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"GODFEARERS" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT: THE PATTERN FOR GENTILE PARTICIPATION IN THE ISRAEL OF GOD #6
The conviction that Messianic Biblical Judaism, and not the current manifestation of Rabbinic Judaism as we now see, is the one true religion given by God for all men and that it is destined to become the universal religion for all mankind has been the conclusion obtained which not only I, but others who study the Bible in its original languages, along with its culture and history in which it was written, have arrived. But today we don't find the practice of Biblical Judaism but Rabbinic Judaism. But I found you can come to understand Biblical Judaism, and especially how it related to the "non-Jew" back in the first century, through the study of Rabbinic Judaism and adapt this for your life and the lives of your family. It really is not that hard because there is a lot of "overlap" with Rabbinic Judaism today.
This concept of the two peoples of God becoming one under the umbrella of Judaism was not only a peculiarity of the Jews, but the Jewish Christ as well as he commanded its tenants, precepts, ordinances, and commandments be taken unto all the Gentile world in the Great Commission of Matt. 28 and it is God's desire and intent that these "non-Jews" be taught many of the same Laws and Commandment observed currently by the Jews. Again let us not forget that 66 Laws and Commandments in the Laws of Noah are reiterated exactly in the Laws of Moses. Thus there is the common ground we seek that binds these two peoples together. No other religion in the world and time made any such pretensions or cherished such aspirations. It was an exclusiveness the rest of mankind did not understand and therefore doubly resented. It is today as well which is obvious to all by the constant acts of violence toward these Godly people. Such a belief in the future universality of the "true religion," the coming of an age when "the Lord shall be King over all the earth," when "the Lord shall be one and His name One," led to efforts to convert the Gentiles to the worship of the one true God in the first century and to their adherence to both faith and obedience according to the revelation God had given. Thus Judaism became the first great missionary religion of the Mediterranean world in a funny way for you see the Jews were dispersed throughout the world from pervious captivities and it was easy for them to let their customs and religious ways "light the way" toward truth before the "non-Jews" whose nations they lived. There was no pretension here; rather, the steady daily example of Godliness and adherence to the Laws of God before their captives. They understood that this "Great Commission" has been in effect long before the first century and "passively" they let their light shine before those who oppressed them. Let me also say as well, that Christianity, when stripped of its anti-Semitism, anti-Judaism, its false Sabbaths and replacement doctrines which originated from false religion and pagan sources, and when Gentile Christianity opens their eyes to this "Jewish witness" of Divine truth which just happen to be "Jewish" then there is hope that the "non-Jewish" world can see and restore to their own lives the Lord's Sabbath, His Feasts and Festivals (and the truth behind these Equinoxes and Solstices), the truths behind all these Jewish Apostolic doctrines, and let us not forget as well the hope of coming to the knowledge of the correct use of the Biblical Tithe which no Christian Church today teaches correctly today that I have ever seen or encountered. In such a way then we as "non-Jewish" believers will then have the assurance that we have become acceptable to God since we will adopt these higher truths and model them through our lives as does the Jew. God warns us that His people perish for lack of knowledge, and when confronted with it, reject it. I pray that is not you, especially when provoked to think and respond by hard-hitting articles not meant to please or obtain money; but rather to stir a slumbering soul which has drunk the liquor of falsehood for much too long as handed out by the Roman captors of our minds today through their falsehood and forged Bibles.
Judaism's religious influence was exerted chiefly through the
synagogues, which the Jews set up for themselves, but which were open to
all whom interest or curiosity drew to their services. Most are open to
the "non-Jews" today as well. To Gentiles, these services
consisted essentially of readings from the Hebrew Scriptures which
followed a "Divine Pattern" as well along with a discourse,
along with prayers and hymns of praise. Such was inviting to the Gentiles
of the first century as well as long before and I found quite refreshing
each time I attended the synagogue when the impact of what I was
experiencing dawned upon me. In that time period in the Hellenistic world
(Greek influenced), polytheism (belief in many gods) and idolatry was so
decisively prevalent, that the souls of men cried out for something more.
Such was the difference between the Gentile and the Jew. As a Gentile came
to renounce heathenism and adopt Judaism along with observations such as
the Sabbath, Festivals, and conformity to the rules of clean and unclean
foods which were necessary conditions of social intercourse with the Jew,
such a changed life was seen to to reflect a respectable degree of
commitment and conversion on behalf of the Gentile
that he be was accepted alongside the Jew as God's people by the Jews
themselves. The rejection of idolatry by the Gentile
was an acknowledgment of the whole law, since
one who renounces idolatry is called in Scripture a "Jew."
Such repentant Gentiles were called religious persons who "worship, or revere God," although in a strict sense outside of the mainstream of Judaism. They were not however "full-converts". Yet, they were expected to share with "Jews by birth" the favor of the God they had adopted, and were encouraged in this hope by their Jewish teachers. It was not uncommon for the next generation to seek incorporation in the Jewish people by circumcision, thus becoming a full-fledged "convert to Judaism." This came through time and spiritual maturation by these Gentiles as the consistent witness of the Jew drew them closer to the God of Israel. These Gentiles were seen as the ones "clinging to the skirt (prayer shawl) of the Jew" (Zech. 8:23).
23 Thus saith <559> (8804) the LORD <3068> of hosts <6635>; In those days <3117> [it shall come to pass], that ten <6235> men <582> shall take hold <2388> (8686) out of all languages <3956> of the nations <1471>, even shall take hold <2388> (8689) of the skirt <3671> of him that is a Jew <376> <3064>, saying <559> (8800), We will go <3212> (8799) with you: for we have heard <8085> (8804) [that] God <430> [is] with you.
Answer for yourself: In this prophetic passage, do you see that ten (Biblical number for completeness -referring to all the Gentiles from all the 70 nations) will in the future take hold of the skirt (prayer shawl) of the Jew and will go with them up to Zion for God is "with the Jew?" This will be a wonderful day indeed. Is this telling us that in the world to come that all "non-Jews", who are called by the names of other faiths other than Judaism, will come to embrace Judaism and the truths that she has for the whole world? It sure appears this way.
Answer for yourself: Did you know that all the nations will be coming up to God along with Jews and not with those called Christians who be in the "followers" and not "the leaders". I hope so.
Answer for yourself: Can you see that this passage if very problematic for those who ascribe to replacement theology (Christians), falsely believing that the Christian Church is the "New Israel" and false believing that they have taken the place of the Jew and Israel before God? I hope so.
Oh, by the way, let me remind you once again that this passage is prophetic and is yet to occur, but according to these Prophets this is the way it will happen!
Answer for yourself: How is it that Gentiles will follow the Jews to Zion to learn of God if we Protestants and Catholics have "all truth" and the "only ones saved" as we have been led to believe? Think on that for a while.
Much confusion has arisen from the habit of describing such Gentile adherents of the synagogue as a class of proselytes or semi-proselytes, and trying to find a category for them in Jewish law. People always ask me today "what do you call yourself"? Names are not important; how we live before God is however. Jewish law knows no such semi-proselytes, nor any other kind of proselytes than such as have, by conversion and baptism, not only become members of the Jewish church but has been naturalized in the Jewish nation. One should NOT make a distinction where none existed. But yet as I will show you that is a glorious place for the non-converted "non-Jew" in Judaism; this is the place for the "non-Jewish" Christian as you will come to see.
"Proselytes are such as have resolved to change over to the true religion, and are called proselytes because they have become naturalized in a new and godly commonwealth, renouncing the mythical fictions and adhering to the unadulterated truth."
Answer for yourself: Did you notice that Philo called Judaism "the true religion"? Think on that for a moment.
Amazing Under the Laws of Noah (7 commandments containing some but not all the Laws of Moses unless fully converted), proselytes enjoy equal rights in all respects with the native born Jews, as is only just, inasmuch as they have left country, friends, and kinfolk for the sake of virtue and holiness. There can be no question that Philo means by "proselyte" one who has deserted his false gods and his people to cast in his lot with the Jews. But this is not the only way to come to the God of Israel.
Tacitus (a roman historian) speaks of proselytes as such as "practice circumcision like the Jews." A proselyte is not one who had merely embraced the monotheistic theology of Judaism, but has addicted himself to the Jewish ordinances and customs, and in doing so severed himself from his people, friends, and kinsmen; for which reason he is to be treated with peculiar benevolence. He has become a naturalized citizen of a new religious commonwealth in which he has a full quality of rights and duties with born Jews. NOTICE a proselyte was considered as part of Israel! Here we see that "non-Jews" who are circumcised and convert to Judaism are sanctified from the world and responsible for the whole of the Torah before God (613 Laws) and equal to the naturalized born Jew and part of Israel.
Answer for yourself: Does a "proselyte" (former Gentile) adhere to the same Jewish ordinances and customs as other Jews? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Is the "proselyte" (former Gentile) required to be circumcised? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does the "proselyte" (former Gentile) become a naturalized citizen of a new religious commonwealth called Israel in which he has a full quality of rights and duties with natural-born Jews? Yes.
In the Greek Bible, "proselyte" is the usual translation of the Hebrew "ger." The older associations of this word were both civil and social. The "ger" was an alien immigrant, or the descendant of such an immigrant, resident in Israelite territory by permission, without any civil rights. This is the position of the "ger" in the older Hebrew legislation and in Deuteronomy. They are distinguished from foreigners (nokrim), who may be casually and temporarily in the country, and from the descendants of the ancient Canaanites. Israelites are commanded not to oppress these aliens, who had no legal protection; and they are frequently presented as objects of charity.
Later, in the Persian period, the
word "ger" comes to be applied to foreigners (men of other than
Jewish descent) who joint themselves to Jehovah, or to Israel as the
worshippers of Jehovah. Thus in Isaiah 14:1, in the
restoration, when God reestablished Israel in its own land, "the
'ger' (converts the Jews have made in the exile) will join themselves to
them and attach themselves to the house of Jacob." Such
converts are described in Isa. 56:6ff.
"The aliens who join themselves to Jehovah to minister unto him, and to love the name of Jehovah, to be his servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and hold firmly to my covenant (laws), I will bring them to my holy mountain and make them rejoice in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be acceptable upon my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Thus saith the Lord Jehovah who gathers the dispersed of Israel, yet will gather others unto him (Israel), besides those that are gathered of (Israel) himself."
The laws for the "ger"
(Gentile proselyte) or "gerim" (Gentile proselytes) in Lev.
17-25 put them, so far as religious duties and privileges go, in all
respects on the same footing with Israelites by birth; they are subject to
all the obligations of the Law, precisely as the "gerim"
(proselytes) in the rabbinical law are. This is true, not only of
religious commandments and prohibitions but also civil law:
"You shall have one civil
law; the proselyte (ger) shall be treated like the native born, for I am
the Lord your God." For living as a resident alien
("ger," in the original civil sense) in the land of Israel the
verb is "gur," as in sojourn; for conversion
to Judaism and adoption into the people as well as their religion a new
form was needed and created, the "ger in a religious sense"
understood as "becoming a proselyte."
A favorite figure in the Psalms for the confident security of the religious man is having a refuge, or shelter, beneath the wings of God, or beneath the shade of his wings, as the young of birds do under their mother's wings for safety from danger. The same figure is frequently employed of conversion. The proselyte came beneath the wings of the Shekinah; one who converts a Gentile brings him under the wings of the Shekinah. The origin of this use is doubtless Ruth 2:12, where Boaz speaks for the Moabitish convert the reward for her goodness to Naomi from "the God of Israel, beneath whose wings thou are come to take refuge."
The legislation in the middle books of the Pentateuch (first 5 books of the Bible) thus puts the "gerim" on the same footing with native Israelites,not only before the civil law, but in religious duties and privileges, and Philo repeatedly emphasizes this parity of the naturalized and the native Jew as one of the notable features of the Mosaic Law.
So far we have only spoken of "full-converts" but watch what happens now.
The Passover was the most distinctively national of all the festivals, but the law admits the proselyte to it, though no foreigner, no settler, no hired servant may eat of it. For such participation it is necessary that one be circumcised, "for no uncircumcised man shall eat of it" (Ex. 12:48). In Num. 9:14 it is assumed that the proselyte is circumcised, and the only requirement is that he shall conform strictly to the ritual of the Passover: "Whether proselyte or native, you shall have the same ordinance." This Scripture puts the proselyte on the same footing as the native in all the commandments contained in the Law. "As the native born Jew takes upon himself to obey all the words of the Law," so the proselyte takes upon him all the words of the Law. The authorities said, "if a proselyte takes upon himself to obey all the words of the Law except one single commandment, he is not to be received." Thus Paul would say in Gal. 5:2 to the Galatians: "I solemnly warn every man that gets himself circumcised (Paul was referring to Gentile conversion to Judaism here) that he (the newly circumcised Gentile) is under obligation to fulfill the whole law (613 commandments).
Answer for yourself: Why? Circumcision was the final ordinance to be adopted by the Gentile believer before he makes complete conversion to Judaism.
Since Paul was reared as a Pharisee, he made reference to both the Written Law and the Oral Law in this passage.
Answer for yourself: Are Gentiles who become circumcised, thus making full conversion to Judaism, allowed to partake of the Passover lamb? Yes, circumcision was required.
Answer for yourself: Are Gentiles who become circumcised, thus making full conversion to Judaism, required to take upon themselves the full yoke of the Torah which is responsibility for 613 commandments instead of the 66 from the Laws of Noah? Yes.
The initiatory rite by which a man was made a proselyte comprised three parts:
In the case of a woman there was no circumcision, and after the destruction of the Temple no offering could be made. Circumcision alone is prescribed in the Written Law. The offering of a sacrifice is, thus, not one of the conditions of becoming a proselyte, but only a condition precedent to the exercise of one of the rights which belong to him as a sacrificial meal. As soon as he was circumcised and baptized, he was in full standing in the religious community, having all the legal rights and powers and being subject to all the obligations of the Jew by birth. He had "entered the covenant." It is interesting to note that this baptism of conversion was different from other baptisms of purification in that the presence of official witnesses was required for conversion. Two scholars would stand by him and rehearse to him orally some of the lighter and some of the weightier commandments. When he had been immersed and had come up from the water (following circumcision if a male), one is like an Israelite in all that he does. In the case of the woman proselyte, women made her sit in the water up to her neck, while two scholars recited the same commandments, both positive and negative and it was assumed that the initiate assumed "the yoke of the commandments." As the Israelite came into the covenant only by three things, circumcision, baptism, and sacrifice, precisely so the Gentile proselyte comes into the covenant by the same three things (Israel was circumcised before leaving Egypt, they were baptized in the Sinai desert, and after they pledged themselves to keep all God's commandments they were sprinkled with the blood of the covenant sacrifice). Here is the "pattern" again. Let us take note of these "patterns" as our studies progress and then it will be easier to apply them to ourselves later.
Answer for yourself: Was the Gentile convert to Judaism required to fulfill the same three requirement for conversion as was the Jew when he was BarMitzvahed? Yes.
Now listen well, the status of a proselyte who embraces Judaism is at the moment of his reception like that of a "new born child" or as if "born again." (Being "born again" is not a Christian concept by and of itself. More on that at a later). You should trace the link above on being "born again" for a terrific revelation that has dramatic impact on your Christian experience.
Answer for yourself: Does the concept of "being born again" refers only to Christians and not Gentile converts to Judaism? No, because the typical Christian is unaware that "being born again" is a Hebrew term for repentance associated with immersion, which was one of the 3 requirements for Gentile proselytes in their conversion to Judaism and being grafted into the Israel of God. (THINK). Ironically we do these same things but end up in practicing a faith that has little in common with Judaism today.
Before a proselyte converted to Judaism, it was customary that before his initiation that he adhere to the seven Laws of Noah which were given to all heathen to observe if they lived within the land of Israel. The laws of Noah were the foundation from which one pursued righteousness.
With respect to God's commandments, all of humanity is divided into two general classifications: the Children of Israel and the Children of Noah. The Children of Israel are the Jews, the descendants of the Patriarch Jacob. They are commanded to fulfill the 613 Commandments of the Torah. The Children of Noah comprise the seventy original nations of the world and their branches. They are commanded concerning the Seven Universal Laws, also known as the Seven Laws of the Children of Noah or the Seven Noahide Laws. These Seven Universal Laws pertain to idolatry, blasphemy, murder, theft, sexual relations, eating the limb of a living animal, and establishing courts of law. All Seven Universal Laws are prohibitions. Do not wonder at this. Negative commandments are of a higher order than positive commandments, and their fulfillment, which takes more effort than positive commandments, earns a greater reward. Men and women are equal in their responsibility to observe the seven commandments. It is a matter of dispute as to when a person becomes responsible for his or her actions under these laws. One opinion holds that it depends on the intellectual development of the individual. According to this opinion, as soon as a child has attained the maturity to understand the meaning and significance of the Seven Universal Laws, he is obligated to the fullest extent of the law. The other opinion is that a boy reaches the age of legal responsibility at his thirteenth birthday and a girl at her twelfth birthday. The Children of Noah are permanently warned concerning the Seven Universal Laws. This means that ignorance of the law is not a valid defense. One cannot claim, for example, that he did not know that idolatry was one of the seven commandments. Nor can he claim that he did not know that bowing down to an idol constitutes idolatry. Therefore, one is duty bound to study the Seven Universal Laws to the best of one's ability and to teach the knowledge of them to one's children. When one of the Children of Noah resolves to fulfill the Seven Universal Commandments, his or her soul is elevated. This person becomes one of the Chasidei Umot ha-Olam, the Pious Ones of the Nations, and receives a share of the Eternal World. The Holy Scriptures call one who accepts the yoke of fulfilling the Seven Universal Laws a ger toshav, a proselyte of the gate. This person is permitted to live in the Land of Israel and to enter the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and to offer sacrifices to the God of Israel. Although the Children of Noah are commanded only concerning the Seven Universal Commandments, they are permitted to observe any of the 613 Commandments of the Torah for the sake of receiving divine reward. The responsibility of The Seven Noahide Laws is a yoke of faith in God. This means that the laws must be observed solely because God commanded them. If the Children of Noah observe these Seven Universal Laws for any reason or intention other than to fulfill God's will, the performance is invalid and no divine reward is received. This means that if one of the Children of Noah says, "These laws seem sensible and beneficial, therefore I will observe them," his actions accomplish nothing and he receives no reward. When one of the Children of Noah engages in the study of the Seven Universal Laws, he is able to attain a spiritual level higher than the High Priest of the Jews, who alone has the sanctity to enter the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is incorrect to think that since the Children of Israel have 613 Commandments and the Children of Noah have seven commandments, the ratio of spiritual worth is proportionally 613 to seven. The truth is that the Seven Universal Laws are general commandments, each containing many parts and details, whereas the 613 Commandments of the Torah are specific, each relating to one basic detail of the Divine Law. Therefore, the numerical disparity in no way reflects the relative spiritual worth of the two systems of commandments. The statutory punishment for transgressing any one of the Seven Laws of Noah is capital punishment. Yet, according to some, punishment is the same whether one transgresses with knowledge of the law or is ignorant of the law. According to others, a transgressor of the Noahide Law who is ignorant of the law receives the death penalty only in the case of murder. If the courts cannot punish an individual for lack of witnesses or any other reason the transgressor will be punished by Divine Decree. Besides the Seven Universal Commandments, the Children of Noah have traditionally taken it upon themselves to fulfill the commandment of honoring father and mother. Some authorities are of the opinion that the Children of Noah are obligated to fulfill the commandment of giving charity. In accord with the Seven Universal Commandments, man is enjoined against creating any religion based on his own intellect. He either develops religion based on these Divine Laws or becomes a righteous proselyte, a Jew, and accepts all 613 commandments of the Torah. Concerning making holidays for themselves, Noahides may participate in the celebration of certain Jewish holidays, such as Shavuot, celebrating the Giving of the Torah, since the Children of Noah received their commandments at the same time, or Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and Day of Judgment, since all mankind is judged by God on that day, so it should therefore be important to the Noahide as well as the Israelite. When a Noahide dies, he is to be buried in the earth, "for out of it were you taken; for you are dust and unto dust you shall return" This does not mean that the Children of Noah transgress one of the Seven Commandments by utilizing another process such as cremation or cryogenic preservation, but they will lack the atonement that burial in the earth accomplishes. By observing the Seven Universal Laws, mankind is given the means by which it can perfect itself. The individual, through these laws, has the power to refine his essential being, and can reach higher and higher without limit. For it is written, "I call heaven and earth to bear witness, that any individual, man or woman, Jew or Gentile, freeman or slave, can have the Holy Spirit bestowed upon him. It all depends on his deeds." And it is also written, "Ultimately, all is understood: fear God and observe His commandments, for this is the completion of man" (Eccles. 12:13).
I am fully aware that today we call those who believe in God through Yeshua "Christians." Yet, in quoting Roy Blizzard "I believe we should call Biblical things by Biblical names". In doing so we discover nuances of meanings from terms which should influence what we should believe and how we should respond in faith. In the spirit of truth, the follow is presented to you, and some is of a technical nature, but try to follow the truth along.
Answer for yourself: In others words correct understanding of terms will lead us to perfect obedience and what higher manifestation of our love for God could there be?
The sincere and genuine proselyte (fully converted through circumcision, immersion, and having brought a sacrifice) is called "ger zedek," or "righteous proselyte" (Psalm 118:20). They are such as embrace the Jewish religion from religious motives, "for the sake of God," and therefore live in conformity to His will revealed in the Oral and Written Laws as they pledged themselves at their reception. Another name for such converts is the "get emet," or "true proselyte." To the "righteous proselytes" are sometimes applied texts in the Old Testament which speak of the righteous, or of such as fear God, the "truly righteous." In the daily prayers in the Temple petitions for God's blessings upon the righteous proselyte are invoked.
The word "ger" by itself having come to mean proselyte or convert to Judaism who has received circumcision and baptism not only into the religion of Judaism but into the Jewish people (Israel), occasioned the necessity to find a distinctive term for the resident alien.
Answer for yourself: Has the word "ger" come to mean a proselyte and convert to Judaism? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Has the "ger" received immersion and circumcision as well as bring an offering to the Temple? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Is the "ger tzedek" another name for the full convert to Judaism as is the word "ger?" Yes.
Answer for yourself: Does the term "righteous proselyte" refer to a full-convert to Judaism? Yes.
The "ger toshav" was an alien, resident in Jewish lands by permission but on the condition that while he resides that he not engage in the worship of other gods or in idolatrous practices, and do not blaspheme the name of God (adhere to the Covenant and Laws of Noah). He had to pledge himself in the presence of 3 observant persons to abstain from idolatry. They also had to be subject to the jurisdiction of Jewish courts and keep free of flagrant crimes, homicide, robbery, theft, adultery and fornication. He also had to abstain from eating flesh with the blood or "life" in it (part of the Laws of Noah). Along with this came the seven commandments that God gave to Adam and Noah and were consequently binding upon all mankind. He was not required to join in the worship of Israel nor to take upon himself any further obligations to observe the commandments of God to Israel (Mosaic Law), thought he enjoyed the exemption from labor on the Sabbath which gives rest on that day to slaves and hirelings of every race, as well as animals. He was not required to be circumcised. Upon his circumcision he would become fully Israel as we saw above.
The "ger toshav" is not a proselyte or a "semi-proselyte" and was not considered a convert to Judaism at all. The "ger toshav," as uncircumcised, also was called the "ger arel," and is not to be confused with the circumcised proselyte "ger ben berit" who has come into the covenant of God with Israel (ger mahul). The "ger toshav" was a heathen and was allowed to eat "carrion" or the flesh of animals not correctly slaughtered which no Israelite or proselyte could partake. The "ger" to whom an Israelite may give it in Deut. 14:21 is the "ger toshav"....Also, it was permissible to take usury from a "ger toshav" as with any heathen, but forbidden to take usury from an Israelite or "true proselyte;" the "ger zedek."
Answer for yourself: Was resident alien-heathen in the land of Israel required to be circumcised? No.
Answer for yourself: Was the resident alien-heathen in the land of Israel required to live by the Laws of Noah? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Was the resident alien-heathen called the Ger Toshav? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Was the resident alien-heathen allowed to eat foods that were not killed in a kosher manner? Yes.
Answer for yourself: Was the resident alien-heathen required to observe the 7 Laws of Noah? Yes.
Since the 18th century another category of proselytes emerged, the "proselyte of the gate" which is distinct from the "ger tzedek," or full proselyte or God-fearing Gentile. The "ger sha'ar" or "proselyte of the gate" suggests converts who lingered at the door of the synagogue as derived from passages in the Bible which speak of the "ger (alien) who is in thy gates" or residents in Israelite towns and cities (Ex. 20:10, Deut. 5:14).
In the 4th century a question arose as to whom the 4th Commandment concerning the Sabbath applied to, the "ger sedek" or "ger sha'ar" and the former opinion prevailed. In other words the full-convert is required to observe and keep the Sabbath, having become as one born in the land, while the "ger toshab" was not, yet he still could choose those things that pleased God if he so desired (observe Isaiah 56) and take upon himself the observance of other Commandments of God; like the Sabbath, the Festivals, righteous giving, mezuzah, Havdalah, etc. He is the "Godfearer" we read about in the New Testament and see in the example of Cornelius in Acts 10. Often such "strangers" are listed with names in Deut. along with the widows, orphans, and the landless Levites. He we find the proselyte of the gate who was likewise often the object of charity.
The attitude of the religious leaders of Judaism toward proselytes
differed in different circumstances, and individual teachers had their own
beliefs. Rabbi Shammai would have nothing to do with one who was not
prepared to give implicit assent, before knowing its contents to the
unwritten Law as well as the written Law. Many had bad opinions of all
proselytes, fearing that with persecution that they would fall back into
their old ways because they were naturally bad people who lived in sin as
defined by the Hebrew Scriptures. It is for this reason the Scriptures had
so often admonished Israelites not to give them offense by word or deed.
The School of Hillel, unlike the School of Shammai, welcomed converts, and
admitted them even though their knowledge was imperfect and the observance
of Judaism faulty. Hillel, to whom this Jewish Christ agreed, coined a
motto: "Be one of the
disciples of Aaron, a lover of peace, following after peace, loving
mankind, and drawing them to the Law (religion)." A
tradition illustrating the different temper of the two masters states that
a foreigner came to Shammai saying, "Make a proselyte of me, on
condition that you teach me the whole of the Law while I stand on one
foot." Shammai drove him off, beating him with a measuring stick,
whereupon he gave Hillel the same proposition. Hillel received him as a
proselyte and taught him: "What
you do not like to have done to you, do not do to your fellow man. This is
the whole of the Law; the rest is explanation of it. Go, learn it."
Just
in case you did not notice it this this saying of Hillel, also Confucius
by the way, is the "Golden Rule" from the "negative"
aspect and the Jewish Christ spoke the same from the "positive"
perspective. Ironic that they both cover what God's positive and negative
Commandments teach ("do's and don'ts").
Answer for yourself: Could it just be that this Law of God, spoken so negatively about in the New Testament, is really the Golden Rule for all mankind?
Proselytes are dear to God, for you will find that the same things are said about them as about Israel: the Israelites are servants (Lev. 25:23) and proselytes are called servants, as it is said, "To love the name of the Lord and to be servants to him" (Isa. 56:60); the Israelites are called ministers, as it is said, "And ye shall be called the priests of the Lord, ministers to our God shall be said of you" (Isa. 61:1), and the proselytes are called ministers, as it is said, "The foreigners who attach themselves to the Lord to minister unto him (Isa. 56:6); the Israelites are called friends, as it is said, "The offspring of Abraham, my friend" (Isa. 41:8) and the proselytes are called friends, as it is said (of God), "Friend of the proselyte" (Deut. 10:18). The word "covenant" is used of the Israelites in Gen. 17:13 and so it is used of proselytes "Who hold fast my covenant" (Isa. 56:6).
The preaching of the Apostles was responsible for making converts among Gentiles to Biblical Judaism (both full-converts ("ger zadeks") and "ger toshavs" who were resident aliens who observed the 7 Laws of Noah. Also included in the fruit of Jewish teaching were proselytes at the gate ("ger sha'ar") who lingered at the door of the synagogue as derived from passages in the Bible which speak of the "ger (alien) who is in thy gates". According to Acts 2 those "Jews" from seventy nations from all over the world who had made pilgrimage to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Shavuot (Pentecost), were previously Gentiles who had converted to Judaism by turning from idols to serve the living God. According to Biblical Law (Jewish Law), God required these Gentiles who had repented and come to faith in Him to be presence at His appointed times three times a year.
The account in Acts 2 describes Gentile proselytes to Judaism who came over from all over the Gentile world to observe the special Sabbaths of God. Much later, in times of persecution, Gentile "Christians" sometimes joined the Jews to evade the test applied by the Roman officials to adore the emperor, to which Jews were not subject. Later, Christian emperors would make conversion of Gentiles to Judaism a crime in itself with severe penalties both for the Gentile convert and the Jew who converted him. Against all such attempts of pagan or Christian rulers to shut up Judaism in itself and prevent its spread in the first three centuries the Jews persisted in their efforts to make the religion God had revealed to their fathers at Sinai, and before, the religion of all mankind. It is with this understanding that we will continue in the next newsletter our study of Gentile conversion as traced through the Bible.
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