Introduction
What is the theology of the Old Testament? What did God reveal to Israel concerning His plans and purposes? What was the theological knowledge and outlook of a first-century Jew, a Jew of Jesus’ day? These are the questions this article will consider.
Jewish Theology
God revealed His plans and purposes for Israel and the nations through His covenant promises to Israel and His revelations through the nation’s prophets. Thus, Jewish theology began with the Abrahamic covenant and progressed through the other covenants: the Palestinic (Land), Mosaic, Sabbatic, Davidic, and New.1 God’s major prophetic revelations also began with Abraham and extended through Malachi to John the Baptist, Jesus, the Twelve, and finally, Paul. These prophecies added details of God’s plans and purposes for the people of Israel.
Jewish Theology in a Nutshell
Psalm 2 contains a summary of Jewish prophetic theology. Everything else is detail. Jewish theology encompassed two key events: the Wrath of God (the Day of the Lord) and the Kingdom of God.
| Psalm 2 | Comment |
| 1 Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!” | vv. 1-3 reveal God’s intent for His Messiah to reign (1st and 2nd advents) and His rejection by both Jews (peoples and rulers) and Gentiles (nations and kings of the earth). |
| 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, | vv. 4-5 show God’s disdain and wrath against those who reject His Messiah (cf. Acts 13.38-41). |
| 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. 8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall shatter them like earthenware.’” | vv. 6-9 reveal God’s setting up His Messiah to rule from Jerusalem (Zion), His declaration of the Messiah’s Sonship (i.e., resurrection, cf. Acts 13.30-33), His giving His Son the nations for an inheritance, and the nature of the Messiah’s rule. |
| 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! | vv. 10-12 reveal God’s warning to the nations to worship and revere His Son, so as not to anger Him. This refers primarily to His 2nd Advent. |
| Jewish Theological Concepts in Psalm 2 Extended in Other Passages | |
(The Day of the Lord: The Tribulation) | (Messianic Kingdom: Christ Rules as King) |
| Isaiah 2.20-21, 24.19-23, 34.1-3; Jeremiah 30.5-7; Zephaniah 1; Joel 2.1-11, 30-31; Zechariah 14.1-7 | Isaiah 2.2-5, 9.6-7, 11.1-16; Jeremiah 23.3-8, 30.8-24; Ezekiel 36.21-38, 37.1-28; Zechariah 14.8-11 |
The Messiah was the principal actor of these events. The primary revelation about the Messiah the prophets had disclosed was about His reign as King in the kingdom of God on earth (Zechariah 14.9). In the Gospels, one can gain tremendous insight into Jewish theology by reading Luke 1-2. The testimonies of Zechariah, the priest, Mary, the mother of Jesus, Simeon, the righteous Jew, and Anna, the prophetess provide great insight into what godly Jews understood about God’s plan.
By means of the Messiah’s rule God would fulfill His covenant promises to Israel and elevate them to be the premier nation on earth (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13). Israel in the kingdom will be a large country occupying the boundaries God gave Abraham. The nation will cover most of the Mideast (from the Nile to the Euphrates to the Red Sea to the Mediterranean–Exodus 23.31; Ezekiel 47.17-20; Genesis 15.18; Numbers 34.6, 11-12; Deuteronomy 11.24; Joshua 1.4.). This promise was the hope of believing Jews in the time of Jesus (Luke 1. 30-33, 46-55, 67-79, 2.27-32). Much more vague were prophecies concerning the Messiah’s suffering. Especially cryptic was how He would deal with the problem of sin. Only one passage dealt with this aspect of His work: Isaiah 53. The Jews had no understanding of the meaning of this passage (and still do not).2 For them, the animal sacrifices offered by the priesthood of Israel were reality, not shadows. They had no idea of a greater truth beyond them.
Shortest Course of Jewish Theology
The shortest, most succinct course in Jewish theology is Isaiah 61.1-2. In two verses (really one) Isaiah laid out the principle elements of Jewish theology. Isaiah 61 reads:
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn,
| a) To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord | 1st Advent (Christ solves the problem of sin) |
| b) The day of vengeance of our God | God’s Wrath (Tribulation) against His enemies |
| c) To comfort all who mourn | 2nd Advent and Establishment of Messianic Kingdom on Earth |
Verse 1 elaborates upon verse 2a. It outlined the Lord’s first advent. Jesus confirmed this prophecy and quoted it in his visit to the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4.16-21). What was striking about the Lord’s reading (which His listeners noted) was that He only quoted verses 1-2a. He did not quote verse 2b and 2c. In other words, He stopped in the middle of the verse. The reason He did not read the entire verse was that He knew verse 2b and 2c composed two large-scale and separate parts of Jewish theology which would be fulfilled later.
Verse 2b described God’s wrath, the “day of vengeance of our God,” i.e., the Day of the Lord. In His response on the mount of Olives to His disciples question about end-time events the Lord called this time the “Tribulation” (Matthew 24.15-16 cf. Daniel 9.27, 11.31, 12.11).
Verse 2c, “to comfort all who mourn” refers to the Messianic kingdom which will last for 1,000 years on the earth. In this kingdom God will smooth out life’s inequities (Isaiah 40.3-5; Matthew 6.10). The Lord will reign over the earth as King (Zechariah 14.9) and it will be a time of unprecedented peace and righteousness (Isaiah 11.1-9). God will fulfill all His covenant promises to Israel and Israel will be the premier nation of the world (Deuteronomy 28.1, 13).
Conclusion
While Jewish theology is simple and brief in its basic conceptions, it is replete with detail. We have many hundreds of passages devoted to it (most of the Old Testament, the Gospels, and all non-Pauline writers).
Christian theology (things that pertain to the Church, the body of Christ), is wholly found in the writings of Paul. The reason for this is God did not reveal the Church in the Old Testament, in Jesus’ earthly ministry, or to the Twelve. He revealed it to Paul alone. Paul called the principal elements of Christian theology “secrets” (μυστήριον) because that is what they were. God had kept them secret until He revealed them to and through Paul.4
1 See the author’s study, Covenants of Israel, for more information on them.
2 See Acts 8.26-39. The Ethiopian eunuch, a Jew who served as Secretary of the Treasury for Candace, Queen of Ethiopia, was returning home after having gone to Jerusalem to worship. As he traveled, he read Isaiah 53. He did not understand it. The Lord directed Phillip to him who explained the passage. The Ethiopian Jew was not dumb. His ignorance revealed this Scripture was not understood by educated Jews.
3 What is obviously missing in this theology is the Church, the body of Christ. God did not reveal the Church, the body of Christ until He saved and commissioned Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles. Thus, all Christian i.e., Church theology begins with Paul and comes from him alone.
4 For more information on these “secrets” see the author’s other articles, especially, Paul’s “Mystery”.
©2015 Don Samdahl. Anyone is free to reproduce this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold.
Again! Thanks for giving us a clear statement Concerning this subject! God bless You, & keep Up the great work.
John H. Gregory
Thanks, John. Grace and peace.
Your comments and Scripture references for Psalm 2 are so sound. I am daily in awe at how the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place with your studies. I searched for years, having to put so many things “on the shelf” and hoping the Holy Spirit would open my eyes; but without understanding the Jews/Gentiles, Israel/Church, Jesus/Paul thing, it is literally impossible to get past the confusion in order to fully see the simplicity of the truth. The thing about your studies is you clearly are not trying to gain a following, but rather are pointing us in the right direction and giving us the insight to stand on our own feet. I thank God for your willingness to share all your hard work, serving the saints that they might just sit down and “feast.” May He continue to bless you.
Thank you for your pithy comments. I appreciate your style of writing very much.
Please correct me where I am wrong. I am not familiar with any place in the old testament where Heaven is the eternal destination for believers after death. I believe Abraham’s bosom/Paradise was the location until the Risen Lord took them at his ascension. Some day the Lord will set up the Kingdom on earth and that will be the eternal home for the believers of that dispensation and it will extend on into the (earth part) of the new heaven and new earth. Church age believers will rule and reign with Christ in a more Universal heavenly setting. I am confused about the New Jerusalem that comes down from Heaven and who is to live there. Thank you
Joe,
The Jew had no hope of dying and going to heaven. Their future was upon the earth.
Yes, you have provided ample scriptural support for the Jewish hope to one day dwell in their land, (upon earth) in peace, and be the preeminent nation on earth. However, I need your help in regard to the passage in John 14:1-3 that seems to indicate that the apostles will one day be taken to ‘My Fathers House’, where there are plenty of rooms. Jesus taught ‘our Father, who art in Heaven’. And yet Jesus also taught ‘My Fathers House (temple in Jerusalem?) shall be called a house of prayer’. Which house, and what rooms?
Thank you so much for this website and sharing your gift to the Body.
David,
God rules heaven and earth and is omnipresent. How all this works out is unclear. For example, Israel’s destiny is earthly, while the Church’s destiny is heavenly. During the Millennium, Jesus Christ reigns on earth. Will members of the Church be on earth or in heaven? The Bible does not tell us. The “Father’s house” includes all heaven and earth. Whatever will be will be glorious, beyond imagining.
Doctrine,
In a nut shell can you explain the significance of Korah’s rebellion in the book of Numbers? What does it say about Moses and how does it apply to us today? Does this event have an explanation of why Moses did not enter the Promise land or was it simply the incident of hitting the rock that did that?
Thank you, Joe
Joe,
In Numbers 16, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebelled against Moses and accused him of not being guided by the Lord. To prove them wrong, the Lord opened the earth and consumed them. Paul occupies a position similar to Moses for the Church. Paul pronounced a curse on any proclaiming a gospel different than his (Galatians 1.6-9). To do so challenges the authority God gave Paul, just as He worked with Moses. Moses could not enter the promised land because he struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it as the Lord commanded. The Rock is Christ Who was struck once. Striking the rock twice broke the typology God had in mind with the crucifixion.
I just have a simple question that I’ve never heard a satisfying answer to. Over the years I’ve asked many Christians how they reconcile an OT God who commands and commits barbaric atrocities with the teachings of Jesus. Usually I get a response along the lines of, “That was then, this is now. Jesus came to change all that.” I would be interested in reading how you believe the two can be reconciled.
For example, we don’t kill homosexuals anymore, but Jews did until Christ came. Come to think of it, perhaps the real question is: why don’t orthodox Jews not kill fellow Jews anymore for various acts as God commands them to do in the Old Testament?
Thank you for reading this post.
Roger,
God’s moral requirements have not changed. The commands God gave the Jews to annihilate peoples such as the Canaanites was most likely because of the pollution of the human genome which began in Genesis 6. These hybrid fallen angel/human unions were Satan’s attempt to destroy the human race and eliminate the possibility of a Redeemer. The situation became so dire God brought about the Flood and destroyed the human race. Noah was spared not only because he believed in the Lord but because his genetic line had remained uncompromised (Genesis 6.9). After the Flood such unions again took place (Genesis 6.4) and their offspring of the unions existed into David’s reign. Remember Goliath? The Mosaic Law will enforced in the Millennial kingdom when Christ reigns as King. The reason Jews do not enforce these laws today is because the state is not a theocracy. The explanation of “that was then, this is now” is simpleminded. God does not change in dealing with sin. For example, as a preview of the kingdom, Ananias and Sapphira were killed immediately for lying to the Holy Spirit. Such enforcement will characterize the Messianic kingdom. See Revelation 2.27, 12.5.
Just to be clear, are you saying that, during the 1,000 year reign by Christ there will be lots os stoning and killing?
I must have misunderstood. Thank you.
Roger,
The world today has an epidemic of murder, rape, corruption, etc. Listen to the politicians. It’s hard to find one sentence from their lips which is not a lie. How does one stop an epidemic? Crime and corruption will almost cease to exist in the 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth. He will rule with a rod of iron with perfect wisdom and justice. I suspect relatively little executions and punishment will take place. Once it is known that one cannot get away with crime it will cease.
Don, does rod of iron refer to the word of God? btw, I have sent you a couple of emails via your contact so not to derail threads on here. Just wondering if you have received them. Thanks.
Craig,
This is an idiomatic expression that the Messiah will reign with justice. In the Millennium, there will be sin but the Messiah will allow no corruption. Evil will be judged immediately. Isaiah 11 is a decription of His rule. I do not recall seeing email from the contact form. Try again so to be sure it’s working.
Don, I just sent you an email via your contact.
Craig,
Nothing came through. I tested it and it worked fine. Don’t know what the problem may be.
Thank you for your response. The question presses, though: Why don’t orthodox Jews obey God’s commands in the Old Testament TODAY to kill people? Not the genocide stuff, but the commands such as killing homosexuals or killing a girl who doesn’t yell loud enough while she’s being raped? (Deuteronomy 22:23-24).
I can’t recall hearing or reading a satisfying answer to this this question. When I asked a rabbi about this he said, “We’ve evolved as humans. We know that such killing is wrong now.” See what I mean? Any light you can shed on this issue would be appreciated.
Thank you for reading my post.
Roger,
The Rabbi did not know his Torah. But how could this occur? Even if orthodox Jews wanted this they live in a secular state. BTW, no rape exists in verses 23-24. The text does not read that the man forced her. It also doesn’t read that she didn’t cry loud enough. It reads she didn’t cry at all. In other words, the sex was consensual. This law was also limited to the city. Verses 25-26 deal with rape. The girl is innocent.
Is it possible that OT legalism is actually the correct way to run a society and today’s progressive culture of tolerance is wrong. Look what we have today: 60 million abortions since R v. Wade, drugs, divorce, fatherless families, terror etc. Have man’s laws done any better? Civilization is a mask. A kid recently was given 10 years probation for killing 4 people in a drunk driving case, “Affluenza”. How many times should that kid have been put in stocks in the city square before his ‘accident’? Now he’s broken probation.
Merry Christmas. Our study group recently watched a video by Ken Hamm of the Creation Museum. There was no mention of the two creation accounts in Genesis 1-2, so I asked the leader of the group about it and he told me he didn’t know but would get back to us on it. He hasn’t yet, so I’m wondering if you can help me reconcile the two accounts.
To be a bit more specific, in Genesis 1 God creates big things: light, water, sky, and earth, during the first two days. Then on day three he creates plant life. Then he goes back on day four to creating big things like the sun, moon and stars. He then creates creeping things twice, first on day five and then again on day six.
Then we get to Genesis 2 and we read a completely different order of creation.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ve written and/or thought about this before. Can you shed some light on the two different creation stories and why they differ in order and method?
Thank you.
Roger,
More heat than light has been shed on the supposed “different” creation stories. Genesis 2 elaborates with greater specificity the creation account of Genesis 1. For example, Genesis 2.18, 21-22 provides detail of God’s creation of man in Genesis 1.26-27. Genesis 2.19 recounts the animal creation of Genesis 1.20-21, 24-25. In Genesis 1, Moses revealed God as אֱלֹהִים but in Genesis 2 as יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהִ֜ים because God is dealing personally and specifically with man. “LORD” is the OT name for the Son, the Word of God and visible manifestation of God. So the long and short of it is we have a single creation account, Genesis 1 being a summary and Genesis 2 providing specifics concerning man. This is because the Bible is all about God’s relationship to and with man.
Granted, but the question presses: Why do the two accounts differ on what was created on each day?
Roger,
Provide an example. There are no days in Genesis 2 so there is no discrepancy.
I’m not sure if this is the proper forum for my question, but I’ll ask it here anyway. After Moses received the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, he smashes the tablets when he sees his people worshipping a golden calf. Then in Exodus 34 God tells him to bring two new tablets up the mountain. As you know, the two sets of commandments (both referred to as “The Ten Commandments”) are almost completely different. You would think that, with both sets of commandments, that the God of the universe could come up with better commandments. (How about “Thou shalt not enslave other people.”) And in the second version of the Ten Commandments we read things such as “Don’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” Like, these kinds of things are what the God of the universe gives us to follow? Any explanation would be appreciated.
Roger,
A careful reading of the text reveals God wrote on both sets of stones the same words (Exodus 34.1). Thus, in Exodus 34.28, the “he” of the second sentence refers to God, not Moses.
I’m still confused (which seems to be my normal default position…). If the second time God commands Moses to bring the tablets up the mountain in Exodus 34 with the same Ten Commandments written on them, what are we to make of verses 10-27?
Roger,
The verses 10-27 deal with God’s instruction for the Jews on keeping themselves separate from Gentiles and how to approach Him. The promise He made was to give them the land He promised Abraham. Remember, 500 years had passed since that initial promise. These were additional instructions regarding God’s relationship with His covenant people. God continued to elaborate on these things through other covenants and He revealed many other laws beyond the Decalogue, i.e, regarding sacrifices, the civil law, etc. Maimonides enumerated 613 commandment in the Mosaic code.
My question has to do with Genesis 34. Jacob’s daughter, Dinah, goes to visit some of the other women in that country, gets raped by Shechem who, after he rapes her, decides he’s in love with her and asks his dad, Hamor, to get him this girl so he can marry her. Jacob finds out his daughter was raped, but meets with Hamor to discuss details of the marriage anyway. But Jacob’s sons wanted revenge. So they came up with a plan. They told Hamor that Schechem could marry Dinah if he agreed to have all of his men circumcised. So, after all of Hamor’s men were circumcised and still in pain and sore, Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah’s brothers, walked into the city where Hamor and his men were and proceeded to kill every man there, including Hamor and Schechem. Then the rest of Jacob’s sons came into the city where the slaughter had occurred and took all the wives and children as slaves and looted the city. When Jacob heard about the slaughter he was upset, but not because he considered the slaughter of the men to have been overkill for Schechem raping his daughter, but because his reputation was soiled and he feared the Canaanites would find out about it and wipe out his people. The chapter ends with the brothers saying, “Nobody’s going to treat our sister as a whore and get away with it.”
So, my question is: What does this story teach?
Roger,
This is a story of perfidy and grief. It reveals the consequences of sin (Romans 15.4). Even for God’s chosen people, the Bible minces no words.
Agreed, the Bible minces no words when it comes to “missing the mark,” but I think my question has more to do with the message(s) of this story: the inequality of women, vengeance, cunning, wholesale slaughter and those kinds of things. We read Genesis 34 in our discussion group and when one person (not me, by the way) said “This story seems to reflect a terrible attitude towards women, and seems to celebrate cunning and violence. What are we to take away from this story? Certainly we don’t view women this way anymore, right?” The group leader responded with, “Well, that’s just the way women were viewed in the Old Testament and God did demand that people be put to death for a variety of reasons in the Old Testament: working on the Sabbath, being gay, being disobedient to your parents and on and on. But things changed when Jesus came to earth and we no longer do those things.” I kept quiet but I’d really like to know how you would have responded to that question. Did “things change” when Jesus came to earth? Thank you.
Roger,
The standard line is the God of the OT was cruel but the God of the NT is merciful. This did not make sense to me when I heard it as a child and makes less sense after studying the Scriptures. God does not change His character. What He does change are His programs, i.e., Israel was under the Mosaic Law, the Church is under grace. The consequences of sin under the Law were severe. But the reality is that all sin leads to death. So nothing has changed except the timing and administration of its consequence. Jesus ministered under the Law and recognized its authority. Paul wrote the Church is not under the administration of the Law. But God’s character does not change. For example, Paul wrote the Corinthians, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6.9-10).
God also showed His wonderful grace and mercy to women in many examples: Esther (she became a powerful queen and a “savior” to her people), Hanna (blessed by God in the fact that Samuel became a famous prophet), Ruth (became the lineage of Jesus even being a gentile), Rahab (gentile pagan saved from destruction and Lineage of Jesus), Abigail (through her courage and protection of her wicked husband became a wife of a king), Deborah (warrior and protector of her people), Sarah (was favored by God highly and the mother of Israel). God gave many examples of how He favored women; man has free will and abused the vessel of God (woman)- sin (as Doctrine puts it) has consequences, even by the sheer natural order that God put in place on the earth from the beginning. You mess with the natural order that God ordained, consequences of sin even on the innocent causes devastating results. I know now even in my own life that when something bad has happened or is not fair that God will always produce GOOD as an outcome to those who place their trust in Him. I have never met a person who went through horrific things, but also put their trust in the Savior come out and say, God is at fault and I am worse off. I have always encountered the opposite- God is an awesome God and I have learned so much from what I have gone through.
If we never go through hard and difficult times how in the world would we be able to have compassion and learn from those hardships? Hardships teach us about love and grace; hardships teach us about patience; hardships teach us about how to have wisdom to not make the same mistakes; hardships teach us about self-control and so on.
It is all about how one will take those hardships and use it for good or fall back into sin.
Also remember there is an adversary (the Devil) just as intent on tempting someone to sin as there is a God who continually urges us to follow good and trust in Him.
You wrote in an earlier post that, “God does not change His character. What He does change are His programs.” I *think* I know what you mean, but the question presses: What, exactly, is meant by God’s “character”? For example, it appears that part of God’s character is to change His mind. (The Flood story comes to mind, among others). That’s fine with me; I just want to know what is meant when we talk about His “character.” Certainly He is good, loving, forgiving, merciful and so on, but what are some other of His attributes? Would we include the attribute of changing His mind? Of being willing to barter with His people? (Sodom and Gomorrah) Of permitting the sun to shine on the good and the unjust? (Proverbs somewhere) What I’m trying to ask in a very inelegant way is: Can you point me to a list or references that clearly describes character?
Thank you.
Roger,
J. I. Packer’s Knowing God deals with God’s character. See also https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/attributes.cfm.
A.W. Tozer “Mans Pursuit of God” is good book and also A.W. Tozer “Gods pursuit of Man”
Hello Don,
I wanted to ask you about your above comment where you talked about ” these hybrid fallen angels/ human unions”. I have studied all your articles and have done all of Les Feldicks lessons many times over, and feel I have grown considerably the past 2 years. I have found no indication that angels have the capacity to reproduce. In 2 Peter 2:4, it says that the angels that sinned were cast into hell, delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved unto judgement. Were the fallen angels roaming the earth during that first 1600 years after creation, and if so were they even able to reproduce contrary to the will of God?
My feeling is that ” the sons of God” were the descendants of Seth, and the daughters of men were of Cain. Giants could mean men of great fame and accomplishments “men of renown” not necessarily stature. Though genetically they could have been of larger stature. I respect your work and wanted to know your feelings on this.
thank you for your ministry, and God bless
Brad,
Thank you. So encouraging to hear of your growing in Christ. No Biblical evidence exists to support the view that these were “sons of Seth.” There is a lack of parallelism in the Genesis 6 account and the term “sons of God” is always used of angels. Furthermore, Jesus did not say angels did not have the power to engage in sexual activity. What He said was that the angels in heaven did not do so. That’s precisely the point. The angels of Genesis 6, referenced by Jude and Peter, left heaven to engage in sexual activity. And one minor point: all the early Church believed these were fallen angels. It was not until Augustine’s time that this began to change.
Don, so these fallen angels had sex organs the same as we do? Yet Paul tells us that we will be like the angels, neither marrying nor given in marriage. If these angels can engage in sexual activity, then what would be the purpose for them being able to? Also, do you think when believers receive their glorified bodies, they will retain their sex organs?
Craig,
We’re not given enough information. It seems that when angels appear, they appear as men, and they have sex organs. The angels who left heaven in Genesis 6 could engage in sexual activity. I believe we retain sex organs in eternal bodies.
A ‘scholar’ I’ve been following says:
Because the content of Genesis 1-11 has so many deep, specific touch points with Mesopotamian literary works, many scholars believe that these chapters either were written during the exile in Babylon or were edited at that time * (*denotes a footnote)
*(foot note 19)
* Very few (scholars) would have any trouble with the notion of the Torah reaching its final form during the exile whether they embrace Mosaic authorship in whole or in part.
Doctrine, I learned that the Torah was written by Moses…your thoughts about the Torah being written whole or in part during the Babylonian captivity. comments please. ty
Joe,
The notion of editors and redactors is scholarly nonsense. I think Moses wrote the Torah and that the only activity concerning it was in studying and preserving the text. Peter wrote men were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1.21) to write the Scriptures. I think the scholars forget the Bible is a divine and a human book.
I’m giving up on this ‘scholar’. He’s just told me in his book that all the old testament promises have passed to the Church.
He says, “Since the Church, the corporate body of believers, inherited the promises given to Abraham (Gal 3:26-29), believers are the ‘true Israel’ that the New Testament talks about. When we inherit rule of the nations with Jesus at the end of days (Rev.3:21), we will displace the corrupted divine sons of God presently ruling the nations, who are under judgement (Psa. 82) We are already, but not yet, Yahweh’s new council on earth”.
Would you say he’s a ‘Replacement Theologian”? I haven’t figured out his label. any ideas? Darrell L. Bock, PhD wrote a forward to his book…Isn’t he from Dallas? I think Dallas has moved away from Chafer.
thanks again.
Joe,
Many at DTS have moved away from Dispensationalism. They are going in exactly the wrong direction, abandoning Chafer and traditional Dispensationalism and moving to Calvinism. Heiser has many good insights but does not understand Paul’s unique apostleship or Paul’s secrets. As a result, he makes a major error in thinking Galatians 3.26-29 means the Church is Israel. There is a great difference between being a “child of Abraham” and Israel. Israel is a technical term and always refers to a descendant of Jacob whereas a “child of Abraham” can be a believing Jew or a believing Gentile, based on Paul’s gospel. Paul states we are children of Abraham but never Israel. This is a major interpretive error of Calvinists and creates a false understanding of the Scriptures.
King David
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/world-news/699592/bible-historical-evidence-israel-king-david-jesus-christ-city-found-eglon-avraham-faust
Up until recently King David of the bible was considered a myth by many.
Does Hebrews 10:4 mean that it has always been impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to save, or is that just for this dispensation? If it’s impossible, then how did old testament Jews atone for sins?
Clay,
The animal sacrifices did not atone for sins. The word atonement–at + one + ment–means reconciliation. Only Christ’s shed blood reconciled mankind. The word כָּפַר has been mistranslated “atonement.” It should have been translated as propitiation. It was a temporary satisfaction for sin. The animal blood “covered” sin up but did not solve the problem. The LXX translated כָּפַר with εξιλασκομαι, “propitiate.” The word ἱλάσκομαι is found in Luke 18.13, “be merciful” and in Hebrews 2.17, “to propitiate.” Propitiation is mercy and appeasement, not reconciliation. The nouns associated with כָּפַר shed additional light on its meaning: כֹּפֶר was a “ransom,” and כַּפֹּרֶת was the “mercy seat,” the lid of the Ark of the Covenant.
So if the animal blood covered up the sin but didn’t truly “solve the problem,” how were their sins paid for? Would you agree with me in saying that believers in every dispensation always need to trust in the finished work of the Messiah and His final payment of sin to be saved- past, present, and future?
Clay,
Their sins weren’t paid for. They were saved because they did what God told them to do—what He had revealed. Prior to Paul, not one knew anything about the “finished work of the Messiah.” Read Luke 18.31-34. You can’t believe something you don’t know.
How do you reconcile that with Romans 4:4? Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
Clay,
I assume you mean by “that” salvation by faith and works. Many Scriptures declare salvation before Paul required faith and works. The whole Levitical sacrificial system demonstrated this. Paul is making the case in Romans 4 of something new: salvation by faith alone in the work of Christ. To illustrate this he used Abraham as his example. Abraham was an exception to all other believers in the OT. Before Paul declared this, you cannot find another person in Scripture who is said to be saved by faith alone. Members of the Church, the body of Christ, are connected to Abraham by faith. The Church is Abraham’s heavenly offspring. Israel is his earthly offspring. See Genesis 15.5-6 and compare Genesis 13.15-16.
Where can you find anyone in the Bible being saved by faith and works? Yes, sacrifices were commanded, just like baptism is commanded for all of Jesus’ disciples; but they are not at all necessary for salvation. That’s the whole point of the author of Hebrews: they could never atone for sins by works (sacrifices, fasting, etc…). That was the heresy of the pharisees but Jesus preached against them. The whole point in using Abraham as an example is to show that it has always been like that. There’d be no point in using him as an exception. That’s why he goes on further to show that David acknowledged salvation apart from works. “David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness ***of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works***…”Romans 4:6
Couldn’t be any clearer. Who is the THE ONE in Romans 4:6? Is David only speaking about Abraham? That’s ridiculous.
Clay,
The reason Paul cited David was that according to the Law, David’s sin was unforgivable. David was forgiven because of God’s grace and mercy. That’s the point Paul is making with David. To prove works were not required for salvation requires that one provide Scriptural support. One problem: there is none. We know works were required for salvation in the Gospels—baptism was required, keeping the Law was required, forgiving another’s sins was required. Such works are explicitly stated as necessary for salvation. On the day of Pentecost, Peter told the Jews they had to be baptized with water for the forgiveness of sins. How can you say works were not required for salvation when so many verses state they were? You can’t take Paul and read what he wrote back into an earlier time. Paul wrote new revelation. Over and over Paul wrote about the many revelations he received. Paul wrote that his gospel was a secret (Ephesians 6.19). A secret is something hidden and unrevealed. Until you understand Paul revealed truths previously unknown it is impossible to understand the Bible, especially anything to do with the Church, the body of Christ.
Show me one place where keeping the law, forgiving someone, or baptism was required for salvation. The Acts 2:38 argument holds no water. He isn’t saying you need to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
Clay,
Read my article, Faith vs. Works in James. If you cannot see water baptism was required for the forgiveness of sins in Acts 2.38, I doubt any Scripture will convince you. Read Mark 1.4, 16.16, Acts 22.16. All these declare water baptism was required for the forgiveness of sins. If you had told a Jew he could be saved apart from works he would have thought you crazy. Read James. Such an idea was alien to everything in the OT and everything in the Gospels. Some things are not clear in the Scriptures but this is not one of them. Unfortunately, most of Christendom has no understanding of these matters because it has little understanding of Paul and no understanding of Paul’s unique apostleship.
Would I be wrong in stating that the Bible is mostly a Jewish history book?
Danny,
It was written by Jews but is much more. It reveals God’s overall redemptive plan and how God will resolve the problem of good and evil.
Don, how was Rahab saved, faith alone or faith plus works?
Craig,
We’re not told. All we know is that Rahab hid the spies and became part of Israel. We do not find details about salvation in the Old Testament.
Don, the reason why I asked is because in Hebrews 11 it says that Rahab had faith and perished not with them that believe not (KJV).. My friend uses the whole Hebrews walk of faith chapter to make his claim that OT saints were saved by faith same as we are.
Craig,
1. Paul is writing to Jews, Jews who have believed the gospel of the kingdom.
2. Paul is not making a case for faith alone, he is making a case for faith (Hebrews 4.2).
3. In addition, it’s not just faith, it’s enduring faith (Hebrews 3.6, 14, 6-1-6).
4. Jesus said that enduring until the end was required for salvation (Matthew 24.13; Revelation 2-3).
5. Paul wrote Hebrews early, about 53 A.D. He thought the Lord would return in his lifetime and initiate the Day of the Lord.
6. So, Hebrews was written to encourage Jews who had believed the gospel of the kingdom to endure until the end.
7. As part of this encouragement he warned them not to be like the Jews who failed at Kadesh-Barnea and provided them with the honor role of believers in Hebrews 11. Thus, in Hebrews 11.13, what does he say? These all died in faith. He tells them to run with endurance (Hebrews 12.2).
The idea that OT saints were saved the same as we is absurd. One has to get rid of all the OT, gospels, Hebrews, etc. for that to work. Does your friend think Adam was saved by believing Christ died for his sins and rose from the dead? Not one word supports the view that anyone (except Abraham) was saved by faith alone. Salvation by faith alone is a Pauline truth. No one knew this before Paul. That is why James states that Abraham (Paul’s example of salvation by faith alone) was saved by works.
Since the destruction of the Temple, what have the Jews done in order to keep the sacrifices? In fact today, what do they do in addition to keeping their law, for the feasts and especially the annual sacrifices for forgiveness??
John,
Without the Temple, there are no sacrifices.
Don, didn’t know where to put this. I have been listening to quite a few preachers such as Walter Martin and others that have since passed on. It’s interesting how many of them said they were nudged by the Holy Spirit when studying the Bible. That the Holy Spirit confirmed to them that tithing is for the Church today and also that the post trib rapture is correct. How can such pillars of the faith get these things wrong and think they heard from the Holy Spirit?
Craig,
Sadly, most of these “pillars of the faith” had an extremely limited understanding of Paul and his apostleship. Beyond salvation they understood almost nothing about ecclesiology, eschatology, pneumatology, etc. The Holy Spirit never nudges one against Scripture.
Don, what I find really sad is that these men preached the word for many years and yet didn’t always know if it was the Holy Spirit speaking to them or not. Why would God allowed those He had called to preach to be easily misled?
Craig,
God alone knows the heart. I believe God will reveal truth for all who desire it. I have spoken with many “good believers” about Paul’s unique apostleship and most will not receive it. Paul wrote in several places for believers to withdraw from those who did not teach what he taught.
Hi, Don! Your articles have helped me understand the scriptures in a way I never thought possible! Learning about Paul’s revelation and it’s disagreement with Peter and the other Apostles’ version of the gospel was totally mind blowing for me. Since Christians are now under the Gospel of Grace, how should we read the 4 gospel accounts? Are all of Christ’s teachings pretty much null and void for us today? Should I read them in the context of Paul’s instructions for us and try to discern how they would apply today? Also, knowing this makes it seem as if almost every denomination has it wrong. Most churches will tell you to do what Jesus said, some of Paul, and some Old Testament elements also. I’m a fairly new believer at only 18 years old and it seems crazy to me that almost everyone has a distorted view of the scriptures. Thank you for all of this information! The interpretation of the gospels is the only thing I’m having trouble wrapping my head around.
Zack,
The gospels are Old Testament, even thought they are in what we call the New Testament. See Romans 15.8. What Paul wrote in Romans 15.4 and 1 Corinthians 10.11 are applicable for the non-Pauline Scriptures. When God saved Paul, He began a whole new program, an unrevealed program—the Church, the body of Christ. We are saved by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, are under grace, live by faith alone, and God revealed these secrets to Paul alone. That is what most of Christendom fails to understand and that is why so much confusion exists. Paul is viewed as merely and extension of the 12 rather than God’s man who began a whole new program. As such, everything gets mixed together—the Old Testament, the gospels, Paul, and the letters of Peter, James, John, Jude. This is why we have so many denominations and so much confusion. If we stick to Paul, most of the confusion goes away. The point of the gospels was to show that the promised Messiah had come and He was ready to establish the kingdom of God on earth if Israel would accept Him. So Jesus came to fulfill all that the Old Testament prophets had proclaimed. Jesus ministered to Jews under the Law. We are not under the Law and most in the Church are not Jews. So Jesus had an entirely different audience than the Church. The risen Christ commissioned Paul as the apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11.13; Ephesians 3.1). As a result, all Church doctrine comes from Paul. That is what we must wrap our heads around. God bless you in your Christian journey.
In my last comment, I mentioned how no denomination seems to have it right. The first church I attended regularly was Pentecostal/Charismatic. This is where I got saved, baptized (even after my infant baptism in the Catholic Church) and learned about God’s love and the personal relationship between Him and the believer. Being saved by faith was, and is, so freeing. However, after about a year, I noticed problems with the sign gifts being used incorrectly, and eventually, learned that they are no longer valid for us today. There was a huge emphasis placed on tithing, and after learning that the practice is in error, I became discouraged. I left the church. Now, I’m attending a Catholic Church as a sort of default, since all of my family have been Catholic and there’s a sort of coming-home feeling to it. Is it possible to believe in the Gospel of Grace while ignoring their “tradition”, the office of the Pope, Mary idolatry, etc. without damaging my relationship with God? I don’t know where else to go and I hope I won’t lose my salvation for being in a false church. What do you suggest? The Catholic mass itself seems more biblical than the Pentecostal version of worship.
Zack,
It is frustrating to try and find a church which understands the Scriptures correctly. There is great confusion in Christendom and the vast majority of denominations and churches do not understand the Scriptures because the OT, gospels, Paul, letters of Peter, James, John, Jude are all mixed together. I do not know where you live but you might take a look at the Church Directory on the site to see if there is a church nearby you could visit. As for you questions about Roman Catholicism, it is another variety of confusion which is at odds with what Paul taught. You cannot lose your salvation but your relationship with Christ can be damaged there just as in these others churches. God will give you wisdom in this area. As for the Catholic mass, you might want to read the following: https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Eucharist.html.
Zach and brethren in the Lord,
How amazing it is and most wonderful that the Lord is bringing men to the truth!! I love to hear it and
always thank him for his goodness! Many of us are not in any “church” group where we live. Coming to the truth is the greatest thing ever(!) and we are the church . Coming to a union with the Saviour is glorious. He has provided us our very own apostle, Paul the apostle of grace. As one who is outside local fellowship, there are studies online like here at Don’s site and on utube and video that are useful.
There is Les Feldick, E.C. Moore and many others. The Lord has always helped me in my seeking. I found even this site quite by accident shortly after salvation…
Just want you to know, you are not alone in your circumstance. For me I love the truth as it is in Christ, and hope to be always growing in grace and in the love of God rather than to fellowship outside “the faith”. I pray thanks to God for another saved in the faith and always pray for all brethren.
Paul says and pray for us …
Eph.3:8 ¶Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 ¶For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 ¶Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
May our Lord continue to help and comfort you!
God bless you!
Bobbi, it’s true …
“Many of us are not in any “church” group where we live.”
Communion with others is rare and scarce. It would be nice to have a virtual ecclesia where there can be discussion and chat. Maybe even a gathering on this very website.
Neill
Neill,
I think its a nice idea but I do not have time to monitor a chat or discussion group. Maybe someone could do this and I could link to it?
Re setting up a Facebook Group focused on Paul’s teachings. Just a warning, there is a group called “Pauline Doctrine” but it is the opposite of what it’s name implies. It is full of Preterists who distort most of scripture. It’s a hair pulling experience to try and witness to them because of their faulty interpretation of scripture which is mainly based on their misunderstanding of prophecies that were promised to be fulfilled “soon” or to “this generation”, etc., with Matthew 24:21-31 being a prime example. They also believe all OT saints were saved by faith, not works, which is why I went searching for this article. BTW Don, I use your New Testament Study Bible to refute what they say as it’s a great resource — however they are blinded to the truth.
Don,
I guess a link to a facebook page would suffice. That would be something I could easily put up.
I’ll wait to see if anyone else has interest.
Thanks,
Neill
Neill and Don,
Fellowship in the faith is sweet when one finds it. Sorry to say I don’t subscribe to social media. Don has my email if anyone wants to write. I love to discuss the Bible, our faith, and doctrine!
Grace and peace to all brethren. Praying always for us all!
Bobbi
Neil and Don, I would be very interested in participating in a facebook page. Or even monitoring a discussion group.
Craig,
If you want to set up some kind of Facebook page for discussion, feel free to do so. I have my hands full with the website and writing.
Don, concerning this passage, a fellow believer who Is KJV only believes that the NASB has a Calvinist slant.
“Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? … For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezekiel 18: 23, 32)
The NASB translates vav, meaning and, to that in order to suggest a cause-and-effect between God’s plan to override Pharaoh’s free will and the outcome. No other translation does this – another example of the NASB’s commitment to Calvinism and a God who can only control history by making his creatures respond robotically.
Can you respond to this?
Craig,
More than one or two verses are needed to show a Calvinist bias. Many Scriptures reveal that man has free will and his free will operates within God’s sovereignty.
Don I didn’t know where to put this, but had a conversation with a mormon who claims that Isaiah 19 is a prophesy against America. I know this is wrong as America didnt even exist and it talks about Egypt/Eygtians, but can you shed more light on this chapter especially vs. 1-5. I believe it refers to the Tribulation and the war with the Middle East.
Craig,
If the passage states it is about Egypt, why would one think it is about America? You are correct—it is about God’s judgment of Egypt in the Tribulation, and later in the chapter, God’s blessing of Egypt.
I have learned so much from this site and like many on here have had a hard time finding others of like-minded beliefs. If I could do some connecting with others from this site for written conversation purposes I would truly welcome that. Thanks to any who feel inclined to do so.
Don, is Deut 32:21 speaking about Gentiles?
Craig,
Yes.
Don,
Deuteronomy 32:8 Some bible versions say, ‘sons of God’ and some say, ‘children of Israel’. Which is it and why the difference? At this point in time when the nations are being divided (Gen. 10-11) Israel does not exist, Right? or does that make any difference? If ‘sons of God’ are they angels and if so are they good or bad angels?. I’ve read different things and am confused. thanks
Joe,
The original reading was “sons of God.” Both good and bad likely. See https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/questions/7862/what-is-the-original-text-of-deuteronomy-328-9.
Don
Hebrew is primarily the language of the OT. I’m reading some essays by a Rabbi. This is what he says about the language of Hebrew. Does it sound about right to you? Thank you.
The Physical Language of Hebrew
We read in Gen. 13:14: “And the LORD said to Abram… ‘Raise your eyes and look out from where you are, to the north (צָפֹנָה) and south (נֶגְבָּה), to the east (קֵדְמָה) and west (יָמָּה).’” The Hebrew words for the four directions where Abram was asked to direct his gaze are: “north” צָפֹנָה (pronounced as tsafonah), “south” נֶגְבָּה (negbah), “east” קֵדְמָה (kedmah) and “west” יָמָּה (yamah).
In English these words are technical navigational terms, but Hebrew is an extremely physical language and the origin of these words is tied to the environment.
Directions in Ancient Israel
The Hebrew phrase translated as “to the north” – צָפֹנָה (tsafonah) – is connected to Mt. Tsaphon in modern Syria (see Isa. 14:13), which lay to the north of Abram when God told him to look in all directions. The Hebrew term נֶגְבָּה (negbah), traditionally translated as “to the south,” literally means “to the Negev” – the name of a wilderness in the south of Canaan/Israel. The phrase יָמָּה (yamah), translated as “to the west” means “to the sea.” Similarly, קֵדְמָה (kedmah), translated as “to the east,” evokes an image of “going back to something from a time long ago”, namely to the Garden of Eden that God planted in the beginning of history (Gen. 2:8).
Joe,
The Rabbi is right. Hebrew is a vivid language of concrete imagery.
Noah cursed Ham’s son, Canaan.
Lev 18: 6 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the Lord. 7 The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Is ‘uncovering nakedness’ a biblical idiom for a sexual act?
Was Noah’s wife Cannan’s mother?
Joe,
Yes, regarding Leviticus. Noah’s wife was Ham’s mother, Canaan’s grandmother.
Don,
The verse I gave was not clear. In a nutshell, did Ham impregnate his mother and bring about the curse on Canaan? This would make Canaan Ham’s son but the mother is Noah’s wife (Ham’s mother). This explains the phrase, ‘his father’s nakedness’ but it’s a euphemism for a sexual act. By Ham? (incest)
Leviticus 20:11
King James Version
11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Joe,
I do not think so. It seems more likely that what Ham did, he did to Noah himself.
Don,
Heb.11.13a says These all died in faith, not having received the promises,
“All died in faith” does the “all” include Enoch and Elijah?
What promises is Paul referring to here
Thank you
Gideon,
Yes, Enoch and Elijah are included. The promises concerned the earthly kingdom, resurrection, and the finished work of Christ concerning sin and death.
Thank you
Does that mean that both Enoch and Elijah died since it says they all died in faith
Gideon,
I missed your point. It would say no, that God makes exceptions. For example, Hebrews 9.27 states it is appointed for mankind to die once but we know believers alive at the Rapture never die. Elijah will die as one of the two witnesses. As for Enoch, ???
Don,
Did worshipers in the Old Testament go to the priests after sacrifices to have their prayers relayed to God. I recently read this. Is this where Catholics possibly get their idea to pray to Mary and the saints? What are your thoughts.
All during Old Testament times, the way to God was through the Priest. The people brought their prayers to the temple along with a sacrifice and the priests presented their prayers to God. When Jesus died the veil of separation in the Temple was torn apart, signifying that the people would no longer need an intercessor on Earth. They could now approach God directly (Ephes. 3:12).
Joe,
I don’t think so. I do not recall Moses, David, the prophets, or other individuals going through priests for prayer relay. They prayed directly to God.