Below is a portion of an article written by Dr Alan Polner-Levison, Pastor/Rabbi of Beit Shalom Ministries in the UK.
The Messianic Movement
and its Perpetual Identity Crisis
Dr. Alan Poyner-Levison
*snip*
Now I ask you, where are we going as a movement? If we desire to be biblical we must comply with Paul’s request in 1 Corinthian 4:6, Do not go beyond that which is written, and Titus 1:9, Encourage others by sound doctrine, and refute those who oppose it, and 1 Corinthian’s 11:2, Keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
If you desire to read more of this article and others, feel free to go to the Messianic Literary Corner, go to the Menu on the left side and click "Gentiles & Torah".
Wow, those quotes are taken so far out of context it isn't even funny!
Firstly why must we comply with Paul? Is Paul above Yeshua? Not to me he isn't, but I understand to millions he is.
He (Alan) asks where are we going as a movement? and then proceeds to lead us down the wrong path, the one that Yeshua warned us against.
I am not sure what he exactly he means by 'If we want to be biblical' as today that is a very loose term. Sure if you want to be according to man's judgement of what is in the bible then you would need to follow Paul. However if you want to be on the narrow correct path that Moses and Yeshua taught following Paul is the last you want to do.
I would just like to comment on this part. First this is a great example of developing your own doctrine by pulling a few words here and there out of context and stamping them with your approval that you should follow them. That is nothing short of a commandment of man to observe other commandments of men. Who were the ones to do this? The Pharisees. Who was Paul? by his own mouth a 'Pharisee of Pharisees'.
Who did Yeshua
warn the people against time and again? The Pharisees and not only the Pharisees behavior but also of heavier import the 'leaven of the Pharisees'.
Why are we entrusting our eternal favor with G-d with the words (leaven) of a Pharisee?
If we desire to be biblical we must comply with Paul’s request in 1 Corinthian 4:6, Do not go beyond that which is written,
and
Titus 1:9, Encourage others by sound doctrine, and refute those who oppose it,
and
1 Corinthian’s 11:2, Keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
First the tiny piece from 1 Corinthians 4:6 "Do not go beyond that which is written"
Now that can apply to any agenda one has that needs 'biblical authority' to back it up, but what was Paul referring to?
I have posted the 'bible in basic English' so it can be clear exactly what Paul is saying here since he is a great orator but moreso an SOS.
Let's start at the beginning of the chapter to get a feel of what is being addressed to the Corinthians in this letter.
The whole purpose for this letter was not to guide and teach so much as to deal with problems that occurred while he was away, problems for Paul that is. We can see this at the beginning of the letter where he writes:
Because it has come to my knowledge, through those of the house of Chloe, that there are divisions among you, my brothers. 12 That is, that some of you say, I am of Paul; some say, I am of Apollos; some say, I am of Cephas; and some say, I am Christ's.
Look who he lists last? (And if you look in the original Greek you will see greater emphasis on Paul than all the others with the word meaning 'truely' meaning moreso than the others contrasted with). Sure he goes on to say that these divisions should not be but the question is, why were there divisions in the first place? The answer could only be because these were not in harmony with each other. I doubt that Peter was in opposition to Messiah and I think that was added so as not to
1. Leave Messiah out of the list
2. Not adding Messiah to the list would mean that only one of these was correct (Paul, Appaolos and Peter)
confusion indeed. But now to the part of that small portion that we 'if we want to be biblical' should follow:
1 Cor 4:1 Let us be judged as servants of Christ, and as those who are responsible for the secret things of God. 2 And it is right for such servants to be safe persons. 3 But it is a small thing to me that I am judged by you or by man's judging; I am not even a judge of myself. 4 For I am not conscious of any wrong in myself; but this does not make me clear, for it is the Lord who is my judge. 5 For this reason let there be no judging before the time, till the Lord comes, who will make clear the secret things of the dark, and the designs of the heart; and then will every man have his praise from God. 6 My brothers, it is because of you that I have taken Apollos and myself as examples of these things, so that in us you might see that it is not wise to go farther than what is in the holy Writings, so that no one of you may be lifted up against his brother. 7 For who made you better than your brother? or what have you that has not been given to you? but if it has been given to you, what cause have you for pride, as if it had not been given to you? 8 For even now you are full, even now you have wealth, you have been made kings without us: truly, I would be glad if you were kings, so that we might be kings with you. 9 For it seems to me that God has put us the Apostles last of all, as men whose fate is death: for we are put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.
Notice how he starts this part with "
Let us be judged"? Why would that be else there was a dispute in this church over Paul's and companies teachings? The part about the 'secret things of G-d' should ring some alarm bells for those who have studied religion down through the ages, but to many because of the complete trust they have had instilled in them about Paul they believe this to be true.
But interesting that as many have made the assumption those that made this translation have surmissed that what Paul proclaimed 'that which is written' means the Holy Scriptures, which only means the Tanack at that time. Which doesn't exactly jive with the subject at hand. But for this man's purposes I believe he is including all pauls' writings here, which if truth be told if one followed all of Pauls writings one would begin to believe that they had somehow crossed over into a universe where a human being can be transformed into an inanimate object or in this case a movable one and had become a revolving door, never moving forward on the path that leads to life instead spinning around and around for eternity.
Titus 1:9, Encourage others by sound doctrine, and refute those who oppose it
Let's take a look at where this comes from.
Titus 1:7 For it is necessary for a Bishop to be a man of virtue, as God's servant; not pushing himself forward, not quickly moved to wrath or blows, not desiring profit for himself; 8 But opening his house freely to guests; a lover of what is good, serious-minded, upright, holy, self-controlled; 9 Keeping to the true word of the teaching, so that he may be able to give comfort by right teaching and overcome the arguments of the doubters. 10 For there are men who are not ruled by law; foolish talkers, false teachers, specially those of the circumcision, 11 By whom some families have been completely overturned; who take money for teaching things which are not right; these will have to be stopped. 12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work. 13 This witness is true.
We find that Paul is speaking of 'Bishops' here, not bad advise but there are some things hidden among these fine words that are very troublesome.
First we must ask whose teaching is he referring to in verse 9? His, Paul's? Or Appoalos or Cephas or Messiah?
But Paul can't resist even here giving evidence of that which he was accused of in Jerusalem, speaking against the Jews. And which law is he referring to when he speaks against them?
Also this contains the famous saying that comes down to us today. Have you ever heard anyone call another a 'Creatian'? You surely have but may have not known what it meant.
First our problem is that Paul refers to a Greek Philosopher as a prophet which further when used of true prophets be confused. He mentions to Titus of Epimenides who was a Cretan philosopher who said that All Cretans were liars. To this Paul adds:
This witness is true. That which he says is true comes from the verse before it:
12 One of their prophets has said, The men of Crete are ever false, evil beasts, lovers of food, hating work.
Has anyone questioned this or where it comes from? Why we would have a Greek prophet quoted in our bible which by some (most) are all considered as HOLY? and infallable? that verse above, #12 comes from Epimenides in a poem to none other than ZEUS!!!!
They fashioned a tomb for thee, O holy and high one
The Cretans, always liars, evil beasts, idle bellies!
But thou art not dead: thou livest and abidest forever,
For in thee we live and move and have our being.
– Epimenides, Cretica
Can you give me
any valid explanation why we should have this in our so called HOLY Scriptures??
As I hope you can see this letter was written to one person about serving in one location, yet half a sentence is pulled out to make anothers point.
And lastly this one: 1 Corinthian’s 11:2, Keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 2 Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you.
Paul is commanding the Corinthians to imitate
him. Does this make sense to you? If they had the true teachings from the true Apostles, by whom Yeshua said ' by YOUR WORDs they will believe' they would know how to be as Messiah was. But to imitate someone who has never known him is the blind leading the blind.
Part of the prayer Yeshua prayed to the Father the night before his crusifixtion was this:
John 17:17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. 20 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
Previously to this he had told them in John 15
26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Yeshua prayed for those who had been eye-witnesses to him
from the beginning. The Helper, the Spirit of Truth would be the witness of Yeshua with each of those that had been with him since the beginning of his ministry. Paul was not with them nor had witnessed to any of this.
So tell me why the Corinthians should be imitating Paul? this letter and many of the others just goes to prove that those he was teaching were finding out the truth from the True Apostles and witnesses to Yeshua and were no longer imitating Paul or keeping the "traditions as he delivered them to them. "
**
NOTE:OP quote shortened for forum length requirement. Full portion quoted can be seen by clicking on the arrow next to meslit's name on quote.
, you can see all the for and against positions (and scriptures) at First Fruits of Zion website. They call it One Law vs Torah by Divine Intervention. They took the latter position last year and had a big split in their organization and membership.
