creation, the goyim (Gentiles) had turned away from Him and would not even follow the Noachide commandments.
Answer for yourself: Again if the children of Noah could not abide and observe the 7 commandments which were enjoined upon them, how much less could they have accepted and fulfilled all the commandments of the Sinaitic Law of Moses?
The identifying terms used by the rabbis at this time for these goyim (Gentiles who are not Godfearers and who do not practice the Laws of Noah, kosher, and Sabbath) include: idolaters, the wicked, the enemies of Israel, the enemies of God, and the others. There was a different category, however, for those goyim who did abide by the Noachide covenant. They were called foreigners or aliens. Any Gentile who lived in the land of Israel and among Israelites was enjoined, at the very least, to keep the Noachide covenant. Keeping the Noachide Laws was their "bottom line" and if they did not, they were to be expelled. If they did keep the Laws of Noah, they were no longer called goyim, but gerim. The Talmud delineates them further by the new term ger toshev. These (ger toshev) were foreigners living in the land of Israel who were keeping the 7 Noachide commandments. By the time of the Septuagint (about 200 B.C.E.) the translators used the term "fearers" for the righteous Gentiles outside of natural Israel in contrast to the term proselytes, those righteous Gentiles who formally identified with Israel through full conversion which included circumcision, sacrifice, and mikveh (baptism...called "born again" in Judaism long before there was ever a Christian).
The first "gerim" are mentioned in the Exodus narrative. Among the Jews who left Egypt there were Egyptians who also left their homes in Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, becoming part of the people of Israel [grafted into Israel] (Ex. 12:38). Although they were known as "aliens-gerim" (simply meaning that they were not physical descendants of Jacob), they could be circumcised, thus formally converting to this very early form of Judaism, then partake of the Passover meal with the rest of Israel (at this point, Passover was the only Jewish festival). Note the differentiation between "foreigner" in Ex. 12:43 and the "alien who lives among you." The foreigner may NOT eat the Passover (he is not circumcised and therefore not Jewish-Ex. 12:48), but the alien who is circumcised along with his/her household (converted to Judaism and had become proselytes) MAY EAT the Passover (they are considered Jewish). Verse 49 indicates that the proselyte was to have the same rights and privileges as the native-born Jews: "Exod 12:49 49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (KJV)"According to Ex. 12:19, the community of Israel is made up of aliens (believers/converts/proselytes who are circumcised) and native-born Jews. Consequently, these "gerim toshevim" who wanted to fully convert always could do so by becoming circumcised and then continuing to follow the Jewish (Biblical) way of life, which then adopted and followed the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24) and the attending Laws. Note also that Sabbath observance was technically commanded BEFORE the acceptance of the Sinaitic code (Ex. 20:10 and 23:12).
Exod 20:10 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: (KJV)
Exod 23:12 12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. (KJV)
It is for this reason that I include the "Sabbath" as part of things "necessary" as would have James although not mentioned in Acts 15. Also we do as well since in was on this Sabbath that the opportunity for Jews and "non-Jews" occurred where they could study and learn of the Covenant of Moses (the Covenant of Noah) together in the Synagogues. Then although they (Ger Toshevim") were recognized by outward appearances as "aliens," they were now "Jews" in that they had left behind their old country and family and now were subsequently circumcised in order to be "part of the Jewish community." Likewise they had been "adopted" by the native-born Jews as "their own." The rabbis' term for these Ger Toshevim who became circumcised ("proselytes") was ger hazedek (righteous foreigners). How many proselytes there were down through the centuries is impossible to determine, but the rabbis are clear about the proselyte's relationship to the rest of Israel: "A proselyte is like a newborn child (it is again this "mikvah" required of the "non-Jew" in his full conversion that is the "born again" experience we fail to understand properly in the New Testament).
Answer for yourself: Does the above "newborn child" remind you of the term "born again" and historically could this term mean the conversion of the non-Jew to Judaism? It sure could!!!
This brings a whole new meaning to John 4 and Jesus and Nicodemus. More on that later in the website or follow the link to the above articles explaining the true meaning behind the often misused term in Christianity "born again".
Let us examine being "born again" as understood as becoming a "new creature":
The Apostle Paul instructs Gentiles in Corinth that is they accept God through the ministry of the Jewish Christ, thus being in Christ, then God will consider these pagan Gentiles as "new creatures" whereby their old sinful life-styles pass away in repentance as they come to knowledge and obedience of God's will for their lives.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man
be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are
become new.
The Greek word for "creature" is Strong's # 2937 ktisis
which is understood in Greek as:
the act of founding, establishing,
building, etc.
Answer for yourself: Do you see for yourself that when the Apostle Paul instructs Gentiles in Corinth to come to God through Jesus he intends them to become "new creatures" by leaving their idolatry and convert to Judaism and Jewish ways and not Catholic or Protestant Christianity as we know it today?
Answer for yourself: As a Christian you consider yourself a "new creature," and although you or others call yourself a "new creature" are you really a "new creature" as defined by the words of your Bible, and as understood by the Apostle Paul if you neglect or are ignorant of the Laws of Noah, kosher, Sabbath, and Biblical Festivals such as Passover (Pesach), First Fruits (Bikkurim), Unleavened Bread (Hag HaMatzah), Pentecost (Shavuot), Rosh HaShannah, Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah), Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), Tabernacles (Sukkoth), etc? That is a very hard question to have to face.
Answer for yourself: What will you do having been a Christian you whole life, having done little precious study on you own and relied on preaching your whole life for Biblical truths by men who are actually not qualified to teach you since not possessing this "meat" from the Word of God? Did you know that there are over 2,000 different denominations in Christianity and varieties of disunity and preaching to choose from? Who has the truth in all of this? What if we were to die one day and find out that we were never a "new creature" in the Biblical sense of the inspired word as understood by Paul, James, the Apostles, and the Jesus' church which followed Jesus' command to take this information to Gentiles worldwide? What do we do then?
Answer for yourself: Do you now see a much deeper meaning than "believing in Jesus" as a condition for being considered by Paul and James as a "new creature"? I surely hope so!
The proselyte is, however, required and expected to be as strictly observant as the native-born Jew, including paying the Temple tax (this is he funds demanded of God to build buildings of worship and not as is done today with the misappropriation of the Tithe). The book of Ruth, of course, portrays the most beautiful example of how God can highly honor a proselyte, by choosing her as the great-grandmother of David.
After the building of the Second Temple there was a recognized procedure for proselytes. For men, there was circumcision, followed by immersion (mikveh/baptism), then offering a sacrifice at the Temple. For women there was just the mikveh and Temple sacrifice. For Diaspora proselytes (outside the land of Israel) the Temple sacrifice was probably waived, or at least postponed, because of the great distance involved and its attendant difficulty to achieve..
As previously noted, the Godfearers' observance of the Law was located between the full proselyte (circumcised) and the gerim toshev (non circumcised).
Answer for yourself: Can you better understand now that this is where the Christian should stand today in faith and obedience since the matter was legislated by the Jerusalem Church and James, the hand picked Pastor of this congregation, as well as the Apostle Paul who were in agreement on the matter?
Circumcised Ger toshevm were known as ger hashair (foreigners of the gate). To the Godfearer's observance of the Noachide covenant was added the Sabbath and dietary Law observance. It seem that Godfearers stopped just short of circumcision which would mean total and formal conversion, thus no longer being considered a Godfearer but Ger hashair or proselyte in full conversion to Judaism (a good example is Cornelius who lacked circumcision and was yet accepted by God and into the Israel of God). Today in America with male babies being circumcised as a matter of routine without any religious significance except by the Jewish people, then circumcision would not apply toward one's conversion to Judaism and would not mean that male Christians, who are circumcised routinely at birth, and who study, understand, and accept the Laws of Noah, kosher, and Sabbaths would be considered as if they had made full conversion to Judaism. In conversion today a special "pin prick" to draw blood is necessary to mimic actual circumcision and it is a "voluntary" action made by the "non-Jew" wishing to be a "full convert" to Judaism. So routine circumcision of the "non-Jew" in America today, for example, does not relegate one as a proselyte if later he adopts the Noahide Commandments and Covenant. If every Christian Gentile converted to Judaism, or if every Jew converted to Christianity then there would not be in the earth the witness of "two olive branches" or the "two candlesticks" whom are to have the same witness of God to "non believers". The reasons for Godfearers in the first century not formally joining Judaism are not clear to us twentieth century people. Some scholars, like Bruce, maintain that circumcision was both painful and shameful for men in that culture (since Gentile pagans had practiced a form of sexual immorality as a form of false religion, let alone risky considering health factors, where 8 day of babies have a double immunity (grown men do not) against infection for 6 months of their early lives and can better withstand the dangers of circumcision associated with possible infection and gangrene. Some also might have been fearful of anti-Semitism. At any rate, we do know that these Gentile believers in God, called Godfearers in the New Testament, were every bit as Jewishly observant as their Jewish friends as they had been undergoing disciplining and instruction in their local synagogues along side the Jews. These people (Godfearers) were not just well-intentioned "Gentiles," but Jewishly educated and committed to the Jewish way of life which was the pattern given to the Israel of God (consisting of a mixed multitude of Gentiles and Jews at Sinai). It was "this pattern of obedience" which was spoken orally by God in 70 languages to the 70 nations of the world at Sinai, for God called all men everywhere to repent and follow His will which was spoken orally and surrounded the whole world at the giving of the Torah (teaching, instruction, Law in Hebrew) at Sinai. Only Israel, a mixture of Jews and Egyptian Gentiles at Sinai, responded with a "yes" as seen in their memorial statement "we will do all that You say!" To this commitment God would in response call them (a mixture of Jews and Gentiles) a "holy people and a holy nation and a royal priesthood" which was to equip the nation of Israel to function as a mediator between God and rest of mankind. Israel's (Judaism as well as Messianic Judaism as seen in a distorted fashion in most of Christianity today) function is still to bring the Gentiles to God for as Romans 9 states.
Thus, Godfearing Gentiles, like our example of Cornelius, probably were more deeply devoted to Judaism than many native-born Jews.
In summary, let us tabulate our results from our search so far:
The vision related to Peter in Acts 10 and his subsequent experience with Cornelius and his household proved to Peter [also later to the zakenim (elders) and sh'likim (apostles)] that is was NOT NECESSARY for these "gerim" to proceed with full conversion to Judaism and undergo circumcision in order to receive God's provision of "Eternal Life". They could come as they were……Godfearing Gentiles. There were only 4 further abstentions they needed to be clear about which actually delineated more clearly their already fully Jewish commitment.
No. These former Gentile pagans who were now known as Godfearers were already practicing the Torah in their household, where as most Christians today do not or at least are unknowledgeable about Torah and the Laws of God that frame their respective Covenant with God. These Godfearers were accepted within Messianic Judaism WITHOUT CIRCUMCISION [which was unheard of in Jesus' day with the majority of Judaism that was currently enforcing circumcision upon "non-Jews" before they could be accepted into the Israel of God. A smaller minority with first century Judaism, the School of Hillel, did not agree with this enforced circumcision of the "non-Jew" and had repented of their prior hatred of the Gentiles which was manifested in man-made requirements and "fences" to keep the "non-Jews" and Jews separate. Such hatred and dislike was manifested in enforced circumcision of the "non-Jew" by Israel when in fact the Covenant given the "non-Jews" of the world never required this of them by God. This minority accepted these Gentile believers as equal with themselves before God without circumcision whereas normative and the majority of Judaism would not at that time.
Understand that the Great Commission only emanated from the
Messianic branch of Judaism and not Judaism proper in the first century.
It was understood that these Gentile Godfearers would continue to study in
the local synagogue and follow God Jewishly (understood as Biblical). By
this time this included also following the 4 abstentions from
Acts
15 (read the chapter for yourself for these Laws of Noah are
mentioned twice in this book and are called "necessary" and
which "seemed good to the Apostles and the Holy Spirit as well").
But as we have seen, these abstentions were based on guidelines they were
already following anyway.
A good example of a congregation that failed even in these basic instructions is Corinth. It is noteworthy that Paul has to deal with several areas in which the Corinthian Gentile believers have failed to uphold the Acts 15 stipulations for inclusion into the Messianic Community: e.g. sexual immorality (one man sleeping with his father's wife, some congregates sleeping with prostitutes), and eating meat sacrificed to idols, etc. All of these sins are forbidden by the Laws of Noah.
Answer for yourself: Why all these problems with these new Gentile believers in Corinth?
These Gentile believers in the Church of Corinth are so uninformed
of their Jewish roots that they use the occasion of the 4 Passover cups at
the "Lord's Supper" to get drunk!
The Godfearing guidelines for the congregation
have already been lost and the people are in disarray.
Answer for yourself: Does your Christian Church or your Pastor teach and adhere to these "necessary things" which seemed good to the Holy Spirit and required by Jesus' church and its leadership for Gentile believes to be considered a part of Jesus' Church?
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, I have studied diligently for years and discovered these little known, and mostly forgotten FACTS which should serve as a clear warning to those Gentile congregations who are unknowledgeable of or openly flout the Acts 15 requirements which God, through the Holy Spirit, intended all Gentiles of the world to know, understand, adhere to, and observe.
The Gentile Godfearers in Acts, who formed a large share of the core of the congregations founded by Paul, were not practicing pagans who were converted overnight. They were of a special class of Gentiles who had PREVIOUSLY been taught and nurtured in their local synagogues first, worshipping the God of Israel in Spirit and in Truth through specific Jewish acts and deeds as "new creatures" who turned from idolatry to Judaism. The "bottom line" of observance for Gentiles in the Jewish world of Second Temple Judaism and which were commanded to be taken in letters to strengthen Gentile churches throughout the world following the Acts 15 council would have been the 7 Noachide commandments (of which only 4 are mentioned in Acts 15).
Godfearing Gentiles, however, went even further "by choosing those things that please the Father" (Isa 56), observing the Sabbath, keeping the dietary laws, plus other Jewish observances that they had been taught by their local Jewish church leaders. Thus their life-style already identified them as Jews, even if the final ritual of formal conversion had not yet taken place. Acts 15 describes the full acceptance of these Godfearers by the leadership of Messianic Judaism in Jerusalem. The leaders of the Jerusalem church reemphasized 4 of the 7 guidelines contained in the Laws of Noah, which is a Covenant with Noah for all Gentiles of the world prior to progressive revelations and Covenants with the Jewish people which we discover were already what the Godfearers were already practicing. Actually we find similar Law Codes that remind us of these Laws of Noah all the way back to Sumer and pre-Egypt. The "non-Jews" were given these Laws in the beginning of the race of mankind it appears. If they maintained their Torah based practices, they would have congregations and practices co-equal with that of their Jewish brothers and sisters. If they failed to maintain their Godfearing life-styles and educational programs, they would fall into the traps of sin that were disrupting lives as seen in the Corinthian congregation.
It should be very plain by now that we as Christian Gentiles and followers of "the Christ" are intended to maintain Torah practices like those seen in the Biblical Godfearing Gentile examples of Cornelius and Acts 15 and the teachings of the Jerusalem Church. Such obedient Gentile Christians to the Gospel of Christ and Apostolic Doctrines, instead of adherence to "other Gospels" from denominational and non-denominational creeds and doctrines, which either contradict or neglect such Apostolic teachings, are to be desired by the Christian today. Of course this implies one has to be aware of this information and honest with himself and God who commanded this him in the first place.
Bennoah1@airmail.net