WHY THE MISUNDERSTANDING ABOUT
THE TORAH?
Many Christians; Jews, and, non-Christians
alike believe today that the New Testament is teaching the Torah of Moses is
irrelevant to the Christian believer; because, it was "fulfilled" by
Jesus Christ. Their understanding of "fulfilled" is based upon a
biased selection of terms associated with the Greek ROOT word
"pleyroo" a.k.a. Strong's # G4137. This bias comes not from a
complete, and exhaustive study of the appearance, and usage of the exact term
used in Matthew 5:17 "pleyrosai." Instead it is often based upon a shallow
examination of the term (by glancing at the Strong's definition); coupled with
trust, and faith in the explanations given to them by pastoral staff.
The majority of Christians will never go to the extent I am suggesting to
really understand what a term actually means. Because we are products of a
"fast food generation" who wants their food in sixty seconds or less
at the drive through we want our answers to Biblical questions the same way. We
"Google" a question and want an answer right away. This teaching
about Messiah is spread almost entirely
through modern Christianity and is an accurate depiction of what the
"modern church" is teaching its members. It is also why a great deal
of Jews continue to reject the "Jesus" being portrayed by modern
Christianity. There is a valid and legitimate reason there were "myriads
of Jews who believe" as stated in Acts 21:20 "and they are all
zealous for the law." Friend I tell you the truth when WE get our doctrine
correct THEN they will see Messiah as he really is; and accept Him. Subsequently
so shall we.
This belief that Jesus "did away with the Torah;" or "nailed it
to the cross;" or "set it aside;" or that "I'm not under
the law I'm under grace" is "supported" by thirty-seven passages
contained primarily in the Epistles of Paul
which are essentially one sided letters.
Paul's writing are systematically abused by those who are untaught and unstable
to abrogate the Torah of Moses; and, even the
words of Messiah Himself.
This false doctrine is mingled with the coupling of pagan holidays; the
rejection of the Biblical Sabbath; practicing a lifestyle that is not adherent
to standards considered scripturally kosher; and, reflects an attitude that the
"church" is separate and distinct from the "Jews." We have
been taught to pollute our "temples" and then wonder why we do not
see the occurrence of miracles which existed in the body of the early church of
the first century. Furthermore the presence of "replacement theology"
is present, pervasive, hostile towards anything "Jewish;" and contributes
to a climate of anti-Semitism within the "church" which has existed
for centuries furthering the divide between the Jew and non-Jew. We must become
more serious students seeking to THINK and BEHAVE like those believers in the
first century who were followers of Messiah; not as those who are separated by
2,000 years of doctrine hostile to the truth. Friends we were warned by Peter
that there would be false teachers. Unfortunately the majority of Christianity
doesn't even know the scriptural litmus test for discerning a false teacher
from a legitimate one.
For most Christians who are more serious about
reading their Bible the use of the Strong's Concordance serves to harden the
rift which exists by keeping the student from adhering to a steady, consistent,
translation of the meaning of terms between the Old Testament (TaNaK) and the
New Testament (Brit Chadashah). Notice on the photos below how the Strong's serves
to give the reader the ROOT word used (G3551); but, not the ACTUAL WORD
of the Greek used in each passage. This method is the same for terms from the
Hebrew text of the Old Testament as well as for terms in the Greek New
Testament. For example in the text of the New Testament there are 172 passages
in the KJV where a Greek word is rendered "law."
To further
complicate the matter when one uses the Strong's Concordance they will most
frequently see the root word G3551 "nomos" (νόμος) listed. This term "nomos" is only ONE (1) variant of the word when there are
actually in truth EIGHT (8)
different variants of this term.
What happens is
the student is lead to believe the same term "nomos" is present
consistently throughout the New Testament when in truth there are these EIGHT (8) variants. I will list them here
but we will get into them much more deeply later on.
νομοι : "nomoi"
|
νομον: "nomon"
|
νομου: "nomou"
|
νομω: "nomo"
|
νομοις: "nomois"
|
νόμος: "nomos"
|
νομους "nomous"
|
νομων: "nomon"
|
As if this wasn't confusing enough when you look up the Greek term used for the
word rendered "laws"
in English there are even MORE forms with a different root G3545
"nomimos".
νομιμα: "nomima"
|
νομιμον: "nomimon"
|
νομιμως: "nomomos"
|
νομιμοις: "nomimois"
|
νομιμων: "nomimon"
|
|
It gets even more confusing when more than one variant is used within a passage
and each term is rendered "law" in the English; but the Greek is
indicating there is some distinction between the two terms because they are
DIFFERENT. Why the distinction? WHY THE DIFFERENCE?
When we were
children and learned how to match symbols didn't we learn to match those that are
the SAME with others that are the SAME? Friends do we not treat different
things differently? Why then are we treating them the same way?
I'd like to use
something from our childhood to get you thinking. Remember the
"Memory" game? We had to match objects; or even WORDS that are the
same and differentiate between pictures or words that were DIFFERENT. See
Cookie monster and Elmo? BOTH are similar in that they are puppets; however,
they are NOT the same they are STILL DIFFERENT!!!
It was not
until I began using the E-Sword software program that I began to notice a difference in the terms being used
which are rendered "law." Many of these variants are found in the
Pauline Epistles. Although these variants are similar in that they have the
same ROOT; they are DIFFERENT because they are NOT THE SAME WORD!!!
Although E-Sword has a print function I wanted a Greek Interlinear in physical
form and began to look for one. At the same time I was interested in examining
the Greek terms within the LXX which translate Hebrew words. I found myself
purchasing an Apostolic Polyglot which contains the Old and New Testaments in
Greek in an interlinear format. It helps me to locate terms in an analog format
when I don't feel like using the computer and eases things a bit because the
LXX and the LXX with Strongs' numbers in E-Sword are not in an interlinear
format. This is important when comparing terms to ensure you are selecting the
correct Hebrew term that underlies the Greek text of the LXX. Although there
are some variations in the Apostolic Polyglot I have found that often they are
the same.
When I began learning about Judaism in late 2009 I discovered that they
believed in two (2) Torahs which took me by surprise. I had always assumed that
there was only the written
Torah of Moses which you see carried; read; and treated with a great deal of
respect by Rabbis. When I learned that there were even different names "Torah Shebichtav " the
"Law that is Written;" and the "Torah Sheba'al Peh" the "Law upon the
mouth" I became even more intrigued.
Keep in the back
of your mind that we treat
same things the same way and different things differently.
These two
Torah's are NOT the same; but rather are DIFFERENT.
What fascinated me the most was to learn the oral traditions predate Messiah; and, later began to be
codified after the destruction of the Temple in 70AD (CE). I was also surprised
to learn although it was something rejected by the Sadducees; it was highly regarded within the Pharisee party
to which Rabbi Sha'ul (Paul) belonged before preaching the death; burial; and
resurrection of Messiah. Notice the timeline below.
The term "Zugot"
in Hebrew refers to a plural of two identical objects. This term is used to
refer to a time period in Israel's history when five (5) pairs of religious
leaders ruled the Supreme Court also known as the "Bet din HaGadol."
The last pair Hillel and Shammai lived during the time of Herod the Great.
Messiah Himself was actually born BEFORE year "Zero" so he LIVED during
the time they were living; and, during the beginning of the time of the of the
"Tannaiim;" which means "repeaters." It is quite possible
that Messiah even debated with Hillel and Shammai in the Temple as a child. We
will talk about this more later. For now just know that this time period is
extremely relevant to understanding what was happening in Israel when Messiah
CAME the first time.
One of the
texts that I read was Understanding the
Difficult Words of Jesus by David Bivin. Biven asserts with clarity
a fact that is textually precise. A truth that is unshakable and undeniable.
Pay close attention.
77 % PERCENT
Seventy Seven
(77%) percent of the volume of the Bible is contained between Genesis and
Malachi in the Bible. The Hebrew TaNaK has the same books; just a slightly
different order. The remaining books of the New Testament; Matthew through
Revelation contain the other twenty three (23%) percent. However; how much of
the New Testament is raw, new text as vs. quotations of the Old Testament?
NEW TEXT vs. QUOTATIONS
When
we factor in there are 358 quotations that I have been able to count between
Matthew and 2nd Peter (see
http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/Quotations-NT-OT.htm) which come directly
FROM the Old Testament it erodes the "new" parts of the twenty
three (23%) in a startlingly,
significant manner. What I mean by "new" is raw new material that isn't quoting or citing the TaNaK (Old Testament) in any way. These quotes which exist within the body of the New Testament writings; regardless if they are in Greek or Hebrew; are:
Quoting
an original text that was Hebrew.
This means the percentage of the Bible
that must be viewed from a Hebraic perspective increases; and if we are to
be an honest people we should take this into account. Then there are the
parallelisms; Hebrew idioms; and chiastic structure found heavily in Hebrew
poetry, and writing along with the perfect Hebrew syntax contained in the
Greek sentence structure of the New Testament which points to an
underlying Hebrew text. If we combine that with early sources that assert
Matthew was originally penned in Hebrew we find ourselves in a position were it
becomes pertinent that we seek to find the Hebrew meaning underlying the Greek
text of Matthew as well as other books of the New Testament. That is what led
me to work on an examination of the appearance and usage of the term
"law" in the LXX and the New Testament that revealed some very interesting information.
I am going to assert strenuously that because we have not examined the New
Testament from a Hebraic perspective; and, because the majority of Christians
are functionally illiterate when it comes to understanding Greek; or,
Hebrew there has been an unnatural slant towards the Greek meaning; and,
understanding of the texts based upon the Strong's Concordance because that is
how Pastors and laypersons have largely been trained over the past hundred
years or so. Friends the Strong's is AN INDEX; NOT A DICTIONARY! We have been
using it WRONG It is a starting point for understanding the terms and were they
appear. It should NOT be the last place we look.
A recent article at www.religionnews.com titled Poll:
American's love the Bible but don't read it much written by Caleb Bell
April 4th, 2014 says the following
More
than three-quarters of Americans (77 percent) think the nation’s morality is
headed
downhill, according to a new survey from American Bible Society. The
survey
showed the Bible is still firmly rooted in American soil: 88 percent of
respondents
said they own a Bible, 80 percent think the Bible is sacred, 61 percent
wish
they read the Bible more, and the average household has 4.4 Bibles... If they
do
read it, the majority (57 percent) only read their Bibles four times a year or
less.
Only 26 percent of Americans said they read their Bible on a regular basis
(four
or more times a week)... Younger people also seem to be moving away from
the
Bible. A majority (57 percent) of those ages 18-28 read their Bibles less than three
times a year, if at all.
I was even more stunned by what was revealed in another
article entitled The Scandal of Bible Illiteracy It's Out Problem by
Albert Mohler President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary posted at
www.christianheadlines.com. It isn't clear when the article was published
however based upon comments on the webpage it seems to have been published in
2014.
Mr. Mohler cites research done by George Gallup and Jim
Castelli of Barna Group and gives stark examples of just how illiterate
Americans are when it comes to the Bible.
"Researchers tell us
that it's worse than most could imagine...Fewer than half of
all
adults can name the four gospels. Many Christians cannot identify more than
two
or three of the disciples. According to data from the Barna Research Group,
60
percent of Americans can't name even five of the Ten Commandments. 'No
wonder people
break the Ten Commandments all the time. They don't know what
they
are,' said George Barna, president of the firm. The bottom line?
'Increasingly,
America is biblically illiterate.'"
Certainly you have heard people say "God helps
those who help themselves" yes? According to Mohler's article 82 percent
of American's actually believe that is a Bible verse. Are you shocked yet?
Apparently those who are self professed as being "born again" only
score around 81 percent. That should take your breath away. Pay close attention
to what he says next.
"A
Barna poll indicated that at least 12 percent of adults believe that Joan of
Arc
was
Noah's wife. Another survey of graduating high school seniors revealed that
over
50 percent thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were husband and wife. A
considerable
number of respondents to one poll indicated that the Sermon on the
Mount
was preached by Billy Graham. We are in big trouble."
It doesn't end there. Mohler goes on to state that the
real scandal is the Biblical Illiteracy among Christians; those who supposedly
go to church.
"Christians
who lack biblical knowledge are the products of churches that
marginalize
biblical knowledge. Bible teaching now often accounts for only a
diminishing
fraction of the local congregation's time and attention. The move to
small
group ministry has certainly increased opportunities for fellowship, but
many
of these groups never get beyond superficial Bible study."
My own personal experience with "church"
before the LORD (HFHI)
actually got hold of me was centralized around Wednesday night two hour Bible
studies; Sunday services that lasted a little more than an hour; and, the
reading of Our Daily Bread a pamphlet that takes a person through one
Bible verse each day. I actually thought I KNEW what the Bible said. I thought
I knew what the purpose; mission; and identity of Messiah were. That is until I
actually read it personally; for myself; every book; every chapter; every
verse; every word; line by line.
It took me nine months to actually read and came on the
heels of a tearful impassioned request on my knees in my bedroom as I pleaded
with God to show me HIS truth and
not man's. That HE would teach me;
that HE would show me what HE wanted; not some denomination or
individual pastor's interpretation. I had read Matthew 7:11 and Luke11:13 two
passages that were so similar they were almost identical. They indicate that
the Holy Spirit is a good gift; and, that God gives it to those who ASK Him for
it.
"If
you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more
will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask
Him!"
(Matthew 7:11)
"If
you then, being evil, know then how to give good gifts to your children, how
much
more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask
Him?"
(Luke 11:13)
The particular evening I made this connection I prayed as I pleaded for the Father to empty me out
like an empty can of old Dr. Pepper and to instead fill me up with the Holy Spirit. I
remember telling Him "I don't know what it will feel like, or look like. I
don't know if there will be some amazing experience or if I will act differently;
but, your Word says it is a good gift; and, you give it to those who ask; so
I'm asking you. Please give me your Holy Spirit. I have got to get this
right!"
I was honest with Him and told Him I didn't love His word the way
that I should; but that I wanted to. I shared with Him what He already knew. "I
don't know your word the way that I should; but I want to." So there I was
expecting something amazing and nothing happened. At least nothing at that very
moment. That night I slept rather soundly and woke up really refreshed. However
the following night was the beginning of what would be a nine month period
where I believe God Himself gave me insomnia.
For nine months straight I found myself unable to put
down my Bible. I started in Matthew and reread through the Gospels. Then through Acts
until something led me back to Genesis. I know at this point it was the Father.
At the time I had purchased a pocket version of the NKJV version for my wife so
she could carry it around in her purse. As soon as I had highlighted in it she
said "it's yours now."
I took it everywhere; I literally mean EVERYWHERE. At
the time I was in college and wore these shorts with cargo pockets. In went my
Bible; several highlighters and colored pens and a spiral Oxford pack of ruled
index cards for me to take notes. I read it on the bus on the way to school and
on the way home. I read it in between classes and at lunch. At night I would
read until 2:00 sometime 3:00am. I would read and then process what I had read
the next day really chewing on what I had read.
When I got to 1st and 2nd Kings I was surprised to
discover that the Northern Kingdom; known as "the house of Israel;"
"Samaria;" and sometimes called "Ephraim" NEVER had a king
that was righteous or obeyed the commandments of God. Not one. King after king
chose to be disobedient and God would remove them; one after another. I
remember thinking to myself "where I come from we call that a clue."
I was even more surprised when I learned that it was
the Northern Tribes only who were divorced from God and not Judah
or Benjamin known as the Southern Kingdom. This would help me later to
understand the Prophets and Messiah's message.
During this time we were attending Calvary Chapel Covina. I was studying the
different positions on the timing of the "rapture" doctrine to help
me to be able to give a defense for what I believed. This study rocked me to
the core. The result was that I chose to leave Calvary Chapel because the head
pastor (Joe Salaiz) was unable to clearly show me with the Bible why they held so fervently
to a
Pre-Tribulation rapture position. I had shared a study with him on the
PreWrath Position hoping he could give me clear and convincing evidence from
the Bible that would refute what I had been reading. He took the study and
about six weeks later returned to me and said this.
"James,
I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. I've examined this
material
and I can't find anything wrong with it scripturally. "
There I was waiting for a refutation; something;
anything that would show me biblically why I should hold to the doctrine which
is taught by Calvary Chapel. His response was mind blowing.
"You
have to remember its just one man's interpretation of scripture."
As I looked at him I can remember thinking to myself
"Aren't you just a man?" "What makes your interpretation more
credible that what I just read?" "Isn't Raul Ries just a man?";
"Isn't Chuck Smith just a man?"
I was frustrated by what I had heard; and, by his failure to provide me
with Biblical evidence necessary to make an intelligent, informed decision.
About a week later I was having a conversation with a
friend of mine on the east coast who used to run a prophecy website. He had
also left Calvary Chapel. I was expressing my frustration when he said to me
"Bro don't you know that Prophecy isn't open to the private interpretation
of man? Do you have a Bible nearby" he asks me. "Of course I
do." My friend Rodrigo Silva directs me to 2 Peter 1:20-21
"...knowing
this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private
interpretation,
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God
spoke
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
"Ok." I said "then how are we supposed
to interpret Scripture" I asked? Rodrgo's reply was priceless and more
valuable than he could possibly imagine. "We must let scripture interpret
scripture." The question is if everyone claims they are doing just that;
why is there such an enormous swing in what is taught from the pulpit?
My assertion is that the majority of Christians; and,
their pastors will tell you that the New Testament is "scripture." I
challenge you; yes YOU the person reading this to examine the terms
"scripture;" "scriptures;" and the phrase Messiah uses
"it is written" and go find what is referenced.
FIND WHERE the quote is coming from. FIND what the
Bible is calling "scripture" or "the scriptures." FIND
where IT IS WRITTEN! If you will actually do that I can tell you what you will
find. However if I tell you; then you will tend to disbelieve it. If however you
find it yourself you WILL believe it. I know exactly what you are going to find
because I did it myself. It was a process that took time.
The term "scripture" appears 32 times in the
KJV while the term "scriptures" appears 21 times in the KJV. The
underlying Greek term is G1124 (γραφή) and it appears 51 times between Matthew and Revelation. There are actually seven (7) different
variations of the term between the LXX and the Greek New Testament. What is
clear is that a close examination will reveal overwhelmingly that NONE
of the New Testament writers EVER quote another New Testament writer
calling their work "scripture" or "scriptures." Zero,
Zilch, Nada, Zip.
If I write you a letter and repeatedly quote the scriptures;
that DOES NOT MAKE MY LETTER SCRIPTURE. If I give testimony about what I see or
hear that DOES NOT MAKE MY TESTIMONY SCRIPTURE.
Out of fifty one passages; only one (1) is used to
justify calling the New Testament "scripture,"
2 Peter 3:16 in which Paul's writings are clearly referred to as
"Epistles" (επιστολαις) and not scripture. There are those who will argue that
"scriptures" just means "something written." The Qu'ran is
written; does that qualify it as scripture? What about the Constitution of the
United States is it not "written?" Does that mean I can use that as
an argument it is scripture? Of course not!
Many today are asserting Paul's writings are "scripture" because a group of men decided to proclaim Paul scripture. Unfortunately many of these "early fathers" teach in opposition to what the Bible itself defines as "scripture" by citing it; quoting it; or directing our attention towards it.
If you look at the term "Epistles" (επιστολαις) it is used in the LXX translation of the Hebrew Old
Testament to point out "letters" written by Ephraim and Manasseh by
Hezekiah; yet, Hezekiah's letters to them are not called "scripture"
or "scriptures" (2 Chronicles 31:1).
In Ezra 4:6 it indicates during the reign of Ahasuerus
there was an "accusation" written against the inhabitants of Judah
and Jerusalem. The same term; however a variant, for Paul's writings is used
here. Does that make the accusation scripture? Of course not.
In Nehemiah 6:5 Sanballat who was an enemy of the Jews
sent a letter. Although the letter is mentioned Sanballat's letter is in itself
NOT Scripture. In Ester 3:14 it discusses a letter that was sent out from the
King that was urged by Haman. In the letters they gave those in the provinces
permission to destroy, kill, and to annihilate all the Jews both young and old.
Just because they are mentioned along with their context does not make the
wicked letter "scripture."
Right now the church is busy interpreting the scriptures using Paul as a lens. It looks a bit like this diagram below.
Christians are taught that anything in these books that speaks of
blessings belong to them when they are clearly for Israel. They are taught that
the Torah is for the "Jew" and not the Christian because they are under "grace" and the Jew is "under
law." Christians have been taught for CENTURIES that they are grafted into Messiah and NOT grafted into Israel. They have been taught that they are still gentiles and are separate from Israel.
This lens creates disunity within what is SUPPOSED
to be ONE BODY. The Body of Messiah is supposed to be made up of both Jews and
Non-Jews. We need as a people to recognize WHAT the BIBLE calls
"scripture" so that we can properly apply Timothy's exhortation when
he says:
"All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for
reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may
be
thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Friends notice is says "all scripture"
and not "just the New Testament" it specifically says
"scripture" however the Biblical definition of "scripture"
is not "The New Testament." Additionally the italics of the term
"is" means it doesn't appear in the Greek. The verse doesn't read
"all scripture is given by inspiration of God..." It says
"all scripture GIVEN BY GOD is profitable for doctrine, reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness." In fact the Greek indicates all scripture "GOD BREATHED" is useful for these things. What does the Bible define as "Scripture?" What DID GOD SAY WITH HIS OWN MOUTH THAT HE COMMANDED TO BE RECORDED?
If you are ignoring the
statutes, commandments, judgments, ordinances, and testimonies contained in the
Torah because you believe they aren't for you then my friend you aren't
thoroughly equipped for every good work.
As I write this I already know there are New
Testament Christians who are freaking out and accusing me of heresy; or being a
false teacher; or the antichrist. I also know that those who are doing so
haven't taken the time to examine all 51 passages that use the term
"scripture" or "scriptures." I also know they haven't taken
the time to go and examine all the passage where the phrase "it is
written" appears where it quotes another place in the Bible. How do I
know? Because I did it myself and if they did the study themselves they CANNOT
have another conclusion.
I tell you the truth the location of where "it
is written" it in the Hebrew TaNaK;
not the New Testament. Messiah Himself calls Moses, all the Prophets, and the
Psalms "scripture" in the last chapter of Luke.
"And
beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the
Scriptures
the things concerning Himself." Luke 24:27
"Then
He said to them, 'These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still
with
you, that all these things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of
Moses
and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." Luke 24:44
If Messiah calls Moses Scripture; if Messiah call
ALL THE PROPHETS scripture; if Messiah references the Psalms as SCRIPTURE
because Messiah HIMSELF "expounded to them in all the SCRIPTURES the
things concerning Himself;" and PSALMS concerns Messiah then IT ALSO IS
SCRIPTURE.
My Friends these are "profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." Yet when you DO the
Majority of Christians immediately turn to the writings of Paul to negate by
way of "grace" anything that even hints or suggests we should be
keeping Torah.
I tell you the truth; If I teach that ANY OF THESE
were "nailed to the cross;" "fulfilled;" "done away
with;" or "for the Jews" then I tell you the truth that PERSON;
or THAT congregation is not thoroughly equipped. Again I tell you the truth;
that person is not able to instruct another person in righteousness.
This has come upon us by the Father allowing the adversary to run rampant
within the camp. He has allowed the afflicter to have his way by inserting men
who are really workers of iniquity into the pulpit. The adversary has done it
by keeping the Old and New Testaments separated
and handled as two separate collections
of texts instead of one. He has maintained an attitude of
"if I can't beat them; then join them" in order to infiltrate;
deceive; divide; and conquer.
Even the Strong's Concordance serves to help keep
the two separated by way of the Hebrew section and the Greek Section (which
DOESN'T INCLUDE THE LXX). As I write this I am unaware of a Strong's version
that will show you WHERE in the LXX a Greek word appears that is used in the
New Testament. It is VITAL that we learn to treat this living text as a joined
document instead of a series of disjointed writings.
When I began to examine
the New Testament terms and look for WHERE or IF they appear in the (LXX) the
Greek Translation of the TaNaK I found a great deal of valuable information.
However I also discovered that there is literally a barrier to understanding
the Bible that has been manufactured by those who have sought to bring
enlightenment.
It was not until I began to use E-Sword and look at
the Greek Concordance to the Scriptures; the King James Concordance; the
Concordance to the Septuagint; the Concordance to the TaNaK; and, the Strong's
Bible Dictionary with LXX cross references that I began to really see where we
were missing huge chunks of material that would help us to understand the text
of the New Testament properly.
One of the questions I had initially before I
discovered the multiple variations that each Greek word has was if the term
"Torah" was always rendered "law." I hadn't realized it but
my question SHOULD have been "Is the English term "law" always
used to translate the Hebrew term "Torah." When I finally looked at
it this way I found something I couldn't ignore; and, I don't believe you
should either.
I discovered that only one (1) of the variants for
the Greek term law Strong's # G3551 "nomos" is ALWAYS used to
translate the Hebrew term "Torah" while two (2) variants are NEVER
used to translate the Hebrew term "Torah."
Additionally I learned
that two (2) of the variants NEVER appear in the New Testament.
Of the
remaining three (3) variants for the Greek term for law G3551 "nomos"
they are used in such a broad way that they can refer to both Torah and also to
the decrees of men.
When I learned that there are passages in the New
Testament where the term "law" appears in English; while the
underlying Greek terms are DIFFERENT I now had a way to distinguish WHY.
Come
along with me as you draw closer to understanding the one who bled for you and
I on that miserable stake after he was humiliated, spit upon and mocked for our
benefit. Come and see Him as he really is.
