Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 54
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
2 John 1 : 1 - 13 and 3 John 1 : 1 – 14
These two letters are quite short, and personal. Unlike the first letter, which was addressed to “ekklesia”, John writes to people whom he considers close and valued friends. There is no indication in the letters of precisely who these folk were, where they fellowshipped, the precise nature of the friendship, or even if “the Lady” and “Gaius” knew each other. We do not know where John was when he wrote these letters, nor the date of their authorship. So they have to be dealt with as they appear and take from them the lessons which are there to be learned.
“The Elder,” is John’s description of himself in both letters. That could signify both that he was of senior age, and that he considered himself to have oversight of the particular “ekklesia” where “the Elect Lady” and “Gaius” fellowshipped. Let us deal with “the Elect lady” first. As a matter of interest the word ‘elect’ may also have been translated ‘chosen’, and we are left to speculate by whom she was ‘chosen’. The obvious one is the Person of the Holy Spirit of course. This letter might be a response to a communication John had received from this person requesting counsel, and there is reason in the text to validate this. On the other hand, there is also evidence that the lady might have been hosting an “ekklesia” in her home, and this is a pastoral note encapsulating the broad message contained in John’s first general epistle. We don’t know.
The verses provide convenience, but were not put there by John! However, in those first six verses John uses the words “truth” and “love” many times. These provide the basis from which John is able to compare deception, a major concern with which he was dealing in these fledgling “ekklesias”. There is also the likelihood that this fellowship was quite small and had not yet been subjected to the attention of the false teachers which we discussed in ‘reflecting’ on John’s first epistle. Speculatively, I can see a possibility that the lady might have heard about these false teachings and wrote to John about them, so John wanted to pro-actively head this off and deal with it before it arrived. There are ‘children’ mentioned by John. They may have been the lady’s own offspring, or they may have been ‘children in the faith’, but the fact that only ‘some of them’ were ‘walking in truth’ suggests the former.
“And now I plead with you, lady, (I wonder why he didn’t use her name!) not as though I wrote a new commandment to you, but that which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another. This is love that we walk according to His commandments.” And immediately he launched into the fact that there were many deceivers in the world seeking to snare those who might be somewhat weak, or new, in the faith. “look to yourselves” he said, not to the ‘peddlers’ of false doctrine, “that we do not lose those things we worked for,” ( presumably referring to those who had been won to the faith and who fellowshipped with her in her home). Then, with his ‘Elders’ hat firmly showing, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine (of Christ), do not receive him into your house nor greet him.” There is some sound advice for us today as we face such antichrist doctrine in our media and in the political class, even in some churches!
There are a number of men named ‘Gaius’ in the Scriptures. One baptized by Paul (1 Cor 1 : 14), one of Macedonia (Acts 19), one of Derbe (Acts 20), and this friend of John. Two of these are noted in the Scriptures for their hospitable acts, and it is a note of trivial interest that it is said that John Bunyan, in his famous work “Pilgrims Progress”, gave the Innkeeper the name Gaius, due to that hospitable nature! In any event, some friends of John had met this Gaius whilst on a mission trip and upon their return had testified, to John, of his notably upright walk of faith, and the warmth of hospitality which he had evidently extended to them. (Isn’t that the kind of testimony to be admired and which should be coveted by all believers?) However, as John wrote to encourage Gaius for his faithfulness, he also mentioned another of the brethren, Diotrephes, who had a very different testimony. Mercifully, not every “ekklesia” had a Diotrephes in their congregation! He was one who coveted ‘position’. He must have been in a situation of leadership because he had the authority, (possibly meeting in his own home) to expel people from fellowship. He even failed to recognize John’s authority, by refusing to have his letter to the “ekklesia” read to them.
It is not difficult to imagine such a situation today, for there are many examples of folk elevated to a pastoral role, who treat that as a position of almost ‘papal like’ authoritarian anointing. That is quite unbiblical.
It is wise to consider these three epistles of John as a continuous trilogy. First is the open letter dealing with false teaching in general and a more basic entreaty to remember the call to stay with the Scriptural teaching of inclusion and obedience to the authority and commands of Almighty God. “if it does not accord with the ‘Book’, be very cautious!” And then the two more personal letters dealing with leadership and example in the confines of the smaller “ekklesia”. There is much for us to glean from John as he tries to shepherd believers to be steadfast and true to what God has revealed in the Scriptures. May it be so for each of us too.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections “Yom Kippur”
Torah Reflections “Yom Kippur”
Torah portions Leviticus 16 : 1- 34 and Numbers 29 : 7 - 11
Haftarah portion Isaiah 57 : 14 to 58 : 14
The Torah of YHWH given to Moses
Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 have the commandments about annual observances of the “mo’edim”. (The Hebrew word for “appointed times”, which in turn is usually translated into English as “feasts”). These are times when God specified He would meet with His chosen ones.
Today, they are most often referred to as “Jewish Feasts”. That correctly describes the fact that they are observances remembered by Jews. But it is an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures.
When God gave these instructions to Moses, He carefully worded these ‘appointed times’ (mo’edim) as MY ‘mo’edim’. They may be characterized as times when God says, in effect, “I will be there to meet with you on these specific occasions”. Those who choose not to attend miss an opportunity of blessing through meeting with Him at His invitation.
The 10 days between the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur are referred to as “the days of awe”. In Judaism, they are days of intraflection and reconciliation … putting things right.. putting things right with God and putting things right with those we live with and associate with on a daily basis. In fact the Scriptures clearly tell us that we cannot be right with God, and be at odds with each other (Matthew 5 : 24).
Those who have visited Israel at this time of year will know that everything stops on Yom Kippur. It is a day of fasting and reflection.( It is the reason why, in 1973, the Arab nations around Israel attacked them on that specific day. There is No Radio, No Television, No answering phones.. NOTHING goes on). The Scriptures declared that all the people have a day of solemn rest and strict Sabbath keeping. A day to “afflict your souls”.
It was the one day in every year, appointed by God, for the Chief Priest to enter the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and the Temple when they were functioning. The whole purpose of that visit by the Chief Priest was to ensure that he himself, and the Nation of people he represented, were made right with God in preparation for the year that lay ahead.
The awesome significance of this very special day is, regrettably, totally lost to the church. In addition to its special anointing by God, being set apart from all other days as it is, there is a unique event recorded in Revelation which we should all be acutely aware of. It is the day of the WHITE THRONE JUDGEMENT. It is represented for us today by the day of Atonement. It is a special day ‘to put things right’.
Revelation 20 : 11 – 15 describes that day of Judgment. It needs no comment from me. The judgement is to determine who is right with God, and who is not. It is there for everyone to read, but before you read it I caution you to read Revelation 22 : 18,19 first. Many ‘Christians’ today have never taken time to even read Revelation, let alone try to understand its message. It is a letter written by Yeshua Himself, or at least dictated by Him to John.
The climax of the whole letter, in fact the climax of the whole message of the Scriptures comes in the next festival of the Lord, the Feast of Tabernacles, which is why these “mo’edim” of the Lord are so important to celebrate, be part of, and to remember.
I am saddened that the modern Christian church, which is largely ignorant of the “mo’edim” of the Lord, has missed a blessing which God intended us to enjoy.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 53
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Commentators consider there to be two possible authors of the epistles carrying the name JOHN. Firstly, the same person who wrote the Gospel by that name, and secondly a member of an “ekklesia’ called John the Elder, because of the use of that title in them. There is no positive identification in the letters but most scholars believe the Apostle John to be the author. It is also considered that these letters were written whilst John was centred in Ephesus after the dispersion following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Timothy is not mentioned so he had most likely left Ephesus before John arrived. Like other apostolic epistles the purpose of the letter was to encourage believers to hold their faith in the face of much errant teaching. It is also difficult to accurately time these letters, but a date around 80 C.E. is thought likely.
“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” Isn’t that an amazing thought? Joint heirs with Yeshua! Mystery of mysteries. The ‘love’ here is “agape” (unconditional love). What did they (or we) do to deserve that? Nothing. Only exercise faith in Him who died for them. Faith which was counted as righteousness. Faith which caused them to live according to His standards and be obedient to His commandments. Faith which allowed them to know that their sins were forgiven. That’s what John taught us last week.
And he is teaching us a bit more this week! John told them what sin is. “Whoever commits sin also commits ‘lawlessness’ (Greek ‘anomia’), and sin IS ‘anomia’.” That word ‘anomia’ is the antonym of ‘nomos’, the Greek word used to translate the Hebrew word ‘Torah’ (teaching). Having regard to the fact that John’s target audience were Jewish believers, we see that his message to them was that “Torahlessness” (disregard, abandonment, or disobedience of Torah) was for them sin. Now that leads us a question. Most of us see the Apostolic Scriptures as pastoral teaching for the church don’t we? But John hasn’t finished yet! He continued with “Whoever abides in Him does not sin (commit Torahlessness). Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” I have made up my mind about what it means. You have to make up your mind. And what the Lord tells you to do, DO. It is incumbent on all of us to be consistent in our interpretation of the Scriptures. We are not at liberty to pick and choose between the bits that suit us and the bits that don’t.
John’s message is powerful. “My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” And he followed that with the exhortation for them to love one another. John used that word ‘love’ so many times in this letter and in almost every case it was the ‘agape’ word, the ‘unconditional love’ word, he used. To stay close and unconditionally supportive of each other. A huge part of his concern was for their protection from heresy which was being ‘peddled’. Evidently the heretics were presenting their wares in the name of the Spirit of God. (see ‘reflection’ No. 52 for a brief description of their beliefs) So John warned them to “test the spirits, whether they are of God.” Now there is care to be exercised here. The test is not whether we agree with their theology or interpretation. The test is “Every spirit that confesses that Yeshua Ma’shiach has come in the flesh is of God”, and that does not mean the confession of one giving mere verbal assent, it means persons whose lives show that confession in action. Words are easy aren’t they? But it’s how one lives (“in deed and in truth”) that provides the proof.
Over and over again John stressed the importance to them of their unity in love. And he became somewhat repetitious in his emphasis. He wrote, so they would have no misunderstanding, how to recognize the believer as opposed to the unbeliever, or someone on the fringe. The observation and practice of Torah was a key, in fact the principal, factor in that recognition. It cannot be under-stated. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments”. Then “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” It absolutely amazes me that such clarity can ever be misunderstood. So many times I have heard respected Bible teachers declare that the “Torah” is obsolete. “Jesus kept all the commandments so we do not have to” is a common declaration. Well, I do not know where that came from because it certainly is not in my Bible! And it was not the view of any of the Apostolic writers.
Finally, John encouraged the “ekklesia” members to make requests of Yeshua, our advocate in the Throne room of Heaven. “Now this is the confidence we have in Him (Yeshua), that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” Wow! How many times do we hear “God hasn’t answered my prayer yet.” There may well be the reason right there. The condition of certainty which John promised them was “according to His will.” Our responsibility is to seek God’s will for our lives. Then to ask Him to fulfil in us what He has purposed for us to do. Be blessed as you seek His face.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Torah Reflections "Yom Teruah”
Torah Reflections “Yom Teruah”
Torah portions Genesis 21:1-34 Numbers 29:1-6
Haftarah portion 1 Samuel 1:1 to 2:10
The Torah of YHWH given to Moses
Leviticus 23 and Deuteronomy 16 have the commandments about annual observances of the “mo’edim”. (The Hebrew word for “appointed times”, which in turn is usually translated into English as “feasts”). These are times when God specified He would meet with His chosen ones.
Today, they are most often referred to as “Jewish Feasts”. That correctly describes the fact that they are observances remembered by Jews. But it is an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures.
When God gave these instructions to Moses, He carefully worded these ‘appointed times’ (mo’edim) as MY ‘mo’edim’. They may be characterized as times when God says, in effect, “I will be there to meet with you on these specific occasions”. Those who choose not to attend miss an opportunity of blessing through meeting with Him at His invitation.
This festival is known as “The Feast of Trumpets”, because God ordained that it was to be heralded by the blowing of trumpets, it is known as “Rosh Hashanah” because it brings in the civic New Year in the Hebrew calendar. It is a Sabbath, a Holy convocation, a day of rest. It is the first of a series of THREE festivals which closely follow each other at this season of the year.
Many, like me, believe that it is prophetic of the time of the Lord’s return, and there are good Biblical reasons for this. Others will say ‘no man knows the day nor the hour”, but an elementary knowledge of Judaic biblical history easily explains this. In Israel, even today, the beginning and end of festivals (Numbers 10:10) relies on the observance of TWO stars in the sky by TWO witnesses (and that is normally announced by the blowing of shofars). The appearance of the New Moon heralds the beginning of a new month, again reliant on TWO witnesses. There are a number of good reasons why these observances could be one day or the next. “No man knows the day”. The presence of cloud will affect the precise timing of the first appearance of stars, “no man knows the hour”.
The most compelling reason is however because it is consistent with the evidential significance of the first FOUR ‘mo’edim’. Pesach, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits are perfectly fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach. Shavu’ot, the traditional time of the giving of Torah to Moses on the mountain, is also the time of the giving of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem a mere 10 days after the ascension of Yeshua into Glory.
The Scriptures reveal that Yeshua will return with the sound of trumpets. (Matthew 24:30,31 1Corinthians 15:52 1Thessalonians 4:16)
The Feast of Trumpets marks the beginning of a period of 10 days of preparation for the next solemn appointed time, the Day of Atonement. It is enlightening to read Revelation 18, 19 and 20 in conjunction with the reflection on these last three festivals. That passage of Scripture appears to fill in some detail of things to take place upon the return of Yeshua when He comes, not as the Lamb to be slain, but as King of kings and Lord of Lords in order to put into place the millennial Kingdom of God.
In concluding this reflection, please consider this thought. When God instituted the ‘mo’ed’ of the Feast of Trumpets, He could have had in mind not only the annual introduction of a New Year in the Hebrew calendar, but also the New Year which marks the commencement of Yeshua’s everlasting Kingdom.
I am saddened that the modern Christian church, which is largely ignorant of the “mo’edim” of the Lord, has missed a blessing which God intended us to enjoy.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 52
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Commentators consider there to be two possible authors of the epistles carrying the name JOHN. Firstly, the same person who wrote the Gospel by that name, and secondly a member of an “ekklesia’ called John the Elder, because of the use of that title in them. There is no positive identification in the letters but most scholars believe the Apostle John to be the author. It is also considered that these letters were written whilst John was centred in Ephesus after the dispersion following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Timothy is not mentioned so he had most likely left Ephesus before John arrived. Like other apostolic epistles the purpose of the letter was to encourage believers to hold their faith in the face of much errant teaching. It is also difficult to accurately time these letters, but a date around 80 C.E. is thought likely.
The letter’s opening “That which was from the beginning.” resonates with the beginning of the Gospel of John, and identifies the subject as Yeshua. “Which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled.” speaks of one who was present after the resurrection, further pointing to the Apostle John as the author. It was faith in the risen Saviour which was the whole basis of the establishment of the “ekklesia” of believers. Without confidence in that reality, the whole purpose of their fellowship would be destroyed. Who better to know than an eye witness? The author of this letter is such a one. However, there were a number of people teaching a variety of heresies. Gnosticism (the spirit is completely good and matter is completely evil), Docetism (that Yeshua did not actually have a human body, he only appeared to do so, and therefore he did not suffer pain and agony on the cross), and Cerinthianism (that Yeshua was the spirit that descended on a particular unidentified man at his baptism and left that man just before his crucifixion). It is obvious that these ‘isms’ all speak of man’s attempt to rationalize the greatest mystery of all time. That a merciful and loving YHWH Elohim could take human form in order to provide an acceptable offering for sin (His own Son) so that mankind and God could be reconciled in fellowship. It remains a mystery which requires faith to accept. Like the faith of Abraham, which our merciful God counted as righteousness. And right up to this day God counts our faith as righteousness. Selah.
“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth.” “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” So John puts it right ‘on the line’. In clear words, there is a barrier (called sin) between sinful man and a holy God. God has provided the means by which that barrier may be removed and both He and you will know when that has happened because you will walk in the light of His word not in darkness as in former times. And you will be happy about it!
That does not mean that we become ‘perfect’. Only One is perfect. The rest of us are still prone to fall, but by the choices we make, we remind ourselves constantly, by the working of the Holy Spirit, of our relationship with God. And when we become conscious of sin in our lives, we have an advocate before the Father to intercede on our behalf. It is not automatic. It requires confession and repentance. Then forgiveness is assured. John moves into an area of challenge for us as he continues with this theme. “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says ‘I know Him’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know we are in Him.” In my mind there are some important questions arising from that. Firstly what is there that is not perfectly clear to any fair-minded reader? Then, having consideration to the timing of this letter, where are we likely to find those commandments which John writes about? And lastly, where do we find that those commandments have been annulled?
Ah! Thankfully John answers those questions himself. “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning.” Can that be made any clearer? Resoundingly NO. So we are left to ponder why many modern day teachers say that the OLD has been made obsolete? It is when the Scriptures are read for oneself that the truth is not hidden. And that my dear reader is exactly what John is teaching here to ensure the “ekklesia” of God steers clear of heresy. It is the same today. Read it yourself. Do not rely on the bias of others who have been poorly informed.
Then amazingly, John says he IS writing them a NEW commandment! Best you read it for yourself. It is in 1 John 2: 8 – 17. A final warning appears after that. “Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come.” How are these antichrists recognized? “He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” The false teachers who were seeking to scatter the ‘flock’ are antichrist. The believer who abandons his faith is antichrist. Those who say they know God but do not believe His word are antichrist. Let us be careful not to fall into that category.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 51
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Peter needs little introduction! A giant of the faith. Bold, flawed, loyal, boisterous, impetuous, enthusiastic, spokesman, obedient to his calling. He was a leader to be admired and a study of his life is rewarding. A fervent Torah observant Jewish believer who met face to face with the resurrected Messiah, with a strong desire to see followers of Yeshua live lives worthy of their calling. This letter was probably written from Rome in the late 60’s C.E.. There is a remarkable likeness in both style and content between this letter and the one written by Jude. Both are concerned with the false doctrine being ‘peddled’ within the “ekklesia”.
Peter went right back to the beginning of man’s time on earth to draw comparison with events of his day. In the ‘last days’ scoffers will abound. We could say the same today couldn’t we? Little acknowledgement of, and no respect for, the King of this Universe. “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever” He said, and “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually … and He was grieved in His heart.” (Genesis 6) But the very practical Peter saw that men had been looking at signs of the end times for centuries. We still are. “Where is the promise of His coming” he said.
Then he reminded himself, and the readers of his letter, that God does not see time as we see time. It is a common trait of mankind to limit God to our own understanding. We can’t help it. It is all we know. But as Peter went on to say, “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” I do not think that Peter had a specific timeline in mind when he wrote that. Some have made much of the literality of the ‘day’ and the ‘thousand years’. I am inclined to the view that with God, each of those time measures, which mean so much to mankind, are just words to God. His timing is perfect, never early, and never late. At the moment of His choosing He sent Messiah Yeshua into this earthly kingdom, and at the moment of His choosing this age will come to an end. And only He knows the date. We are not to fret about that, but are required, in the time of our sojourn on this earth, to live our lives honourably and to His glory. Which is the message Peter is seeking to impart in this letter.
He emphasized this by telling the ‘ekklesia’ that “God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” But those who have the opportunity to repent should do so while are able, because “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” Now, dear friends that is as clear a statement of the end of time as you will ever read. And you know that just as the thief never makes an appointment to rob your house, so will the end come, without further warning. For those who are alive at that time and not ready it will be too late. For those reading this ‘reflection’ there is yet time! “Therefore beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found in Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
Now the only time Peter makes reference to Paul in this letter comes next. He said that Paul had also written in similar vein to this, but that Paul was sometimes hard to understand. I have pondered this long and hard. I must confess that in my ‘reflections’ on the writings of Paul, there were times when I had difficulty in following his thread. In part because Paul wrote some extremely long sentences, with little or no punctuation. I am quite sure that Paul wrote in a manner that was culturally understood by the recipients, and yet he was a bit of an enigma. An orthodox Jewish Rabbi speaking to a largely gentile audience. And with exceptional clarity, purpose, and success at that. It was the Jewish audience to whom Peter is writing, who had the difficulty. Our difficulty, as gentiles, with Paul’s writings today are for a different reason.
To understand Paul in our Christianised culture we need to get firmly in our minds that although he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, he never abandoned his Jewish orthodoxy. NEVER. If you are able to grasp that it will completely change the clarity of his writings. Most of us have been taught to see him in the light of Torah abandonment. (please look at last year’s ‘reflection’ number 44 on Acts 9 for more information) For your own study, put your prejudice on the shelf for a moment, then starting at Acts 9 right through to Acts 28 look at Paul’s own testimony as he suffered many trials at the hands of his Roman captors and the Orthodox Jewish community which he had left. You will find that there is absolutely NO evidence that he ever abandoned his Judaism. Quite the contrary. He took pride in it!
Peter wanted the “ekklesia’ to be well grounded in the pure word of God so that they did not fall prey to false teachers. The only way to know the word is to read and study it yourself. Be a “Berean” (Acts 17). Don’t take others word for it. Check it for yourself and enjoy the experience.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 50
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Peter needs little introduction! A giant of the faith. Bold, flawed, loyal, boisterous, impetuous, enthusiastic, spokesman, obedient to his calling. He was a leader to be admired and a study of his life is rewarding. A fervent Torah observant Jewish believer who met face to face with the resurrected Messiah, with a strong desire to see followers of Yeshua live lives worthy of their calling. This letter was probably written from Rome in the late 60’s C.E.. There is a remarkable likeness in both style and content between this letter and the one written by Jude. Both are concerned with the false doctrine being ‘peddled’ within the “ekklesia”.
Peter opened, as in his first letter, by describing himself as an apostle of Yeshua, but this time adding his role as ‘bondservant’, which in itself is a high calling of the Lord. Even though it is not specifically stated, it is generally assumed that he wrote to the same audience as in his first letter, because that message was written by Jews, to Jews, the diaspora Jews in Asia Minor. His concern then was the intrusion of outside influence upon the new believers in the “ekklesia”. Now there was the ‘peddling’ of false doctrine from inside to be dealt with. Such ‘peddling’ has continued throughout the ages but I cannot help but observe that we appear to be less concerned today with such matters, being nicely settled, as we are, inside our own preferred fellowship. Perhaps we are more tolerant. It is undoubtedly the case that the multiplicity of denominational variants in our global church structures however, provides fertile ground for the dissemination of all kinds of potential heresy, largely by an over emphasis of some small element of doctrine, to the detriment of a complete Biblical gospel. Why? Largely, I think, because there is little appreciation that the gospel message was written by Jews, to Jews, and in a Jewish context, and most denominational fellowships today are woefully devoid of any Hebraic understanding of the gospel message.
Peter is forthright in his message. Obviously, the believers to whom he addressed the letter had come to faith in Yeshua, through whom they had knowledge of God. In a progressive walk in the life of faith Peter exhorts them to “add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” That is a most impressive list of additions to faith!! Selah. Take time to ponder each one. ‘Virtue’ is a word not in common use today. It means ‘moral excellence” and there are many synonyms, such as ‘decency’ and even ‘righteousness’. Peter is saying, to all who will listen, work on your behaviour. Let your faith SHOW in how you act. Then add ‘knowledge’. Where does that come from? Well, in the context of Peter’s letter it comes from the word of God and those who teach it. In their case, of course, that not only includes the Torah, but also the teaching of the apostles as in this letter. ‘Self-control’ comes from that ‘knowledge’. The instructions for righteous living (Torah) provide the boundaries in which self-control is to be exercised. At the end of this progression Peter uses the word ‘love’. Here he uses the Greek “agape” (unconditional love). (John 21 records the “do you love Me?” encounter between Peter and Yeshua. In the first two questions Yeshua used “agape” for ‘love’ and Peter responded with “phileo” (friendship love)) Peter was careful in this letter in his choice of words. It is “agape” (unconditional love) which is the pinnacle of our ‘faith walk’. And it is also the beginning of it, the unconditional love which took our Saviour Yeshua to His sacrificial death on that Roman cross. Selah.
Having laid that solid foundation of personal commitment to a life of faith which leads to “agape” love for the whole “ekklesia” individually and also corporately, Peter then ventures into the realm of prophecy and especially prophetic interpretation. Friends, this is a veritable ‘minefield’ in our own church experience today. There were false prophets operating in the ranks of the “ekklesia” in Peter’s day, and there are false prophets operating in our churches today. So how are they to be recognized? “Thus says the Lord” is many times an abrupt conversation stopper. As is “The Lord told me”. However, Peter specifies here “prophecy of Scripture”. That which has already been proclaimed by holy men of God and is written in the Book! Those prophecies are not for ‘private’ interpretation. It seems to me that the counsel of Peter here is that there were people in the “ekklesia” who were incorrectly teaching out of the prophetic writings of Scripture. Most likely about the person of Messiah Yeshua. Others believe this refers to current (new) prophetic utterance in the church, Paul has a word to say on that in 1 Corinthians 14. Such prophecy should be confirmed by ‘two or three’ and the rest should make judgement. And that is a really good principle for understanding all prophecy anyway.
I exhort readers of this ‘reflection’ to carefully read Chapter 2. It hardly requires comment. The characteristics and motives of false prophets are clearly identified. And the chapter ends with a solemn warning to those who engage in false prophecy, wittingly or otherwise. “For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 49
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Peter needs little introduction! A giant of the faith. Bold, flawed, loyal, boisterous, impetuous, enthusiastic, spokesman, obedient to his calling. He was a leader to be admired and a study of his life is rewarding. A fervent Torah observant Jewish believer who met face to face with the resurrected Messiah, with a strong desire to see followers of Yeshua live lives worthy of their calling. This letter was probably written from Rome in the mid 60’s C.E. and it remains something of a mystery that Peter does not mention the Apostle Paul in his letters, other than to comment on the difficulty in understanding his letters! (2 Peter 3:15, 16)
Again our passage starts with a “therefore”. This time the reference is to the statement “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” So Peter said that the believers should arm themselves with the same mind. “Therefore” the sins of the flesh need no longer have sway in our life. That bias has been broken. There is now a new way. The life of freedom from the bondage of sinful lusts. Freedom and assistance to live a life controlled by the Spirit of God. Peter is quite ferocious in his condemnation of the ‘gentile’ lifestyle which had evidently become part and parcel of the diaspora Jews way of life in their new location far away from Israel. (when as an 18 year old I was conscripted into the Airforce, my wise old Sunday School teacher counselled me to ‘nail your colours to the mast’. You have been saved from sin, he said, so let them know where you stand. I did and it wasn’t easy at first, but every day my co-conscripts found ways to remind me of Who and what I represented in that place! And that made it easier because there was no going back) It is easy to adopt the ways of the crowd, the locals, the people you rub shoulders with every day. But Peter had a word for those too. “They will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” Our God is righteous in all His ways and He will judge by His standards, not ours!
Knowing that the road would not be easy, Peter encouraged the “ekklesia” to be kindly and hospitable towards each other. Supporting each other through the tests and trials he was certain they would face. Peter was not a ‘prosperity teacher’ was he? “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” Selah. This is a principle expounded many times in the Scriptures. Yeshua Himself was confronted by many who challenged His teaching. Paul certainly knew the same rejection. Few of us today face the loss of our life for our faith as they both did. Why do we think that we are exempt from opposition? Only by having a blurred witness, a foot in both camps so to speak. It is costly, and rewarding, to live our faith. If it is ‘easy’, a check of our lifestyle would be in order. Which is exactly what Peter was saying to these diaspora Jews.
Then Peter turned his attention to those in leadership in the “ekklesia’. He writes with passion about the roles of both leaders and congregants. There is no hierarchy. There is recognition of elders as teachers and counsellors to the “ekklesia”. Encouraged to willingly accept their ministry calling, not by ‘lording’ it over the people but by living the example. How in the wide world, I ask myself, did the Catholic church get it so wrong in the early years of the gentile inclusion? And how, after centuries of experience of that do we manage to perpetuate such wrong in our “ekklesia” today? I wonder sometimes if God (proverbially) ‘scratches His head’ in amazement at our modern church performance. Many pastors, blessed with God given ministry gifts, called to be servants to the “ekklesia”, are elevated by the addition of the unbiblical superior descriptors “chief”, “senior” etc. to their roles. Look at Peter’s exhortation to the “ekklesia” here as he takes up the same theme Paul did in his letter to the Ephesian “ekklesia”. “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility; for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble’. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
We should not be surprised that Peter draws this letter to a close by again emphasizing the need for vigilance. As a true shepherd of the flock, he is at pains to warn them of the dangers which are present in almost every walk of life. The adversary is still alive and well today, maybe even more active. Satan obviously failed in his attempts to quell the plan of God in those early days to share loving communion with those who are His. Otherwise we would not be enjoying our spiritual freedom today. But the warning is still relevant for us. “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” There is no place for complacency. Be blessed as you continue to read, study, and live God’s word, for great is your reward in heaven.
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 48
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Peter needs little introduction! A giant of the faith. Bold, flawed, loyal, boisterous, impetuous, enthusiastic, spokesman, obedient to his calling. He was a leader to be admired and a study of his life is rewarding. A fervent Torah observant Jewish believer who met face to face with the resurrected Messiah, with a strong desire to see followers of Yeshua live lives worthy of their calling. This letter was probably written from Rome in the mid 60’s C.E. and it remains something of a mystery that Peter does not mention the Apostle Paul in his letters, other than to comment on the difficulty in understanding his letters! (2 Peter 3:15, 16)
In my Bible today’s reading begins with the word “therefore”. That means it has relevance to what has immediately gone before it. So it would be wise to check that out. The key is in 1 Peter 1:16 and 23. “Be holy, for I am holy” and “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible through the word of God.” “Therefore”, Peter said, “desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.” Now let’s get some perspective here. This letter is written to the Jewish communities in the ‘diaspora’ (the dispersion). Specifically, Peter writes to believers, messianic Jews. What was the “word” that was to ‘be desired’ for their spiritual growth? The only “word” they had of course. The Hebrew Scriptures. Certainly they might also have read Paul’s encouraging teaching letters (which Peter thought were difficult to understand!) but they were not ‘the Scriptures’ of that time.
Peter’s expectation was that as these believing Jews, being chosen by God and precious, grew in the ‘pure milk of the word’ and then became as living stones, a holy priesthood, used in building a ‘spiritual house’ where spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Yeshua, were offered. It is difficult for gentile believers today to grasp that concept, but Jews have no difficulty with it. Offering prayers and thanks to God three times every day is still the common practise of orthodox Jews. If nothing else, it is the sacrifice of ones time to spend with God, but it is much more than that. The references in Isaiah and Psalms about ‘the chief cornerstone’, the foundation of this ‘spiritual house’, is obvious to believers today, as indeed it was to the diaspora believers. Paul wrote in Romans 11:25 about the ‘blindness in part’ of the Jew, which we believe prevents them today from understanding that Yeshua is that ‘chief cornerstone’. But I am concerned for the part we might play in obscuring His identity too! It is very well to talk about Him as the Messiah of God, but when He is presented to them as one who abolished the Torah, the very word which Peter proclaims to be the ‘pure milk of the word’, I think we are treading on extremely ‘thin ice’. And finally Peter charges them with the fact that the point at which change occurs, when ‘stumbling’ (unbelief, walking in darkness, disobedience to the word) ceases, is the point at which they become ‘the people of God’. It is absolutely no different for us. The point at which our ‘stumbling’ (unbelief, walking in darkness, disobedience to the word) ceases, we become “a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”
Peter took time to spell out the way such persons should behave in the society in which they lived. He progressed from the exhortation to live as examples, with a good reputation among our fellow citizens, to the need (in chapter 3) for exemplary conduct in our homes. The relationship between husband and wife is personal. Many husbands enthusiastically embrace Peter’s exhortation as he addressed wives. “do not let your adornment be merely outward – rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” but are less enthusiastic when he addressed the husband’s responsibility. (on a personal note, I pay tribute to my own wife, who was no ‘shrinking violet’! but through a very long marriage exhibited such love and wisdom in her conduct in our home, drawing great love and respect to herself from my whole family in return) It is all brought together when Peter said “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tender-hearted, be courteous, etc.”
One of the most quotable verses of Scripture came from the pen of Peter in this letter. “Sanctify Messiah as Lord (Nestle-Aland Greek text) in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (reverence).” The word ‘sanctify’ means consecrate, set apart for worship, treat with great care, value immensely. And just before this Peter quoted from the Psalms, with which I close this ‘refection’. Could it be that a person who really does “Sanctify Messiah as Lord” would not need words of his own to convey the message of salvation because his life would be living testimony of the ‘hope that is in him’? The Psalmist needs no comment from me.
“He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. And His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
Shabbat Shalom
RS
Brit Hadashah Reflections
Brit Hadashah Reflections 47
Hebraic understanding of the Apostolic letters
Peter needs little introduction! A giant of the faith. Bold, flawed, loyal, boisterous, impetuous, enthusiastic, spokesman, obedient to his calling. He was a leader to be admired and a study of his life is rewarding. A fervent Torah observant Jewish believer who met face to face with the resurrected Messiah, with a strong desire to see followers of Yeshua live lives worthy of their calling. This letter was probably written from Rome in the mid 60’s C.E. and it remains something of a mystery that Peter does not mention the Apostle Paul in his letters, other than to comment on the difficulty in understanding his letters! (2 Peter 3:15, 16)
Peter addressed this pastoral letter to the diaspora communities of Jewish believers in “Asia Minor”. A region we broadly identify as central Turkey today. The writing Apostles had spent about three years of their life under the close tutelage of Yeshua. Uneducated men with no religious baggage, Yeshua chose these men carefully to spread the good news of the gospel after His death and resurrection. Gentile believers today constitute a quite significant part of the fruit of their obedience to the commission with which they were charged. All of us who are “born of the Spirit” owe a great debt of gratitude to these faithful Jewish Apostles. But few of us seem to vocalize recognition of that heritage!
This letter was intended to be read by a number of “ekklesia” in the region. Very early, Peter refers to ‘various trials’ being encountered by these “ekklesia”, infering that such ‘trials’ were part and parcel of common experience. Most would understand those ‘trials’ to mean difficulties, persecutions, harassment and even personal abuse. And those ‘trials’ would be emanating both from the local populace and from unbelieving Orthodox Jewish members (also known as Judaizers). Now, to get a grip on the situation, it is helpful if we can, in some measure, personalize this experience and relate it to our situation today. Otherwise, relating to the pastoral nature of Peter’s counsel becomes difficult to comprehend. And the miracle of the Scriptures is the way they are able to span all ages and generations.
It is made more difficult today because, whereas Peter warns that these ‘trials’ are the expected ‘norm’ for believers, there are many “Apostles” (self-appointed) today deceptively proclaiming the ‘prosperity teaching’ for all believers. It is popular because it is attractive and self-serving. But it’s not in the Bible! And my dear friends, since we are told that we are not ‘of this world’, if we do not have opposition (we are told that the world is at enmity with God) we should perhaps question the nature and quality of the witness we present to those around us.
However, Peter’s message is not all gloom and doom. Quite the opposite. “you have been grieved by various trials” he said, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Yeshua Ha’Mashiach, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory , receiving the end of your faith .. the salvation of your souls.” Does the genuineness of my faith and witness pass this test? Does yours?
He continued in the manner of both a challenge and an exhortation. With reference to their life before faith “conforming to your former lusts, as in your ignorance.” And quoting from the Torah with which the Jews would be familiar, he said “as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written ‘Be holy for I am holy’.” (Leviticus 11) The question for us to address is ‘How much of that exhortation applies today?” That God is holy is beyond question. That we were conforming to our former lusts is also unquestioned, even though, arguably, the degree may be different for each individual. (it is appropriate to remember the Hebrew word “chata” (sin), which is an archery term meaning to miss the mark. Whether by one millimetre or one metre is not specified.) Missing the mark is ‘missing the mark!’ No one is exempt. So how to judge ‘holiness’ by God’s standard is the issue. The Torah is the written account of God’s instruction for righteous (holy, set apart) living. Nowhere in the Scriptures will you find that Torah has been made obsolete, and certainly not for Jews. (Did you realize that the New Covenant sign is the Torah written on our hearts and put in our minds by God Himself so that it can no longer be taught!) I would think too that those who have been ‘grafted into the natural Olive Tree’ (which is Israel according to Paul) are also privileged to benefit from such instruction. If that is the case then today we too are to “Be holy for I am holy”.
“All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away. But the word of the Lord endures forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) Peter reminded his readers. “And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached to you.” And guess what! The ‘word’ to which Peter referred was what we call “The Old Testament”, more appropriately being The Hebrew Scriptures.
Shabbat Shalom
RS