For all the supporters of Israel and Zionists is the settlement issue between the Palestinians and Israelis in East Jerusalem, with the hope that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would not cave in to mounting and unrelenting pressure from the international community, including the United States, into stopping their expansion efforts for building and selling more homes in the disputed territory. It is even asserted by students of the Bible that one of the mistakes that King Solomon made was in “selling the land” and the subsequent loss of blessings from God in doing so; or something like that. It is prudent to go back and investigate that portion of Scripture and other passages to shed some light upon what some contend; as in below:
1 Kings 9: 1111-13
(Hiram the King of Tyre had supplied Solomon with cedar and cypress and gold as much as he desired), that King Solomon then gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee. Then Hiram went from Tyre to see the cities which Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. So he said, “What kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother?” And he called them the land of Cabul (“Good for Nothing”), as they are to this day.
NOTE: These cities were not sold to Hiram but given to him; and not only that, they were apparently not the best lands because King Hiram certainly was not impressed, and they were located in the Northern territory of Israel [Galilee], not in the Southern territory of Judah [Jerusalem].
Joshua 13: 8 thru 21: 43
The Division of the Land (in Canaan)
NOTE: There is nothing whatsoever in the commandments of Moses or even the instructions of Joshua and Eleazar the priest (Cp. Joshua 19: 51) pertaining to selling the land. The prophet Ezekiel has a little something to say about the Division of the Land, however, and the entire narrative can be found in 48: 1-35, but I want to concentrate on the verses below:
Ezekiel 48: 13-14
“Opposite the border of the priests, the Levites shall have an area twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width; its entire length shall be twenty-five thousand and its width ten thousand. “And they [Levites] shall not sell or exchange any of it; they may not alienate the best part of the land; for the land is holy to the LORD.”
NOTE: This land that is parceled out to the Levites from all the other tribes (Cp. Joshua 21: 1-42) is NOT TO BE SOLD because of its holiness to the LORD, but there is no such regulation that I have found pertaining to the disposition of the other tribal lands in Israel, Samaria, Gaza, Judea, Palestine, etc. Also, the belief that the Israelis and Palestinians cannot live together, religious and cultural traditions notwithstanding, is not an excuse because the children of Israel and descendants of pagan nations that they were supposed to destroy continued for perhaps centuries; as in the following:
Judges 3: 5-6
Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And they took their daughters to be wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods (Cp. Ezra 9: 1-2).
2 Chronicles 8: 7-8
All the people who were left of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel- that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel did not destroy- from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 30, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Why doesn’t the Christian Church perform more miracles today?
There are a few believers who claim to have been given the gift of healing and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit, but the vast majorities within Christendom believe that such ability was temporary, ending with the death of the Apostles and the complete canon of Scripture; but is this really the case?
Matthew 4: 23-24
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Mark 16: 17-18
And these signs will follow those who have believed: In My name (1) they will cast out demons; (2) they will speak with new tongues; (3) they will take up serpents; and (4) if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; (5) they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
NOTE: Did Jesus mean for miraculous works to be available for the fortunate few in His generation up to the First Century, but not continue in effect until He returns again?
Luke 10: 19
“Behold, I give you [the “seventy” disciples] the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
NOTE: There are Bible scholars who question the verses of MARK 16: 9-20, because these are not contained in the earliest manuscripts, but the gospel of LUKE seem to contain essentially the same information as in MARK.
*Mark 16: 20*
And they went out and preached everywhere, the LORD working with [through] them and “confirming” the word through the accompanying [miraculous] signs.
NOTE: This is the reassurance of authenticating the truthfulness (veracity) of the word and the power in serving the only true and Living God.
John 14: 12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.
Acts 1: 5
“For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] not many days from now.”
2: 38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood verses in the entire New Testament because a believer can receive remission of sins but it does not automatically mean they will receive the [a special] “gift” to service or ministry of [from] the Holy Spirit.
3: 6
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
4: 31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken [like as of an earthquake??]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
5: 12a, 15
And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people (Cp. 4: 33). So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them [for healing].
8: 5-7
Then Philip (Cp. 6: 5a) went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
12, 14-17
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach], both men and women were baptized. Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had not fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus [for the remission of sins]. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: This is very instructive and reinforces the comment at Acts 2: 38 because here is a specific case where people believed and were baptized for the remission of sins but had not as of yet received [the gift of] the Holy Spirit.
9: 17, 18b
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the LORD Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
NOTE: Some Bible teachers and theologians today contend that another reason for believers not performing miraculous works is that an Apostle has to lay hands on an individual, like Peter and John coming to Samaria in order for this to take place. In this instance, however, there is no mention that Ananias was an Apostle (Cp. 9: 10-11).
10: 38
Now God anointed Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
19: 11-12
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
COMMENTARY: If only the Christian Church today really understood the awesome responsibility and authority that she has, namely, to proclaim and re-introduce to an unbelieving world that the Kingdom of God is more than just a religious experience but rather it is the divine government and power of the Creator impacting and changing society in all areas. There are far too many individuals in hospitals, mental institutions, or living with cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, heart attacks, birth defects, addicted to alcohol and drugs, pornography, sickness, diseases, blindness, paralysis or lameness, suicidal tendencies or clinical depression, etc., and all the average believer does [including the author] is attend worship services for the traditional Bible study and hearing a sermon preached, singing hymns, praying, and tithing. On a few limited occasions when a visitor seeks a miraculous healing and it doesn’t happen, the petitioner’s lack of ‘faith’ is often used as the reason for this failure.
Among various denominations within Christianity are echoes of the popular refrain about receiving the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost but what is the evidence of this experience? It is more than just “repentance” [teshuvah] and living under the Lordship of Jesus [Yeshua], even if a believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cp. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). To be sure, there are members of Pentecostal and Holiness congregations who speak in tongues and even priests in the Catholic Church practice the centuries-old rite of performing exorcisms, but outside of these and a few scant other such practices, the Christian Church as a whole is woefully lacking in manifesting to a significant extent the miraculous healing gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4: 20
For the kingdom of God is not in word [preaching or teaching, only] but in power [of the Holy Spirit]. SEE 1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4-11.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 27, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Matthew 4: 23-24
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
Mark 16: 17-18
And these signs will follow those who have believed: In My name (1) they will cast out demons; (2) they will speak with new tongues; (3) they will take up serpents; and (4) if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; (5) they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
NOTE: Did Jesus mean for miraculous works to be available for the fortunate few in His generation up to the First Century, but not continue in effect until He returns again?
Luke 10: 19
“Behold, I give you [the “seventy” disciples] the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
NOTE: There are Bible scholars who question the verses of MARK 16: 9-20, because these are not contained in the earliest manuscripts, but the gospel of LUKE seem to contain essentially the same information as in MARK.
*Mark 16: 20*
And they went out and preached everywhere, the LORD working with [through] them and “confirming” the word through the accompanying [miraculous] signs.
NOTE: This is the reassurance of authenticating the truthfulness (veracity) of the word and the power in serving the only true and Living God.
John 14: 12
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father.
Acts 1: 5
“For John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] not many days from now.”
2: 38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: This is perhaps one of the most misunderstood verses in the entire New Testament because a believer can receive remission of sins but it does not automatically mean they will receive the [a special] “gift” to service or ministry of [from] the Holy Spirit.
3: 6
Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
4: 31
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken [like as of an earthquake??]; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
5: 12a, 15
And through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people (Cp. 4: 33). So that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them [for healing].
8: 5-7
Then Philip (Cp. 6: 5a) went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
12, 14-17
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ [Yeshua Moshiach], both men and women were baptized. Now when the Apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had not fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus [for the remission of sins]. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
NOTE: This is very instructive and reinforces the comment at Acts 2: 38 because here is a specific case where people believed and were baptized for the remission of sins but had not as of yet received [the gift of] the Holy Spirit.
9: 17, 18b
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the LORD Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
NOTE: Some Bible teachers and theologians today contend that another reason for believers not performing miraculous works is that an Apostle has to lay hands on an individual, like Peter and John coming to Samaria in order for this to take place. In this instance, however, there is no mention that Ananias was an Apostle (Cp. 9: 10-11).
10: 38
Now God anointed Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
19: 11-12
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
COMMENTARY: If only the Christian Church today really understood the awesome responsibility and authority that she has, namely, to proclaim and re-introduce to an unbelieving world that the Kingdom of God is more than just a religious experience but rather it is the divine government and power of the Creator impacting and changing society in all areas. There are far too many individuals in hospitals, mental institutions, or living with cancer, diabetes, immune disorders, heart attacks, birth defects, addicted to alcohol and drugs, pornography, sickness, diseases, blindness, paralysis or lameness, suicidal tendencies or clinical depression, etc., and all the average believer does [including the author] is attend worship services for the traditional Bible study and hearing a sermon preached, singing hymns, praying, and tithing. On a few limited occasions when a visitor seeks a miraculous healing and it doesn’t happen, the petitioner’s lack of ‘faith’ is often used as the reason for this failure.
Among various denominations within Christianity are echoes of the popular refrain about receiving the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost but what is the evidence of this experience? It is more than just “repentance” [teshuvah] and living under the Lordship of Jesus [Yeshua], even if a believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (Cp. 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). To be sure, there are members of Pentecostal and Holiness congregations who speak in tongues and even priests in the Catholic Church practice the centuries-old rite of performing exorcisms, but outside of these and a few scant other such practices, the Christian Church as a whole is woefully lacking in manifesting to a significant extent the miraculous healing gift of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4: 20
For the kingdom of God is not in word [preaching or teaching, only] but in power [of the Holy Spirit]. SEE 1 Corinthians 12: 1, 4-11.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 27, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Did the original Apostles fulfill the “Great Commission?”
Matthew 28: 18-20
And Jesus [Yeshua] came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [Abba], and of the Son [Ben], and of the Holy Spirit [Ruach Kodesh], teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [world].” Amen
Mark 13: 9-10
“But watch for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings [of the Gentiles] for My sake, for a testimony to them. “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
(Cp. Luke 21: 12)
16: 15, 19
And He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
*Luke 24: 47, 49-51*
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name [Jesus-Yeshua] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “ Behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany (Cp. John 11: 18), His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them that He was parted from them and carried up to heaven.
John 20: 19, 21-23
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled [in Jerusalem??] for fear of the Jews stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” So Jesus [Yeshua] said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Hoy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh). If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Acts 1: 4-5, 8-9: And being assembled together with them, commanded them [Apostles] not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
COMMENTARY: The reason that the Apostles were commanded to spread the Gospel to the rest of the world is that they were “eyewitnesses” of these things from the time in Galilee when Jesus started His ministry and teaching about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God until seeing His eventual crucifixion and resurrection outside Jerusalem, and subsequently also His ascension back into heaven (Cp. Luke 24: 48; Acts 1: 21-26).
The book of ACTS is unique in that it traces the birth and history of the early Christian Church starting in Jerusalem of Judea and spreading to Samaria and other parts of the Roman Empire, Asia Minor, Asia and Europe. Outside of beginning with the Apostle Peter as a prominent leader in the beginning later to be eclipsed by the religious fanatic and zealot, Saul of Tarsus [the Apostle Paul], the Scriptural narrative doesn’t reveal any of the original Apostles doing any evangelizing or other ministry outside of the local Judean region; in fact, not a whole lot is mentioned, outside of the miraculous, about these early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, period! Here are some excerpts below in the following:
Acts 4: 33
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus [Yeshua]. And great grace was upon them all.
5: 12
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the [Jewish] people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
17-18
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they [the Apostles] did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ [Yeshua as the Moshiach].
6: 1-4
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews [not Jews??] by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution [of food??]. Then the “twelve” [apostles] summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
NOTE: It is not known in what sense the “ministry of the word” meant [teaching at the temple or synagogue, or is it missionary work?].
8: 1
Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, {except the apostles}.
NOTE: Why did the Apostles choose to remain and not follow the mandate of the word of the LORD Jesus [Yeshua] to bear witness and testify to His truth in other places?
14, 25
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. So when they had testified and preached the word of the LORD, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans [on the way back??].
NOTE: This is the first and only time in the Brit Chadashah [New Testament] that Evangelism was done by an Apostle outside of Jerusalem, but it still only involved Peter and John.
9: 26-27a
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
15: 1-2
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they [the leadership of the Antioch Church] that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
16: 4
And as they went through the cities [Derbe, Lystra, Iconium], they delivered to them the decrees to keep [observe or practice], which were determined [decreed] by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
The LORD Jesus [Yeshua] commanded the “Twelve” to take His message of salvation to the rest of humanity, but from what the book of ACTS reveals, there is no mention of them [besides Peter and John] involved in any work outside of the Temple in the vicinity of Jerusalem in Judea. According to Church History: Andrew the Apostle preached in Greece, Asia Minor, Thrace, and he was crucified in Achaia; Philip the Apostle preached in Phrygia and died in Hierapolis [Egypt]; Thomas the Apostle preached in Parthia [Persia] and died at Edessa, although some believe that he died in India; Bartholomew the Apostle preached the gospel in India, probably Arabia Felix or according to some, in Armenia; Matthew the Apostle was a missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes [Iranians], and died as a martyr in Ethiopia; James [son of Alphaeus] the Apostle there is no clear information; Simon the Zealot [Canaanite] there is no information; Judas [son of James]/Lebbeus/Thaddeus the Apostle founded a Church at Edessa but no more is known about him.
Ironic, isn’t it that that the one main person whose writings seemed to have prevailed and survived two millennia is that of Saul of Tarsus. It cannot be understated as to the value and importance that the Apostle Paul’s letters and theology has contributed to the “Faith” and without his writings, Christianity probably would not exist in the form that it is practiced today. The thing is, though, Paul is a Jew from Tarsus of Cilica who also happens to have been a free-born Roman citizen and was taught by one of the great Jewish rabbis of the day, Gamaliel (Cp. Acts 22: 3, 27-28). It is possible that when the Apostle Paul expounded on critical points of doctrine, he used the method of inductive [abstract] reasoning (Cp. Acts 17: 1-2, 16-21; 19: 8-10) taught in the Greek Philosophical Schools instead of the more concrete and practical Jewish exegetical teaching methods. The Apostle Paul appears to have spoken Greek (Cp. Acts 21: 37), and many of his fellow laborers in the Gospel and friends were Greek-speaking Jews or Greeks, such as Timothy (Cp. Acts 16: 1, 3); Titus (Cp. Galatians 2: 3); Trophimus (Cp. Acts 21: 27-29); and others (Cp. Acts 19: 31; 20: 4; Romans 16: 1-23; Philippians 2: 25; Colossians 1: 7; 4: 7-17; 2 Timothy 4: 9-12; Titus 3: 12-13).
There is a curious statement by the Apostle Paul found in Colossians 4: 10b-11, which says: with Mark the cousin of Barnabas. . . and Jesus who is called Justus (Cp. Acts 18: 7??). These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision [Jews]; they have been a comfort to me. Perhaps the Apostle Paul forgot about his married Jewish partners Aquila and Priscilla whom he first met in Corinth (Cp. Acts 18: 1-3, 18a, 21a, 24-26; Romans 16: 3). It would not be an absurd statement to mention the Apostle Paul’s theology and perhaps non-traditional Jewish experience which he penned in his letters just might be filtered through a Greco-Roman [Greek/Latin] worldview, and he is so adamant that this Gospel [“MYSTERY”] which was revealed to him, because he didn’t learn it from any human being is so unique and special that no other ‘gospel’ can be accepted; that is, on danger of eternal damnation (Cp. Galatians 1: 8-9, 11-12). Of course, he is not the only one to receive this great truth (Cp. Colossians 1: 26-28), but it is unfortunate that none of the other original Apostles have left a written narrative about their experience with the LORD and what He taught and did, as well as other biographical details that can be authenticated to have come from their hand or one of their fellow co-laborers or disciples that retains more of a traditional Jewish or Hebraic perspective.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 19, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
And Jesus [Yeshua] came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [Abba], and of the Son [Ben], and of the Holy Spirit [Ruach Kodesh], teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [world].” Amen
Mark 13: 9-10
“But watch for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings [of the Gentiles] for My sake, for a testimony to them. “And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.”
(Cp. Luke 21: 12)
16: 15, 19
And He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
*Luke 24: 47, 49-51*
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name [Jesus-Yeshua] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “ Behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany (Cp. John 11: 18), His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them that He was parted from them and carried up to heaven.
John 20: 19, 21-23
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled [in Jerusalem??] for fear of the Jews stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” So Jesus [Yeshua] said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Hoy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh). If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Acts 1: 4-5, 8-9: And being assembled together with them, commanded them [Apostles] not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
COMMENTARY: The reason that the Apostles were commanded to spread the Gospel to the rest of the world is that they were “eyewitnesses” of these things from the time in Galilee when Jesus started His ministry and teaching about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God until seeing His eventual crucifixion and resurrection outside Jerusalem, and subsequently also His ascension back into heaven (Cp. Luke 24: 48; Acts 1: 21-26).
The book of ACTS is unique in that it traces the birth and history of the early Christian Church starting in Jerusalem of Judea and spreading to Samaria and other parts of the Roman Empire, Asia Minor, Asia and Europe. Outside of beginning with the Apostle Peter as a prominent leader in the beginning later to be eclipsed by the religious fanatic and zealot, Saul of Tarsus [the Apostle Paul], the Scriptural narrative doesn’t reveal any of the original Apostles doing any evangelizing or other ministry outside of the local Judean region; in fact, not a whole lot is mentioned, outside of the miraculous, about these early followers of Jesus of Nazareth, period! Here are some excerpts below in the following:
Acts 4: 33
And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the LORD Jesus [Yeshua]. And great grace was upon them all.
5: 12
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the [Jewish] people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
17-18
Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.
42
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they [the Apostles] did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ [Yeshua as the Moshiach].
6: 1-4
Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews [not Jews??] by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution [of food??]. Then the “twelve” [apostles] summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit [Ruach ha Kodesh] and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; “but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
NOTE: It is not known in what sense the “ministry of the word” meant [teaching at the temple or synagogue, or is it missionary work?].
8: 1
Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the Church which was at Jerusalem; and they were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, {except the apostles}.
NOTE: Why did the Apostles choose to remain and not follow the mandate of the word of the LORD Jesus [Yeshua] to bear witness and testify to His truth in other places?
14, 25
Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. So when they had testified and preached the word of the LORD, they returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans [on the way back??].
NOTE: This is the first and only time in the Brit Chadashah [New Testament] that Evangelism was done by an Apostle outside of Jerusalem, but it still only involved Peter and John.
9: 26-27a
And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
15: 1-2
And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they [the leadership of the Antioch Church] that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question.
16: 4
And as they went through the cities [Derbe, Lystra, Iconium], they delivered to them the decrees to keep [observe or practice], which were determined [decreed] by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem.
The LORD Jesus [Yeshua] commanded the “Twelve” to take His message of salvation to the rest of humanity, but from what the book of ACTS reveals, there is no mention of them [besides Peter and John] involved in any work outside of the Temple in the vicinity of Jerusalem in Judea. According to Church History: Andrew the Apostle preached in Greece, Asia Minor, Thrace, and he was crucified in Achaia; Philip the Apostle preached in Phrygia and died in Hierapolis [Egypt]; Thomas the Apostle preached in Parthia [Persia] and died at Edessa, although some believe that he died in India; Bartholomew the Apostle preached the gospel in India, probably Arabia Felix or according to some, in Armenia; Matthew the Apostle was a missionary to the Persians, Parthians and Medes [Iranians], and died as a martyr in Ethiopia; James [son of Alphaeus] the Apostle there is no clear information; Simon the Zealot [Canaanite] there is no information; Judas [son of James]/Lebbeus/Thaddeus the Apostle founded a Church at Edessa but no more is known about him.
Ironic, isn’t it that that the one main person whose writings seemed to have prevailed and survived two millennia is that of Saul of Tarsus. It cannot be understated as to the value and importance that the Apostle Paul’s letters and theology has contributed to the “Faith” and without his writings, Christianity probably would not exist in the form that it is practiced today. The thing is, though, Paul is a Jew from Tarsus of Cilica who also happens to have been a free-born Roman citizen and was taught by one of the great Jewish rabbis of the day, Gamaliel (Cp. Acts 22: 3, 27-28). It is possible that when the Apostle Paul expounded on critical points of doctrine, he used the method of inductive [abstract] reasoning (Cp. Acts 17: 1-2, 16-21; 19: 8-10) taught in the Greek Philosophical Schools instead of the more concrete and practical Jewish exegetical teaching methods. The Apostle Paul appears to have spoken Greek (Cp. Acts 21: 37), and many of his fellow laborers in the Gospel and friends were Greek-speaking Jews or Greeks, such as Timothy (Cp. Acts 16: 1, 3); Titus (Cp. Galatians 2: 3); Trophimus (Cp. Acts 21: 27-29); and others (Cp. Acts 19: 31; 20: 4; Romans 16: 1-23; Philippians 2: 25; Colossians 1: 7; 4: 7-17; 2 Timothy 4: 9-12; Titus 3: 12-13).
There is a curious statement by the Apostle Paul found in Colossians 4: 10b-11, which says: with Mark the cousin of Barnabas. . . and Jesus who is called Justus (Cp. Acts 18: 7??). These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision [Jews]; they have been a comfort to me. Perhaps the Apostle Paul forgot about his married Jewish partners Aquila and Priscilla whom he first met in Corinth (Cp. Acts 18: 1-3, 18a, 21a, 24-26; Romans 16: 3). It would not be an absurd statement to mention the Apostle Paul’s theology and perhaps non-traditional Jewish experience which he penned in his letters just might be filtered through a Greco-Roman [Greek/Latin] worldview, and he is so adamant that this Gospel [“MYSTERY”] which was revealed to him, because he didn’t learn it from any human being is so unique and special that no other ‘gospel’ can be accepted; that is, on danger of eternal damnation (Cp. Galatians 1: 8-9, 11-12). Of course, he is not the only one to receive this great truth (Cp. Colossians 1: 26-28), but it is unfortunate that none of the other original Apostles have left a written narrative about their experience with the LORD and what He taught and did, as well as other biographical details that can be authenticated to have come from their hand or one of their fellow co-laborers or disciples that retains more of a traditional Jewish or Hebraic perspective.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 19, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Monday, July 19, 2010
Did Jesus ascend back to Heaven from Galilee or from outside Jerusalem?
Matthew 26: 32
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Mark 14: 28
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Matthew 28: 5, 7
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus [Yeshua] who was crucified.” ‘And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold! I have told you.”
28: 10
Then Jesus [Yeshua] said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren [disciples??] to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Mark 16: 5-7
And entering the tomb, they (Cp. 16: 1) saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. “But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
Matthew 28: 16-17
Then the eleven disciples went away [from Jerusalem??] into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus [Yeshua] had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped; but some doubted.
NOTE: The narrative doesn’t say who they were and the reason for their doubt and it would have been quite helpful to our understanding if this information was recorded for posterity.
18-20
And Jesus [Yeshua] came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [Abba], and of the Son [Ben], and of the Holy Spirit [Ruach Kodesh], teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [world].” Amen
Mark 16: 15, 19
And He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
John 20: 10, 12, 17-18
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes [in Galilee??]. And she [Mary Magdalene] saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain [somewhere around Mount Olivet in Bethany, near Jerusalem]. Jesus [Yeshua] said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren [disciples??] and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that He had spoken these things to her.
21: 1, 14
After these things Jesus [Yeshua] showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias [in Galilee], and in this way He showed Himself. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Luke 24: 4, 6
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee.”
24: 33
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together (Cp. Acts 1: 12-15).
NOTE: The focus appears to shift from Galilee to Jerusalem.
*Luke 24: 47, 49*
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name [Jesus-Yeshua] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “ Behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany (Cp. John 11: 18), His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them that He was parted from them and carried up to heaven.
John 20: 19, 21-23
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled [in Jerusalem??] for fear of the Jews stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” So Jesus [Yeshua] said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Hoy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh). If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
NOTE: This is a different account than the versions in the ‘Synoptic Gospels’ or in ACTS 1: 13-14; 2: 1-7.
COMMENTARY: After carefully examining the gospels as well as the book of ACTS, it seems that there are at least two traditions; one is a Northern version that gives Galilee prominence and the Southern narrative which places emphasis on the city of Jerusalem. In Matthew 28: 18-20 at least three things are presented: (1) Make disciples of all nations; (2) baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; (3) teaching to observe everything that Jesus commanded. Mark 16: 15, 19 also mentions: (1) Go into all the world; (2) preach the Gospel; (3) he who is believes and is baptized shall be saved and he who does not believe shall be condemned. Jesus is received up into heaven, apparently from Galilee in this account. John 21: 1, 14 refers to Jesus meeting with the disciples in Galilee for the third time but there is NO mention of making disciples of the nations, preaching the Gospel or spreading the teaching of Jesus [Yeshua], baptizing in the divine Name, repentance or remission of sins, or about Jesus ascending back up to heaven.
The importance of Jerusalem is emphasized in Luke 24: 47, 49 where (1) repentance and remission of sins in His [Jesus-Yeshua] name preached to all nations; (2) beginning at Jerusalem; (3) tarry at Jerusalem. Jesus was carried up to heaven. Of course, there is a LUKE/ACTS tie-in as portrayed in Acts 1: 4-5, 8-9: And being assembled together with them, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Interestingly, we have the ten disciples [Thomas missing] receiving the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them [in Galilee] or in Jerusalem when they received the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire and all the 120 who were assembled, experienced this phenomena (Cp. Acts 1: 12-15; 2: 1-4a). The traditional “Trinitarian” baptismal formula (Cp. Matthew 28: 19) seems to have been ignored by the early Church in favor of Luke 24: 47 [baptism in “The Name of Jesus”] because all the recorded cases in the book of ACTS mentions baptism in the singular Name as opposed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why does the “Great Commission” not include any Galilean towns in the North, like Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Bethsaida, Bethlehem, Tyre, and Syria, etc? Not only that, but Jesus either ascended to heaven from the region of Galilee in the North or from Judea [Jerusalem or Bethany] in the South. These two disparate versions cannot rationally be reconciled into one coherent narrative, but like the creation account in the book of GENESIS as well as other source references throughout the TANAKH [Jewish Old Testament], this disparity cannot be ignored and easily explained away.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 18, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Mark 14: 28
“But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”
Matthew 28: 5, 7
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know you seek Jesus [Yeshua] who was crucified.” ‘And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold! I have told you.”
28: 10
Then Jesus [Yeshua] said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren [disciples??] to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”
Mark 16: 5-7
And entering the tomb, they (Cp. 16: 1) saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus [Yeshua] of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. “But go, tell His disciples-and Peter-that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”
Matthew 28: 16-17
Then the eleven disciples went away [from Jerusalem??] into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus [Yeshua] had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshipped; but some doubted.
NOTE: The narrative doesn’t say who they were and the reason for their doubt and it would have been quite helpful to our understanding if this information was recorded for posterity.
18-20
And Jesus [Yeshua] came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father [Abba], and of the Son [Ben], and of the Holy Spirit [Ruach Kodesh], teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age [world].” Amen
Mark 16: 15, 19
And He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” So then, after the LORD had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
John 20: 10, 12, 17-18
Then the disciples went away again to their own homes [in Galilee??]. And she [Mary Magdalene] saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain [somewhere around Mount Olivet in Bethany, near Jerusalem]. Jesus [Yeshua] said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father, but go to My brethren [disciples??] and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that He had spoken these things to her.
21: 1, 14
After these things Jesus [Yeshua] showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias [in Galilee], and in this way He showed Himself. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.
Luke 24: 4, 6
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. “He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee.”
24: 33
So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together (Cp. Acts 1: 12-15).
NOTE: The focus appears to shift from Galilee to Jerusalem.
*Luke 24: 47, 49*
“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name [Jesus-Yeshua] to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. “ Behold, I send the Promise of the Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany (Cp. John 11: 18), His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them that He was parted from them and carried up to heaven.
John 20: 19, 21-23
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled [in Jerusalem??] for fear of the Jews stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” So Jesus [Yeshua] said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Hoy Spirit (Ruach ha Kodesh). If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
NOTE: This is a different account than the versions in the ‘Synoptic Gospels’ or in ACTS 1: 13-14; 2: 1-7.
COMMENTARY: After carefully examining the gospels as well as the book of ACTS, it seems that there are at least two traditions; one is a Northern version that gives Galilee prominence and the Southern narrative which places emphasis on the city of Jerusalem. In Matthew 28: 18-20 at least three things are presented: (1) Make disciples of all nations; (2) baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; (3) teaching to observe everything that Jesus commanded. Mark 16: 15, 19 also mentions: (1) Go into all the world; (2) preach the Gospel; (3) he who is believes and is baptized shall be saved and he who does not believe shall be condemned. Jesus is received up into heaven, apparently from Galilee in this account. John 21: 1, 14 refers to Jesus meeting with the disciples in Galilee for the third time but there is NO mention of making disciples of the nations, preaching the Gospel or spreading the teaching of Jesus [Yeshua], baptizing in the divine Name, repentance or remission of sins, or about Jesus ascending back up to heaven.
The importance of Jerusalem is emphasized in Luke 24: 47, 49 where (1) repentance and remission of sins in His [Jesus-Yeshua] name preached to all nations; (2) beginning at Jerusalem; (3) tarry at Jerusalem. Jesus was carried up to heaven. Of course, there is a LUKE/ACTS tie-in as portrayed in Acts 1: 4-5, 8-9: And being assembled together with them, commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
Interestingly, we have the ten disciples [Thomas missing] receiving the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them [in Galilee] or in Jerusalem when they received the Holy Spirit as tongues of fire and all the 120 who were assembled, experienced this phenomena (Cp. Acts 1: 12-15; 2: 1-4a). The traditional “Trinitarian” baptismal formula (Cp. Matthew 28: 19) seems to have been ignored by the early Church in favor of Luke 24: 47 [baptism in “The Name of Jesus”] because all the recorded cases in the book of ACTS mentions baptism in the singular Name as opposed to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Why does the “Great Commission” not include any Galilean towns in the North, like Nazareth, Capernaum, Cana, Bethsaida, Bethlehem, Tyre, and Syria, etc? Not only that, but Jesus either ascended to heaven from the region of Galilee in the North or from Judea [Jerusalem or Bethany] in the South. These two disparate versions cannot rationally be reconciled into one coherent narrative, but like the creation account in the book of GENESIS as well as other source references throughout the TANAKH [Jewish Old Testament], this disparity cannot be ignored and easily explained away.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 18, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Monday, July 12, 2010
Were seven nations really destroyed by the Israelites in the land of Canaan?
It has been presumed that the Israelites defeated seven major powers or nations in the land of Canaan before they could possess it, but is this really the case? There were certainly military battles in which the 12 tribes were successful, for the most part, but they did not utterly defeat or drive out all the inhabitants of the land as they were supposed to. In fact, some of these very nations were left intact to test Israel, whether they would follow God’s Law or not.
Genesis 15: 18-21
On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given [will give??] this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates- the Kenites (Cp. Judges 4: 11), Kenezzites, Kadmonites, Hittites [Hivites-Cp. 34: 2a??], Perizzites, Rephaim [Cp. 14: 5b; in Ashteroth Karnaim], Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Exodus 23: 23
For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.
NOTE: SEE Joshua 11: 3.
Deuteronomy 7: 1
When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you.
Joshua 24: 11
Then you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you- also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand.
Judges 1: 8
Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem [the Jebusites??] and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.
1: 9-11
And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South [NEGEB], and in the lowland [Valley or plains??]. Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir was formerly Kirjath Sepher.)
1: 17
And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Also Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.
1: 19
So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers [who were they??] but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowlands, because they had chariots of iron.
1: 21
But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day (Cp. Joshua 15: 63).
1: 27
However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in the land.
1: 29
Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them [to this day??].
1: 30
Nor did Ephraim drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.
1: 31-32
Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
1: 33
Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh of the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwell among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.
1: 34-36
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley. And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph [not Dan??] increased, they were put under tribute. Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.
*3: 1a, 3*
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test [prove] Israel by them, namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwell in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath (Cp. Joshua 13: 1-6).
3: 5-6
Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And they took their daughters to be wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods (Cp. Ezra 9: 1-2).
2 Chronicles 8: 7-8
All the people who were left of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel- that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel did not destroy- from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day.
2 Kings 23: 27
And the LORD said, “I will also remove Judah from my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’ “
NOTE: Due to Israel's continual rebellion and idolatry the LORD caused them to be removed as captives of war, first the 10 Northern tribes into Assyria and then the 2 remaining Southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin are taken to Babylon from the very land that He promised them as an inheritance.
Acts 13: 19
And when He [God] had destroyed “seven” nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment (Cp. Deuteronomy 7: 1).
To reiterate: Rav Shaul’s [Apostle Paul] discourse at the Pisidian Antioch synagogue, although symbolically meaningful [the number “seven”], nonetheless the Scriptures [TANAKH] do not reveal those specific nations were completely driven out before the Israelites but on the contrary, lived among them and their children intermarried; proving to be snare throughout their generations.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 8, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
Genesis 15: 18-21
On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given [will give??] this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates- the Kenites (Cp. Judges 4: 11), Kenezzites, Kadmonites, Hittites [Hivites-Cp. 34: 2a??], Perizzites, Rephaim [Cp. 14: 5b; in Ashteroth Karnaim], Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and the Jebusites.
Exodus 23: 23
For My Angel will go before you and bring you in to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites and the Hivites and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off.
NOTE: SEE Joshua 11: 3.
Deuteronomy 7: 1
When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you.
Joshua 24: 11
Then you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the men of Jericho fought against you- also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I delivered them into your hand.
Judges 1: 8
Now the children of Judah fought against Jerusalem [the Jebusites??] and took it; they struck it with the edge of the sword and set the city on fire.
1: 9-11
And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who dwelt in the mountains, in the South [NEGEB], and in the lowland [Valley or plains??]. Then Judah went against the Canaanites who dwelt in Hebron (now the name of Hebron was formerly Kirjath Arba.) And they killed Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. From there they went against the inhabitants of Debir. (The name of Debir was formerly Kirjath Sepher.)
1: 17
And Judah went with his brother Simeon, and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. So the name of the city was called Hormah. Also Judah took Gaza with its territory, Ashkelon with its territory, and Ekron with its territory.
1: 19
So the LORD was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers [who were they??] but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowlands, because they had chariots of iron.
1: 21
But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day (Cp. Joshua 15: 63).
1: 27
However, Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, or the inhabitants of Ibleam and its villages, or the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages; for the Canaanites were determined to dwell in the land.
1: 29
Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer; so the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them [to this day??].
1: 30
Nor did Ephraim drive out the inhabitants of Kitron or the inhabitants of Nahalol; so the Canaanites dwelt among them, and were put under tribute.
1: 31-32
Nor did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Acco or the inhabitants of Sidon, or of Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, or Rehob. So the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.
1: 33
Nor did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh of the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but they dwell among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. Nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were put under tribute to them.
1: 34-36
And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not allow them to come down to the valley. And the Amorites were determined to dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim; yet when the strength of the house of Joseph [not Dan??] increased, they were put under tribute. Now the boundary of the Amorites was from the Ascent of Akrabbim, from Sela, and upward.
*3: 1a, 3*
Now these are the nations which the LORD left, that He might test [prove] Israel by them, namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwell in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of Hamath (Cp. Joshua 13: 1-6).
3: 5-6
Thus the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And they took their daughters to be wives, and gave their daughters to their sons; and they served their gods (Cp. Ezra 9: 1-2).
2 Chronicles 8: 7-8
All the people who were left of the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who were not of Israel- that is, their descendants who were left in the land after them, whom the children of Israel did not destroy- from these Solomon raised forced labor, as it is to this day.
2 Kings 23: 27
And the LORD said, “I will also remove Judah from my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, ‘My name shall be there.’ “
NOTE: Due to Israel's continual rebellion and idolatry the LORD caused them to be removed as captives of war, first the 10 Northern tribes into Assyria and then the 2 remaining Southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin are taken to Babylon from the very land that He promised them as an inheritance.
Acts 13: 19
And when He [God] had destroyed “seven” nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment (Cp. Deuteronomy 7: 1).
To reiterate: Rav Shaul’s [Apostle Paul] discourse at the Pisidian Antioch synagogue, although symbolically meaningful [the number “seven”], nonetheless the Scriptures [TANAKH] do not reveal those specific nations were completely driven out before the Israelites but on the contrary, lived among them and their children intermarried; proving to be snare throughout their generations.
Robert Randle
776 Commerce St. #B-11
Tacoma, WA 98402
July 8, 2010
pbks@hotmail.com
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