THE JEWISHNESS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

[Clare73]

No, they weren't.
It was celebrity 'worship.'
These Jewish Christians at Corinth had their favorites among the apostles.
Just like Gentile Christians at forums like this. You have your favorites and others have their favorites.
Same with Gentile Christian personalities. Chuck Smith has his followers, The antichrist John MacArthur has his followers. It's predominant in Gentile denominational churches.

Apollos was certainly a Jew and knew the Law.
He just needed to be schooled 'more perfectly' by Aquila and Priscilla.

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.
26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Acts 18:24–26.

Thanks.

 

[BNR32FAN]

I appreciate those Scriptures but none of them identify Gentiles as the recipients of the gospels and epistles. You're looking at this from a Gentile mindset which has been molded through years of Gentile Christians attempting to usurp the covenants and promises God gave to His Beloved apple of His eye Israel.

Let's go down biblical history road:

In Acts 2 in Jerusalem the Jews are celebrating the Feast of Trumpets. The middle wall partition has separated Jews from Gentiles for hundreds of years. There are no Gentiles at this celebration. At this feast there 17 languages and dialects represented that the apostles spoke in which were the languages of the peoples that traveled from outside Jerusalem and even from Gentile lands where these Jews were living. The twelve tribes of Israel were scattered throughout the then known world.
Peter's sermon in response to being accused of being drunk so early in the morning was addressed to the Jews at this celebration for the twelve tribes were there and heard Peter speak.
Even before Peter ended his sermon the Holy Spirit moved upon the people and Scripture says God added 3000 Jews to His Church, which was a continuation of the Church in the desert at the time of the Tabernacle. They were known as the "Great Congregation." Over 3 million Hebrews/Jews were delivered by God through Moses.

When the Feast was over these new converts to Christ became known as Jewish Christians and followers of Christ. These people returned to places like Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, and even Rome. The had an experience with the Promised Holy Spirit and when they returned were the original holy-rollers and told their Jewish brethren what they experienced and learned from Peter's sermon to the twelve tribes at Jerusalem. When these Jewish Christians went to their synagogues on their Sabbath they shared and witnessed Christ, Israel's Messiah to their Jewish brethren. Many were saved in these Gentile cities and towns. But in time these Jewish Christians could not fellowship with their non-saved Jewish brethren because of the stumbling-block of Israel's Messiah being crucified on a cross and their Scripture saying anyone who is hung on a tree is cursed. They couldn't get past this fact and truth. So, these Jewish Christians began to separate from their Jewish brethren and began to gather in their homes and worship God and sing His praises.
The year of Jesus' ascension was 33 A.D. It is said that Saul was saved around 33-34 A.D. and that his first epistle was a circular letter to the Jewish churches in these various cities and towns. Paul's first epistle is dated around 54 A.D. For at least 21 years Jewish Christians were worshiping Jesus in their homes and other gathering locations. But they began to be persecuted by their Jewish brethren the Judaizers who held to the letter of the Law of Moses and were blinded by God to accept Jesus bar Joseph, their Messiah and Christ. When Paul was saved he said he went away for 17 years and went to Jerusalem for about three-four years.

In the time after Saul's conversion to Christ there was persecution in Jerusalem (Acts 8 ), and Jewish Christians left for safer and greener pastures. They met up in these cities with their Jewish Christian brethren and continued their fellowship. At this point there are no Gentiles in these Jewish Churches until Saul wrote these Jews letters explaining that there is neither Jew or Gentile, nor bond or free, neither male or female that Jewish Christians were one in Christ through the Abrahamic Covenant.

Because these Jewish Christians in these Gentile cities and towns were Hellenized by Greek culture Paul changed his name to Paul to better make himself receptive to these Hellenized Jews. To the Jew I will become a Jew that I may win the Jew he once wrote.
In Saul/Paul's travels he went to each city in these Gentile lands first to their synagogues and then to fellowship with Jewish Christians in their homes.

When he wrote to Jewish Christians in these various cities he wrote of Jewish issues and of their covenants, the promises, their practices, and the issue of Gentiles becoming saved and grafted into the natural branches which is Israel and guided his Jewish brethren in the effect Israel's Messiah had on Judaism, the covenants and the promises/prophecies of God to and for His people Israel.

I can say more and I'm sure I will.
But consider the truth of these paragraphs and understand that Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. He was not sent to Gentiles. Jesus is a Jewish Messiah and the fulfillment of hundreds of years of covenant and promises and prophecies of Israel's Redeemer and King. The talk of Jesus being Israel's Messiah was fresh in the peoples minds as it was in His apostles minds for they asked Him in Acts 1 if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. His reply was revealing.

While the Temple stood the "ism" of Judaism remained and Christianity was founded on Israel's Messiah and He was the fulfillment of the covenants and the promises God gave to His Beloved Chosen people. The early Church until the Temple was destroyed was populated by Jews and the gospels record Jewish history with Israel's Messiah and King the central focus in the plan of God's redemption of His people. The epistles/letter written were by Jewish Christians to and for other Jewish Christians in Gentile lands for in them they record the history of the Jewish people and their religion and the covenants and promises. Saul/Paul writes to Jewish Christians at Rome:

4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom. 9:4–5.

Peter, the apostle to the Jews writes to his Jewish brethren:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4.

James, an apostle to the Jews writes to Jewish Christians:

JAMES, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
James 1:1.

And on through the New Testament writings.
God ordained the oracles of God be kept and possessed by the Hebrews/Jews and being the inspired writers of the New Testament being Jewish this word is kept. The New Testament writers are Jewish and wrote to Jewish Christians in the first century addressing things pertaining to the Jew first, and also later to the Gentiles.

“But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

 

[SavedByGrace3]

In understanding the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith most people recognize that the First Testament is very Jewish. Many even think that the Second Testament is a Gentile book and not very Jewish at all. But let’s put this in perspective.

The First Testament and the Second Testament are actually two halves of exactly the same book and if you want to understand the Second Testament you first need to understand the First Testament.

In Gentile minds they believe that the Second Testament supersedes the First Testament, but this is not the case. What most people don’t understand is that the Second (New) Testament is so unbelievably Jewish. If you push a Gentile mind into something that is inherently Jewish at every level, they can come up with some unfortunate understandings or interpretations. Although this is not deliberate on their part, it was deliberate in the early centuries in men’s attempts to severing its Jewish connection.

The Second Testament was written entirely by Jews. Most biblical scholars that read the New Testament understand it was written entirely by Jews and for the Jews. The writers themselves wrote with Jewish or Hebrew understanding and the historical framework of the original writers had written from was from the framework of Judaism.

The first four books of the Second Testament called the Gospels is completely written to a Jewish audience and it’s about Jewish history as it was unfolding. These were the eyewitness testimonies of what was happening in Judaea, the home of the Jews, to the Jewish people. It mentions the despots or occupying forces of the Romans and Herod who were oppressing the Jewish people.

The Second Testament is also a book about fulfilled prophecy. Most people when they read the Second Testament don’t realize how many times the Second Testament is referencing the First Testament.

The writers of the Second Testament could not look up Matthew or take a quote from apostle Paul out of Colossians because they only had the First Testament to reference, and they were filled with prophecy. Jesus Himself referenced and quoted the First Testament speaking about their prophets out of the books of Moses and Daniel and Jonah and others. When Jesus was asked a question, He took the person back to the First Testament. He wasn’t coming up with something new but firmly and solidly answered all questions by referencing the First Testament writings.

Jesus was always quoting the First Covenant. Jesus was addressing a Jewish audience in the sermon on the Mount by bringing up the First Testament writings by saying, “You have heard it said…” or “It is written…” then He’d quote the passage relevant to His response in answer to the question or teaching.

Another fact is the Second Testament was written in the language of the Jews. We have the Second Covenant Scriptures written in Greek because they were living at a time when the culture was Greek and Hellenistic but the Jews themselves spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. So, even if they were speaking in Greek they were still talking about Hebrew and Jewish concepts and principles and traditions.

The language they used was the language of the Jewish people. The Second Testament is a book of Jews dealing with Jews. You had the Jewish believers that were dealing with antagonism and persecution of the religious Jewish leaders who had rejected Messiah. There were also Jewish believers dealing with issues of a growing Church and how the Holy Spirit was moving. For instance, such as when Gentile believers started wanting to join the Church and the question of whether or not they had to become Jews and circumcised. Even when Paul preached to his Jewish brethren and said, “I am going to go to the Gentiles” everywhere he traveled he went to the synagogue first and he preached to the Jews out of their Law that this Jesus was their Messiah and Redeemer and King.

The Second Testament is a book about Jewish history. Everything that unfolded in their present time always reflected to the First Covenant and the history of the Jewish people. In Corinthians Paul speaks about their forefathers and their wandering in the wilderness and their rebelliousness and concludes all of that happening was for your learning.

When you read through Revelation it is referring to history future not just history of the world but directly how it will affect the Jewish people. Most people just don’t realize how Jewish Revelation is. It talks about the Temple and the various practices going on there.

James, the apostle to the Jews, also talks about Jewish history and directly addresses his epistle to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” which was true for the Jews had been living far and wide in Gentile lands as a result of the Diaspora and exile and conquest by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. When Jesus sent the apostles out in Acts 1, He sent them out to take a message to the twelve tribe descendants in Gentile lands that Israel’s Messiah, Redeemer, and King had come, and that God had kept His Promise in fulfilling every prophecy up to that time and with a message directly from God.

The book of Hebrew also explains so much of Temple practices and principles and Jewish history written to the Jews (Hebrews) and the relevance of all the symbolism of Judaism with the covenants, the promises, and their Law. All of it explained in Christ.

Peter, James, and John, all three known apostles to the Jews write to the Jews and on many subjects going directly to the effect the Messiah and Christ had brought upon them with His arrival and what it meant to Israel living at that time. Paul’s letters to the various Jewish churches in Asia Minor speaks directly to his Jewish brethren on many issues confronting their new faith in Messiah and how it was to play out in their daily lives.

As a gentile Christian, are there parts of the epistles that do not really pertain to me?

 

[pasifika]

In understanding the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith most people recognize that the First Testament is very Jewish. Many even think that the Second Testament is a Gentile book and not very Jewish at all. But let’s put this in perspective.

The First Testament and the Second Testament are actually two halves of exactly the same book and if you want to understand the Second Testament you first need to understand the First Testament.

In Gentile minds they believe that the Second Testament supersedes the First Testament, but this is not the case. What most people don’t understand is that the Second (New) Testament is so unbelievably Jewish. If you push a Gentile mind into something that is inherently Jewish at every level, they can come up with some unfortunate understandings or interpretations. Although this is not deliberate on their part, it was deliberate in the early centuries in men’s attempts to severing its Jewish connection.

The Second Testament was written entirely by Jews. Most biblical scholars that read the New Testament understand it was written entirely by Jews and for the Jews. The writers themselves wrote with Jewish or Hebrew understanding and the historical framework of the original writers had written from was from the framework of Judaism.

The first four books of the Second Testament called the Gospels is completely written to a Jewish audience and it’s about Jewish history as it was unfolding. These were the eyewitness testimonies of what was happening in Judaea, the home of the Jews, to the Jewish people. It mentions the despots or occupying forces of the Romans and Herod who were oppressing the Jewish people.

The Second Testament is also a book about fulfilled prophecy. Most people when they read the Second Testament don’t realize how many times the Second Testament is referencing the First Testament.

The writers of the Second Testament could not look up Matthew or take a quote from apostle Paul out of Colossians because they only had the First Testament to reference, and they were filled with prophecy. Jesus Himself referenced and quoted the First Testament speaking about their prophets out of the books of Moses and Daniel and Jonah and others. When Jesus was asked a question, He took the person back to the First Testament. He wasn’t coming up with something new but firmly and solidly answered all questions by referencing the First Testament writings.

Jesus was always quoting the First Covenant. Jesus was addressing a Jewish audience in the sermon on the Mount by bringing up the First Testament writings by saying, “You have heard it said…” or “It is written…” then He’d quote the passage relevant to His response in answer to the question or teaching.

Another fact is the Second Testament was written in the language of the Jews. We have the Second Covenant Scriptures written in Greek because they were living at a time when the culture was Greek and Hellenistic but the Jews themselves spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. So, even if they were speaking in Greek they were still talking about Hebrew and Jewish concepts and principles and traditions.

The language they used was the language of the Jewish people. The Second Testament is a book of Jews dealing with Jews. You had the Jewish believers that were dealing with antagonism and persecution of the religious Jewish leaders who had rejected Messiah. There were also Jewish believers dealing with issues of a growing Church and how the Holy Spirit was moving. For instance, such as when Gentile believers started wanting to join the Church and the question of whether or not they had to become Jews and circumcised. Even when Paul preached to his Jewish brethren and said, “I am going to go to the Gentiles” everywhere he traveled he went to the synagogue first and he preached to the Jews out of their Law that this Jesus was their Messiah and Redeemer and King.

The Second Testament is a book about Jewish history. Everything that unfolded in their present time always reflected to the First Covenant and the history of the Jewish people. In Corinthians Paul speaks about their forefathers and their wandering in the wilderness and their rebelliousness and concludes all of that happening was for your learning.

When you read through Revelation it is referring to history future not just history of the world but directly how it will affect the Jewish people. Most people just don’t realize how Jewish Revelation is. It talks about the Temple and the various practices going on there.

James, the apostle to the Jews, also talks about Jewish history and directly addresses his epistle to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” which was true for the Jews had been living far and wide in Gentile lands as a result of the Diaspora and exile and conquest by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. When Jesus sent the apostles out in Acts 1, He sent them out to take a message to the twelve tribe descendants in Gentile lands that Israel’s Messiah, Redeemer, and King had come, and that God had kept His Promise in fulfilling every prophecy up to that time and with a message directly from God.

The book of Hebrew also explains so much of Temple practices and principles and Jewish history written to the Jews (Hebrews) and the relevance of all the symbolism of Judaism with the covenants, the promises, and their Law. All of it explained in Christ.

Peter, James, and John, all three known apostles to the Jews write to the Jews and on many subjects going directly to the effect the Messiah and Christ had brought upon them with His arrival and what it meant to Israel living at that time. Paul’s letters to the various Jewish churches in Asia Minor speaks directly to his Jewish brethren on many issues confronting their new faith in Messiah and how it was to play out in their daily lives.

Yes, the new testament is also a Jewish teachings for Jewish followers. The only thing you miss to add in the OP is.."who are the Jews? Real "Jews" are Not based on physical or outward But inward or spiritual. See Romans 2:28. So Gentiles by physical birth are Jewish when they believe and follow this Jewish teachings ie New testament etc..

 

[AbbaLove]

The gospel of Luke was written by a Greek physician who accompanied Paul on some of his journeys.​

The many letters of Paul were written to Gentiles.​

It's likely that one of his parents was of Jewish ancestry. Anyway ...

“There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 ... There is little doubt about the point Paul is making ...​

In Christ we are all the same as born again as new creations with the indwelling of His guidance/teaching. That said it does seem that 21st century Messianic Judaism is now putting more emphasis on "Torah Observance" (laws/commands) as to who it a lawful "Christian". This wasn't so much the scenario with MJ's of the 1960-70s that attended Sunday worship, but were uncomfortable as many considered doing so unlawful of the Lord's elect/chosen ones. Leading to the founding of many sabbath-keeping congregations around the world.

With the Lord's Sabbath beginning Friday evening at Sundown, The Feasts of the Lord, The Torah Calendar, and Kosher food laws seemingly more important for being a God-abiding Christian THAN is teaching about the Baptism Of The Holy Spirit with the evidence of supernatural Gifts as He Wills among His chosen elect.​

It's as if the vast majority within Messianic Judaism doesn't believe all nine Supernatural Gifts are active today; especially a heavenly language for worship, prayer, edification with interpretation for the building up of the congregaation (eklektos ... called out ones of His chosen elect). Thus it's easy to see why Messianic Judaism believes evidence of "Torah Observance" from a Judaic perspective is essential for lawful evidence within the Body of Believers that are counted by the LORD as His called out chosen elect.

 

[Berserk]

Clare has schooled the Son of Hilkiah. What he doesn't get is this:
(1) Paul initially sought out local synagogues because of its use of the OT. But his main appeal was to Gentile god-fearers and proselytes in these synagogues. Then when synagogues rejected and persecuted him, Paul shifted his focus to pagan Gentiles. In contrast to Peter, Paul understands himself as the apostle to the Gentiles and all of his epistles were primarily written to Gentiles. ]
(2) Nor is there any reason to assume Luke had any Jewish blood.
(3) After a painstaking analysis of the Gospels' audience, the scholarly consensus is that all 4 Gospels were written primarily to Gentiles.

Before pontificating on this matter, Son Hilkiah needs to read at least one modern scholarly introduction and then address its case for Gentiles as the primary audience for most of the New Testament.

 

[Yekcidmij]

In understanding the Jewish foundations of the Christian faith most people recognize that the First Testament is very Jewish. Many even think that the Second Testament is a Gentile book and not very Jewish at all. But let’s put this in perspective.

The First Testament and the Second Testament are actually two halves of exactly the same book and if you want to understand the Second Testament you first need to understand the First Testament.

In Gentile minds they believe that the Second Testament supersedes the First Testament, but this is not the case. What most people don’t understand is that the Second (New) Testament is so unbelievably Jewish. If you push a Gentile mind into something that is inherently Jewish at every level, they can come up with some unfortunate understandings or interpretations. Although this is not deliberate on their part, it was deliberate in the early centuries in men’s attempts to severing its Jewish connection.

The Second Testament was written entirely by Jews. Most biblical scholars that read the New Testament understand it was written entirely by Jews and for the Jews. The writers themselves wrote with Jewish or Hebrew understanding and the historical framework of the original writers had written from was from the framework of Judaism.

The first four books of the Second Testament called the Gospels is completely written to a Jewish audience and it’s about Jewish history as it was unfolding. These were the eyewitness testimonies of what was happening in Judaea, the home of the Jews, to the Jewish people. It mentions the despots or occupying forces of the Romans and Herod who were oppressing the Jewish people.

The Second Testament is also a book about fulfilled prophecy. Most people when they read the Second Testament don’t realize how many times the Second Testament is referencing the First Testament.

The writers of the Second Testament could not look up Matthew or take a quote from apostle Paul out of Colossians because they only had the First Testament to reference, and they were filled with prophecy. Jesus Himself referenced and quoted the First Testament speaking about their prophets out of the books of Moses and Daniel and Jonah and others. When Jesus was asked a question, He took the person back to the First Testament. He wasn’t coming up with something new but firmly and solidly answered all questions by referencing the First Testament writings.

Jesus was always quoting the First Covenant. Jesus was addressing a Jewish audience in the sermon on the Mount by bringing up the First Testament writings by saying, “You have heard it said…” or “It is written…” then He’d quote the passage relevant to His response in answer to the question or teaching.

Another fact is the Second Testament was written in the language of the Jews. We have the Second Covenant Scriptures written in Greek because they were living at a time when the culture was Greek and Hellenistic but the Jews themselves spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. So, even if they were speaking in Greek they were still talking about Hebrew and Jewish concepts and principles and traditions.

The language they used was the language of the Jewish people. The Second Testament is a book of Jews dealing with Jews. You had the Jewish believers that were dealing with antagonism and persecution of the religious Jewish leaders who had rejected Messiah. There were also Jewish believers dealing with issues of a growing Church and how the Holy Spirit was moving. For instance, such as when Gentile believers started wanting to join the Church and the question of whether or not they had to become Jews and circumcised. Even when Paul preached to his Jewish brethren and said, “I am going to go to the Gentiles” everywhere he traveled he went to the synagogue first and he preached to the Jews out of their Law that this Jesus was their Messiah and Redeemer and King.

The Second Testament is a book about Jewish history. Everything that unfolded in their present time always reflected to the First Covenant and the history of the Jewish people. In Corinthians Paul speaks about their forefathers and their wandering in the wilderness and their rebelliousness and concludes all of that happening was for your learning.

When you read through Revelation it is referring to history future not just history of the world but directly how it will affect the Jewish people. Most people just don’t realize how Jewish Revelation is. It talks about the Temple and the various practices going on there.

James, the apostle to the Jews, also talks about Jewish history and directly addresses his epistle to the “twelve tribes scattered abroad” which was true for the Jews had been living far and wide in Gentile lands as a result of the Diaspora and exile and conquest by the Assyrians and then the Babylonians. When Jesus sent the apostles out in Acts 1, He sent them out to take a message to the twelve tribe descendants in Gentile lands that Israel’s Messiah, Redeemer, and King had come, and that God had kept His Promise in fulfilling every prophecy up to that time and with a message directly from God.

The book of Hebrew also explains so much of Temple practices and principles and Jewish history written to the Jews (Hebrews) and the relevance of all the symbolism of Judaism with the covenants, the promises, and their Law. All of it explained in Christ.

Peter, James, and John, all three known apostles to the Jews write to the Jews and on many subjects going directly to the effect the Messiah and Christ had brought upon them with His arrival and what it meant to Israel living at that time. Paul’s letters to the various Jewish churches in Asia Minor speaks directly to his Jewish brethren on many issues confronting their new faith in Messiah and how it was to play out in their daily lives.

Jesus used hermeneutical methods strikingly similar to those of Hillel's rules. If that's not Jewish, nothing is.