Gentiles, What does the Bible say about Gentiles ?

> Articles   > Gentiles, What does the Bible say about Gentiles? Gentiles, What does the Bible say about Gentiles? Today, most people don’t understand what the term Gentiles means. Many people have different beliefs on what the term Gentiles means. Some people consider Gentiles as people who have a skin colour other than white skin (a neo-Nazi ideology: one race is superior to another. This is an Aryan race belief that is observed by many Christian denominations like the Churches of God), others think that they are people who live in less-developed countries (like Africa, Asia), and others believe that anyone who is non-Jewish is basically a Gentile. The aim of this study is to examine the meaning and the identity of the Gentiles as per the Scriptures. This paper will answer the following key questions: How many times do we see the word Gentiles or Gentile in the Scriptures? What does the word Gentile or Gentiles mean, how did it originate, and who is a Gentile? What is the future of Gentiles? How many times do we see the word Gentiles or Gentile in the Scriptures? Word Number of times it appears in the scriptures Gentiles 130 Gentile 2 What does the word Gentiles or Gentile mean, how did it originate and who is a Gentile? The word Gentiles comes from the Hebrew word gowy. The word is also interpreted as goy or go’-ee (Strong’s concordance number 1471). The word goy is a “multidimensional Hebrew word”. When used in its correct Scriptural context, the term goy could either mean people of a nation, or heathen. Because of the multiple meanings of the word goy, it is important to understand the right context when understanding the Scriptures. The word Gentile comes from the Greek word Hellen. The word is also interpreted as Hel’-lane. In the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament), the word is used to describe inhabitants (people) of the Roman/Greek Empire (Strong’s concordance number 1672). The word Gentile in the Messianic Scriptures also originates from the word ethnos, which can also be interpreted as eth’-nos, meaning “a multitude of people of a nation” (Strong’s concordance number 1484). You need to understand that the word Gentile is not part of the Scriptures. It does not exist in any of the Hebrew or Greek manuscripts. The word Gentile was invented by the King James Bible translators and made its way into the Scriptures. The term goy means people of a nation(s), or heathen (see Table 2). This is the fundamental thing we need to understand about the term goy. Word Number of times the word appears in the Scriptures Actual Hebrew Word used in Manuscripts Nation 145 Goy (Concordance number 1471) Nations 336 Goy (Concordance number 1471) Heathen 150 Goy (Concordance number 1471) The surprising fact is that the word goy is never translated to mean a non-Jew in Hebrew. Are you shocked to hear this? This is the truth. Every Christian and Jew believes that they have one ancestral father which is father Abraham, the father of the faithful. Let us go back to the roots of the Scriptures and find out the meaning and the context of the word goy used by YHWH. Genesis 12:2 – I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. Genesis 17:20 - And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. Genesis 18:18 - since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him. Genesis 20:4 - But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Genesis 21:13 - Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your seed. Genesis 21:18 - Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation. Genesis 35:11 - Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. Genesis 46:3 - So He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not fear to go down to Egypt, for I will make of you a great nation there”. Let us take two examples from the above verses and replace the word nation (the actual word) with Gentile and see how the Scriptures read: Genesis 12:2 – I will make you a great Gentile; I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. Genesis 35:11 - Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a Gentile and a company of Gentiles shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body". As foolish as the above changed verses sound in the above two examples, this is exactly what the King James translators did. They have desecrated the Hebrew language with foolish meaningless terms like Gentiles because of the beliefs of foolish church/religious system. Because of the translation error, many people are classified by many religious systems as Gentiles, a term that even God (Elohim YHWH) did not create. Similarly, let us replace the word nation (the actual word) with Non-Jewish and see how the verses read: Genesis 12:2 – I will make you a great Non-Jewish; I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing. Genesis 35:11 - Also God said to him: "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a Non-Jewish and a company of Non-Jewish shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body". Again, the changed verses (as per the above two examples) do not make any sense because the context has been twisted and misunderstood. Today, 94% of Christian ministers and even Messianic preachers say that if you are non-Jewish then you are a Gentile. They are 100% wrong because their fundamentals are not correct! As shown from the above examples, the word goy can only mean two things: people of a nation, or heathen. We will now look at how the word goy can also mean "heathen" from the Scriptures. Leviticus 26:33 - I will scatter you among the heathen and draw out a sword after you; your land shall be desolate and your cities waste 2 Kings 16:3 - But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel; indeed he made his son pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel. Jeremiah 10:2 - Do not learn the way of the heathen; do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the heathen are dismayed at them. Ezekiel 7:24 - Therefore I will bring the worst of the heathen, and they will possess their houses; I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease, and their holy places shall be defiled. We will now look into the Messianic Scriptures (New Testament) and see how the words Nation (goy) and Gentile (goy) have been used in some of the verses: Luke 7:5 - for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue. Luke 23:2 - And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King. John 11:48 - If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation Romans 3:29 - Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also, Romans 11:13 - For I speak to you Gentiles; in as much as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry In the above verses, Romans 3:29 and Romans 11:13 the word must be translated as nations and not Gentiles because the word used is ethnos. Similarly, the rest of the verses have been translated correctly. Who is a Gentile? For starters, no one is born a Gentile because this word does not exist in Hebrew. It is a man-made terminology invented by the King James translators. According to the Scriptures, you are either people of a nation or a heathen. Every human being came from the blood-line of Adam and Eve. After the flood we all came from the blood-line of father Noah. Therefore, every human being has the same blood-line. That is why if you are white skinned, black skinned or brown skinned your blood colour is still red. Your blood is not white, black or brown. This is the fundamental thing you need to understand. Man and woman (every human being) were created in the image and glory of YHWH. "And God created man in His own image: in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them (Genesis 1:27)." If you Church Ministers of any religious system think your so called "white race" is superior to another skin colour, guess what, you are going to the lake of Gehenna. Your religious church system that has originated from Nazi ideologies (system of your father Nimrod; seed of Serpent) is getting a VIP ticket to the lake of Gehenna. You religious preachers have desecrated everything that YHWH has made pure and holy. Therefore, you can spend the rest of your eternity in the lake of Gehenna for your Nazi ideologies. There is a saying, "Somebody has to go to the lake of Gehenna; well you might just go". For YHWH Yehoshua HaMashiach, there are only two options: either you are part of His people (that is, you live a life as per the Torah and the Scriptures), or you are classified as a heathen (the one who lives a life that is totally against the Torah and the Scriptures). This is the same thing that Yehoshua HaMashiach said in the book of Revelation. "I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you (Revelation 3:9)". Here, Yehoshua is talking about the Jewish people who claim to live by the Torah and the Tanakh, but have rejected the Holy One who came as their saviour. Here Yehoshua classifies them as the seed of Satan. The whole point is that you are not born a Gentile. The choice you make in life decides whether YHWH classifies you as a heathen or someone from another nation, or part of His chosen people. The word Gentile has nothing to do with your skin colour, which country you live in, or whether your ancestry came from the Jews. If you live a life contrary to the Scriptures, you are automatically classified as a heathen. For example, let us examine the lifestyle of most Christians. Their religious ideology is: just believe in sweet Jesus Christ as all the laws of God are now done away with and we are free from God’s law. It does not matter what sin you commit, whether you are a rapist, paedophile or a serial killer, just believe in sweet Jesus, you straight away get a one way ticket to Heaven. This is the classic example of a heathen (pagan). The fundamental principal of the Torah is that there is one law for the native (the people of YHWH) and the stranger (a non-native or a heathen). "There is one Torah for the native-born and for the stranger who sojourns among you" (Exodus 12:49). Every human being is judged by the same standard of the Torah. It does not matter whether you are a Jew, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Atheist or whatever religious system you belong to, there is only one Torah (Law). If you live a life totally contrary to the Scriptures you automatically become a heathen or, according to the King James translators, a Gentile. If you live a life obedient to the whole Scriptures (not picking and choosing what you want to follow), then you can be guaranteed by YHWH that you are a true son/daughter of YHWH. What is the future of Gentiles? So, the question that people often ask is, “What would happen to the billions of people who live a life contrary to the Scriptures?” The Scriptures talks about a time of great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), and also a time when two witnesses (Revelation 11:3) would appear. During these horrific times, millions of heathens (Gentiles – people who live a life contrary to the Scriptures), for the first time in their life, would know about the true YHWH of Israel, and millions would embrace the way of YHWH (not the way of any religious system). They would forsake their man-made gods and their religious systems, and would come back to the truth that would set them free (keep in mind that, while millions of people would change their heathen lifestyle, there would still be many people who would not change). This is exactly what Jeremiah the Prophet saw of what would happen when the Kingdom of the Most High gets established. "YHWH, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress, to you the nations (Gentiles according to KJV translation) will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Our ancestors possessed nothing but false gods, worthless idols that did them no good. Do people make their own gods? Yes, but they are not gods!" "Therefore I will teach them, this time I will teach them by my power and might. Then they will know that my name is YHWH." (Jeremiah 16: 19-21). Isaiah the prophet also said the Gentiles (nations) would come into the Way of YHWH in the millennial reign of the Messiah "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles (other nations) shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious" (Isaiah 11:10). The Scriptures show us that YHWH would be a light to the Gentiles in the millennium. "I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles (other nations), To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house" (Isaiah 42:6-7). At the end of days, all people of every race, nation, tribe and skin colour will be united as ONE in YHWH. On that day there will be no religious church minister to teach falsely, but in that day YHWH will teach us His Way as Jeremiah and Isaiah the prophet said. The prophet Micah said, "And many nations (Hebrew word goy) shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem" (Micah 4:1-2). This is precisely what Revelation 7:9 states, "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number (billions of people), of all nations (Greek word ethnos), tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!". AMEN. AMEN. Links Our Beliefs Resources on Scriptures Articles on Scriptures   Experts on Scriptures (Bible/Torah) Contact Us © 2018, Messianic Jews Natsarenes. All Rights Reserved.Designed By BitraNet

Master Yehoshua Hamoshiach

Our Beliefs The Scriptures (Holy Bible) is the book of life. If you follow it diligently it will lead you to life as God (Elohim) promised. We believe in everything that is written from Genesis (Bereshith in Hebrew) to Revelation (Hazon in Hebrew). We do not pick and choose what we like from the scriptures and make a doctrine out of it like you see in all manmade religious institutions under the banner "Doctrine of Statement". Therefore we do not have a doctrine of statement. We believe/follow the whole scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. This is how God intended it to be. Our Master Yehoshua the Messiah said "For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one title shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens" (Matthew 5:18-19). Since heaven and the earth have not passed away, we follow the complete scriptures. Links Our Beliefs Resources on Scriptures Articles on Scriptures   Experts on Scriptures (Bible/Torah) Contact Us © 2018, Messianic Jews Natsarenes. All Rights Reserved.Designed By BitraNet

Convocation-What does it mean?

> Articles   > Holy Convocation – What does the Bible say about Convocation? Holy Convocation – What does the Bible say about Convocation? Convocation (also referred to as “set-apart gathering”) is the most widely used word to bring people together, by churches, Christian religious institutions and synagogues in today’s generation. It is said that on the Sabbath or Festivals, we must gather/come together to worship. The aim of this study paper is to shed light on what the word “convocation” means in its “correct context” and its spiritual meaning for all true believers of Yehoshua HaMashiach who live by the Torah (laws of Elohim). Holy Convocation The word “convocation” appears in the scriptures as follows: Word Number of times it appears in the scriptures Convocation 15 Convocations 3 In Hebrew, the word “convocation” means “miqra”, spoken as “Mik-raw” (Strong’s concordance number 4744). In Hebrew, this word means “rehearsal”. What does the word rehearsal mean? Rehearsal is defined as “the act of practicing in preparation for an event”. The term “miqra” also means to “read and understand” the laws of Elohim (God in English). The word “holy” in Hebrew in this context means “qadash”, spoken as “Kaw-dash” (Strong’s concordance number 6942). In Hebrew, this word means to be set-apart or to be holy/sanctify for God. We can clearly understand that the word “convocation” is firstly to practise, secondly to read and understand the laws of Elohim. In a nutshell, we can say that the term “convocation” means to set apart an appointed time (Sabbath/Festivals) to Elohim and to read, understand His laws so that you can use His laws in your life (practise them). The word “convocation” as per the scriptures in its chronological order In order to understand the depth of what Elohim is telling us, we need to read and understand the word “convocation” in its “chronological order”. Exodus 12:16 — “And in the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation for you; no manner of work shall be done on them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you”. Leviticus 23:3 — “Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work on it: it is the Sabbath to YHWH in all your dwellings”. Leviticus 23:7 — “In the first day you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work on it”. Leviticus 23:8 — “But you shall offer an offering made by fire to YHWH for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation: you shall do no regular work on it”. Leviticus 23:21 — “And you shall proclaim on the same day a holy convocation unto you: you shall do no regular work on it: it shall be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations”. Leviticus 23:24 — “In the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you have a rest, a remembrance of Teruah, a set-apart gathering”. Leviticus 23:27 — “On the tenth day of this seventh new moon is Yom haKippurim. It shall be a set-apart gathering for you. And you shall afflict your beings, and shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH”.  Leviticus 23:34-36 — “Speak to the children of Yisrael, saying, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh new moon is the festival of Sukkot for seven days to YHWH. On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. For seven days you bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. On the eight day there shall be a set-apart gathering for you, and you shall bring an offering made by fire to YHWH. It is a closing festival, you do no servile work’”. Numbers 28:17-18 — “and on the fifteenth day of this new moon is a festival. For seven days unleavened bread is eaten. On the first day is a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work”. Numbers 28:25-26 — “and on the seventh day you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work. And on the day of the first-fruits, when you bring a new grain offering to YHWH at your festival of Weeks, you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work”. Numbers 29:1 — “And in the seventh new moon, on the first day of the new moon, you have a set-apart gathering, you do no servile work, it is Yom Teruah for you”. Numbers 29:7 — “And on the tenth day of this seventh new moon you have a set-apart gathering, and you shall afflict your beings, you do not work”. Leviticus 23:2 — “Speak to the children of Yisrael and say to them, ‘The appointed times of YHWH, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings. My appointed times, are these’”. Leviticus 23:4 — “These are the appointed times of YHWH, set-apart gatherings which you are to proclaim at their appointed times”. Leviticus 23:37 — “These are the appointed times of YHWH which you proclaim as set-apart gatherings, to bring an offering made by fire to YHWH, an ascending offering and a grain offering, a slaughtering and drink offerings, as commanded for every day”. From all the above verses, we can understand one main theme, which is to assemble (to do a rehearsal) for all the festivals which are the Sabbaths of Elohim. The words “assemble” and “gathering” are used interchangeably on many occasions. Gathering is defined as “an assembly or meeting. It can be also called as a place where two or more people come, like a family gathering”. In order to understand the significance of the words “assemble” and “gathering”, we need to look at an example. Assume that you are an officer in the army. It is a well-known fact that every week and many times every year you have normal trainings and special advanced trainings. Even though you have never been to war, it is important that you train yourself as per the army training schedule every week and also on appointed days. This training goes on every year, even though you have never been to war. The whole purpose of the training is to equip you with all the skills necessary so that you can use them when that day (war) comes. The important thing is to train and prepare yourself whether war comes in your life time or not.  When we apply the above army principle, that same principle applies in the convocation. The weekly training that you have in the army is compared to the Sabbath training that you do to learn the laws (Torah) of God. The appointed advanced trainings that you have in the army are compared to the training (rehearsal) that we do during the Feasts/Festivals of God. We all know that we are all waiting for the Kingdom of God to reign on earth. But we do not know when exactly that will happen (precise day/month), even though we can decipher the times which we live in. The important thing is to prepare our self for that day, so that when God’s kingdom finally arrives, we can use our skills that we learned in His kingdom. Now we need to examine what is the purpose of this assembling and what is the main rehearsal that is being done.  When Israel came out of Egypt, “the covenant” that YHWH our Elohim made with His people on Mount Sinai was “you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation” (Exodus 19:6). What do we mean by the term “priest”? The word “priest” comes from the Hebrew word “kohen”, spoken as “ko-hane” (Strong’s concordance number 3548). “A priest is a person who represents the people before God (Elohim)”. When the covenant was made by YHWH our Elohim, we were to be a reign of holy priests so that our Elohim could use us to teach other nations. In a layman’s language, you could say that a priest is similar to an ambassador. In today’s world, an ambassador is sent by a country to another so that the people of that country can learn about the other’s people and culture (the food they eat, the God they worship, the clothes they wear, their family structure and the laws that govern their society). The next question to be asked is how do you become a priest? In a gentile world (the present society in which we live), people go to a seminary or to a university to undergo training to become a priest. For example, they first enrol in a Bachelor’s in Theology or in a Divinity degree. From there, some may undertake further studies, such as a Master’s in Divinity or a PhD in Theology. So we have approximately 4 to 10 years of training to become a priest in a gentile world. For us to become a priest in the Kingdom of YHWH our God, the rules are quite different from those in a gentile world. These rules include: Understanding what the Feasts of Elohim are all about and learning the Sabbaths of Elohim. Keeping or celebrating the Feasts of Elohim every year. Today we can only celebrate the feasts. We cannot keep the feasts, as the Temple of YHWH is no longer there in Jerusalem. Previously, where ever the Ark of the Covenant was, the children of Israel would keep the feasts in that location. Since we no longer have the Ark of the Covenant or the Temple of YHWH in Jerusalem, we only celebrate the feasts as these are a shadow of good things (feasts/festivals) to come in the future. Understanding and learning the laws of Elohim (the first five books of Torah). You cannot become a priest unless you understand and learn the first five books of Torah. The first five books of Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) contain all the laws and regulations on how a priest must conduct himself in God’s temple. What he must do and not do. How he must conduct himself in the community he lives in. While we cannot practise some of the priestly laws today as there is no Temple, it is important that we learn these laws. Many people would try to tell you that since we no longer have a Temple in Jerusalem there is no need to read and learn the laws of the temple. It is almost like saying, I want to become the Prime Minister in the future, but I don’t want to learn the laws on how to rule and govern the country. As foolish as it sounds, the same principle applies over here.  There are others who say that when God’s kingdom comes He will teach us (retrain) on how to become a priest. If this statement is true, then there is no need to do anything. When God comes, He will teach us everything and at that time we will learn. If we cannot learn God’s way of life and His instructions today, do you think that God will teach you when He comes? Others will try to counter-argue this by saying that there is a time of restoration of all things and during the restoration we will learn. Yes, there is a time of restoration, but we have to do our part now in this life before we even have a chance in the next (during the reign of the Kingdom of Heaven). Yehoshua HaMashiach knew that in the future people would come with arguments that would twist His words so that God’s people would not learn the Torah. That is why when Yehoshua HaMashiach came He told everything in parables. One of the parables that Yehoshua told about the Kingdom of Heaven was the parable of talents. Matthew 25:14-30 talks about how the Master gave talents to his servants according to their ability to develop until the Master came back. In this parable, the Master is Yehoshua HaMashiach who gave talents to His servants, meaning us. In this context, the talents are His knowledge to understand the scriptures and the tools for us to learn (Bible or the Scriptures, learning the Torah, the feasts/festivals of Elohim, helping others). Throughout the parable, we find that the servants who had used the talents to do the right thing were rewarded when the Master returned. The servant who did not do anything (he was under the delusion that many church going people have today, which is, when God comes He will teach us everything) was thrown out where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many people would then say that the Scriptures do not say anywhere that we need to learn the Torah to become a priest in God’s kingdom. But Hosea 4:6 says, “My people have perished for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being priest for Me.  Since you have forgotten the Torah of your Elohim, I also forget your children” (The Scriptures translation). Because we have rejected the Torah of Elohim and since we have said in our heart that we do not want to learn His ways (the Torah), He has rejected us in becoming a priest. There are people who have faithfully attended churches over many years in order to learn the way of God. Some have attended churches for 10 years, others for more than 40 years. One would assume that if you attended the church for 30 years plus, you would definitely read and understand the Torah. But when you talk to these people, they would tell you that in the past 30 years, their church has never taught them the Torah. They have taught them the New Testament and some verses of Genesis and Exodus (Garden of Eden, Noah’s flood, Mount Sinai, Red Sea Crossing and other easy topics). The reason the church ministers don’t teach the Torah is that: They don’t understand the Torah themselves. They consider the Torah as burdensome and say it is the Old Testament. They classify it as Jewish. They do not want anything to do with the Jews (because they don’t like Jews/Israel), even though Yehoshua HaMashiach was a Jew and He was also the King of the Jews. Since the temple is no longer there, we no longer need to read or learn these primitive laws and we need to look at the big picture (convert as many people as possible and just love Jesus Christ). God is love and we are saved by His grace. The Torah is not important at this point in time. God will teach us when He comes. The question you have to ask yourself is: I have attended the church for the past 20 years. Have I learnt anything about the Torah? Why is the Torah never read in the church? Why isn’t anyone teaching the Torah? There is no point in attending churches or any religious institutions under the banner of convocation if they don’t teach you the Torah. You can assemble in a church for 80 years till you die and say that all your life you have faithfully assembled under the banner of convocation; but in God’s eyes, this is absolutely useless. Why is it useless? The time that God gave you to learn His ways, you just wasted it by learning nothing. So don’t expect, when His Kingdom comes, that suddenly Yehoshua is going to tell you, “Tom, well done, faithful servant. For the past 80 years, you attended church under the banner of convocation. Now I will teach you my Torah”. If you think God is going to tell you the prior statement, it is time that you wake up from your worldly pagan church delusion. Yehoshua HaMashiach clearly said, “Do not think I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to complete. For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away, one yod or one title shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done. Whoever, then, breaks one of these least commands, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens” (Matthew 5:17-20; The Scriptures translation). If a church minister teaches you not to bother about the Torah, then be very cautious! What did Yehoshua HaMashiach say about such a person? “He shall be called least in the Kingdom of God or during the reign of the heavens”. But if you teach them to follow the Torah and help them to learn, then such a person shall be called “great” in the Kingdom of God. Understanding Holy Convocation When Israel came out of Egypt, they had forgotten God’s name and His laws. The only way for them to learn His ways and laws was to come together on the Sabbath and on His festivals to learn on how to become a priest in the future (Kingdom of God). That is why they had to assemble to learn them from Moses and from the Aaronic priesthood. Moses was the mediator between God and His people at that point in time. So Moses had all the laws with him, as God communicated with the people through Moses. Keep in mind that in those days there was no bible, no scriptures, nothing. They only had the laws of God that were told to Moses by God. No one had access to the stone tablets that were kept in the Ark of the Covenant. On every Sabbath and on God’s festivals, people during the time of Moses used to rehearse (practise) the laws of Elohim so that a day would come in the future when they could use these laws to teach others. That is why in Hebrew the word “convocation” means rehearsal. In order to rehearse something, we need to learn, then practise and wait for that day when God will fulfil His covenant that He made with us. What was the covenant that God made with us? “And now, if you diligently obey My voice, and shall guard My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession above all the peoples – for all the earth is Mine and you shall be to Me a reign of priests and a set-apart nation” (Exodus 19:5-6). This covenant is going to be fulfilled in the reign of Yehoshua on earth. The Book of Revelation states, “…and made us kings and priests to our Elohim, and we shall reign upon the earth” (Revelation 5:10). As you can see, the final fulfilment of the covenant will be when our King Yehoshua returns to the earth. During the time of Yehoshua HaMashiach, faithful people wrote these laws (Torah) on goat skin and were passed from one generation to another, so that people would not forget the laws of God that were given to Moses. Keep in mind that during the time of Yehoshua, no one had a copy of the Torah, except the King, in the temple, and a few synagogues. So on the Sabbath/Festivals, God’s people used to go to the temple or a synagogue to read the Torah or the books of Prophets. That is the only way they could have access to the laws of God, so that they could learn the laws of God. That is why it says in the scriptures, “…He (Yehoshua) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up: and, as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read” (Luke 4:16). So what did Yehoshua do on the Sabbath day? He read the Torah. This is the same custom that many people still do in synagogues in the land of Israel. They go to the synagogue and take a scroll from the Tanakh (Old Testament) and read it. The word synagogue means “gathering of people” (Strong’s concordance number 4864). If they have any questions, they discuss among each other. This is the same thing even Paul did, “And he was reasoning in the congregation every Sabbath, and won over both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4). But in today’s churches, we cannot do that. We have to shut up and listen, and the moment we ask questions they will... try not to answer; ask us where we got that information from (they want to know the source so that they can discredit it);  tell us they need to get the information from their supreme leader who is their evangelist or bishop (a man who claims that he is appointed by God); say not to worry about the question as it is not important since we are the chosen people and we are already saved; if you pester them too much, they will kick you (disfellowship) out of the church under the banner “you are making divisions/strife among the brethren”. So now you have to again ask the question “I am gathering (convocation) to learn, but how odd that I cannot ask anything or share about what I learnt with others”. Each time I tell them, they reply, “We are the teachers and hence we will teach you, not vice versa”. They will go further and tell you, “God works in a hierarchy and we have to follow the human leader just like how it was during the time of Moses. Do not rebel against God’s appointed leaders, otherwise you will lose your salvation”. There are thousands of people who fall for these statements as they (today’s religious leaders) take God’s words out of context from the scriptures to convince you that they are some sort of supreme beings on planet earth. Some say that on every Sabbath Yehoshua went into the Synagogue to teach and hence we must also go to a religious institution like a church to fellowship and learn. While it is correct that our redeemer Yehoshua did go to the Synagogue/Temple on every Sabbath to teach the people, you also need to understand that He was teaching and reading the Torah to them and was explaining what would come to pass as per the Torah and the Book of Prophets. You can attend a church for 40 years and still not learn anything. You can attend and still not read one book from the Torah and put it into practice. This is not the convocation that the children of Israel and Yehoshua set as an example for us to follow. There are many people who attend churches just for the sake of convocation and fellowship. They themselves admit that they know that the church/minister is not teaching anything. But they say they cannot forsake themselves from the appointed assembly. Indirectly, they are saying, “It is alright that if we don’t read or learn the Torah, but it is more important to assemble together for fellowship”. The above-mentioned way of assembly (it is fine to attend and not learn the Torah) was prophesied by Isaiah the prophet, that the children of Israel would do evil and not learn the ways of God and would assemble, and this would be an abomination to God. Isaiah 1:10 to 17 (The Scriptures translation) “Hear the word of YHWH, you rulers of Sedom (Sodom); give ear to the Torah of our Elohim, you people of Amorah (Gomorrah)! Of what use to Me are your many slaughtering’s? declares YHWH. I have had enough ascending offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts. I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or goats. When you come to appear before Me, who has required this from your hand, to trample My courtyards? Stop bringing futile offerings, incense, it is an abomination to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, the calling of gatherings – I am unable to bear unrighteousness and assembly. My being hates your New Moons and your appointed times, they are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. And when you spread out your hands, I hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I do not hear. Your hands have become filled with blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Stop doing evil! Learn to do good! Seek right-ruling, reprove the oppressor, defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:10 starts with hearing the word of Torah and then live by it. Even though they were having convocation on Sabbaths and Festivals, God was not listening to their prayer. Why? Because they forsook His laws and Torah, and they were practicing unrighteousness. This is the exact thing that is happening in today’s churches and religious institutions. Ministers in almost all churches/religious institutions: Don’t want to read or teach the Torah. They oppress and rule over people who don’t have money, who don’t have a job and who do not come to their status quo. They don’t do anything good for people in the church and those outside the church. They don’t help people who are orphans or widows who do not have food to eat. As long as the ministers have a house and have food to eat, that is all that matters. What did God say about this sort of convocation? This is an abomination to me! Is this the type convocation that God requires from His people? The answer is NO. When the children of Israel returned to Jerusalem from their captivity from the Persian Empire, on the Sabbaths and on the Festivals, Nehemiah restored God’s laws to them. Nehemiah chapter 8 is the best example of what we must do when we assemble/gather (convocation) on the Sabbaths and on the Festivals of Elohim. Nehemiah chapter 8, 1-10 (Translation shown below is from The Scriptures): “And when the seventh new moon came, the children of Israel were in their cities. And all the people gathered together as one man in the open space that was in front of the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Torah of Moses, which YHWH had commanded Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the Torah before the assembly of both men and woman and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh new moon (this was the day of Trumpets. Italics added for understanding). And he read from it in the open spaces in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people listened to the Book of the Torah. And Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose. And beside him on this right stood Mattithyah, and Shema, and Anayah, and Uriyah, and Hilqiyah, and Maaseyah. And on his left stood Pedayah, and Mishael, and Malkiyah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zekaryah, Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra blessed YHWH, the great Elohim. Then all the people answered. Amen, Amen, while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped YHWH with faces to the ground. And Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherebyah, Yamin, Aqqub, Shabbethai, Hodiyah, Maaseyah, Qelita, Azaryah, Yozabad, Hanan, Pelayah, and the Lewites, caused the people to understand the Torah while the people were in their place. And they read in the Book of the Torah of Elohim, translating to give the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemyah, who was the governor and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Lewites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is set-apart to YHWH your Elohim. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Torah. Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom none is prepared. For this day is set-apart to our YHWH”. Do not be sad, for the joy of YHWH is your strength.’” Nehemiah chapter 8 (read the whole chapter) is the best example of what the children of Israel did whenever they assembled (convocation) together during the Sabbath and the Festivals. They heard the word of Torah and they learnt and did what the Torah (laws of Elohim) said. What we must do on convocation (assemble)? Firstly, we need to understand that it is not a sin if we do not assemble with regular church goers. Many churches will teach you that it is a sin if you do not assemble. If you do not assemble, then they (the ministers in the church) lose your 10 percent that you give them as tithe/donation. Isaiah 1:10-17 clearly shows that you can assemble all that you want for the next 40 years, but it is absolutely useless in God’s eyes if you don’t understand or practise the Torah. The main points we need to do is: Read and understand the Torah (The first five books). Practise these laws in our life that our Master YHWH Yehoshua the Messiah gave us. Some laws (laws of sacrifices, laws of burnt offerings, temple worship laws and a few others) cannot be practised during this generation, because we do not have a Temple any more in Jerusalem. But we have to learn them as we will be doing them in the millennium when God’s kingdom is established. Convocation is your time that you spend with God, not in manmade churches. This is very important to understand. It is your appointed time with your creator, so that you can learn His ways, not the ways of churches or of the so called ministers who rule over people under the banner of “shepherds”. You can assemble with people who want to obey and learn God’s laws and with people who diligently seek God and want to learn and keep His Torah. If you do gather together, keep in mind that everyone is equal in status and there is no hierarchy. The head of every man is Yehoshua HaMashiach and we are His servants. Therefore, our role when we come together is to serve one another, not to rule over the other person.   If you do find a church that teaches and practises the Torah on the Sabbath and on God’s festivals, by all means ensure that you take time to assemble. An example of convocation, if you do not assemble with others for the Sabbaths, includes: Friday sunset – open your home for the needy and share the food that you have with them and share the word of God with them. Have a Sabbath dinner with them, share bread and wine with them, just like how Melchizedek (King of Righteousness & King of Peace) shared bread and wine with Abraham. Saturday morning – have a good rest, freshen up and spend time reading and understanding the Torah and learn to practise (rehearse) the laws of the Torah in your life and that of your family. Saturday afternoon – have lunch with your family and discuss what you have learnt and rest. Saturday sunset – once the Sabbath finishes, many people spend time reading the book of prophets or the messianic writings (New Testament). Others would take time to watch sermons on DVDs or on the You Tube. You can also invite people to your home, have dinner and discuss about God. Convocation is a shadow picture of good things to come during the reign of Yehoshua the Messiah on earth. Colossians chapter 2:16-17 says, “Let no one (man/churches/ministers) therefore judge you in eating or in drinking or in respect of a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths which are a shadow of what is to come – but the body of the Messiah”. The word “body” refers to “soma” in Greek (Strong’s concordance number 4983). It means the instrument of life. What this means is that we should let the laws (the instrument of life) of the Messiah judge you. We should not allow men/ministers judge us in these matters, as there is only one righteous judge and that is Yehoshua HaMashiach. In conclusion, we need to learn the Torah and prepare our self, so that when our Master and King Yehoshua returns as King of Kings we can practise the rehearsal (what we have been doing for many years) during His reign on the earth. AMEN. AMEN. Links Our Beliefs Resources on Scriptures Articles on Scriptures   Experts on Scriptures (Bible/Torah) Contact Us © 2018, Messianic Jews Natsarenes. All Rights Reserved.Designed By BitraNet

7 Kehillah

Hisgalus 2 Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
2 To the malach (angel) of the Kehillah (Congregation) in Ephesus, write: These things says the One holding shivat hakokhavim (seven stars) in the yad yamin (right hand) of him, the One walking in the midst of the sheva menorot hazahav (seven golden menorahs):

2 I have da’as of your ma’asim (deeds) and your amal (toil) and the savlanut (patient endurance) of you [pl.] and that you cannot bear anshei resha (evil men), and have tested the ones making the claim that they are "Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s shlichim" and are not, and found them kozvim (liars).

3 And you have savlanut (patient endurance), and you have persevered because of ha-Shem of me and have not become weary.

4 But I have this against you, that you abandoned your Ahavah HaRishonah. [YIRMEYAH 2:2]

5 Therefore, let there be zikaron (remembrance) of from where you have fallen and make teshuva (repentance, turning from sin to G-d) and do the Ma’asim HaRishonim; but, if not, I am coming to you [pl.] and I will remove your menorah from its place, unless you make teshuva.

6 But this you have, that you loathe the ma’asim ra’im (evil deeds) of the Nicolaitans, which also I loathe. [TEHILLIM 139:21]

7 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot; To the one who wins the nitzachon (victory) I will give to him to eat of the Etz HaChayyim (Tree of Life), which is in the Gan-Eden of Hashem, [BERESHIS 2:9; 3:22,24; also BERESHIS 2:8; YECHEZKEL 28:1; 31:8,9 TARGUM HA-SHIVIM)]

8 And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah in Smyrna, write: These things says HaRishon and HaAcharon, who became niftar (deceased) and had his histalkus (passing), and came back to Chayyim (Life): [YESHAYAH 44:6; 48:12]

9 I have da’as of your tzarah (Mt 24:15) and oni poverty)‖but you are oisher (rich)‖and the loshon hora of the ones making the claim and declaring themselves to be Bnei Brit, and are not [of the Brit Chadasha], but are a Shul [deluded by] Hasatan.

10 Have no pachad (terror) at all of the things you are about to suffer. Hinei, Hasatan is about to cast some of you into beit hasohar that you may be tested and you will have tzarah aseret yamim (ten days). Be ne’eman ad haMavet (faithful unto death), and I will give you the ateret HaChayyim (the diadem of Life). [DANIEL 1:12,14]

11 The one having [spiritual] ears, let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot. The one who wins the nitzachon (victory) never will be hurt by the Mavet HaSheyni (the Second Death).

12 And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah at Pergamum, write: These things says the one having the sharp two-edged cherev: [YESHAYAH 49:2]

13 I have da’as of where you make your ma’on (residence), where the kes (throne) of Hasatan is, and you hold fast to ha-Shem of me and did not make hakhchashah (denial) of my (Moshiach’s) emunah (faith), even in the days of Antipas my ed hane’eman (my faithful witness) who died alkiddush ha-Shem, killed among you as a martyr where Hasatan makes his ma’on (residence).

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there ones holding to "the torah of Bil’am," who was teaching Balak to put a michshol (stumbling block) before Bnei Yisroel. [BAMIDBAR 31:16; 25:1-2]

15 So also you have ones eating okhel (food) sacrificed to elilim (idols) and who commit zenut (fornication). You also have ones holding the "torah of the Nicolaitans."

16 Likewise, therefore, make teshuva (repentance, turning from sin to G-d)! But if not, I am coming to you quickly and will war against them by the cherev of my mouth. [YESHAYAH 49:2]

17 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot. To the one who wins the nitzachon (victory), I will give him some of the Manna having been nistar (hidden), and I will give him an even levanah (a white stone) and upon it a Shem Chadash (New Name), of which no one has da’as, except the one receiving it. [TEHILLIM 78:24; YESHAYAH 62:2; 65:15; 56:5]

18 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Thyatira, write: These things says the Ben HaElohim, the One having his eynayim (eyes) like a flame of eish (fire), [DANIEL 7:9] and the feet of him like burnished bronze: [DANIEL 10:6]

19 I have da’as of your ma’asim (deeds) and the ahavah and the emunah and the tzedek [DANIEL 9:25] and the savlanut (patient endurance) of you, and that your ma’asim ha’acharonim are more than harishonim of you.

20 But I have this against you, that you are being permissive toward that isha Izevel (Jezebel), the one calling herself a nevi’ah (prophetess) who teaches and deceives my avadim to commit zenut and to eat okhel (food) sacrificed to elilim (idols). [MELACHIM ALEF 16:31; 21:25; MELACHIM BAIS 9:7-22; BAMIDBAR 25:1-2]

21 And I gave her time that she might make teshuva and she does not wish to make teshuva of her zenut. [MELACHIM ALEF 16:31; MELACHIM BAIS 9:22; BAMIDBAR 25:1-2]

22 Hinei, I am throwing her into a bed of suffering, and the ones committing ni’uf (adultery) with her into Tzarah Gedolah (Great Tribulation, Mt. 24:21), unless they make teshuva of her ma’asim (deeds).

23 And her yeladim (children, those who become like her in her doctrine) I will kill with Mavet, and all the kehillot will have da’as that I am the One searching their musar klayot valev (pangs of conscience and heart), and I will give to you, each one, according to what you have done. [TEHILLIM 7:9; 62:12; 139:1; 2:23; MISHLE 21:2; 24:12; YIRMEYAH 11:20; 17:10; SHMUEL ALEF 16:7; MELACHIM ALEF 8:39]

24 But I say to you, the rest, to the ones in Thyatira, as many as have not this "torah" (teaching), who did not have da’as of, as they say, "the tiefe (deep, profound) things of Hasatan.” I am putting on you no other burden.

25 Al kol panim (nevertheless), what you have, hold fast until I come.

26 And the one who wins the nitzachon and the one until HaKets keeping shomer over ma’asei mitzvot of Me, him will I give samchut (authority) over the Goyim,

27 To rule them with a SHEVET BARZEL (scepter of iron, TEHILLIM 2:9) KIKH’LI YOTZER TENAPTZEM ("as the vessel of pottery are broken") [TEHILLIM 2:8,9; YESHAYAH 30:14; YIRMEYAH 19:11]

28 Even as I also have received from HaAv of me and I will give him the Kokhav (Star BAMIDAR 24:17) haNogah (of Brightness, Venus, the Morning Star. 2K 1:19).

29 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.

Hisgalus 3 Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)
3 And to the malach (angel) of the Kehillah in Sardis, write: These things says the One having the sheva ruchot of Hashem and the shevat hakokhavim (seven stars): I have da’as of your ma’asim, that nominally you are Chai (Alive) but you are [spiritually] niftar (deceased).

2 Be shomer and regarding the things remaining and the things on the point of mavet, be chazakim (strong ones). For, I have not found your ma’asim mitzvot having been shleimim (complete) before Elohai.

3 Therefore, let there be zikaron (remembrance) of what has been handed over to you and what you heard, and be shomer and make teshuva. Therefore, if you are not shomer, I will come as a ganav, and never would you have da’as at what sha’ah (hour, time) I will come upon you.

4 But you have a few shemot (names) in Sardis which did not soil their kaftans. It is they that will have their halakhah with me in lavan (white), wearing a kittel, because they are walking worthily.

5 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory), in similar manner, will be clothed in lavan (white), and never will I erase him, the [baal] shem [tov], from the Sefer Chayyim. And I will make hoda’ah (acknowledgement) of the shem of him before Elohim Avi and before the malachim (angels) of Him.

6 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.

7 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Philadelphia, write: These things says HaKadosh, HaNe’eman, the One having the mafte’ach (key) of Dovid, the One opening and no one will shut, the one shutting and no one opens: [YESHAYAH 22:22]

8 I have da’as of your ma’asim. Hinei, I have placed in front of you a delet (door), having been opened, which no one is able to shut: because you have a little ko’ach (power) and have been shomer over my dvar (word),

9 And did not make hakhchashah (denial) of ha-Shem of me. Hinei, I may make some of the Shul [deluded by] Hasatan, the ones declaring themselves to be Bnei Brit, and are not [of the Brit Chadasha] but speak sheker; hinei, I will make them come and prostrate themselves before your feet and then they will have da’as that I have ahavah for you. [YESHAYAH 49:23; 43:4]

10 Because you were shomer over my dvar of savlanut (patient endurance), I will also be shomer over you, guarding you from the sha’at hanisayon (hour of trial) about to come upon the Olam Hazeh, to try all the ones of the inhabited world, all the ones dwelling upon the earth.

11 I am coming quickly; hold fast to what you have, that no one takes your atarah (diadem, crown).

12 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory) I will make an ammud (pillar) in the Beis Hamikdash of Elohai and never may he go out of it [TEHILLIM 23:6] and I will write upon him ha-Shem of Elohai and ha-Shem of the Ir Hakodesh of Elohai‖the Yerushalayim HaChadasha descending down out of Shomayim from Elohai‖and ha-Shem HeChadash of me (my New Name). [YECHEZKEL 48:35]

13 The one having an ear, let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.

14 And to the malach of the Kehillah in Laodicea, write: These things says the Omein, the Ed HaNe’eman (the Faithful Witness) who is also HaEmes, the Reshit of the Bri’at Hashem [i.e., Hashem’s eternal Chochmah, MISHLE 8:22; TEHILLIM 33:6; MISHLE 30:4],

15 I have da’as of your ma’asim, that you are neither kar (cold) nor kham (hot). Would that you were kar or kham!

16 But because you are posher (lukewarm) and neither kham nor kar, I am about to spew you out of my mouth.

17 Because you say, I am ashir (rich) and have become wealthy and in nothing am I nitzrach (needy), and you do not have da’as that you are the one wretched and pitiful and poor and blind and naked, [HOSHEA 12:8]

18 I counsel you to buy from me zahav (gold) having been purified by eish (fire)‖that you may be oisher (rich)‖and a kittel, that you may be clothed in lavan (white), and that the bushah (shame) of your nakedness not be made nikar (evident), and eye salve to rub on the eynayim (eyes) of you that you may see.

19 Those for whom I have ahavah I reprove and discipline. Be kham (hot), therefore, in kanous (zeal) for Hashem and make teshuva. [DEVARIM 8:5; MISHLE 3:12]

20 Hinei, I have stood at the delet (door) DOFEK (“knocking,” SHIR HASHIRIM 5:2); if anyone hears my kol and opens the delet, indeed I will come in to him and we, the two of us, will dine together at the BEIT HAYAYIN [“Banquet Hall,” SHIR HASHIRIM 2:4].

21 The one who wins the nitzachon (victory), I will give to him to sit with me on the Kes (Throne) of me, as I also won the nitzachon and sat with Elohim Avi on the Kes (throne) of him.

22 The one having an ear let him hear what the Ruach Hakodesh says to the Kehillot.

Sunat-Kamus

Daftar Isi: HAAG: Sunat ; KECIL: Sunat ; PEDOMAN: Sunat ; GLOSARI AYT: Sunat ; BROWNING: SUNAT ; ENSIKLOPEDIA: SUNAT ; LAMBANG: Sunat ; YUNANI: 4061 περιτομη peritome ; STATISTIK: SUNAT ; LAIN: Dalam Versi-Versi Alkitab ; Sunat Ke atas Sunat [Kamus Haag] Sunat. (1) Kebiasaan ~S barangkali datang di tengah masyarakat Isr. lewat Mesir. - --> Bangsa Filistin (keturunan Indo-Jerman) tidak mengenalnya (1Sam 14:6; bdk Yer 9:24-25; Yeh 32:22-32). Sebagai bukti, bahwa tradisi ~S sudah tua sekali adalah penggunaan batu tajam yang dijadikan pisau ~S (Kel 4:25; Yos 5:2). Berlawanan dengan incisio (pembelahan), circumsio (~S) yang dilakukan oleh bangsa Isr., terjadi dengan menghilangkan keseluruhan kulup atau kulit depan. Tidaklah mencukupi, bila penjelasan ~S hanya dihubungkan dengan masalah kesehatan atau medis melulu. Pada dasarnya ~S merupakan sebuah upacara inisiasi (: upacara pemberkatan kedewasaan seorang laki-laki). Pada umumnya ~S dilakukan pada waktu anak laki-laki menjadi puber.Tradisi Isr. tidak mempunyai pendapat yang sama dalam memberi arti yang asli pada ~S itu (Kej 17:23-27; Kel 4:25; Yos 5:2-10). Sejak zaman awal-mula, orang Isr. memandang ~S sebagai tanda - --> Perjanjian (Kis 7:8), tanda menjadi milik Yahwe atau tanda menjadi anggota persekutuan agama Isr. (Kel 12:48; Rom 4:11). ~S juga dipandang sebagai sebuah tanda khas, yang membedakannya dari bangsa-bangsa lain (Hak 14:3; 1Sam 14:6; 2Sam 1:20 dan lain-lain). Di Isr. tidak ditemukan undang-undang khusus mengenai ~S. Teks-teks yang dipengaruhi golongan para Imam (Kej 17:12; Im 12:3) membuat ketentuan ~S dilakukan pada hari ke-8 sesudah kelahiran. Waktu semula ~S dilakukan oleh bapak keluarga sendiri. Pada zaman PB ~S dihubungkan dengan upacara pemberian nama (Luk 1:59). Gamb. 34. (2) Ungkapan "Tidak disunat" di dalam PL sudah mempunyai sebuah arti kiasan, artinya: Tidak punya kebajikan: tidak berguna lagi (pohon buah-buahan: Im 19:23; Lidah: Kel 6:12,30; Telinga: Yer 6:10; Hati: Im 26:41; Yer 9:25).Oleh sebab itu orang berbicara tentang kulit kulup hati (yang keras) seperti (Yer 4:4) atau tenyang sunat hatinya (Ul 10:16; 30:6; Rom 2:29). Iman terhadap Kristus membuat ~S tidak berlaku lagi, seperti yang diajarkan oleh Paulus (Gal 5:6; 6:15; Kol 2:11). Pandangan itu diambil dari - --> Konsili para Rasul (Kis 15:1-20; Gal 2:2-3; Rom 4:12). Ke atas Sunat [Kamus Kecil] TB- Tanda, bahwa seorang sudah terhisab dalam perjanjian dengan Allah. Dilakukan pada tubuh setiap anak laki-laki di Israel pada umur delapan hari (Kej 17:9-14). "Orang-orang yang tidak bersunat" berarti: bangsa-bangsa bukan Israel (mis. Gal 2:7). BIS- Adat dalam bangsa Yahudi yang merupakan tanda perjanjian Allah dengan umat Israel (Kej 17:9-14). Dilakukan pada tubuh setiap anak laki-laki di Israel pada umur delapan hari. KS.- jasmani [PL] Kej 17:10-27; 34:14-17,24; Kel 4:24-26; 12:43-48; Yos 5:2-9 [PB] Luk 1:59; 2:21; Yoh 7:22-23; Kis 7:8; 15:1,5; 16:3; Rom 2:25-29; 3:1; 4:9-12; 1Kor 7:18-19; Gal 2:3; 5:2; 6:12,13,15; Fili 3:5 rohani [PB] Fili 3:3; Kol 2:11 Ke atas Sunat [Kamus Pedoman] 1. Ditetapkan oleh Allah. Kej 17:9,10 2. Diterangkan dalam. Kej 17:11; Kel 4:25 3. Diharuskan oleh Taurat. Im 12:3; Yoh 7:22 4. Dinamai: 4.1 Perjanjian sunat. Kis 7:8 4.2 Bersunat. Ef 2:11 4.3 Penyunat-penyunat palsu. Fili 3:2 5. Suatu upacara yang menyakitkan dan mengeluarkan darah. Kel 4:26; Yos 5:8 6. Janji-janji kepada Abraham sebelum - . Rom 4:9,13 7. Satu meterai perjanjian. Kej 17:11; Rom 4:11 8. Pendahuluan peraturan Yahudi. Gal 5:3 9. Tanda lahiriah. Rom 2:28 10. Kasih karunia secara rohani. Rom 2:29 11. Diharuskan supaya dapat menikmati hak-hak dari jemaat Yahudi. Kel 11:48; Yeh 44:7 12. Dilakukan: 12.1 Pada setiap laki-laki yang lahir di dalam rumah dan yang dibeli dengan uang. Kej 17:12,13 12.2 Pada hari yang kedelapan. Kej 17:12; Im 12:3 12.3 Juga pada hari Sabat. Yoh 7:22,23 12.4 Dengan pisau batu. Kel 4:25; Yos 5:3 12.5 Oleh kepala keluarga. Kej 17:23; Kel 4:25 12.6 Oleh orang yang berhak. Yos 5:3 12.7 Di hadapan keluarga. Luk 1:58-61 13. Disertai dengan pemberian nama kepada anak itu. Kej 21:3,4; Luk 1:59; 2:21 14. Pertama kali dilakukan pada Abraham dan keluarganya. Kej 17:24-27 15. Tidak dilakukan di padang gurun. Yos 5:5 16. Dilakukan oleh Yosua di Gilgal. Yos 5:2,7 17. Hukuman karena mengabaikan - . Kej 17:14; Kel 4:24,26 18. Tanpa iman sia-sia. Rom 3:30; Gal 5:6 19. Tanpa ketaatan sia-sia. Rom 2:25; 1Kor 7:19 20. Orang-orang Yahudi: 20.1 Digolong-golongkan oleh - . Kis 10:45; Gal 2:9 20.2 Tidak boleh mengadakan pernikahan campuran dengan orang yang tidak ber - . Kej 34:14; Hak 14:3 20.3 Tidak bergaul dengan orang yang tidak ber - . Kis 10:28; 11:3; Gal 2:12 20.4 Menghina orang yang tidak ber - sebagai orang-orang yang menganggap najis. 1Sam 14:6; 17:26; Mat 15:26,27; Ef 2:11 21. Kadang-kadang dilakukan terhadap musuh-musuh yang dibunuh dalam peperangan. 1Sam 18:25-27; 2Sam 3:14 22. Dihapuskan oleh Injil. Ef 2:11,15; Kol 3:11 23. Perlunya - disangkal oleh Paulus. Gal 2:3-5 24. Perlunya - diyakinkan oleh guru-guru palsu. Kis 15:24; Gal 6:12; Tit 1:10 25. Berharap kepada - merupakan satu penyangkalan terhadap Kristus. Gal 3:3,4; 5:3,4 26. Paulus disalahkan karena melanggar - . Kis 21:21 27. Orang-orang kudus adalah sunat rohani yang sebenarnya. Fili 3:3; Kol 2:11 28. Dilakukan terhadap Timotius sebagai satu tindakan yang bijaksana karena orang Yahudi. Kis 16:3 29. Melukiskan: 29.1 Kesediaan untuk mendengar dan mentaati. Yer 6:10 29.2 Kesucian hati. Ul 10:16; 30:6 29.3 Kesucian percakapan. Kel 6:11 Ke atas Sunat [Glosari AYT] Memotong kulit katan dari alat kelamin pria dan dilakukan terhadap setiap anak orang Yahudi. Hal itu pertama-tama menunjukkan tanda perjanjian antara Allah dengan Abraham. (Kej. 17:9-14) Ke atas SUNAT [Kamus Browning] Penghilangan kulit ujung penis laki-laki, dengan cara memotongnya. Meskipun secara luas didukung dalam masyarakat Barat modern dengan alasan kesehatan, sunat secara khusus dihubungkan dengan adat Yahudi, yang oleh mereka upacara ini dinilai sangat tinggi, sebagai saat ketika seorang anak laki-laki dikukuhkan ke dalam --> perjanjian --> Abraham, delapan hari setelah kelahirannya (Im. 12:3).Namun, seperti PL sendiri mengakuinya (Yer. 9:25-26), sunat juga dikenal di antara bangsa-bangsa lain di Timur Dekat, meskipun tidak semuanya mengharuskan pemotongan seluruh kulit khatan. Orang Ibrani memiliki beberapa versi mengenai asal-usul ritus ini -- dari --> Abraham (Kej. 17:9-27), atau dari Musa (Im. 12:3), atau dari --> Yosua (Yos. 5:2-7), dan semua ini bermanfaat sebagai pembenaran tradisi Israel untuk bersikeras meneruskan upacara ini. Dalam kenyataan, semula merupakan semacam upacara magis: petunjuk yang aneh mengenai hal ini terdapat dalam cerita bahwa istri Musa menyelamatkan hidup Musa dengan menyunat anak mereka (Kel. 4:24-26).Pada setiap upacara, sunat selalu merupakan bagian vital dalam kehidupan orang Yahudi -- dihargai, diekspor (menurut Yosephus), dipertahankan dengan kuat, bahkan dengan mati syahid (1Mak. 1:48, 60), namun menjijikkan bagi orang-orang Yahudi yang telah menerima kebudayaan Helenistik dan tertarik untuk berasimilasi dengan orang Yunani (orang-orang Yahudi Helenis harus mengalami tahapan yang menyakitkan untuk menutupi rasa malunya karena sunat, sebagai suatu operasi).Dalam PB sunat menjadi masalah antara Paulus dengan orang-orang Yahudi Kristen yang menginginkan agar para penyembah berhala yang bertobat harus lebih dulu menjadi anggota perjanjian Abraham dengan disunat, sebelum dibaptiskan sebagai seorang Kristen. Bagi Paulus, tuntutan ini menunjukkan upaya untuk menambahkan sesuatu pada Kristus, yang merupakan hal yang mustahil. Pasti, hal itu sebenarnya dilakukan untuk menolak Kristus, yang berarti bahwa kesetiaan seseorang kepada Kristus digantikan dengan suatu sistem alternatif, yaitu Taurat, yang dalamnya sunat menjadi dasarnya. Masalahnya adalah, apakah Gereja telah mengambil alih peran Israel Baru, atau sebagai sekte Yahudi yang dibarui.Dalam PL tidak disebutkan adanya operasi barbar penyunatan perempuan, yang secara tradisional dilakukan oleh beberapa negara Afrika dewasa ini, dan dengan sembunyi-sembunyi di Barat dilakukan oleh orang-orang yang berasal dari wilayah itu. Ke atas SUNAT [Ensiklopedia] I. Dalam PL PL menyajikan laporan logis mengenai asal dan praktik sunat di Israel. a. Asalnya Pernah dikatakan bahwa Kel 4:24 dab dan Yos 5:2 dab dengan Kej 17, menyajikan tiga catatan yg berbeda mengenai asal sunat. Tapi kenyataannya ialah Kel 4:24 dab tak dapat dimengerti kecuali bahwa menyunat anak sudah kebiasaan, dan Yos 5:5 menyatakan bahwa semua yg meninggalkan Mesir telah bersunat. Karena itu Kej 17 tetap menjadi satu-satunya pedoman berita Alkitab mengenai asal sunat Israel. Sunat dihisabkan ke dalam ajaran Musa terkait dengan Paskah (Kel 12:44), dan agaknya diteruskan sepanjang zaman PL (mis Yer 9:25, 26). Sunat menjadi ciri asasi Yudaisme dalam PB dan menimbulkan pertentangan pada zaman para rasul. Masyarakat Yahudi pada zaman PB mengaitkan sunat dengan Musa begitu rupa, sehingga mereka melupakan kaitannya yg lebih asasi dengan Abraham (Kis 15:1, 5; 21:21; Gal 5:2, 3). Tuhan Yesus harus mengingatkan mereka bahwa sunat adalah lebih dahulu daripada Musa (Yoh 7:22). Paulus menekankan bahwa yg tak dapat diterima agama Kristen ialah pandangan umum yg menghubungkan sunat dengan Musa (Gal 5:2, 3, 11 dab), dan senantiasa mengarahkan pembacanya kembali kepada Abraham (Rm 4:11; 15:8 dab). b. Arti sunat Kej 17 menunjukkan bahwa sunat pertama-tama mewujudkan tanda rohani; kedua, mempunyai arti kebangsaan. Bahwa sunat bersifat kebangsaan, yg mencirikan keanggotaan bangsa Israel, tidak dapat disangkal. Hal itu memang sama jelasnya dalam Kej 34 seperti juga setelah Musa (bnd Hak 14:3). Tapi sifat kebangsaan itu sebenarnya hanyalah dampak sampingan, karena umat Israel pemilik sunat itu disamakan dengan bangsa Israel PL. Dalam Kej 17:10, 11, 13, 14 sunat disamakan dengan perjanjian yg dibuat oleh Abraham (bnd Kis 7:8). Artinya, sunat menandai gerakan yg penuh kasih karunia dari Allah menuju manusia, dan hanya secara sekunder saja dapat dikatakan menandai penyerahan manusia kepada Allah. Kebenaran inilah yg mendasari Yos 5:2 dab. Ketika bangsa itu mengembara di padang gurun karena tidak diperkenan Allah (bnd Bil 14:34), perjanjian itu seolah-olah ditunda dan sunat tidak diberlakukan. Lagi, ketika Musa berbicara tentang 'seorang yg tidak petah lidahnya' (harfiah 'tak bersunat') (Kel 6:11, 29; bnd Yer 6:10), hanya karunia firman Allah yg dapat menyembuhkannya. Selanjutnya, PL berbicara tentang sunat sebagai 'meterai' (Rm 4:11) atas pemberian kebenaran dari Allah. Karena itu sunat menjadi tanda dari karya kasih karunia dimana Allah memilih dan menandai orang-orang milik-Nya. Perjanjian sunat bekerja atas dasar kesatuan rohani antar anggota rumah tangga dan kepalanya. Perjanjian itu diadakan 'antara Aku dan engkau serta keturunanmu turun-temurun' (Kej 17:7). Ay 26 dan 27 khususnya mengungkapkan kebenaran yg sama: 'Abraham ... Ismael ... dan semua orang dari isi rumah Abraham ... disunat bersama-sama dengan dia'. Demikianlah asal mula dan caranya sunat menjadi adat Israel, bukan diterima dan berasal dari Mesir atau negeri-negeri lain. Sunat Israel tegas berbeda dari sunat pada bangsa-bangsa lain yg terkait dengan 'berjenjang dewasa', dan melulu bersifat sosial. Sunat Israel adalah pertanda kedudukan di hadirat Allah, dan bahwa kasih karunia ilahi mendahului perbuatan manusia. Mereka yg dengan cara demikian menjadi anggota perjanjian diwajibkan menyatakannya secara lahiriah dengan menaati hukum Allah, seperti dengan tegas dituntut kepada Abraham, 'Hiduplah di hadapan-Ku dengan tidak bercela' (Kej 17:1). Hubungan antara sunat dan ketaatan ditekankan sepanjang Alkitab (Yer 4:4; Rm 2:25-29; bnd Kis 15:5; Gal 5:3). Dalam hal ini sunat mengandung gagasan penyerahan diri kepada Allah, tapi bukan inilah intinya. Sunat menjelmakan, menerapkan janji, dan menghimbau orang untuk hidup dalam ketaatan sesuai perjanjian. Darah yg tumpah dalam sunat tidak menyatakan batas penyerahan diri itu, tapi mengungkapkan tuntutan yg mahal yg dibuat Allah bagi mereka yg dipanggil-Nya, dan dicirikan dengan tanda perjanjian-Nya. Tanggapan taat ini tidak senantiasa muncul. Dan sekalipun tanda dan cirinya disamakan dalam Kej 17:10, 13, 14, namun Alkitab terus terang mengakui, bahwa bisa saja orang memiliki tanda sunat, tapi tidak lebih dari itu. Jika demikian, tanda itu tak berarti secara rohani, melainkan menjadi tanda hukuman (Rm 2:27). PL jelas mengajarkan hal itu, justru menuntut realitas penerapannya sesuai tanda itu (Ul 10:16; Yer 4:4), dan mengingatkan bahwa tanpa kenyataan itu maka tanda sunat sepi arti (Yer 9:25), dan menubuatkan sunat hati oleh Allah (Ul 30:6). II. Dalam PB PB tegas dan pasti bahwa: tanpa ketaatan, sunat adalah melulu omong kosong (Rm 2:25-29). Tanda lahiriah pudar tanpa anti jika dibandingkan dengan menaati perintah-perintah (1 Kor 7:18, 19), iman bekerja oleh kasih (Gal 5:6), dan suatu ciptaan baru (Gal 6:15). Namun orang Kristen tidak bebas memandang rendah tanda itu. Walaupun sejauh tanda itu mengungkapkan keselamatan karena perbuatan-perbuatan hukum, orang Kristen harus menghindarinya (Gal 5:2 dab), namun dalam arti batiniah orang Kristen memerlukannya (Kol 2:13; bnd Yes 52:1). Justru ada 'sunat Kristus', berupa 'penanggalan akan tubuh (dan bukan hanya sebagian) yg berdosa', suatu perbuatan rohani, yg tidak dilakukan oleh tangan manusia, suatu hubungan dengan Kristus dalam kematian dan kebangkitan-Nya, dimeteraikan oleh peraturan penerimaan atas perjanjian baru (Kol 2:11, 12). Sebagai akibatnya, orang Kristen ialah 'orang bersunat' (Flp 3:3). KEPUSTAKAAN. L Koehler, Hebrew Man, 1956, hlm 37 dst; G. A. F Knight, A Christian Theology of the Old Testament, 1959, hlm 238 dst; G. R Beasley-Murray, Baptism in the New Testament, 1962, P Marcel, The Biblical Doctrine of Infant Baptism, 1953, hlm 82 dst; J. D Hyatt, 'Circumcision,' IDB; J Sasson, JBL 85, 1966, hlm 473 dst: H. C Hahn, 'Circumcision', NIDNTT 1, hlm 307-312. JAM/HH/HAO Ke atas Sunat [Kamus Lambang] (1) LAMBANG pertobatan sejati, yakni pemutusan hubungan total dengan dosa. Rm 2:28-29; Kol 2:11, dll. (2) METAFORA kaum Yahudi yang sangat tekun mengamalkan Taurat Musa. Rm 4:9; Gal 2:9; Tit 1:10, dll. Ke atas Yunani Strongs #4061 περιτομη peritome περιτομη peritomh: sunat (Kamus Yoppi) ης [feminin] sunat (sebagai ritus agama); kaum bersunat, bangsa Yunani (juga = orang Yahudi) (Kamus Barclay) Ke atas Sunat [Statistik] Jumlah dalam TB : 19 dalam 15 ayat (dalam OT : 1 dalam 1 ayat) (dalam NT : 18 dalam 14 ayat) Strong dalam PL : [<04139> מולח ‎1x] Strong dalam PB : [<1986> επισπαομαι ‎1x] [<4061> περιτομη ‎13x] Ke atas Dalam Versi-Versi Alkitab: Sunat: BIS TB

SUNAT PALSU

Daftar Isi: ENSIKLOPEDIA: SUNAT PALSU ; Sunat Palsu Ke atas SUNAT PALSU [Ensiklopedia] Dengan kata yg sengaja bersifat menghinakan ini (katatome, Flp 3:2), Paulus tidak melecehkan sunat, tapi menuding mereka yg tanpa mengingat kebenaran rohaninya, memaksa orang Kristen bersunat (bnd Gal 5:12). Kata yg asalnya sama (katatemno) dipakai (Im 21:5, LXX) bagi pengudungan-pengudungan terlarang yg dilakukan oleh bangsa-bangsa lain. Bagi orang Kristen, yg 'bersunat' secara rohani (Flp 3:3) pelaksanaan tanda yg ketinggalan zaman ini sama dengan pengrusakan tubuh ala kafir. JAM/HH/HAO

Circumcision-3

Circumcision
sûr -kum -sizh´un ( מול , mūl , מולת , mūlōth ; περιτομή , peritomḗ ): The removal of the foreskin is a custom that has prevailed, and prevails, among many races in different parts of the world - in America, Africa and Australia. It was in vogue among the western Semites - H ebrews, Arabians, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Egyptians, but was unknown among the Semites of the Euphrates. In Canaan the Philistines were an exception, for the term "uncircumcised" is constantly used in connection with them. Generally speaking, the rite of circumcision was a precondition of the enjoyment of certain political and religious privileges (Exodus 12:48; Ezekiel 44:9 ); and in view of the fact that in the ancient world religion played such an important role in life, it may be assumed that circumcision, like many other strange customs whose original significance is no longer known, originated in connection with religion. Before enumerating the different theories which have been advanced with regard to the origin and original significance of circumcision, it may be of advantage to consider some of the principal references to the rite in the Old Testament.

1. Circumcision in the Old Testament

In the account of the institution of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham which Priestly Code (P) gives (Gen 17), circumcision is looked upon as the ratification of the agreement. Yahweh undertook to be the God of Abraham and of his descendants. Abraham was to be the father of a multitude of nations and the founder of a line of kings. He and his descendants were to inherit Canaan. The agreement Thus formed was permanent; Abraham's posterity should come within the scope of it. But it was necessary to inclusion in the covenant that every male child should be circumcised on the 8th day. A foreigner who had attached himself as a slave to a Hebrew household had to undergo the rite - the punishment for its non-fulfilment being death or perhaps excommunication. According to Exodus 12:48 (also P) no stranger could take part in the celebration of the Passover unless he had been circumcised. In the Book of Josh ( Exodus 5:2-9 ) we read that the Israelites were circumcised at Gilgal ("Rolling"), and Thus the "reproach of Egypt" was "rolled away." Apparently circumcision in the case of the Hebrews was prohibited during the Egyptian period - circumcision being a distinctive mark of the ruling race. It is noticeable that flint knives were used for the purpose. This use of an obsolete instrument is one of many proofs of conservatism in religion. According to the strange and obscure account of the circumcision by Zipporah of her eldest son (Exodus 4:25 ) the performance of the rite in the case of the son apparently possesses a vicarious value, for thereby Moses becomes a "bridegroom of blood." The marriage bond is ratified by the rite of blood (see 4 below). But it is possible that the author's meaning is that owing to the fact that Moses had not been circumcised (the "reproach of Egypt") he was not fit to enter the matrimonial estate (see 3 below).

2. Theories of Origin

The different theories with regard to the origin of circumcision may be arranged under four heads: (1) Herodotus (ii.37), in dealing with circumcision among the Egyptians, suggests that it was a sanitary operation. But all suggestions of a secular, i.e. non-religious, origin to the rite, fail to do justice to the place and importance of religion in the life of primitive man.

(2) It was a tribal mark. Tattooed marks frequently answered the purpose, although they may have been originally charms. The tribal mark enabled one member of the tribe to recognize another and Thus avoid injuring or slaying a fellow-tribesman. It also enabled the tribal deity to recognize a member of the tribe which was under his special protection. A mark was placed on Cain to indicate that he was under the special protection of Yahweh (Genesis 4:15 ). It has been suggested, in the light of Isaiah 44:5 the Revised Version, margin, that the employer's mark was engraved (tattooed) on the slave's hand. The prophet represents Jews as inscribing on their hands that they belong to Yahweh. The walls of Jerusalem are engraved on Yahweh's palms ( Isaiah 49:16 ). On the other hand "cuttings in the flesh" are prohibited in Leviticus 19:28 because they were common in the case of the non-Jewish religions. Such tattooed marks might be made in conspicuous places when it was necessary that they should be easily seen, but there might be reason for secrecy so that the marks might be known only to the members of the tribe in question.

(3) It was a rite which celebrated the coming of age of the person. It signified the attainment of puberty and of the right to marry and to enjoy full civic privileges.

(4) As human sacrifices began to be done away with, the sacrifice of the most easily removed portion of the anatomy provided a vicarious offering.

(5) It was a sacramental operation. "The shedding of blood" was necessary to the validity of any covenant between tribes or individuals. The rite of blood signifies the exchange of blood on the part of the contracting parties, and therefore the establishment of physical affinity between them. An alliance based on blood-relationship was inviolable. In the same way the tribal god was supposed to share in the blood of the sacrificed animal, and a sacred bond was established between him and the tribe. It is not quite obvious why circumcision should be necessary in connection with such a ceremony. But it may be pointed out that the process of generation excited the wonder and awe of primitive man. The prosperity of the tribe depended on the successful issue of the marriage bond, and a part of the body which had so much to do with the continuation and numerical strength of the tribe would naturally be fixed upon in connection with the covenant of blood. In confirmation of the last explanation it is urged that in the case of the covenant between Yahweh and Abraham circumcision was the rite that ratified the agreement. In opposition to (3) it has been urged that among the Hebrews circumcision was performed in infancy - when the child was 8 days old. But this might have been an innovation among the Hebrews, due to ignorance of the original significance of the rite. If circumcision conferred upon the person circumcised the right to the enjoyment of the blessings connected with membership in the tribe it was natural that parents should be anxious that such an initiatory act should be performed early in life. The question of adult and infant baptism is capable of similar explanation. When we examine explanations (2), (3), (4), (5), we find that they are really different forms of the same theory. There can be no doubt that circumcision was originally a religions act. Membership in the tribe, entrance upon the rights of citizenship, participation in the religious practices of the tribe - these privileges are interdependent. Anyone who had experienced the rite of blood stood within the scope of the covenant which existed between the tribe and the tribal god, and enjoyed all the privileges of tribal society. It is easily understood why the historian carefully relates the circumcision of the Israelites by Joshua on their arrival in Canaan. It was necessary, in view of the possible intermingling of the conquerors and the conquered, that the distinctive marks of the Abrahamic covenant should be preserved (Joshua 5:3 ).

3. Spiritual Significance

In Jeremiah 9:25 and Deuteronomy 30:6 we find the spiritual significance of circumcision. A prophet like Jeremiah was not likely to attach much importance to an external act like circumcision. He bluntly tells his countrymen that they are no better than Egyptians, Edomites, Moabites and Ammonites. They are uncircumcised in heart. Paul uses the term concision for this outward circumcision unaccompanied by any spiritual change ( Philippians 3:2 ). The question of circumcision occasioned a protracted strife among the early Christians. Judaizing Christians argued for the necessity of circumcision. It was a reminiscence of the unrelenting particularism which had sprung up during the prolonged oppression of the Greek and Roman period. According to their view salvation was of the Jews and for the Jews. It was necessary to become a Jew in order to become a Christian. Paul consented to circumcision in the case of Timothy "because of the Jews" (Acts 16:3 ). But he saw that a principle was at stake and in most of his epistles he points out the sheer futility of the contention of the Judaizers. (See commentaries on Romans and Galatians.)

4. Figurative Uses

In a few suggestive passages we find a figurative application of the term. For three years after the settlement in Canaan the "fruit of the land" was to be considered as "uncircumcised" (Leviticus 19:23 ), i.e. it was the property of the Baalim, the gods of Palestine The fruit of the fourth year belonged to Yahweh. Moses with characteristic humility describes himself as a man of "uncircumcised lips" (Exodus 6:30 ). Jeremiah charges his contemporaries with having their ear uncircumcised (Jeremiah 6:10 ) and their heart (Jeremiah 9:26 ). "An uncircumcised heart is one which is, as it were, closed in, and so impervious to good influences and good impressions, just as an uncircumcised ear (Jeremiah 6:10 ) is an ear which, from the same cause, hears imperfectly; and uncircumcised lips (compare Exodus 6:12 , Exodus 6:30 ) are lips which open and speak with difficulty" (Driver on Deuteronomy 10:16 ).

Source:

Bible Encyclopedia