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Angela Bodiford Ministries

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Discussion: Bible STudies

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HaShaliach	Bible STudies Dec 11 2008, 10:51 PM EST Over the past few months I have been attempting to get started on a couple of Bible studies - on several forums, including my own. All, with out success. Time and energy have seem to be two of my fleeting commodities. Therefore, I am going to attempt to do the impossible – to do one Bible study on at least ten different forums. Or, perhaps it is 12 or 14 sites. The problem is that even after cutting back on the number of web sites I have been contributing to (some, admittedly, very rarely) I come to the conclusion that I need to cut back even more of the sites I visit. I need to get the number down to four or five. No more than that. Last year I was a member in well over 20 different web communities and a site manager in over half of them. So, as a test case, I am going to pick up on a new study, one I started back in August but never got very far with, a study on the book of Mathew, chapters 5 through 7. I still have a lot of work to do on this study – it will be a work in progress! Post reply Do you find this valuable? Keyword tags: None
HaShaliach	1. RE: Bible STudies Dec 11 2008, 10:51 PM EST The purpose in posting this study on several boards is to generate as much interest and participation as possible, because I think it is important that Christians know and understand this major teaching of our Savior, with hopefully some additional insights not usually presented in most books focusing on the ”beatitudes” of Mt 5. My goal is to identify those forums that have the most (or best) participation in this study and drop my membership in the remaining forums, in order to get the number of my web sites down to something more manageable. Except for answering individual questions, I am planning to post exactly the same information on all of the selected sites. Now, as we get further into the “holiday” season, and with family and friends coming and going, I don’t expect to get very far between now and New Year’s Day week. I will, however take a look at the original introduction post, edit it where necessary and post it on this forum to get folks started thinking about the subject, and, hopefully, to get some people started reading and studying these chapters before the actual study begins. May God bless this effort – and everyone participating in it. Shalom Aleichem Peach be unto you. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	2. RE: Bible Studies Dec 11 2008, 11:16 PM EST " Shalom Aleichem Peach be unto you. " Okay, so it should have been "Peace", not peach! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	3. References Dec 13 2008, 1:59 PM EST Pre-study comments: First off I must warn everyone that I am not an expert in the areas that we will be using to study these scriptures. This means that there will be an extensive list of references that will be used during the course of the study. However, I am not planning to present every footnote or cite every supporting scripture or historical, cultural, religious or linguistic reference at every apparent juncture. While I invite questions and comments as we proceed through the study, I would really appreciate not having to jump through religious hoops erected by doctrinal sharpshooters. The study will be conducted as noted above, i.e. from a scriptural, historical, cultural, religious and linguistic foundation, not from doctrines contrived by men or from a church dogma established for the purpose of self justification, as so many Christian churches of today have constructed. In other words, we shall attempt to allow the scriptures to unfold with as little contemporary influences as possible. The essence of the study then, is we shall not be looking to the scriptures to support any doctrine, but looking to the scriptures for a doctrine to support. The following is a partial list of references that will be used throughout this study: • Messianic Covenant (New Testament translation) by Herb Jahn • Jewish New Testament and Commentary by David H. Sterne • DAVAR, An extensive computer based, multi resource software package, www.davar3.net • Online Bible, An extensive, computer based, multi resource software package, http://www.onlinebible.org/ Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	4. RE: References Cont. Dec 13 2008, 1:59 PM EST • The Sword Project, An extensive, computer based, multi resource software package, http://www.crosswire.org/sword/index.jsp • e-Sword, An extensive, computer based, multi resource software package, www.e-sword.net • Allon Ministries, translation and interpretation tools and techniques for original languages. http://www.allon.org/index.htm • Beit Avanim Chaiot, Messianic Synagogue, Messianic teaching through a Hebrew worldview, http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/beit_avanim_chaiot/index.htm • Beit HaDerech, Messianic Synagogue, Messianic teaching through a Hebrew worldview, http://webbpage.bravehost.com/ • Come to Zion Ministries, A Messianic ministry to Jews and Gentiles, http://www.cometozion.org/ • Tsiyon Heights Messianic Radio, A Messianic ministry to Jews and Gentiles, locate3d in the Holy Lands. http://tsiyon.org/ • The American Institute For Advanced Biblical Studies, Academic study site. http://www.americaninstituteonline.org/ • Bible Scholars Forum, The mission of the foundation is to foster the education of students preparing for graduate degrees in Biblical Studies and related fields. http://www.biblescholars.org/main.php • Christian Classics Ethereal Library, http://www.ccel.org/about • HaY’Did To train, educate and equip both the Jew and the non-Jew for study of the rich Biblical/Hebraic Heritage of our faith, with a good list of Messianic links, http://www.haydid.org/ • Jewish Virtual Library, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/intro.html • Jewish Encyclopedia, http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/ • The Church and the Jews, The Biblical Relationship by Dan Gruber • Our Father Abraham, Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R. Wilson • Jewish Roots, A foundation of Biblical Theology by Dan Juster • JPS Hebrew-English Tanakh, 1917 and 2000 editions Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	5. RE: References Cont. Dec 13 2008, 2:00 PM EST • PLUS: Various Hebrew, Greek and English dictionaries, lexicons, language textbooks and extra Hebrew, Greek and English writings from historians, religious leaders, and biblical/language scholars. Where appropriate we might also include Arabic and Aramaic translations. As one might imagine, all of these references are simply too numerous to list here. ------------ The intent of this study is to utilize the best academic materials, religious thinking, the teaching of spiritual leaders, a little common sense, and hopefully allow the word of God express its self to each individual as each of us has a need. That we might rightly divide the word of truth” and that the Spirit of God will direct (and where necessary, correct and redirect) our efforts. I am working on editing the original introductory post, and will publish it shortly. Thank you for your patience and understanding as I attempt to get this study underway. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ABMinistries	6. RE: References Cont. Dec 15 2008, 12:57 AM EST I am looking forward to this brother and I hope we get a lot of participation Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	7. One additional pre-study note: Dec 16 2008, 9:09 PM EST I need to make it really clear that I have no hidden agendas in perusing this study. The study clearly presumes that Jesus was a Jew, living, ministering and dieing as a Jew, and that His teachings were as a Jew instructing other Jews. The necessary assumption is that in order to better understand and appreciate what Jesus had to say, one must have some understanding of the history, culture, religion and language that defined how Jesus and His disciples ministered. Before continuing to explore the Hebrew thought process (world view) concerning the writing and interpretation of the New Testament scriptures, it should be pointed out that there are notable critics of this approach to studying these texts. One such critic is Mr Tim Warner. While I personally subscribe to the theory that much (but not all) of the New Testament was originally written in Hebrew (and/or other Semitic language), especially the books of Matthew and Hebrews, I am of the opinion that a good number of N.T. books need to be read and studied from a Hebrew perspective, not Greek or Latin. However, Mr. Tim Warner presents some compelling concerns and arguments for consideration and further investigation. The following article excerpt and comments are referenced here for your information, much like the article, “Beware the Leaven of the Pharisees” by Hannah Nesher in the D’var Emet, posted on my web site’s front page (hashaliach.com/). Excerpt from the article, “Was the New Testament Written in Hebrew?” Copyright © (date ?) Tim Warner. www.pfrs.org/jewish/hr08.html Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	8. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 16 2008, 9:10 PM EST “The Hebrew New Testament proponents would have us trust them to fix the faulty Scriptures, by relying on their supposed knowledge of Jewish customs and figures of speech. In short, we need to sit at the feet of rabbis in order to understand what was written. But, by editing the text of the New Testament to conform to so-called Jewish thought only leads AWAY from the message preserved by the providence of God. God promised to preserve His Word for every generation [Psalm 12:6,7 Matt. 24:35]. God kept His word! The Traditional Greek text of the New Testament is reliable. Any changing [regardless of motive] of what has been preserved by God is a blatant violation of the commandment found in the last chapter of Revelation. Those who remove words that God has preserved in His Word, will be removed from the “Book of Life,” and those who add to His words, to them God will add the plagues.” I used this excerpt from Mr. Warner’s article to illustrate only three things. First. When one’s enthusiasm for a religious point of view become all engrossing, it leads one into serious error in thinking and judgment. Mr. Warner’s assertion that the proponents of the Hebrew New Testament would have us all sitting at the feet of Rabbis (presumably Observant Jewish Rabbis, not Messianic Rabbis), in order to “correct” or to “understand” the scriptures, does not give the author credit. Personally, I would much rather sit under a Messianic Rabbi who is accomplished in Hebrew and Greek languages (as well as English) and in Hebrew theology, and who is also able to interpret, illustrate and apply the first century Apostolic (biblical Hebrew) worldview of the scriptures to today’s world.I also enjoy sitting under a Gentile teacher who is competent in his/her religious history, cultures and languages. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	9. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 16 2008, 9:10 PM EST Second. Frequently, when enthusiasm is substituted for serious study, one of the problems is the increase of exegetic errors, or in the case cited above, selecting wrong scriptures to prove a point. That is, citing Rev 22:18-19 to show that God will not allow the adding to or taking away from “this book” without serious consequences. The problem with citing this scripture is that it applies only to the ”book of revelation”, not to the entire Bible. The correct passages that should have been referenced would include the following: De 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. De 12:32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Pr 30:5-6 5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. {pure: Heb. purified} Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. Third. Thinking that some English translation of copies of the original texts equate to receiving the original words of God straight from His mouth, and that one single translation is ”error free” are also major exegetical errors. The following is from a “Greek Manuscript” proponent of the New Testament, NOT a Hebrew text proponent! Subject: The Greek New Testament of 1516 edition (Textus Receptus), compiled by Erasmus and used as the primary Greek source text for the KJV of the New Testament: Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	10. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 16 2008, 9:11 PM EST “Erasmus was not able to find a complete [Greek] manuscript of the New Testament, nor anything earlier that the twelfth century. So he had to use several manuscripts for various parts of the New Testament. For most of his work, he relied upon two inferior manuscripts* from the twelfth century (Codec 1 and Codes 2). For the book of revelation, he used another twelfth-century manuscript, which lacked the last leaf containing the last section of Revelation 22 (Codex 1r). For this section, as well as for others throughout Revelation where the manuscript was difficult to read, Erasmus used the Latin Vulgate and translated it back into Greek! Consequently, the Textus Receptus and KJV have erroneous verses at the end of Revelation. For example, in Revelation 22:14, the KJV reads, ”Blessed are they who do his commandments that they may have right to the tree of life.” Superior manuscript* evidence, followed by all modern versions, supports the reading, “Blessed are they who wash their robes, that they may have right to the tree of life. The difference is very significant! The KJV tells us that works will get us eternal life; the better text tells us that we need our robes washed (i.e., we need to be cleansed by Jesus’ blood) to have eternal life. In Revelation 22:19 (quoted above) , which is the very verse that warns against changing the text, Erasmus changed “tree of life” to “book of life.” This alteration still appears in the KJV and NKJV. These are the kind of textual alterations that critics should take notice of!” • The use of the terms “Inferior” and Superior” manuscripts are technical terms and do not mean one text is poorly written and another text better written. They refer to time, condition and discovery location of the manuscripts, and harmony of textual style and content as compared to other manuscripts from different periods and locations. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	11. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 16 2008, 9:11 PM EST Essential Guide to Bible Versions, P.W. Comfort, Ph.D. © 2000, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc,. pg 102. Dr. Comfort is a noted expert and teacher of ancient Greek biblical manuscripts and literature. He has also authored The New Greek-English Interlinear New Testament, The Origin of the Bible, The Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Essential Guide to Bible Versions, and The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts (with D. Barrett), ----------- Conclusion: While I personally think that most of the arguments presented on this particular subject are misleading and contain serious flaws, the concern that there are some who would attempt to Judaise the New Covenant Faith, i.e. attempt to (re) establish salvation by works of the law, rather than by grace through faith, is still a valid concern which needs to be continuously monitored, just as it was during the formative years of the church. In addition, I have also expressed the following concern: Too many Christian preachers and teachers have divorced the Hebrew religion, culture, religion and language of the Jewish Apostles and transformed Christ's church into a non-Jewish, western cultural religion. In 2,000 years, nothing much has changed! Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ABMinistries	12. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 17 2008, 12:55 PM EST I can finally see where you are coming from Brother Art... having been raised in this western culture... I didn't really know the difference... but lately I have been doing a lot of reading on the culture of Jesus day, and I have found that so many things in the Bible that I understood with the western culture mind was just skimming the surface of what was actually being said... when I understood their culture... it opened up the meaning of what was being said in a whole new light... and I have spoken to people who don't even want to know aboutt the culture,they think they know enough.... it is sad... and the law no longer has us bound only because Jesus came to earth, and made a way for us to truly love the way God loves (because the Holy Ghost lives within us now)... and therefore with the love of God embedded in us... we are able to fulfill the law of Moses from the heart... thus the law is fulfilled... Love ya brother, Angela Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	13. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 17 2008, 1:35 PM EST "I can finally see where you are coming from Brother Art... having been raised in this western culture... I didn't really know the difference... but lately I have been doing a lot of reading on the culture of Jesus day, and I have found that so many things in the Bible that I understood with the western culture mind was just skimming the surface of what was actually being said... when I understood their culture... it opened up the meaning of what was being said in a whole new light... and I have spoken to people who don't even want to know aboutt the culture,they think they know enough.... it is sad... and the law no longer has us bound only because Jesus came to earth, and made a way for us to truly love the way God loves (because the Holy Ghost lives within us now)... and therefore with the love of God embedded in us... we are able to fulfill the law of Moses from the heart... thus the law is fulfilled... Love ya brother, Angela" Ah sister - no fair peaking behind the veil. LOLOL Post reply Do you find this valuable?
ABMinistries	14. RE: One additional pre-study note: Dec 17 2008, 2:07 PM EST LOL... but brother, you ever felt like a child in a candy store? can't wait until Mom pays for it... you want it NOW... that's how God''s word effects me... LOL... Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	15. Comment Dec 17 2008, 3:12 PM EST I am having some difficulty with these WetPaint pages – being restricted to only 2,000 characters (including spaces) per post, and no attachments! Most teaching segments run about 8,000 characters! What to do? Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	16. A Study in Mathew, Chapters Five through Seven Dec 17 2008, 3:13 PM EST In chapter four of the Gospel of Mattityahu (Mathew), we have a short history of Yeshua (Jesus) from the time He underwent a tevilah (ceremonial immersion) by Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptizer) to the time when Jesus went into Galilee and ministered to the people there. When the crowd grew large, consisting as it did of people from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and from beyond the Jordan, Jesus, “… seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, …” Thus we have the introduction to the famous Sermon on the Mount. ---------------- There have been a great number of outstanding studies made on this sermon of Jesus Christ, so I will try not to duplicate those earlier (and better) works, but rather to place this famous teaching in a different perspective. How would a Jew, sitting on the side of a mountain might hear, understand, and respond the words being spoken by the living word of Elohim (God) [Note 1]. Starting with verse three, we have a number of statements that challenge one’s mind as well as their belief system. First, by noting that Jesus was addressing people who represented a cross section of the Jewish nation. These were not “Christians”, but observant Jews, including himself, who were all living under what was generally referred to as the Torah B’Moshe (Law of Moses). Yeshua had been teaching on the kingdom of heaven (See Mt. 4:17). But, it is not until this point in the narrative that we get an insight into what Jesus had been teaching in Mt 4. Here He puts it together for us. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	17. RE: A Study in Mathew, Chapters Five through Seven Dec 17 2008, 3:14 PM EST The initial point upon which this sermon rests is found in Mt. 4:17, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is a theme that can be found throughout the entire Bible, so these first century believers already knew the precepts of law, sin, repentance, sacrificial atonements and their related precepts that many Christians today seem to be unaware of, except in the most general of terms. The Torah (the first five books of the Bible, also called the Chumash or Pentateuch) contain the essentials of several covenants that God has made with man, starting with Adam and extending through the projected “New Covenant” (Brit Chadasha), as it would be established among the people of earth. One of the more interesting aspects of God’s covenants with men is that when He instituted a “new” covenant, the “old” covenant was not annulled, but incorporated into the new one. Each covenant was, in turn, made “better” (more complete, more detailed) through amendment and then incorporated into the provisions of the newer covenant. [Personal Research Project: The seven covenants: Edenic, Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and the latest, “Messianic New Covenant”.] HaMashiach Yeshua (The Christ, Jesus) never came into the world to destroy or abolish the Torah or any of the provisions contained in the first six covenants! He came to fulfill all of the provisions of all of the preceding covenants, so that the “final covenant” could be implemented: First to the Jews, then to the Gentiles, and finally back to the Jews. This new covenant was brought into being through the preaching of the Good News (The Gospel) concerning the Kingdom of Heaven/God, and then it was sealed with the required sacrifice of blood. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	18. RE: A Study in Mathew, Chapters Five through Seven Dec 17 2008, 3:15 PM EST Before the giving of The Law, the Torah of Elohim was already in place and made known throughout the history of men, from Adam onward. Even Avraham, the “father of the faith” knew and kept God’s Law, as recorded in B’Resheet (Gen) 26:1-5 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. And the LORD appeared unto him, and said: ‘Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father; and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands; and by thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves; because that Abraham hearkened to My voice [kole], and kept My charge [mish-meh'-reth], My commandments [mits-vaw'], My statutes [khook-kaw'], and My laws (instructions) [to-raw'].’ [JPS, 1917,] [See Note 2] What we have is a wonderful example of salvation obtained by faith, as expressed through the works of faith (working out one’s salvation). Also, please see: Php 2:12, Jas 2:17, Heb 11:6 & Ro 14:23. Post reply Do you find this valuable?
HaShaliach	19. RE: A Study in Mathew, Chapters Five through Seven Dec 17 2008, 3:16 PM EST Even so, by faith Abraham obeyed God (faith with works) and it was accounted as righteousness to him.” From the first, each succeeding covenant that God has made with man revealed the Torah (Instructions), up to that time, then expended to make it more complete (perfect), i.e. to provide a more solid foundation and a framework within which to enhance our understanding of who and what God is, and for us to obtain a better grasp on what our relationship to and with God is to be. The eighth and final covenant (completion of human history and the start of the new world to come) will be consummated at the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:5-9). Which now brings us to the teaching of the deeper aspects of Torah and its application to the Brit Chadasha (New Covenant) by HaKole B’Mashiach (The Voice of Messiah), the living word of God. [See Note 3]; [Reference Yochanan (John) 1:1-4] Shalom Aleichem ----------------- Note 1: In the English language, Jews, both Messianic and Observant usually write the words, God and Lord, without the “o” vowel (G-d & L-rd), in order to ensure that they do not in advertently take the Lord’s name in vain. While I respect that writing convention and the esteem it gives to the commandment “do not take the Lord’s name in vain”, I do not feel required to follow that style of writing. Both the words “God” and ”Lord” are terms used as substitutes for the true name of God. However, as we all know, these words have a history of being used for very un-godlike utterances and no attempt to alter their spelling will alleviate that problem. Post reply Do you find this valuable?

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