Reassessment
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7
Power – God gives me dunamis. And what does “power” mean to me? It means ability, capacity, vigor, strength and will. The basis of our words “dynamite” and “dynamic” come from this Greek root. Explosive ability is usually what we think. But when we look at the Hebrew connection, the picture gets a lot fuzzier.
When the translators of the LXX tried to find an equivalent for dunamis, they came up with quite a list. Hayil is used to describe strength, wealth or an army. This is influence, whether financially, numerically or militarily. By the way, the same word is used to describe judging righteously. Another alternative is lo hassiyr. This means not lacking, not being deficient or not having poor quality. Not exactly concepts that we naturally associate with power, but obviously part of the Hebrew view of life. Then there’s yatsa, a verb that means to go out and come in, or to cause to go out and come in. This verb also carries the idea of bringing forth vegetation and feelings. But the LXX isn’t done. There is still ‘alah (to ascend, to take away, to offer) and tsava (to wage war, to muster for war, to serve). Quite a range. Apparently the Hebrew idea of being able covers a much larger context than our thinking about power.
So when Paul says that God has given us a spirit of power, what Hebrew ideas does he have in mind? Of course, he is using the Greek word, so some of his thoughts are tied to the ideas of capacity, strength and will, but notice how these ideas are played out in the Hebrew culture. Strength finds a home with the general idea of influence. It isn’t limited to physical prowess. It is found wherever someone has influence over another, no matter what the basis for that influence. Power is also tied to sufficiency. In a culture where subsistence was a daily issue, power meant not lacking food, shelter and the basics of life. On this scale, everyone reading these words is powerful. Hebrew also connects power with the ability to come and go. Ancient cultures were very familiar with slavery, vassal treaties and limitations of movement. We may have forgotten these issues but most of the world has not. Power means being able to move at your own will. It also means being able to express your own feelings, something that you only did with potentially disastrous consequences in a world dominated by emperors and kings. The connection to war is obvious, but maybe not quite so apparent is the connection to ‘alah (to ascend, to take away). This is a verb of sacrifices and offering. What is power if it is not the ability to remove guilt. A sacrifice is power in the most important sense.
Now apply these to Paul’s remark to Timothy. Suddenly the concept of power expands significantly. Suddenly we see that our privileged lives of sufficiency, political freedom, influence and expression of feelings are power. We discover one other, most important, element. The ability to have our guilt removed through sacrifice is the ultimate expression of power. You never knew you were so well equipped.
Topical Index: power, dunamis, 2 Timothy 1:7
Yes, brother Skip, this model comes “equipped”, -not “stripped!” Why?-“for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry.”
YHWH, (our Giver/Lover) has NOT given us the spirit of fear. “There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; (G-d does not “punish” us- He “chastises” us) -the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love. (What are we fearful of?- the full “wrath” and righteous judgment of G-d was poured out on the Son at Calvary.) We ourselves love now because he loved us first. (and demonstrated to the full that love on the tslav for a witness to all the world.) If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if a person does not love his brother, whom he has seen, then he cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Yes, this is the command we have from Him: whoever loves God must love his brother too. (1 John 4.18-21) “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”- (John 13.34)
I have heard it said, (and maybe you have too),-“the greatest ability is availability”. Well, availability can be a good thing, but I don’t believe it is the best thing. I believe the greatest ability is -“ability”. “Dunamis”. – Now where can I get some of this? (or is it even available?) “Every good gift (which would assuredly include “dunamis”) is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, in whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1.17)
“Ask, and you will receive..” (Luke 11:9-12) So, why are we not receiving???
In all sincerity, I want to ask (myself, and others)- what am I afraid of? “The LORD is my light and my salvation–so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Psalm 27.1)
There is ONE I fear. (-and fear exceedingly). But, He tells me to draw near. Should I obey His command? He is the Sovereign G-d of the universe, yet, He also is the ONE who knows when a sparrow falls. LORD of the telescopic and the microscopic. LORD of me.
In Christ alone
I place my trust,
And find my glory in the power of the cross.
In every victory
Let it be said of me,
My source of strength,
My source of hope-
Is Christ alone.
From my limited understanding of Greek, I have often, when teaching/preaching and using the word dunamos, preferred to translate it as a dynamo, rather than dynamite, realizing that the HOLY SPIRIT’s power within us is not meant mainly to have an “explosion” of power, but an ongoing power that takes my limitations, and works through me to re-produce in and through me the person and the presence and the power of almighty GOD. It is much like that powerful water that flows through the Hoover Dam and produces/generates (as in regeneration) hydroelectric power that benefits millions of people in several states. That, in my estimation, is why Paul taught us that we are to be being filled with the SPIRIT. Perhaps this understanding can also help people understand that the grace, forgiveness too is ongoing, like a dynamo.
YEs, dynamo is the right idea. Notice that the analogy fits the Hoover Dam too. Water has POTENTIAL energy but not real energy until it is released and flows through the dynamo. So being fillied the the Spirit is useless if the Spirit is not flowing OUT OF its reservoir.
“dynamo is the right idea. Notice that the analogy fits the Hoover Dam too.”
Hoover Dam makes me think of the movie Transformers and the heroic leader of the benevolent Autobots, Optimus Prime.
And their home world, Cybertron, which was destroyed by the malevolent Decepticon leader Megatron, aka Maximus Prime, in his quest to get hold of the All Spark.
Sector 7, a secret government organization created by President Herbert Hoover, discovered the All Spark in the Colorado River and built the Hoover Dam around it to mask its energy emissions.
We are powerless to remove our sin nature which manufactors sin, so our sacrifices are in vain, and if it were not for the one and only atonement only a perfectly righteous Saviour could do we would still be left as unacceptable to a Holy God, no matter how many sacrifices we offered.
Hi Kay,
In spite of the longevity of the Christian doctrine of sinful nature, the idea that there is a power within me, a power which I inherit and which I cannot control, that actually produces sin in me for which I am held accountable is not Jewish, Hebraic or (in my opinion) biblical. There is no doubt it is a Christian doctrine, but its origin is with Augustine and the other fathers of the Church, improved upon by Aquinas and the Reformers. Can I suggest that you read the Talmud on the topic to understand how Jews read their own Scriptures about sin.
Thanks, Skip – it seems we were composing our replies at the same time. The NIV translators just had to change “flesh” to “sinful nature” didn’t they? Reading Romans 7 Paul clearly seems to be talking about the struggle between the yetzer hara and the yetzer ha-tov which is a very Hebrew concept, as opposed to the Augustinian idea that the “flesh is evil and must be destroyed” so that the soul can move into the eternal world of the “good, the true and the beautiful” a-la Plato.
I am not Jewish (at least, not by my first birth!) so I would love to hear what the Jews believe concerning “sin”. And while we’re at it (if any would condescend to converse with a Goy)- what do the Jews believe concerning the (for lack of a better word) “afterlife?” or is there “life after death?”
(no, I am not trying to “fast-forward” here, just inquiring what happens to me- after I die..- food for thought? -or food for worms? I’m not trying to evangelize or proselytize, (I think it beautiful that you are Jewish- you are the chosim!) I really would like an honest, exchange between the man writing these words and someone of the Jewish lineage. For me it would be such an honor.
In Judaism, yetzer hara (Hebrew: יצר הרע for the definite “the evil inclination”), or yetzer ra ((Hebrew: יצר רע for the indefinite “an evil inclination”) refers to the inclination to do evil, by violating the will of God. The yetzer hara is not a demonic force, but rather man’s mis-use of things the physical body needs to survive. So the need for food becomes gluttony due to the yetzer hara. The need for procreation becomes sexual abuse… and so on. Judaism teaches that humans are born with a yetzer ra (physical needs that can become “evil”), but that humans don’t acquire a yetzer tov (“a good inclination”) until an age of maturity — 12 for girls and 13 for boys.
The phrase yetzer lev-ha-adam ra ( יֵצֶר לֵב הָאָדָם רַע ) “the imagination of the heart of man [is] evil” occurs twice in the Tanakh, in Genesis 6:5, 8:15.
This short article is from Wikipedia (- please correct if this is wrong information-)
Quite right, Kay. The problem is that most Christians completely misunderstand the purpose of the sacrificial system. No-one was ever justified by bringing sacrifices and it was never about removing sin. Torah defines sin; it does not remove it.
The 13 sacrifices given in Torah relate to the 13 aspects of the mercy of God. They were given to teach us how to approach God in a right way, not presumptuously but humbly and with reverence. They point us to Messiah and all speak of His ministry and work in us. The outward act of bringing the sacrifice or offering was supposed to teach us how to offer ourselves on the altar of our hearts. Isn’t that what Paul said in Romans 12? “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God to present yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship”. The external acts are supposed to be internalised and acted on in our hearts and, as such, are still as valid today as they ever were.
What are the 13 sacrifices?
1. Minchah – a meal offering of grain, flour, bread or cakes. Is not Jesus the “bread of life”? Did he not break bread and say, “this bread is my body, broken for you?”
2. Olah – a whole burnt offering, completely given to God, to be lifted up onto the altar. Was not Messiah lifted up for us? Completely given to God? He is our Olah, our Lamb (the Lamb of God), our whole burnt offering.
3. Chata’ah – a sin offering for unintentional sin. Messiah took on himself our sin and is our sin offering.
4. Nesek – a drink offering (of wine). Did not Jesus take the cup and say, “this cup is the blood of the new covenant, my blood poured out for you”?
5. Tenuphah – a wave offering (usually loaves of bread or leafy branches), lifted up and waved before God. Is this not what we do when we lift our hands in worship to our Saviour and King?
6. Asham – a guilt offering (for an unintentional mistake by a leader). Messiah is our true leader, the only perfect leader and example, yet he offered himself as our guilt offering; thus we are made righteous and declared “not guilty” – as Skip has just pointed out in the last couple of days, we are “justified by faith” by believing and acting on God’s declaration of righteousness bestowed on us.
7. Millu – an ordination offering, where priests and kings were anointed. Is not Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One?
8. Shelem – a peace offering. Is He not the Prince of Peace?
9. Todah – a thanksgiving offering (usually at the completion of something). Do we not still give thanks to our Heavenly Father for his strength, provision, sustenance and guidance in our lives?
10. Nedabah – a freewill offering (to celebrate with the Lord or involve Him in a celebration). Do we not still bring gifts to God and offer praise and thanksgiving as part of our celebrations?
11. Neder – a votive offering (in connection with a vow). Has our Father not vowed that “I will never leave you nor forsake you“? Does he not vow to save us through the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua? He is the votive offering that guarantees and completes God’s vow to us.
12. Terumah – a heave offering (a contribution from the heart). Do we not still give alms as a contribution from our hearts? Messiah taught about this when He said, “Don’t sound a teruah (trumpet) when you make a terumah (give alms)”; in other words, “when you make a true contribution from the heart, don’t make a big noise about it, but do it quietly – you’re giving to God and it is betwen you and Him”.
13. Azkarah – a memorial offering (a remembrance). Did Jesus not say to His disciples, “As often as you do this, remember me”?
Each of these offerings was called “Qorban” – brought near – to be brought near when we approached the Lord. Only 2 have anything to do with sin and none are for intentional sin.
The Torah is clear – there is no sacrifice that a man can bring that atones for intentional, wilfull sin – the penalty for wilfully sinning against God (which we have all done at some time in our lives) is death. The only way out of that is to be passed from death to life and that is only done through the sacrifice brought by God Himself- the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Our Passover Lamb that passes us from death to life.
Oh, by the way, that wasn’t taught by Moses – that one was taught to us by Abraham. Remember? Isaac was to supposed to be up on the altar, but Abraham prophesied that “God will provide Himself a Lamb in this place“. Isaac was passed from death to life in the same way we are; through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God. In that place. Mt Moriah. Known later as the Temple Mount.
No-one was ever justified by “keeping the Law” (obeying Torah). That was never its purpose. It had two functions – to define sin and to teach us about Messiah. If you remove the definition of sin, then there is no more sin – therefore there can be no judgment for sin (and no-one on earth need fear God’s judgment because God has no grounds for judgment if there is no sin). BTW, Paul said this over and over again. We just twisted his words to say what we wanted them to say because we didn’t like the message.
Just one thing to clarify – I said above that the sacrificial system is still just as valid today. It is, but we don’t have an operating Levitical Priesthood to assist with bringing and presenting the sacrifices, we don’t have a consecrated altar on the temple mount nor do we have a temple; therefore we obey Torah by not bringing the sacrifices, except in our hearts.
Oh, yes. About the fact that each of the sacrifices was assisted by a priest? Yeshua is our High Priest – He is the one who assists us to bring the sacrifices on the altar of our hearts. We would all do well to study and learn how to apply that to our lives today (and our relationship with our Father will be all the richer for it).
“Isaac was passed from death to life in the same way we are; through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God.”
I guess you know, though, that Orthodox Judaism does not teach that any of the Temple sacrifices were substitutionary? And they see the Binding of Isaac like this: test – “take your son and sacrifice him. Good, OK stop – don’t kill him.” Another test: “release your son”. Most Orthodox Rabbis argue that obediently releasing Isaac at that moment was Abraham’s greatest test [others say that Abraham actually negotiating a top price for the Land that was being given to him free, would be the greatest test for any Jew(!)]. Abraham is renowned for his kindness – so, having got to the point where he had Isaac tied to the altar, it would have been the easiest and most natural thing for him to hear a voice telling him to ‘stop’. He could have mistakenly heard what he wanted to hear and untied his son – that is why it is the greatest test. But, note: they sages separate the sacrifice of the ram from Abraham’s tests. They say it was a bit like having a celebration after a difficult job has been completed successfully.
Of course, because they teach that justification is by works. All these “good works” are necessary to earn the right to the “kingdom to come”. Part of that belieg comes from the incident that caused Moses to miss out on going to the promised land. You know, when he struck the rock a second time instead of speaking to the rock as instructed.
See, the rock was a picture of Messiah (as Paul wrote) and Messiah was to be struck only once (at the cross)! After that, one only had to speak to the rock to receive the living water. (What did Jesus say? “If anyone is thirst, let him come to me and ask and I will give him rivers of living water…”). The “staff of Moses” represents strict obedience to the Law, so according to this teaching if one wants to obtain the “living waters” one has to earn them through strict observance.
Moses misrepresented the picture of Messiah, and that cost him his “ticket” to the promised land. Oh, there are other reasons as well why Judaism teaches what they do, but they’re still wrong in that regard. The sacrifices all teach us of Messiah. The Lamb of God sacrifice passed us from death to life.
Neither Judaism nor Christianity properly understand the sacrificial system now. Judaism partly because the Christians present Jesus as a false prophet (one who came to abolish the law of Moses) yet claim Him to be the Messiah, and the Christians because they believe that He came to abolish the Law of Moses which includes the sacrificial system, so if it was abolished how could it possibly have any relevance to us today?
Rodney, I’m listening to your words my friend and I am laying hold of them. The “staff of Moses” represents strict obedience to the Law, so according to this teaching if one wants to obtain the “living waters” one has to earn them through strict observance.
Exodus 4.2,3 -Isn’t it nice to have a numbering system so we my find these portions of scripture quickly and efficiently? (I never knew I’d have a Gentile to thank for it!) ADONAI answered him, “What is that in your hand?” and he said, “A staff.” He said, “Throw it on the ground!” and he threw it on the ground. It turned into a snake, and Moshe recoiled from it.
And again Rabbi Sha’ul in Philippians chapter 3 speaks of a heart attitude which further explains this “casting down” of the rod of authority. There is only ONE who rules and his name is not Carl. Only ONE. I believe we know who it is I’m speaking of. The only ONE who is worthy of our worship and praise.
Yes, dear friends the Bible is indeed our Him-book. Jesus (the) Christ, Our Master and master-theme of this book, the (only) perfect Lamb of G-d who takes away the sin of the world.
“Behold, the Lamb.”
The propitiation of the Lamb- our Sacrifice
The provision of the Lamb- our Substitute
The protection of the Lamb- our Saviour
The perfection of the Lamb- our Sanctifier
The protection of the Lamb- our Shield
The peace of the Lamb our Shalom
The power of the Lamb our Satisfaction
The Lamb who was/is:
A particular Lamb who was/is sin-removing
A perfect Lamb who was/is spotless
A personal Lamb who was/is Salvation (to all and to each)
A promised Lamb who was/is our Security
A powerful Lamb who was/is our Succour
The presence of the Lamb our Shekinah glory
A simple lamb
A shorn lamb
A silent lamb
A spotless lamb
A sinless lamb
A substitute lamb
A Sovereign lamb
Hi Rodney – This will have to be quick – as I said earlier I have a really busy week and I promised Tara we wouldn’t get involved in any big discussions this week.
Who told you that Jews teach justification by works? They categorically don’t! If you believe that then you have misunderstood Yom Kippur. Orthodox Jews believe in justification by faith by the grace of God which is evidenced by the physical – think of Abraham in Genesis Ch15 v6: “Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
As for Moses – it wasn’t the act of hitting the rock that was the reason he couldn’t enter the Land… that was just a symptom. The Jews say that when Moses struck the rock the first time, he was teaching the people what it means to obey instructions. Somethings God asks of us seem illogical; it may not be what we would have done at the time, but we should “just do it.” That’s how we learn to overpower the yetzer hara. But the more we mature, the more we move from having to crush all opposition before it has the opportunity to dominate. ‘Talking to the rock’ represents ‘spiritual maturity and wisdom’; “talking to the rock” is a metaphor for having reached the place where we can speak to our soul and convince it of the right action. A maturity where we can see the temptation and pass it by, without having to obliterate it, and without having to pluck our eyes out. If you watch the rise of Joshua under Moses’ leadership, you can see that he is just the right person to enter the Land and draw the goodness from it. Moses can lead the people out of slavery by ‘striking the rocks’ that presented themselves immediately before, during and after the exodus, but it is Joshua who has to lead the people into the Land, to patiently extract the goodness from it, and set about becoming priests for the nations.
The Jews believe that the Living Water is the Torah. You drink from them by studying.
When a Jewish king was anointed with oil, the ceremony was conducted beside a spring of water. This was to indicate that the king would rule as long as Torah study was allowed.
Now, I must get back to the ‘appointed tasks'(!) If you post any other questions, you may have to remind me to answer them after the Festival.
Thank you, Rodney. Our intention with our “But the Jews…” comments isn’t really to correct folk – it’s just information that we have gathered. Tara and I have realised and accepted that the ‘religion of the Jews’ and the ‘religion of the Christians’ are two very different things. They each have a very different understanding of God and His purposes from Genesis Ch1 v1!
Tara and I are seriously and passionately engaged in investigating the “ins and outs” of Hebrew beliefs (we started by wondering why, with their indepth understanding of the Word, that they couldn’t accept Yeshua was Messiah. And, believe me, the answer ISN’T that they have been blinded!). Anyway, we are repeatedly knocked out by what we discover – almost always so very, very different to what we were told or believed about the Jews. So, we share what we have learned. It isn’t intended to change anyone’s point of view, or their faith. The beliefs and practices of the Jews are for Jews, and for those who want to worship alongside the Jew. We just hope that our comments here will make people say (as we do), “Oh, I didn’t know that”… and maybe do some study for themselves. L’shanah tovah!
The reason for all that occurs here – and with Today’s Word – is to assist in the enlightenment of the heart, not simply the intellect. Dialogue is the essence of growth. It has been since God spoke to Adam. So, we dialogue, not because we have doctrines but because we have compassion – for each other and for the truth. We just go where the truth takes us and do our best to live accordingly. Thank you, all, for walking this road together.
The sages give 5 basic purposes of the sacrificial system and none of them have to do with teaching us about Messiah. I’m reminded of Paul’s words, that “blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the gentiles (melo ha’goyim – the multitude of the nations) has come in.”
They will understand, just not yet.
Thanks, Ian. I stand (humbly) corrected. Much more could be said about Living Water, Torah, Yeshua and the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth…but that is for another time.
Shalom.
🙂
That was awesome! I liked how you explained about the various applications for the sacrifices. I’ve always been unclear about how they apply to our worship today (since I don’t have any sheep or crops or Temple, etc.). By applying that to Yeshua and His sacrifice, it makes much more sense and isn’t quite as frustrating. At the very least, I feel like i have a place to start from for further investigation!
Thanks!
(Oh, I may repost it on my blog, if you don’t mind, with full credit to you of course – godhunt.com)
I have read today’s word “Reassessment” which I have found very but very enlighting and with a lot of new concepts to apply in my own life but right to the end the last two sentences make the picture, as you said at the beginning, a lot fuzzier. If possible please walk me through this to understand what you mean by “the ability to have our guilt removed through sacrifice is the ustimate expression of power.” and “You never knwe you were so well equipped.” Are you saying that I have the power to remove my own guilt or by my sacrifice I have the power to remove guilt from other? and what do you mean by guilt – guilt for my sins? Was not that already done by our Savior Jesus Christ?
“What is power if it is not the ability to remove guilt. A sacrifice is power in the most important sense.”
This entire passage in 2Tim. is about encouragement to minister under difficulties.
Form follows function in the Hebrew mind. Offering sacrifices was the Aaronic priesthoods function on behalf of others to cover their guilt and reconcile them to YHVH. What is it that they must have before they offer those sacrifices? Clean hands, heart, and garments. Can you imagine taking your offering to a priest whose wife you just raped or son you just murdered? What do you think his heart would be screaming as he stood knife in hand watching you approach with an innocent creature at your side for him to sacrifice on your behalf? No wonder there was no forgiveness for presumptuous sin! Would you try to approach that priest after the order of Aaron? I think not!
But we are called to minister with the clean heart of our High Priest Yeshua according to the order of Melchizedek who cried out to Elyon “Father forgive them they know not what they do”. This is the most difficult aspect (at least for me) of our priestly calling and requires every ounce of dunamos at my disposal. Yeshua calls us to do what He did. Forgive our enemies and love them from our hearts as they nail us to a cross, stone us to death, or feed our children to the lions. Q. What do you have to to plead for forgiveness on behalf of your enemy? A. The blood of God’s Son that pleads for me! Q. How did you come by that Precious blood? A. By way of a forgiving/forgiven soul who was willing to let me hack him to pieces if need be. Could this be the answer to the question “what would it feel like to be clothed in the Holy Spirit?” Lu 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Clothed in Power controlled by Love. We forgive because we were first forgiven and then we bring our gift to the alter.
As a side note I think is worth mentioning that the sweet incense was lit on the alter in the Holy place with the coals from the brazen alter of sacrifice. Any other coals produced strange fire that brought dunamos judgment to the priest himself. Where did we get our coals this morning to light the sweet incense of prayer and praise?
The fall feasts are all but upon us. Are we ready for the hour of our visitation?
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment.
In the dunamos of the Holy Spirit we are able to do this.
Press in folks.
Well Skip so much for my promise to not be so wordy on this site. Will you forgive me?
Pam, please…”write-on!!”
Anything more would be idol words.
then ’nuff said!
“Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in my work.”
2 Timothy 4:12
Hi Skip,
Re-reading 2 Timothy today, my appreciation of Paul’s kindness, eloquence, and charisma were taken to new heights; it is such a powerful letter.
But when I got to 2 Timothy 4:12, Paul’s comment derailed me.
Paul seems to me at this point, in the passage above, to be very cold and condescending with regard to Mark.
My Bible has a footnote with the remark that Paul and Mark had an old quarrel.
Acts 15:39.
In researching this quarrel, I found Jesus commanding the 12 apostles not to go to pagan territory.
Jesus commands the 12 apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven to the Jews, the “Lost Sheep of Israel.”
Matthew 10:4-7
I’m wondering if this focus on gentiles caused the fallout between Mark and Paul?
Then, when I returned to 2 Timothy 21, I found Paul’s comment “…. I left Trophimus ill at Miletus.”
Well, when I think of Miletus one of my very favorite Greek philosophers comes to mind, although I don’t know him all that well.
The so called pre-Socratic philosopher, “Thales of Miletus.”
I’ve always liked Thales’ idea that water was the “archetype,” for me it has something to do with our unconscious mind.
The Greek word for sea, thalassa, is often used as a metaphor for the unconscious mind in some psychoanalytic theories.
Sometimes these theories can shed light on the great works of literature IMO.
Michael,
Was Paul really cold and condescending (which would seem to be contrary to the rest of the tone of the letter) or is this an impression caused by our english translations? I was wondering what the Greek word was. Analambano from ana – up (as in to raise from a lower to a higher place, rarely used in NT) and lambano – to take, to gather, to lay hold of. I wonder if Paul may have been saying something like, “Only Luke is here with me. Pick Mark up on your way here; I could use the extra help”.
“Jesus commands the 12 apostles to proclaim the Kingdom of Heaven to the Jews, the “Lost Sheep of Israel.”
Matthew 10:4-7”
Actually the term “Lost Sheep of the house of Israel” does not refer to the Jews. “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold”. That phrase (I believe) refers to the exiles of Israel scattered amongst the nations, amongst the gentiles. They themselves look like gentiles because they have lost their identity (which will, in the end, be restored) exactly as prophesied in various places; one of note is Hosea ch 1.
There are numerous other prophecies that deal with the same topic. The House of Israel (the northern kingdom) and the House of Judah (the southern kingdom) along with all the gentiles that follow the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and are grafted into the commonwealth of Israel (that would be you and me and many others reading this blog, plus countless others) will be gathered together and restored as one kingdom with one ruler.
Yeshua didn’t tell His disciples not to go to the gentiles – quite the opposite. “As you go into all the world, make disciples of all men (regardless of ethnic origin is implied).”
Hi Rodney,
Thanks for the very thorough reply; you make many very good points.
I would like to respond to several of your points, one at a time.
When it comes to translating, it probably doesn’t get much easier than “Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in my work.”
And I understand, the focus is on the meaning of the Greek word Analambano from ana – up (as in to raise from a lower to a higher place).
In this imperative from Paul, Paul is in the “higher” place and Mark is in the “lower” place.
My question here is why would Mark’s work, which came directly from Jesus, the leader of this Jewish cult, be less important than Paul’s work?
Paul’s work arose out of a mystical experience, but Mark took orders directly from the historical Jesus.
In my view, Mark’s work/views of Jesus would have more credibility than Paul’s, not less.
And, it seems to me, Mark should be respected by Paul, not thought of as a subordinate.
“Actually the term “Lost Sheep of the house of Israel” does not refer to the Jews.”
Hi Rodney,
Quick question, in the following sentence, you say:
Actually the term “Lost Sheep of the house of Israel” does not refer to the Jews. “Other sheep I have that are not of this fold”. That phrase (I believe) refers to the exiles of Israel scattered amongst the nations, amongst the gentiles.
So are you saying that “the exiles of Israel scattered amongst the nations, amongst the gentiles” are Jews or not?
Samaritans and pagans, on the other hand, are not Jews.
The striking thing about th
No, the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel are not Jews – they are the rest of Israel that was scattered amongst the nations after the kingdom was divided in the days of Jeroboam and Rehoboam (i.e. after Solomon). The term “Jews” is a relatively recent one and applies only to those of the southern kingdom of Judah (the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and about half of Levi – those Levites that lived in the south when the kingdom was divided).
The northern 10 tribes (Israel) were scattered into the nations and completely lost their identity, becoming absorbed into the societies into which they were exiled. Yet the prophets (Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Hosea especially) are full of references to the fact that in the last days the remnant of Israel that was scattered into the nations (as distinct from Judah, which began to return to the land in 1948) would be regathered and returned to the land. Deuteronomy 30 speaks of this specifically. The exiles of the northern kingdom are variously known in the prophets as the “house of Israel”, the “house of Joseph” and Ephraim (or the house of Ephraim). All are synonymous terms in many cases. The “house of Jacob” or the “whole house of Israel” generally refers to all 12 tribes regathered.
Now I know that some modern-day Jews dispute this, but many orthodox Jews back in the land believe this and are fully expecting the return of Ephraim as prophesied. One of the great works of Messiah (perhaps the greatest in their eyes) is the regathering of the exiles of Israel and the reunification and restoration of the kingdom (hence the disciples question to Yeshua, “Lord, is it at this time that you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”).
Another reason why the Jews rejected Yeshua as Messiah is because, the first time around, He did not regather all the outcasts of Israel. They didn’t understand the fact that He would be coming back a second time to do that (that is the role of Messiah ben David – the conquering king, not Messiah ben Joseph, the suffering servant).
“Yeshua didn’t tell His disciples not to go to the gentiles – quite the opposite. “As you go into all the world, make disciples of all men (regardless of ethnic origin is implied).””
Hi Rodney,
Regarding your point above, I did not mean to imply that Yeshua never wanted his disciples to go to the gentiles.
My point was that in Matthew 10:4-7, Yeshua has a plan for his team and he is setting the priorities for them.
And Yeshua tells his team not to go to pagan territory (gentiles) or to any Samaritan town (gentiles), because his focus is on the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel (wandering Jews).
Like Keyser Sossa in The Usual Suspects, Yeshua is the “man with the plan,” and he seems very clear about his set of priorities.