Larry A. Smail's Blog

My last entry of September 10, 2015, served as an introduction to some entries of a spiritual interest.  This entry, part 2, will be the second one of an undetermined number of future blogs. I am certainly hoping most will not click off these sites without reading on, and considering the topics.

I have discovered for anyone studying the Bible they will first need to be willing to consider what the book does NOT say, as well as, what the Bible, actually, does say. This can not be easy unless there is a willingness to think. We all have been pre-programed into our thinking as to what the Bible states. This is a primary reason for the many traditions, denominations, and, even, cults. Much confusion has evolved over the Jewish law- keeping believers in contrast with the faith-based Christians, as per Paul’s message.

I discovered those who study need to separate the Jewish aspect of the Bible with the Gentile teachings. Once readers grasp the importance of separation of these two groups the Bible will OPEN UP WITH KNOWLEDGE! Remember to think…all through the Bible the Lord had a separation between the people to become the Jews, and the Gentile people. The two WILL NOT MIX scripturally, and they are not supposed to do so! Check out Acts 11:26. This is where the Holy Spirit inspired the FIRST use of the word, “CHRISTIAN” towards Gentiles that had believed Paul’s message. This didn’t occur in early Acts with Peter’s message. Peter was preaching to Jews. Those Jews who believed were still law-keeping Jews, but now they believed that Christ was indeed who he said he was!  THEIR PROPHESIED KING!

Biblically speaking, most of the Bible concentrates on the Jewish people. The Old Testament; Jesus’ ministry on earth; the immediate years after the cross; and ascension, and to the 70 A.D. destruction of Israel all dealt with the Jewish people. Did you know the people who were to become the Jews originally were to be a nation of priests to take God’s word to the Gentiles? See Exodus 19: 5-6, where the Jewish people were told if they obeyed God’s voice they were to be God’s possession among ALL PEOPLE, and become a nation of priests, and a holy nation. This would have occurred at the time of Christ on earth if the nation of Israel would have accepted who Jesus was, and BELIEVED!

Even those Jews who believed that Christ was their Messiah, and King, were still law-keepers of Judaism. So were Christ’s apostles!  You can see in various places where they were preaching Christ in the temple, or synagogue. This is all what was required at that time! Shocked? Some twenty years after the cross, the Apostles, met with Paul, the Apostle of the Gentiles, at what became known as the JERUSALEM COUNCIL. This occurred somewhere around 49-52 A.D. The disciples were demanding Paul’s Gentiles practice the laws of Moses! The apostles of Christ were still law-keeping Jews, but they were believers. See the difference?The final decision at this council was that Peter, James, John… would continue ministering to the JEWS, and Paul would continue with the Gentiles. Paul preached of SALVATION BY FAITH ONLY THROUGH BELIEF IN THE DEATH , BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST! (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and Romans 10:9-10.) THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION! The Apostles were still preaching to the law-keeping Jews to BELIEVE THAT JESUS WAS THEIR MESSIAH, AND KING, AND THE LORD WOULD RETURN AND ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM! One can read of this Jerusalem Council in Acts 15, and Galatians 2. Galatians is Paul’s account of the meeting. BOTH PARTIES SHOOK ON THIS DECISION OF THE APOSTLES GOING TO THE JEWS, AND PAUL GOING TO THE GENTILES!!!! This is, yet, ANOTHER SEPARATION of the Jews, and Gentiles.

Those studying need to ask questions!  Ask yourself to whom any particular book of the Bible is addressed to. Paul’s writings often state that he was the APOSTLE OF THE GENTILES, and  followed with information of the individual, or community the letter was addressed to. James wrote to the 12 TRIBES OF THE DISPERSION. The twelve tribes are Jewish, yet law keeping, believers as to who Christ was!  The twelve tribes are the twelve tribes of Israel! These people had fled Israel after the stoning on Stephen. (Acts 8-9) A great persecution began by the Jews on the believing Jews at this time. In Acts 11:19, Luke stated those who were scattered because of the persecution over Stephen (Acts 8-9)..spoke the word to none, but JEWS! Another separation!

Peter’s two epistles state the same thing. He was writing to the Jewish believers in dispersion. (1 Peter 1: 1, and 2 Peter 3:1) The Jewish believers were still practicing temple worship; circumcision; sacrifices, etc., as per Jewish law!

Another question to ask yourself is what were the conditions, and situations of the time that a particular letter was sent. For instance, James, and Peter’s letters were written prior to the 70 A.D. destruction of Israel, and the Jewish people. The closer the time to this Roman attack the more extreme the persecution was being witnessed by these Jewish believers. The apostles  were trying to comfort the believers with their words. Peter, etc. believed they were seeing the prophesied Time of Jacob’s trouble just ahead, and I am sure the situation seemed accurate! Paul thought he would see the end of the age, as prophesied in scripture, and Christ.

Part 3 will address some word translations that can cause confusion. A number of interesting verses will begin to be printed . I bet most readers of the Bible glanced over these verses without understanding exactly what was going on. It will be fun!