Not Much New About The New Testament

Terminology: The following terminology will be used in this study and is based upon the Hebrew origins of the Scripture and will open up a bit of depth in our understanding of certain aspects of the Word, which is lost through our English translations of the Bible. • •

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Yahuweh, Yahuah or YHVH – translated in the English Bibles as LORD and is the Name of God that God gave Moses at the burning bush. This Name means; “He is who He is” coming from the first person Name “I Am that I Am” Yeshua or Yehusuah or Y’shua – The Hebrew Name of our Saviour which is translated to Greek as Ieosus and transliterated from Greek to English as Jesus in the English Bible. Ieosus means “God of Healing”. The reason is that there is no “Y” in Greek and the closest sound was the “I”. The Name Yeshua means; “Yahweh is my Salvation” and this Name underlines that He is our Saviour as prophesied in Scripture. Messiah – Translated as Christ in the English Bible and comes form the Greek word Christos which means “Anointed One” and this is also the Hebrew meaning of Messiah or pronounced as “Massiach”. Elohim – Translated as God in the English Bible; it is the Name of God which means; Messenger, Judge and Ruler/King and are the attributes of Yeshua. TaNaK or Scriptures– This is the “correct” term for the English translation “Old Testament”. The “Old Testament” implies that there was only one “Old Covenant” and one “New Covenant”, but there are many “Covenants” written in the TaNaK or Scriptures and the term “Old Testament” is incorrect in it’s application. The TaNaK is the collation of all the Books known to the people in Yeshua’s time and are the Torah (first 5 Books of the Scripture), the Nevi-im (the Prophets) and the Kevotim (the Psalms or writings). I like to refer to the “Old Testament” as the Tanak or the Scriptures. Torah – translated as Law in the English Bible. It actually means Instructions In the Scripture it is also referred to as the “writings of Moses” and consists of the first five books of the Bible. It comes from the root word “Yarah” which means; “to flow like water” and “to learn how to shoot”. This is interesting because sin in Hebrew is defined as “missing the mark”. Paul refers to the Torah as the “knowledge of sin” and this is why. The concept of water is also found in the “New Testament” where the Word is referred to as water (Eph 5:26). To wash yourself with the water of the Word (Torah) is to cleanse yourself from sin which is defined in the Torah (first five books of the Bible). This helps us not to miss the mark or to sin, but to live a holy righteous life unto Him. (2 Tim 3:16) Brit Chadasha or Apostolic Scriptures – as translated and known as the “New Testament” or “New Covenant”. These are the portions of the Bible that were mostly written by Paul and the Disciples and did not exist in the time of Yeshua. When they referred to “the Word” as in the Book of John, they refer only to the Tanak because the “New Testament” was not compiled yet. Brit Chadasha means “Renewed Covenant” and is the extension that was added to all the previous Covenants where He will write His Torah (Law) on our hearts and where He underline the grafting in of the Gentiles into Israel as prophesied in Jer 31:31-33 and Eze 11:19. Heb. 8:8-12, Heb. 10:16-17.

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In his second letter to Timothy, Paul reveals something to Timothy that is overlooked or not fully appreciated by most readers of the “New Testament”. ! " &

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Paul is telling Timothy that from a child he has known the Holy Scriptures. In contrast to this, Y’shua tells the Pharisees that they err by not knowing the scriptures. Mat 22:29 Y’shua answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of Elohim. Scholars agree this letter to Timothy was written in the year 61-64 to a grown man, Timothy. When Timothy was a child, what were these Holy Scriptures that make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Y’shua that Paul is talking about? And what were the Scriptures that Y’shua was telling the Pharisees that they did not know? The Apostolic Scriptures (“New Testament”) was not written yet. Paul wasn’t talking about the letter he would write to the Romans next week. The only Holy Scriptures that existed at that time was the TaNaK. And many years after the resurrection of Messiah Y’shua, what did Paul say these Scriptures were good for? ...to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Messiah Y’shua. Think about this one. It had been approximately 30 years since Y’shua died and resurrected and the Holy Spirit given. Paul is not telling Timothy that the Torah is no longer relevant. No, he taught just the opposite. Paul is endorsing it quite strongly. Believers think today; “I don’t need to be concerned with the Torah, I am saved because I have accepted Jesus.” Paul teaches that the TaNaK gives you wisdom through faith in Y’shua. He used the TaNaK to teach the new believers. Paul was telling Timothy his source for instructing the new Assembly. His letters were written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And the Spirit did exactly what Y’shua did; the Spirit called up the Scriptures that Paul had in his mind and revealed a deeper understanding. Since Torah is a Hebrew word, the first thing we need to do, is understand what the Hebrew definition is for Torah. In Hebrew, Torah means teaching and instruction and does not really mean law at all. In strict terms it is the first five books of the Scripture. Since Torah means instruction, I am also using the term Torah in loose terms to refer to all of the “Old Testament” (TaNaK). Which includes the prophets and the writings (Psalms, Proverbs, Daniel, Job, etc.) in addition to the first five books of Moses.

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Paul wrote letters to new believers in Rome, Galatia, Corinth, Colosse, Ephesus, and elsewhere. And he was using the torah for doctrine and reproof and correction and instruction in righteousness when he wrote his epistles. That’s what his epistles are all about.

Something to remember about the inspired writings of the apostles commonly referred to as the Apostolic Scriptures (“New Testament”). They were not starting a new religion (Christianity). They were interpreting the TaNaK and expounding on it. Y’shua did not start a new religion. Y’shua is the promised Messiah. He was and is continuing what he has already started back in Genesis, fulfilling the prophecies that were in the TaNaK. Contrary to popular belief, the Torah is about a Person that is considered by many to be a New Testament personality, namely Y’shua. )

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Has he opened your understanding that you might understand the scriptures? Or do you believe that the TaNaK (“Old Testament”) is not relevant today. )

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5 Y’shua says Moses wrote about him. Moses wrote the Torah, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Did you realize they are about Y’shua? The same Scriptures, the “Old Testament. Y’shua, also endorses the same Scriptures Paul endorsed. Sadly, for the most part, people today think it is not relevant today. There is nothing more exciting than finding Y’shua in those books. If you are doing Torah studies and not seeing Y’shua in them you are missing out and you are spiritually blind. Ask YHVH to open your eyes so that you can see the Scripture in the same way Paul saw it and that you can understand Paul’s writings. John had the following revelation of who Y’shua is: )

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Y’shua was there right from the beginning and He is the Word of YHVH the Father, the Origin of everything. John refers to Him as the Word that came and dwelled with man. What does he mean with Word? David knew what the Word of YHVH is. + +

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David defines YHVH’s WORD as something that helps him not to sin, in other words, it is the knowledge of sin. [Rom 3:20] He defines it as Precepts, Judgements, Testimonies and His Commandments. John added to say that Elohim is the Word that was from the beginning and this means that Y’shua was actively involved in creating the world and that makes Him Elohim (God). He also states that Elohim is His Word, they are one. His Commandment, His Judgements and His Precepts describe His Character and that is how we know Him. He is Holy and if we follow His Ways, Commandments, Precepts and Judgements, we will become like Him. He said that we mist be Holy for He is Holy. How do I become Holy, through having His WORD (Y’shua, Judgements, Precepts and Commandments) in my heart, speak it with your mouth and live it out in your life. Y’shua = Torah, Instructions, TaNaK, Judgments, Precepts, Word, Elohim.

Many people found it difficult to understand Paul’s letters and even Peter warned people not to pervert Pauls letters. +

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Peter is referring to those unlearned in the TaNaK. That is why they will take Paul’s writings and unknowingly twist them to mean things they do not mean. Because they have no foundational understanding of the Torah. Just as Y’shua warned the Pharisees, we too as Believers err by not knowing the Scriptures/Torah.

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Paul wrote in Galatians (1:14) that he was extremely zealous for the Law, and his academic accomplishments exceeded that of many of his peers. This was his way of saying he excelled above everyone when it came to the Torah. In today’s world, trying to fully understand Paul’s writings would be like the average person trying to read legal language written by a top corporate lawyer and understand it. Are you unlearned in the Torah? Most Christians are. That is why it is very dangerous to read Paul’s writings without knowledge of Torah and think you know what he is talking about. Peter says it is done to one’s own destruction. Paul taught from the TaNaK and proved to the people that Y’shua is the Messiah and He used the Torah and the Prophets, from morning till evening. A

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Paul’s writings to the early Assembly were in response to disputes and questions that were asked of him by new believers that had not been raised according to the Scriptures. They had no clue about the teaching and instructions of Elohim, otherwise known as the Torah. We have no record of what all these disputes or questions were, all we see are the answers. This in itself can cause confusion if not read in context of this understanding

A lot of people think Paul was Greek and was against the Torah and taught the first century believers not to follow Torah, that the Torah is abolished and that they only needed to relay on Grace. The book of Romans alone has over 66 quotes and 14 allusions to the TaNaK. Writing a book with only 16 chapters and having 80 references with 66 of them being quotes form the TaNaK, shows that Paul relied quite heavily on the TaNaK. Paul was a Torah teacher. The “New Testament” quotes or alludes to Scriptures in the TaNaK (“Old Testament”) 885 times. There is not much new about the “New Testament” (Paul’s letters) other than the revelation of who the Messiah is and what He has done for us. Paul was a scholar of scholars. He sat at the feet of Gamaliel. 1+ ? !

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To sit at the feet of Gamaliel, the most respected Torah teacher of that era, meant more than most people realize. It meant Paul was at the head of his class, front and centre at the feet of the teacher. A place reserved for the top student. He would have memorized, repeat, memorized the Torah at a young age. This is hard for us to even comprehend, but a way of life for zealous Torah students of that time. When Paul wrote most of the Apostolic Scriptures, he was not just giving religious opinions. He was teaching doctrine according to the Torah. He was a genius. He didn’t need to carry Torah scrolls around with him. He carried it in his mind. The Holy Spirit, brought forth what had already been deposited. Paul was a Torah scholar. Why do you think Elohim chose him above the other apostles to teach the new Assembly? He was in a class of his own when it came to the Scriptures.

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Here is a list of the quotations from the TaNaK (“Old Testament”) found in the book of Romans. * Means he is alluding to that particular Scripture. † Means a possible allusion worthy of attention.

It is clearly evident that when Paul wrote the book of Romans that he was not teaching them anything new. He was teaching them Torah (YHVH’s Instructions). Just as he told Timothy, he was teaching them doctrine, reproving them, correcting them, and instructing them in righteousness, and he was using the Holy Scriptures (TaNaK) to make them wise unto salvation through faith in Messiah Y’shua. Not outside of Y’shua. Here is his source for his other epistles.

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Job 25:4-5, Isa 45:25

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Letter to the Hebrews

Something to consider; if a professor taught a class for over thirty years, and he only quoted the Koran, what would he be teaching? If he only quoted a book on computer programming, what would he be teaching? If he only quoted books on mathematics, what would he be teaching? What if he only quoted ancient Hebrew writings, otherwise known as the Torah, then what would he be teaching? Would he be teaching some new religion, Christianity? No, he would be teaching what he was quoting. When Paul wrote his epistles it is very clear that he wasn’t teaching those other things, or anything else, he was quoting and he was teaching Torah. That was his field of study and he revealed Y’shua as the Messiah from Scripture.

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It wasn’t only Paul that taught from the Torah, the other disciples did also.

Wow, if the Law (Torah) had been done away with, how come nobody told the apostles? That is all they taught from. The apostles must have really been listening to Y’shua when he said, referring to the Commandments: "

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Do and teach the commandments. Y’shua said that! Do you think He was giving an incentive here? So his followers would do and teach the Commandments. That is exactly what the apostles of Y’shua did. No wonder their names are written on the foundations of the New Jerusalem. They will forever be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. :

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This is quite obvious that Paul and the disciples taught the Torah and the TaNak and used that as a basis of their teaching and revelation of the Messiah. We as Believers should get the foundational understanding of the Scripture (TaNaK) before we make assumptions on the “New Testament” that will add to the confusion that rules the Christian Church today. Do not be ignorant, be educated in the truth and rid yourself form confusion and know the perfect will of YHVH, which is His whole Word from Genesis to Revelation.

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