mrscottyl
Member
Hugh McBryde begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting said:
Hugh,
You know that I can turn that same argument right around on you. How do you know that Matthew wrote his gospel in Greek? Can you, based solely on Scripture, without having in direct evidence, say that he did? Of course, the answer is no, because we do not have the original copy, and so if there are any alterations, you would not know about it. So basing our beliefs and doctrines on the Greek mindset is basing them on facts not in evidence, and as you put that, proof of our own arrogance.
The problem that we have here is of the different mindsets. "It is finished" in the Greek mindset says something totally different than in the Hebrew mindset. The Gentiles love Paul because as they see it, he freed them from the Law and said that the Law was done away with. The, as you call them, Messianic believer, many of them do not even believe that Paul was an apostle, let a lone inspired, because of the way that the Gentiles teach what Paul says. Now either Paul is a true apostle and his writings are inspired, or he is a fraud, and an apostate or totally a fictitious person. How can this be? Simple - by totally misunderstanding based upon mindset, and being beat over the head with Paul's writings.
Why do Jews hate the Cross? To them, it is a symbol of persecution, because in the sign of the cross, they have been driven from one place to another and have even been killed. Why do some of the Messianic Jews hate Paul? Because his words are used to put them down and to belittle them, even if that is not how it is meant.
Let me ask you a question? Can Scripture contradict itself? When Jesus/Yahushua said that He came not to destroy to the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill, then how can one say that He destroyed them by nailing them to His cross? Now back to the Hebrew mindset verses the Greek mindset. The Greek mindset says that the Law was no longer needed because now we have Grace. But to the Hebrew mind, they have always had grace. There is nothing new under the sun, including grace. So then what? To the Hebrew mindset, YaHuWaH never changes - period. Even when He repented of something, such as the destruction of Ninevah during Jonah's time or the death of all those that came out of Egypt in Moses' time, He only delayed what would happen instead of changing His mind altogether. To the Greek mindset, He changed the covenant, His people, and the way He was to be worshiped. Two different mindsets which bring about two different ways of thinking. So then what? To the Greek mindset, Colossians chapter 2 is the ultimate in proving that the Law was done away with. But when you look at verses 8, 14, and 20 with a Hebrew mindset, it was not the Law of YaHuWaH that was done away with, but the Oral Torah or the teachings, and doctrines of the Rabbi's, and then when you throw in philosophies, that goes to what the Hellenistic (i.e. Greek) Jews added further to the Oral Torah, because that all came from Aristotle and Plato. Again, two different ways of looking at the same words. So then what?
Just because theologians and scholars have said things are a certain way for thousands of years does not make them right. When Yahushua (Jesus) spoke to the ignorant unschooled Jewish disciples, He spoke in the way their minds understood. When He spoke to the Rabbi's He spoke in the way that their minds would understand. He did not speak in the way that Aristotle or Plato would have understood, for they considered His conversation and death as foolishness. We are not to look to the wisdom that comes from this world for our answers, but to the wisdom that comes from above, that reveals the Truth to us, step by step, as we grow and are able to understand and comprehend. I do not know everything, for I know in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then I shall know even as I am known. Every member of the body is given the knowledge they need to accomplish the tasks they are assigned, whether they are Gentile or Jewish. For, as Paul said, there is no difference between the two, so they are expected to be one, not two different groups.
Scott
