Is it wrong that I keep Shabbat and do not "go to church" on Sunday?

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

James was a Jew.

thank you captain obvious LOL> He was also a believer...

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

These very early Christians were Jews. So your point is invalid.

.
Again, thank you Captain Obvious! Not invalid at all. The Temple had a "court of the gentiles". Also, those Jews were believers...

 

[Saint Steven]

I know who does...the unbelieving and unrepentant.

So, you refused to read Galatians 4:21-31 to find out?

Galatians 4:28-31
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

 

[Saint Steven]

So, is Isaiah 58:13-14 available for you?

Available? Yes. (yet to no avail)

 

[Saint Steven]

And?

I'll take that as a "yes".
More proof of the hostile environment toward believers in the synagogues. An offence worthy of arrest and imprisonment. (illegal activity)

Saul went to Damascus to...

Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

 

[Saint Steven]

Obviously they did not like Paul.

Yes, he had quite a reputation. (see bold below)

Acts 21:27-29
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

I'll take that as a "yes".
More proof of the hostile environment toward believers in the synagogues. An offence worthy of arrest and imprisonment. (illegal activity)

Saul went to Damascus to...

Acts 9:1-2
Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.

I will admit it is a strange dichotomy...since James as well as others went to the Temple and synagogue daily...

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Yes, he had quite a reputation. (see bold below)

Acts 21:27-29
When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple.)

IMO the difference might be that they thought Paul as well as his followers taught AGAINST Torah (which is likely why James had Paul and his followers go to the Temple for sacrifices) while James and his followers who they knew kept Torah were allowed in the Temple and synagogues (at least for a time).

 

[Saint Steven]

I will admit it is a strange dichotomy...since James as well as others went to the Temple and synagogue daily...

And as I understand it, there were outer and inner courts as well. So "going" to the Temple could mean outside the outer court, or inside the outer court, or inside the inner court. Which would probably be a "no gentiles allowed" area. Not sure about James going to synagogue every day. Are you sure?

 

[Saint Steven]

IMO the difference might be that they thought Paul as well as his followers taught AGAINST Torah (which is likely why James had Paul and his followers go to the Temple for sacrifices) while James and his followers who they knew kept Torah were allowed in the Temple and synagogues (at least for a time).

With preaching like this, I can see where they might get that idea.

Galatians 5:4
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 3:23-25
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

And as I understand it, there were outer and inner courts as well. So "going" to the Temple could mean outside the outer court, or inside the outer court, or inside the inner court. Which would probably be a "no gentiles allowed" area. Not sure about James going to synagogue every day. Are you sure?

Acts 2:46

Also, Eusebius (from Hegesippus, a second century writer) writes:
"James alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people."

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

With preaching like this, I can see where they might get that idea.

Galatians 5:4
You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

Galatians 3:23-25
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.

Probably so. However, he DID as James requested and went to the Temple. Keeping Torah because you love the Almighty and trying to be justified by it are different. Everyone knew no one could keep it perfectly, hence sacrifices and Teshuvah. There needed to be a covering...

 

[Saint Steven]

Acts 2:46

Also, Eusebius (from Hegesippus, a second century writer) writes:
"James alone was permitted to enter into the holy place; for he wore not woolen but linen garments. And he was in the habit of entering alone into the temple, and was frequently found upon his knees begging forgiveness for the people, so that his knees became hard like those of a camel, in consequence of his constantly bending them in his worship of God, and asking forgiveness for the people."

Thanks. That's good.
James went alone into the holy place. Only he was permitted.
(having satisfied their requirements, I suppose)
And their interceding for his lost kinsmen. (and not silently, evidently)

Yes, that is what I was saying about the temple courts. Nothing about the synagogue in these examples. Only "their homes" and "the temple courts".

Acts 2:46
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

 

[Saint Steven]

Probably so. However, he DID as James requested and went to the Temple. Keeping Torah because you love the Almighty and trying to be justified by it are different. Everyone knew no one could keep it perfectly, hence sacrifices and Teshuvah. There needed to be a covering...

I'll have to disagree in reference to his motives. I think he did it to appease the Jews. (his life was in danger) It would be hypocritical otherwise, concerning his teaching on the law. And ultimately was found guilty in their courts, right? Having testified before them.

 

[BobRyan]

I'll have to disagree in reference to his motives. I think he did it to appease the Jews. .

James is very specific about the "point" of it all. He states explicitly it is to refute false accusations made against Paul. Those here who choose to join in making those false accusations against Paul - are then confronted by Paul's response , as he joins in "proving" that the accusation against him -- is false!

And what (according to James) was the false accusation?

text please.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

I'll have to disagree in reference to his motives. I think he did it to appease the Jews. (his life was in danger) It would be hypocritical otherwise, concerning his teaching on the law. And ultimately was found guilty in their courts, right? Having testified before them.

He went to Jerusalem KNOWING his life was in danger. Why would he do what James said if he did not believe it?? Makes no sense...he did it to prove he was Torah observant, to prove them wrong. Either Paul was a liar OR he WAS Torah observant...Paul himself answers...

Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Yes, that is what I was saying about the temple courts. Nothing about the synagogue in these examples. Only "their homes" and "the temple courts".

Except that Paul went from synagogue to synagogue looking for followers Acts 22:19 so obviously they were in MANY of the synagogues...

 

[Tone]

Available? Yes. (yet to no avail)

Your loss.

 

[Tone]

So, you refused to read Galatians 4:21-31 to find out?

Galatians 4:28-31
Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.” 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Yes, I've read that passage many times...and every time you posted it here.

Genesis 3:15
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

What do you think is the difference?

Why do you dichotomize belief and obedience?

 

[Tone]

James is very specific about the "point" of it all. He states explicitly it is to refute false accusations made against Paul. Those here who choose to join in making those false accusations against Paul - are then confronted by Paul's response , as he joins in "proving" that the accusation against him -- is false!

And what (according to James) was the false accusation?

text please.

Acts 6:8-14
"Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. 9Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. 10But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit* with which he spoke. 11Then they secretly instigated some men to say, ‘We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.’ 12They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council.13They set up false witnesses who said, ‘This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; 14for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth* will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us.’"

Isn't it ironic that Paul is accused of the same thing to this day!?

He was there when they accused Stephen of these false charges...in case someone missed it...