American Gothic
Well-known member
Guess I'll be back to talking to Myself for a while. 
Exactly!!If God doesn't keep His promises to them (physical Israel), there is no reason for Him to keep His promises to anyone else.
Paul did not think so.If God doesn't keep His promises to them (physical Israel), there is no reason for Him to keep His promises to anyone else.
we really can't understand Bible and believe in the God of the Bible without understanding this(real) promises to a particular people (Israel)
The biggest issue is your seemingly agreement of the abrogation of God's laws (they weren't Moses' law), whether it involves the ritual, etc., because it is more spiritual than following what God has said Himself. That's the thinking of cults who raise their ideas above God. False knowledge, gnosis, doesn't help you any.At we least we seem to agree that the ideas of the Essenes and Paul’s epistles are associated. It certainly supports the idea that the former is the original form of the latter both using the same pesher approach or allegorizing to scripture.
If one were to set aside the Gospel stories then Paul’s epistles of a celestial Messiah whom he names “Yeshua“ indwelling ”sons of light” is essentially the Essene teaching of a “prince of truth” inhabiting “sons of light”, but minus the outward practices of ritual purity: circumcision, food requirements, sabbath observance, that seemed important to the essenes.
With regards to outward ritual purity I scanned the Dead Sea Scrolls for any comment as to its efficacy for salvation and found none. Arguably, ritual purity is a symbolic practice representing soul processes or celestial events based on the Dead Sea Scrolls. If so, then Paul apparently dispensed with the requirements of ritual purity when translating the Essene “glad tidings” for the Gentiles.
Therefore, Gospels aside, the only apparent difference in theology between the Essenes and Paul’s epistles is Paul‘s naming the Prince of Truth, “Yeshua”. But even that can be associated to the Essenes who held the book of Jubilees as authoritative. In that book time ends with Yeshua or Joshua leading his chosen ones into the “promised land” followed by eternal peace.
With those differences arguably reconciled (ritual purity and the name of the Spirit being Yeshua) then Paul and Essene theology were essentially identical. IOW, I read the Dead Sea Scrolls and I hear an echo in Paul’s epistles.
What about the Gospel stories set aside in the earlier part of this post? How do they fit in?
The author of GoMark collapses actual events surrounding the TOR and Paul and writes a fantastic story of “two anointed ones”, namely, “John the Baptizer” and “Yeshau”, revealing mysteries from heaven, abrogating the ritual purity requirements of the Mosaic Law, harassed by Pharisees, and eventually martyred. Fantastic stories of miracles and bodily resurrection are added to lend authority to these prophets.
My point is this.
The Gospel stories do for modern Christianity what the Exodus stories do for modern Judaism, that is, inspire devotion to a mythical figure, respectively. Jesus raising the dead is no different (in mythical terms) than Moses parting the red sea or turning his staff into a serpent.
And the Paul’s epistles did for gnostic Christianity what the Dead Sea scrolls did for the Jewish Essenes, that is, inspire devotion to the celestial Messiah indwelling pious, virtuous souls and bringing order to the cosmos.
Therefore, modern Judaism and Christianity are alike in that both are zealous for their mythical leader and they both reject the pesher approach to scripture favoring the literal meaning instead. They both see fulfillment of prophecy here on earth as their reward.
Whereas, gnostic Christianity and the Essenes are alike in that they are zealous for the inner spirit or anointed Joshua who leads them to an intelligible, ”new heaven and earth”, aka, “the promised land”; and they reject the “letter of the [Mosaic] Law” favoring its allegorical/symbolical meaning. They both see fulfillment (consummation) of prophecy in a “new heaven and earth” perceived by or revealed by the spirit to their respective leader.
So you, American Gothic, and myself are merely three perspectives of the same information. Each of us thinks he/she holds the truth.
And nothing was fulfilled in their days. So much for the lightPaul did not think so.
The Teacher of Righteousness did not think so.
Both of these individuals could perceive its fulfillment IN THEIR TIMES or DAYS to the “sons of light” or “true-seeing Israel”. Both Paul and the TOR were members of nation Israel.
Who are you calling the teacher of righteousness?Paul did not think so.
The Teacher of Righteousness did not think so.
Both of these individuals could perceive its fulfillment IN THEIR TIMES or DAYS to the “sons of light” or “true-seeing Israel”. Both Paul and the TOR were members of nation Israel.
A leader in the Dead Sea Scrolls around 100 B.C. who predicted the coming Messiahs. Directed baptism of the coming Messiahs. Directed the Lord’s Supper led by the coming Messiahs (The oldest mention of the bread and wine used in the Lord’s Supper of any existing documents). Taught many things that ended up in the New Testament. Predicted nation Israel would be ruled by foreign powers until the Christ’s return. This is the guy preparing ”The Way” in the desert. Arguably, the real person who “John the Baptist” Is based on. A prophet like Moses (Deut 18:15).Who are you calling the teacher of righteousness?
For one, Egypt ruled itself for thousands of years and was a mighty power militarily and economically for most of that time. I believe Memphis is on record for the longest self-rule of any city-state on the planet. Whereas, the promised land allegedly given to Abraham has not turned out as expected, has it?The biggest issue is your seemingly agreement of the abrogation of God's laws (they weren't Moses' law), whether it involves the ritual, etc., because it is more spiritual than following what God has said Himself. That's the thinking of cults who raise their ideas above God. False knowledge, gnosis, doesn't help you any.
BTW, I'm still waiting to see what the gods fulfilled for the other nations. Did you have a response?
Post in thread 'the original Messianic Judaism?' https://forums.carm.org/threads/the-original-messianic-judaism.6973/post-546388
The fulfillment in their days was the “light to the Gentiles”. What ultimately they revealed is that God is not only the God of the Jews but God of the Gentiles also. And that the Jewish particularism based on outward purity is merely symbolic and even idolatrous or sensual in absence of the inner spiritual quality. Simply, there is no respect of persons with God; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34)And nothing was fulfilled in their days. So much for the light![]()
as Rebels by nature, we deserve Nothing from God thru performance or merit or birthright
what we get He graciously gives to us of His own good pleasure and for His glory