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Matt 28:18 (KJS) And <2532> Jesus <2424> came <4334> (5631) and spake <2980> (5656) unto them <846>, saying <3004> (5723), All <3956> power <1849> is given <1325> (5681) unto me <3427> in <1722> heaven <3772> and <2532> in <1909> earth <1093>. 19 Go ye <4198> (5679) therefore <3767>, and teach <3100> (5657) all <3956> nations <1484>, baptizing <907> (5723) them <846> in <1519> the name <3686> of the Father <3962>, and <2532> of the Son <5207>, and <2532> of the Holy <40> Ghost <4151>: {teach...: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations} 20 Teaching <1321> (5723) them <846> to observe <5083> (5721) all things <3956> whatsoever <3745> I have commanded <1781> (5662) you <5213>: and <2532>, lo <2400> (5628), I <1473> am <1510> (5748) with <3326> you <5216> always <3956> <2250>, [even] unto <2193> the end <4930> of the world <165>. Amen <281>.
This new "Jesus Movement" faced a problem of the highest magnitude within twenty years after the Cross of Christ: "What are we going to do with these Gentiles who claim to be followers of Yeshua Meshichenu (Yeshua, our Jewish Messiah)? The solution: "We should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." (Acts 15: 19-21). Yacov (James) and the head zakenim (elders) then proceeded to mention "4 abstentions" for these Gentiles who wished to be part of the Jesus Movement: 1) Don't eat food polluted by idols; 2) Don't engage in sexual immorality; 5) Don't eat the meat of strangled animals; 4) Don't eat blood.
To twentieth century Western people this list seems pretty simple--the only abstention those in our society have to worry about is #2--sexual immorality. So now it's clear sailing for all those Gentiles. Thanks a lot for reading this article. But wait, that is not as simple as the English makes it seem, for Yeshua is Jewish, and without a proper understanding of the language of Hebrew, the Greek language from which the Hebrew was translated, the history, and the culture of the first century, you and I cannot be assured we have the correct understanding of this Acts 15 passage. Let us never forget that obedience is better than any sacrifice today as well as yesterday. Also, let us understand that Jesus' church deemned that these things discussed in Acts 15 were "NECESSARY" for those who wished to be included in Jesus' Movement and church. How certain that you have been taught, let alone follow, these "NECESSARY" things today? If you find out that you have not been taught, nor follow such things, are you a member in "good standing" in Jesus' church?
As you read this article, as well as others I have researched and prepared, you should have easily seen that reading the English often leads us astray from the mind of Christ. You may say "You mean it's not quite that easy and clear?" You may say "You mean to tell me there may be more to understanding what James is telling the Gentiles than meets the eye? Do you mean more information is assumed as "given" in this situation than is normally understood by the normal Christian nowdays?" That is exactly what I am telling you as you will shortly understand. Let us investigate.
The historical situation in Acts 15 must be uncovered in order to understand the impact importance of these 4 abstentions for Gentile believers in the first century, so we as good Christians can then apply that understanding of Biblical truth to today's circumstances. Add to this process the tragic observation that the vast majority of today's Gentile Christian congregations totally ignore these 4 simple instructions and it becomes clear that this decision from long ago has been blatantly misunderstood and or ignored for the past 19 centuries. Today's Christians who understand Yeshua's words "why do you say you love me and not obey ye" should be open to repentance when in-depth Bible study recovers long-lost truths which never changed that both challenge and correct their belief system and conduct. We must, with a good conscience, apply these truths to our lives today, regardless if the seem different from what you have heard or weren't previously aware of or not. If today's Christians want to uncover these truths and their significance for their lives, it will be a difficult but not an unfruitful task, but such is our test of the level of love we have for God and His son who died for us. Let us continue in our search for truth for our love for God is manifested through obedience and not a mental faith which lacks righteous responses in obedience to "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." This is of major importance if we truly love God, not to mention the rewards and treasure laid up in Heaven in our account that comes only in response to obedience. .
It is important as we begin to understand "who" these Gentile believers were that were being spoken of by James. The overwhelming majority, if not all, of these Gentiles wanted to be accepted as full participants in this Jewish faith in the Jewish Messiah. They were in a special category of Gentiles called "Godfearers." Let's investigate these questions:
"Godfearers" in the technical sense of the word used by both Luke and Josephus (Sebomenoi and or Phoboumenoi) refer to that special group of Gentiles who worshipped in synagogues and adopted a Jewish belief system and a Jewish lifestyle for themselves, stopping just short of formal conversion (failed to be circumcised) and becoming proselytes.
The word Sebonenoi (with or without Theos) means "Godfearer" and is based on a parallel term for worshippers of pagan deities. Implicit in the term are the concepts that these people claim to worship the only true God, and that they worship Him with specific acts, not just with their "mental attitude." The Book of Acts mentions Pheboumenos five times, and mentions sebonenos six times with or without the addition word "Theos-god" to denote Gentile adherents to the Jewish faith who were NOT proselytes. In this context, Bauer states that these two terms are a "functional equivalent" of each other. Thus, these Godfearers were NOT merely well-intentioned Gentiles walking around worshipping the God of Israel in their own private non-structured way or in a way that leaned on their own understanding. Rather, there were certain requirements and Laws which must be adhered to and obeyed to be considered as a "Godfearer."
Emil Schurer quotes archeological inscriptions which point to "a defined category of Gentile Godfearers attached to the Jewish community." The Dictionary of the New Testament Theology adds that ''Sebonenos" was the regular term for non-Jews who attached themselves the synagogue in this precise and specific way. The clear conclusion reached about both terms in Acts (i.e. phoboumenoi and sebomenoi) is that "with this concept...we are dealing with a technical term (to be distinguished from Theosebes (godliness) which specifically describes a defined category of Gentiles associated with the synagogue.
It cannot be emphasized too strongly that the first Gentile believers in Yeshua as "the Messiah" mentioned in the Book of Acts are from this special and technical realm of Godfearers, as the Greek terms clearly indicate, and are NOT Gentiles who only felt warmth and attraction to the God of Israel. The Godfearers ALREADY had received considerable Jewish training and had made a considerable Jewish commitment as I am attempting to demonstrate through the continued teachings of Bet Emet Ministry. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament sums up the situation: "Thus the first conversion of a Gentile under Peter in Acts 10 is strictly the winning of a marginal member of the Jewish community (Cornelius was ALREADY a worshipper of the true God of the Bible before the message of the Messiah was brought to him) for the Christian community." According to Schurer, John 12:20 probably reflects this group in describing "Greeks who went up to worship (at the Temple) at the Festival (Passover) time"
What most misunderstand about the Acts 10 account regarding Cornelius is that he was recognized as ALREADY "having a relationship with God" by the Jews. The message of Messiah through the Great Commission was brought to him for the benefit of the Jews as well as himself, for the religious and political environment of that day precluded "Gentile-Godfearers" from fellowshipping with Jews. Peter's reaction in witnessing that Cornelius (a Gentile) received the same gift of the Spirit as they had previously at Pentecost was the deciding factor in reporting to Jerusalem that the "middle wall" of separation between the Jews and Gentiles was removed, and it was removed because of the ministry of Yeshua which continued long after his resurrection and ascension. See my other articles about Shammai and Hillel and existing prejudices concerning the Gentiles.
It is important to realize that these Gentile Godfearers were integral parts of synagogues within Israel and throughout the Diaspora (exile). And as noted above, they worshipped God with specific Jewish acts, not just mental assent. These acts included:
These Laws, as seen in Second Temple Judaism (Judaism during the era 100 B.C.E.--70 C.E.), is the bedrock of Jewish observance even today. Any other Jewish observances beyond these would have been a matter of personal choice (Isa 56). Isaiah chapter 56 informs us that once Gentile become part of Israel through faith and repentance with limited obedience to Commandments, then he has the "choice" to choose other commandments to incorporate into his life because they "please God." These Gentile Godfearers were encouraged by Jewish teachers within the synagogue structure to be circumcised, thus completing their "conversion" to Judaism; and according to G. F. Moore, "it was not uncommon for the next generation (their children) to be circumcised."
Cornelius, the Gentile Godfearer mentioned in Acts 10, was a centurion at Caesarea and serves as a good example of what a Godfearer did religiously. First, he and his household were devout (Eusebes) and Godfearing (Phoboumenos Ton Theon), a double adjective referring to him and his family which shows their exemplary lives characterized by Jewish norms and values. Please understand when I say "Jewish norms and values" I am not asserting conversion to Judaism, but lets face it, Jewish values and norms happened to be expressions of BIBLICAL VALUES AND NORMS! Luke also mentions that he prayed constantly to God and gave alms liberally to people in need (which the Rabbis call tzedekah). These two actions (prayer and alms giving) would be actions even beyond the call of "Jewish duty," even more than the minimum for Jews. Interestingly enough, one afternoon during his regular 3 o'clock prayer time ("ninth hour" was a prescribed Temple prayer time which survives in synagogue practice today and was the hour evening incense was offered in the Temple) an angel came to Cornelius in Caesarea (a totally Gentile-built and Gentile-run city), to tell him that his prayer that his alms "had come up for a memorial" before God. That means that they he been accepted by God in the same way that the incense at the Temple and the smoke of a burnt offering "went up" and were accepted by God. The same Greek word (snebenov) is used to translate in the Septuagint the Hebrew word for offering: "olah"-literally, "an ascending." Then the angel instructs Cornelius, to get in touch with Peter, who was in Jaffa, and the rest, as they say, is history. But note that what Cornelius did to deserve the commendation were Jewish religious acts and not his faith (not just any old good deeds would do) and that they (his righteous works) were accepted by the Jewish God using Jewish terminology and concepts, even though Cornelius was "technically" a Gentile. Now for a real shocker, Cornelius' was "accepted by God" and this condition existed long before Peter came to preach to him about Yeshua for Acts 10:35 states such. In fact, Peter is flabbergasted when this revelation (that Gentiles who turned from idols to serve the living God were equally acceptable to God as were Jews) become real to him for he realized that the stigma put upon the Gentile Godfearers by "pious" Jews headed by Shammai were totally false and such bigotry had prevented Israel from obeying God by not becoming a "light to the Gentiles" as was their calling. Once you understand that Shammai led Israel to believe that no Gentile was worthy of the world to come or of Eternal Life, then you can understand Peter's startled reaction. God was correcting the situation and news of this would quickly turn Jerusalem around.
Let us never forget that there were more than just this one man who was a Godfearer in Israel, in that there was a whole group of Godfearers at that time all around the Roman world who totally identified themselves with the Jewish community, except for circumcision which was the final step in commitment as a Jewish proselyte.
Many Gentiles, while not prepared to enter this Jewish community as full proselytes through circumcision, were attracted by the simple monotheism of Jewish synagogue worship and by the ethical standards of the Jewish way of life. We may indeed say that Cornelius had every qualification short of circumcision which could satisfy Jewish requirement for full inclusion into Israel with equal rights (own land, hold offices in synagogues). The middle-wall of inequality as not removed. It would be such Godfearers who would form the nucleus of the Christian community in one city after another. Sadly, the Godfearers would one day be replaced with "organized religion" in the form of anit-Semitic Constantinian theology.
Obviously, as we have seen, Godfearers were more than "pagans" or "foreigners" but less than proselytes. Let s examine now these differing communities of people and their status in the eyes of the Jewish community during Second Testament times.
Underlying the worldview of the Greco-Roman culture at the time is an unsympathetic attitude towards Jews. In Greek and Roman literature of the time the judgments about Jews are in general very derogatory. Seen in its most militant state, during Selucid rule, Greek culture felt that Judaism was extremely old-fashioned and too highly nationalistic to fit in with the concept of the modern Greek world. Roman culture, beginning in 70 B.C.E. in Israel under Pompey, tolerated Jewish belief as long as it allowed for Rome to have the final governmental power. Rome tended to want to keep peace in its provinces and allowed different groups under its rule to have their own religious and cultural differences. Jewishness to Rome was a "quaint," unattractive religion which served well to keep the Jewish nation "unified" and serving Roman interest.
Passages from writers of the time such as Josephus, Juvenal, and Tertullian give us the impression that the Greco-Roman culture saw Jewishness as quite ridiculous. Thus, becoming a Godfearing person was not a popular action designed to move a person to a more influential sphere, in fact, it would have quite the opposite effect.
Living within Israel itself at the time there were Godfearers, exemplified by Cornelius and presumably also the Centurion in Luke 7 and Matt. 10, but making proselytes in an active "missionary" way was not common within Israel. As a rule, proselytes (full converts) were welcomed by the Jews and regarded very highly, but there was in Palestine no active propaganda to further the cause of proselytism. Godfearers stood outside of this acceptance until they fully converted.
However, proselytism and Godfearers were very active in the Diaspora (the Jewish communities outside of Israel). According to Josephus in Antioch and Syria large numbers of Gentiles attended Jewish services. In Damascus almost the whole female part of the population was devoted to Judaism and it was quite often women of higher social standing who followed this trend. Evidently these Jewish communities encouraged and welcomed both Gentile proselytes and Godfearers.
Hellenistic Judaism developed an offensive against paganism. They were eager to show up the immorality and senselessness of idolatry and display the rationality and sublimity of Jewish monotheism. Hellenistic Judaism had an apologetic ideology as there were many Godfearers who accepted the one God of the Jews, but not all the Laws of the same God. Hellenistic Judaism had almost succeeded in making Judaism a world religion in the literal sense of the words. Early Christianity then won the victory over paganism using Jewish customs, traditions, and teachings.
This knowledge of history sheds much light on James' closing remarks to the zakenim (elders) and sh'likim (apostles) in Acts 15:21: "For Moses (the Pentateuch) has been preached in every city (in the Diaspora) from the earliest times (since 722B.C.E., over 700 years) and is read in the synagogue on every Sabbath." In other words, these Gentile Godfearers who want to become full-fledged believers in Yeshua as Messiah have ALREADY received Moses' instructions concerning how people are to live (as taught in the Noachide and Sinaitic covenants since when Moses (Penteteuch-first 5 books of the Bible) is taught, such teaching encompasses both the Laws of Noah and the Mosaic Covenant). Through attending synagogues in their own cities, Gentiles were ALREADY familiar with the basics of having a relationship with the one true God of Israel. James, the pastor of the Messianic Movement within Judaism, is REQUIRING these 4 further instructions for Gentiles who want to be Messianists and a part of Jesus' church. Notice, that it seemed "good to them and the Holy Spirit" to REQUIRE these adherences of Gentiles. These things were called "NECESSARY." This was done to make sure that there is no question as to what the "bottom line" of observance is by Godfearing Gentiles: the Noachide commandments, the Sabbath and dietary laws, and these 4 requirements. These were "NECESSARY" according to Acts 10:28. Let us be truthful:
The Jewish religious concepts of the Second Temple period understood that the other nations of the world who did not follow the one true God were Godless (goyim-at least without the true God) and or pagan. However, for purposes of God's judgment of other nations (including his right to judge them), the Sinaitic covenant did not apply to these "goyim," having been given exclusively to Israel. Don't get tripped up by failing to understand that WITHIN THE MOSAIC COVENANT AND LAWS IS CONTAINED ALL THE LAWS IN THE COVENANT OF NOAH. Conversely, there were many Laws contained in the Mosaic Covenant that were not included in the Covenant of Noah. Instead the rabbis felt, as seems clear from the passage in Gen. 9:1-18, there is a covenant for all the children of Noah (i.e. the whole world), including not only people but all living creatures (see v.10). Based on this section of Scripture, the rabbis found 7 major requirements incumbent for all nations: 1) no idolatry; 2) no incest/adultery; 3) no murder; 4) no blasphemy (profanation of the name of God); 5) no theft; 6) justice towards others (see Gen. 9:5...); 7) no eating flesh with blood in it and or cutting off flesh from a living animals.
To these generally agreed tenents some rabbis added others such as taking blood from a living animal. Several also mention prohibitions against witchcraft and other spiritual sorcery (such things as horoscopes, ouiji boards, palm readers, etc.) such as found in Dt. 18:10-11.
These then are the major categories by which God would judge all nations. To the rabbis it was clear that although God loved all His creatures and His creation, the goyim had turned away from Him and would not even follow the Noachide commandments. "Again if the children of Noah could not abide and observe the 7 commandments which were enjoined upon them, how much less could they have accepted and fulfilled all the commandments of the Sinaitic Law of Moses?
The identifying terms used by the rabbis at this time for these goyim include: idolaters, the wicked, the enemies of Israel, the enemies of God, and the others. There was a different category, however, for those goyim who did abide by the Noachide covenant. They were called foreigners or aliens. Any Gentile who lived in the land of Israel and among Israelites was enjoined, at the very least, to keep the Noachide covenant. This was their "bottom line" and if they did not, they were to be expelled. If they did keep the Laws of Noah, they were no longer called goyim, but gerim.The Talmud delineates them further by the new term ger toshev. These (ger toshev) were foreigners living in the land of Israel who were keeping the 7 Noachide commandments. By the time of the Septuagint (about 200 B.C.E.) the translators used the term "fearers" for the righteous outside of natural Israel in contrast to the term proselytes, those righteous Gentiles who formally identified with Israel through conversion which included circumcision, sacrifice, and mikveh (baptism).
The first "gerim" are mentioned in the Exodus narrative. Among the Jews who left Egypt there were Egyptians who also left their homes in Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, becoming part of the people of Israel (Ex. 12:38). Although they were known as "aliens-gerim" (simply meaning that they were not physical descendants of Jacob), they could be circumcised, thus formally converting to this very early form of Judaism, then partake of the Passover meal with the rest of Israel (at this point, Passover was the only Jewish festival). Note the differentiation between "foreigner" in Ex. 12:43 and the "alien who lives among you." The foreigner may NOT eat the Passover (he is not circumcised and therefore not Jewish-Ex. 12:48), but the alien who is circumcised along with his/her household (they converted to Judaism and had become proselytes) MAY EAT the Passover (they are considered Jewish). Verse 49 indicates that the proselyte was to have the same rights and privileges as the native-born Jews: "The same law applies to the native-born and alien." According to Ex. 12:19, the community of Israel is made up of aliens (believers/converts/proselytes who are circumcised) and native-born Jews. Consequently, these "gerim toshevim" who wanted to fully convert always could do so by becoming circumcised and then continuing to follow the Jewish way of life, which then adopted and followed the covenant at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24) and the attending Laws. Note also that Sabbath observance was technically commanded BEFORE the acceptance of the Sinaitic code (Ex. 20:10 and 23:12). Then although they (Ger Toshevim") were recognized by outward appearances as "aliens," they were now "Jews" in that they had left behind their old country and family and now were subsequently circumcised in order to be "part of the Jewish community." Likewise they had been "adopted" by the native-born Jews as "their own." The rabbis' term for these Ger Toshevim who became circumcised ("proselytes") was ger hazedek (righteous foreigners). How many proselytes there were down through the centuries is impossible to determine, but the rabbis are clear about the proselyte's relationship to the rest of Israel: "A proselyte is like a newborn child." Do you see the comparison to being "born-again?" The proselyte is, however, required and expected to be as strictly observant as the native-born Jew, including paying the Temple tax. The book of Ruth, of course, portrays the most beautiful example of how God can highly honor a proselyte, by choosing her as the great-grandmother of David.
After the building of the Second Temple there was a recognized procedure for proselytes. For men, there was circumcision, followed by immersion (mikveh), then offering a sacrifice at the Temple. For women there was just the mikveh and Temple sacrifice. For Diaspora proselytes the Temple sacrifice was probably waived, or at least postponed, because of the great distance involved and its attendant difficulty to achieve..
As previously noted, the Godfearers' observance of the Law was located between the full proselyte (circumcised) and the gerim toshev (non circumcised). Circumcised Ger toshevm were known as ger hashair (foreigners of the gate). To the Godfearer's observance of the Noachide covenant they added Sabbath and dietary Law observance. It seem that Godfearers stopped just short of circumcision which would mean total and formal conversion, thus no longer being considered a Godfearer but Ger hashair or proselyte in full conversion to Judaism (a good example is Cornelius who lacked circumcision). The reasons for their not formally joining Judaism are not clear to us twentieth century people. Some scholars, like Bruce, maintain that circumcision was both painful and shameful for men in that culture. Some also might have been fearful of anti-Semitism. At any rate, we do know that these Godfearers were every bit as Jewishly observant as their Jewish friends as they had been undergoing discipling and instruction in their local synagogues. These people (Godfearers) were not just well-intentioned "Gentiles," but Jewishly educated and committed to the Jewish way of life which was the pattern given to Israel by God at Sinai. It was "this pattern of obedience" which was spoken in 70 languages to the 70 nations at Sinai, for God called all men everywhere to repent and follow His will which was spoken to all the world at Sinai. Only Israel responded with a "yes" as seen in their memorial statement "we will do all that You say!" To this commitment God would in response call them a "holy people and a holy nation and a royal priesthood" which was to equip the nation of Israel to function as a mediator between God and mankind. Israel's function is still to bring the Gentiles to God for as Romans 9 states
Thus, Godfearing Gentiles, like our example of Cornelius, probably were more deeply devoted to Judaism than many native-born Jews.
In summary, let us tabulate our results from our search.
I. Goyim: idolators, wicked, pagans,
II. Foreigners (Ger toshev):
III. Godfearers (Ger hashair)
IV. Jews: Native Born -plus- Proselyte
The vision related to Peter in Acts 10 and his subsequent experience with Cornelius and his household proved to Peter (also later to the zakenim (elders) and sh'likim (apostles) that is was NOT NECESSARY for these "gerim" to proceed with full conversion to Judaism in order to receive God's provision of atonement. They could come as they were..Godfearing Gentiles. There were only 4 further abstentions they needed to be clear about which actually delineated more clearly their already fully Jewish commitment.
First, they should not eat food sacrificed to idols which gave the appearance that they have not given up idolatrous practices. Notice Rav Shaul and Jochanan HaSchliach also objected to eating food sacrificed to idols in I Cor. 8:10-22; and Rev. 2 because of the outward meaning of the action to highly observant Jews and "weaker brothers" from pagan backgrounds. As this only refers to food, the underlying principle is that we should refrain from any conduct or behavior that gives the appearance that we have not given up idolatrous practices.
Second, they should not engage in sexual immorality as defined by Jewish standards which prohibit sex outside of marriage. Here again, the average "pagan Gentile" would see nothing wrong in visiting the prostitutes dedicated to serving and worshipping pagan Gods. Such conduct was not defined as immoral behavior outside of Israel. But it is a very grievous sin to be followers of the God of Israel (I Cor. 6:9-20), and should likewise be to those Godfearers who wish to follow Him.
Third, abstention from meat of strangled animals (animals killed with the blood still left in the body) and from eating blood in general are a stronger reiteration of the Noachide regulations already understood and practiced by Godfearers (Gen. 9:4). No I am fully aware that few of you kill and animal and eat from it as it slowly dies as do many different peoples in the Far East today, but what you are not aware of is within this categories of commandments is contained the admonition to refrain from eating "unclean" foods as was also given to the Jews. We fail to realize that this distinction in diet was originally given to Noah as he segregated the animals upon the Ark by categories of clean and unclean. Only later would this "oral law" be reiterated to Moses at Sinai when given the Laws of God on stone. James even concedes that these Godfearers probably already knew these abstentions.."For Moses (the Pentateuch) has been preached in every city..." These tenets would be nothing new for Godfearers.
Fourth, Godfearers were to refrain from "blood." You might think this was a reiteration of the food laws, but it refers in Hebrew to violence and premeditated murder.
See my articles on the Law of Noah for more information.
No. These former Gentile pagans who were now known as Godfearers were already practicing the Torah in their household. These Godfearers were accepted within Judaism as a branch of "Messianic Judaism" or the "Jesus Movement" within Israel and Judaism once they accepted Yeshua's message. Such a message of grace and acceptance to the Gentile was catalyzed by a group within Israel who became convinced that Yeshua was Israel's Messiah because of his resurrection and ascension. Such a one who was resurrected preached a message different than those who had come before him; his message was grace and acceptance of the Gentile if he repented and bowed his knee to Torah. Such a message was not being preached by the authorities in Jerusalem and had not for a long time. It was understood that the Godfearers would continue to study in the local synagogue and follow God Jewishly. By this time this included also following the 4 abstentions from Acts 15. But as we have seen, these abstentions were based on guidelines they were already following anyways.
A good example of a congregation that failed even in these basic instructions is Corinth. It is noteworthy that Rav Shaul has to deal with several areas in which the group has failed to uphold the Acts 15 stipulations for inclusion into the Messianic Community: e.g. sexual immorality (one man sleeping with his father's wife, some congregants sleeping with prostitutes), and eating meat sacrificed to idols. These were violations of the "NECESSARY THINGS" which determined if you were part of the Jesus Movement or not. These Corinthians are so uninformed of their Jewish roots that they use the occasion of the 4 Passover cups at the "Lord's Supper" to get drunk! The Godfearing guidelines for the congregation have already been lost and the people are in disarray. Their experience is a clear warning to those Gentile congregations who openly flout the Acts 15 requirements. Sadly we only need to look around at the variety within Christianity today to see that the vast majority of Christian churches today would receive the same rebuke from Paul for they have disregarded these "NECESSARY THINGS" for "more convenient" teachings that require only mental ascent and little repentance.
The Gentile Godfearers in Acts who formed a large share of the core of the congregations founded by Rav Shaul were not practicing pagans converted overnight. They were of a special class of Gentiles who had PREVIOUSLY been taught and nurtured in their local synagogues first, worshipping the God of Israel through Jewish acts and deeds. The "bottom line" of observance for Gentiles in the Jewish world of Second Temple Judaism would have been the 7 Noachide commandments. Godfearing Gentiles, however, went even further, observing the Sabbath, keeping the dietary laws, plus other Jewish observances that they had been taught by their local Jewish leaders. Thus their lifestyle already identified them as Jews, even if the final ritual of formal conversion had not yet taken place. Acts 15 describes the full acceptance of these Godfearers by the leadership of Messianic Jews in Jerusalem. The leaders added only 4 additional guidelines which were based on what the Godfearers were already practicing. I am convinced that James' referral to these "4" additional guidelines included all the "7" as well. If they maintained their Torah based practices, they would have congregations and practices co-equal with that of their Jewish brothers and sisters. If they failed to maintain their Godfearing lifestyles and educational programs, they would fall into the traps of sin that were disrupting the Corinthian congregations.
Gentiles who maintain Torah practices like Biblical Godfearing Gentiles can be assured that they are in "good standing" in Yeshua's church, thus welcomed into full membership and leadership within the Spiritual Body of Messiah today. Those who fail to meet these qualifications should seriously consider if they "be in the faith." Dear brothers and sisters, heed the warning. Ask questions. Study to not be ashamed one day before the LORD. Many may say after studying Hebrew Roots that they wish to formally convert to Judaism, but it is not necessary for full acceptance for the Gentile believer and Godfearer into God's family is not dependent upon conversion within Judaism. That is what Acts 15 was all about, and it set the pattern and stage for Gentile evangelism throughout the world. As long as the Gentile believer (Godfearer) maintain their active Jewish lifestyle, they can rest assured that they are "in the faith once given to the saints."
Want to study with us at Bet Emet? Want to rightly divide the Word of Truth? Drop us a line at:
Bet Emet Ministries
902 Cardigan
Garland, Texas 75040
972-6756193
May God bless your search for truth as you diligently seek after Him. Shalom.