I thought there was only ONE GOD? And if the Messiah was promised back in Genesis to Adam and Eve what is this old and new stuff. Out with the old, in with the new? That doesn't make any since. Where do these phrasings come from?
The Bereans were more noble because they looked at the "old testament" Scriptures to make sure what Paul and Silas were saying was true. Christ didn't make the Law obsolete but fulfilled it. Isnt the Law in the "old testament"? And this "new testament" business. Many use these labels as a means of saying the Gentiles are the "new Jews". Catholics told me that they are the "Fulfilled Jews". (?)
There is only one God and one promise of one Messiah so why isn't there One Testament? Someone told me once, who was teaching the young adults in my church, that I shouldn't bother reading the "old testament" as that is for the Jews and I am a Gentile and should stick to the "new testament". What foolishness! Without the promise of the Messiah and the prophecies of who he will be, what good is Jesus and the writings about him? These labels confuse me, as I have heard they confuse Jews as well.
Any one got an answer?
Shalom, Bassgirl.
I am not old enough to tell you who started the OT/NT bit, but yes, you are right, when Messiah was teaching, the only written word, in 'print,' was Tanach (NT was not quite ready for the press yet).
I agree with you about calling the books OT and NT, so here is an offering, and perhaps everyone will do it, and we can start a true rendering of how we should call the 'Bible' (English word): What say, we call the Tanach part 'PM' and the books of the Apostles the 'AM' (sort of like the daytime, only different) 'PM' = Preview Messiah, since Tanach Previews His coming, and 'AM' = About Messiah, which chronacles the Messiah/Emmanuel Tabernacle with mortality, and man?
Of course, there will be a whole bunch of Christians who will call us Heritics (or is it 'harry-ticks' (Ha)) for even suggesting a change to a wrongly verbiated term, and trying to set it aright. Hmmmm!
Just a thought.
To one and all, Shalom in Messiah. Arley
I thought there was only ONE GOD? And if the Messiah was promised back in Genesis to Adam and Eve what is this old and new stuff. Out with the old, in with the new? That doesn't make any since. Where do these phrasings come from?
The Bereans were more noble because they looked at the "old testament" Scriptures to make sure what Paul and Silas were saying was true. Christ didn't make the Law obsolete but fulfilled it. Isnt the Law in the "old testament"? And this "new testament" business. Many use these labels as a means of saying the Gentiles are the "new Jews". Catholics told me that they are the "Fulfilled Jews". (?)
There is only one God and one promise of one Messiah so why isn't there One Testament? Someone told me once, who was teaching the young adults in my church, that I shouldn't bother reading the "old testament" as that is for the Jews and I am a Gentile and should stick to the "new testament". What foolishness! Without the promise of the Messiah and the prophecies of who he will be, what good is Jesus and the writings about him? These labels confuse me, as I have heard they confuse Jews as well.
Any one got an answer?
Please see this response.
This I allready find a funny and interesting Tekst (for John was more kabalistic):
in Revelations it is written:
''the Lamb was allready sacrificed before the beginning of the earth''.
So within Eternity (and God is eternall) there is no Pre-Messiah and After-Messiah...
There might be stages that are comming back or going arround.
In Judaism we have more Messiahs like for example King David.
Off course some structures where different before the period of Kings, and after the period of Kings.
But in general the idea's and Laws stayed the same.
Tenach stayes Tenach (wich is allready 3 in 1: Torah Prophets Writings)
I never called it Old...
So maybe call the NT something like: ''ApLeRe'' Apostels, Letters, Revelations... or so.
I just don't know, but I also don't know what I should be confused about as a Jew... I just have Tenach... And Christians believe (mainly) that they have a new Contract (Testament). But as like in every ''good'' family some newer sons try to understand that the old Contracts are overruled... Some daughters want more, some sons read the same Contract differently...
Maybe we should ask a neutral person... a Chinese Confucianist or so what things in the contract(s) are still valid... No also not a good idea... Well lets keep it confusing than.
Hey Bassgirl,
Have you ever heard of a Last Will & Testament? Think of the two divisions of scripture as last documents of belief, evidence or intention. Another way to think about it is "Old and New Covenants".
Jeremiah 31:31 says, “Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah. 31:32 It will not be like the old covenant that I made with their ancestors when I delivered them from Egypt. For they violated that covenant, even though I was like a faithful husband to them,” says the Lord. 31:33 “But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel after I plant them back in the land,” says the Lord. “I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts and minds. I will be their God and they will be my people."
I don't know who decided to call it testament instead of covenant, but it's VERY beneficial to read it all Genesis to Malachi, Matthew to Revelation, and often!
Feel free to ask other questions.
Navy:
PM' = Preview Messiah, since Tanach Previews His coming, and 'AM' = About Messiah, which chronacles the Messiah/
I like that idea!
Shalom everyone. Chow Lady, thanks for the compliment. I did feel that when that 'AM PM' lit in my mind, it was one of my more lucid, and humerous moments.
Yitzira231, I'm sorry, I was being extra-Tanach and jocular (a bit) when I came up with that 'AM PM' bit, and was relying on your sense of humor. I shouldn't have made light of something that, apparently, is a serious subject, to you.
Chow Woman hit my feelings on the head, quoting Jer 31:31-33, and I love the idea of the 'Last will.' What we Christians call the 'New Testiment,' I guess, could be called a codicil to the 'will' (Tanach). NT does not really change anything, but simply (in my opinion) clarifies and enhances the basic 'Truth' of the prime document.
As Judaism has deviations in Gospel understanding, between groups, so to Christianity. Some, on both sides of the isle, I must say, are 'wrong' in some, to much, of what they teach (almost always out of context), with Christians being far the worst. The beauty of the whole concept, we are discussing, is that God will probably slap every one of us along side of the head, and ask us 'What part of Thou shalt...don't you understand?' Better yet, I love the way Michael Rood paraphrases God, with: 'You said, I said, WHAT??' None of us will have an answer, nor excuse.
Shalom in Messiah, to one and all. Arley
Well I liked the joke of AM and PM....
My commentary is for the rest serious. like the idea of eternity.
So if the Lamb was allready slaughtered before the creation of the world, how does the lamb know what time it is? and on what not existing field to wake up...
Well I liked the joke of AM and PM....
My commentary is for the rest serious. like the idea of eternity.
So if the Lamb was allready slaughtered before the creation of the world, how does the lamb know what time it is? and on what not existing field to wake up...
Shalom Yetzirah231.
OK, I'm serious also. Your question is answered with the simple phrase, or question: What part of 'knowing the end, from the (very) beginning,' is unclear? '...slaughtered before the creation of the world,' simply means God knew the answer before He even started, that He would have to enter mortality (emmanuel), as the only one who could pay the price for mankinds sinful ways. (I paraphraze)
In Messiah, Shalom to one and all. Arley