Questioner: Jeff Thurber
Question:-
The NT speaks of faith in Jesus, and the implication is close to a full hearted trust in him and who he is.
But Do you think there's any other probable way to interpret it? For instance if a person believed that Christianity and its claims were more probable than say, the claims of Judaism, but less probable than the idea that we dont really have a succinct hold on what's going on. That's still faith, just not strong faith. Is there any way you can get from the faith verses that this level of faith can suffice?
Can you list off some of the verses that have to do with faith?
Answer from John of AllFaith
Hi Jeff,I apologize for the lateness of my response. I have received no notices from Allexpert.com in 2 or 3 weeks.
This is a multi-faceted question with a lot of possible replies.
Exactly who the historic Jesus was and what he taught is not a settled matter. For instance, after Constantine's alleged conversion to Christianity there is no question that the new religion and its texts were altered. The only question is to what degree.
Assuming that the New Testament we have today is the same as that written by Paul and others, the words of Jesus such as "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes unto my Father except through me" certainly can be understood in non-traditional ways.
We first ask, to whom was he speaking? To first century Jews. These people knew only the God of Israel (all others were rejected) and Jesus, Rebbe Y'shua, preached a new understanding of Judaism to them. Among his main messages was that the Judaism of his day, like Rabbinic Judaism today, relied on the Oral Torah (the Mishna, Talmud etc.). Jesus considered these "the teachings of men" and rejected them.
He preached what he believed was a purer from of Judaism based solely on the Written Torah (i.e. what Christians call the "Old Testament"). He stressed that in order to understand the Torah correctly the essential key was love. This was novel. For Jews the only way to know and understand God was by strictly keeping the Law as presented in the Oral Torah. Jesus was therefore seeking to redefine his religion not replace it.
To Jews who carefully observed the kashrut etc. he brought the Good News that God does not require such austerities. Therefore he said, those who accept my teachings are true children of the Kingdom. As the preacher of this Gospel, he was non-different from it even as Moses is equated with the Law he received. Therefore, from this understanding, none of these verses that seem to lift up Jesus as a person (or as a god) are as they seem. His message, his interpretation was the point. If you would know God you must do so through these teachings.
Now, specifically to your question, what was the Jewish rabbi teaching? The following verse, I think, is the answer:
- Micah 6:6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
I believe that Jesus was quite certain of his beliefs. He believed in Judaism, his religion, but he believe it had gone astray. It was making an idol of the Oral Torah. As Judaism teaches, he believed that Judaism is the religion of God and that Gentiles, Noahides, have a place in that faith and kingdom, however with only one exception we have no evidence that he ever spoke about spiritual topics with any non-Jew.
For more on this, you might want to visit my
Noahide site for one possible understanding.
If you have more questions, do write back.
- ~John of AllFaith
You are visitor number...
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
Who cares, I'm glad YOU'RE here!
 |
Or visit other AllFaith.com web sites |
| | |
| | |
|
| |
|
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| |