Chapter 5: The Forgotten History of Sad Misunderstandings and Hate
Praiseworthy are those whose way is perfect, who walk with the Torah of יהוה …….How can a youngster purify his path? By observing Your word. Ps 119: 1, 9
So many, no, I would even propose, most Christians believe many misconceptions. One easily fall into the bad habit of repeating and professing a belief wrapped up in a succinct sentence that lacks truth and depth. A good example of this is when Paul writes : All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work. [2Tim. 3:16]
What Scripture is Paul referring to? The Tenach, or what is also called the Old Testament. The New Testament [NT] did not exist when he said that!
Recently Bob O’Dell wrote: “I certainly didn’t know about the deplorable history of the church since the time of Constantine…I was undone, both by the violent history of Christians toward the Jewish people and also by the fact that [I] had never learned this history. (*1)
It is essential before you go ahead and start studying the Torah, that you familiarize yourself with the history of the first five centuries, i.e the time of the so called church fathers and the effect their teachings subsequently had on Christians who over centuries had Jews live in ghettos; forcing them to wear special clothing, expelling Jews from countries, burning synagogues with Jews trapped inside; forcing thousands to either convert or they would be drowned; attacks on Jewish institutions and cemeteries, lynching, riots and pogroms (1881 in more than a hundred towns) against Jews especially in Poland and Russia, and more.
Studying the Torah without this necessary perspective on history and especially if you do so with the misconceptions of ‘the Law being nailed to the cross’ or from a so called Replacement Theology (*2) attitude, your heart and soul will be shut to the treasures of G-d in the Torah. In fact you will be blind to the Hebrew Roots in the NT.
I will never forget when a tour leader here in Israel told how shocked the widow of a pastor was to hear that Yeshua ben Joseph [Jesus] was a Jew. This aversion to Jews and Judaism goes back to the early second century CE.
“The earliest followers of Jesus followed Torah…[yet] Leader after Proto-Orthodox leader castigated them and others within their own ranks for continuing to observe Jewish customs, festivals and laws…If Christianity had remained Torah-observant, even with reverence for Jesus as a potential Messiah, there would have been no grounds for excluding the movement from the family of Judaism.’ [14.248/9] It is important therefore to know the history of the first four centuries after CE to understand the situation we – Jews and Christians – find ourselves today.
It’s amazing how the following verses are just skimmed over or ignored: Matt 12:9, Matt 13:54, Mark 1:21, Mark 3:1, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:15,16,44; Luke 4:31, Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10, John 6:59, John 18:20 -Again and again it is stated here: ‘And He [Yeshua] was teaching in one of the congregations (synagogues) on the Sabbath.’
And, after the Ascension of Yeshua, His followers also followed the customs of the Torah and the Modeim (G-d’s festivals/ Appointed times):- “You see brother, how many thousands of Yehudim there are who have believed, and all are ardent for the Torah…..you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah,” Acts 21:20,24 “..I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets,..”Acts 24:14 – wrote Paul.
And therefore we see how these believers of The Way practiced and continued Torah observant (Jewish) ways: Acts 2:1 & 20:16 [meeting on Shavuot]; Acts 18:21, Acts 20:6 & 7( making Hafdalah) ], going to the Temple [Acts 2:46, 5:42 ], going to synagogues [Acts 13:5,14&15, 44; Acts 14:1, Acts 17:1,2,10,17; Acts 18:4, 19:8; keeping the Sabbath [Acts 9:20, 16:13, & 17:2 & 18:4]
Then there is the important verse(s) that is usually incorrectly quoted (*3) and misinterpreted: Acts 15:20 & 21. At the meeting between Shaul, and Barnaba with the Ecclesia (assembly) of Yeshua’s disciples and followers in Yerusalem, Ya’aqob says the following:
20 but that we write to them [the gentiles] to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring and from what is strangled, and from blood. 21 For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath
Note the following: What is mentioned in verse 20 is literally from the heart of the Torah, that is, Leviticus 17, 18 & 19. Here we read:
You shall be holy, for holy am I, יהוה your God…
…you shall love your fellow as yourself…
You shall observe My decrees…. (Lev19:1,18,19)
Again and again in these 3 chapters we read: Any man of the House of Israel and of the proselyte…The proselyte who dwells with you shall be like a native among you…(Lev17:10&19:33) . These three chapters touch on the heart of G-d’s commandments: to be holy, not to eat blood – and therefore the Kosher laws – not to follow the pagan idolatrous ways, and to conduct a sexually pure life style, as well as ‘You shall not commit a perversion in justice..’ [ giving many examples] (Lev 19:35)
I maintain that it is especially these commandments that specifically separates and characterizes the Israelites and the people that follow the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Torah, from pagans and other nations and beliefs.
It is important not to forget or leave out verse 21 of Acts 15
It clearly continuous the former verses in which Ya’aqob, the leader of the elders and emissaries of the followers of Yesuha that were meeting in Yerusalem, explain to Saul and Barnaba who went to them to clear up the dispute concerning the new gentile and pagan believers from other nations.
The bottom line is: step by step, little by little. First, the most important commandments that characterizes a follower of G-d, and then as is the custom, to go to the Synagogue on Shabbat and hear the Torah being read, and therefore, bit by bit learn all the commandments. (*4) This same method is followed when a Christian returns to the Hebrew foundation of his faith and learn the Roots of Yeshua’s teachings. What I stress here is that ALL of the Torah commandments are to be followed. But remember what was pointed out in Chapter 3 of this Blog, namely that not all of the so called 613 commandments apply to all. Some only apply to Kohen, some only to men, some only to women and some only in Israel, and the Temple, that presently does not exist.
HISTORY of the so called early church fathers and their Anti-Semitism –and other outrages:-
I am highlighting only a few prominent issues. Much more can be found on the internet.
Note most of the ‘new believers were not Jews, and therefore came out of paganism, or like Justin Martyr was greatly influenced by the Greek culture that still dominated Israel; and he was a late convert:-
115 CE[Common Era] Bishop Ignatius – The Lord’s Day is now Sunday, is amongst his teachings, – he saw the church as a separate gathering from the synagogue. (*5)
140 CE Marcion : Misinterpreted Matt 5:17, 18 & 19 and Yeshua’s statement: ‘I did not come to destroy but to complete…’ and therefore Marcion implies the Torah does not apply. He maintains that the ‘Old Testament’ is a book of wrath, inferior to the NT book of love. His anti- Semitic Writings influenced the King James Bible. “Rejection of the Jewish writings had immediate consequences. It severed for instance , Christianity from its Jewish roots…Jesus was also detached from his Jewish roots” [14.223]
155 CE Polycarp campaigned against Passover and promoted ‘Easter’ which of course was greatly influenced by pagan Babylonian Mithras religion.
130-160CE Justin Martin appropriated the title of Israel for the Church and sowed the seeds for the Replacement Theology’s inception which maintains the blessings are meant for the Church and the curses for the Jews, and that the Church is the only living witness and one true faith. This pernicious and totally false belief and teaching still influences many churches! Justin Martin maintained that Jews murdered Yeshua (in stead of the Romans)
3rd CE Origen Introduced the term ‘ legalism’; This term became synonymous with Judaism in the minds of Christians – up till today! Origen and Tertullian sayings lead to the expressions ‘ KK’ / Kike / Christ Killer, said to Jews throughout centuries even up till the 20th! Furthermore, he asked for Jews’s homes and Synagogues to burn with fire; and said Jews should be forbidden to go up to Jerusalem.
3rd CE Judeophobia, anti-semitism, anti-Torah spirit had manifested itself in Yeshua’s messianic Hebraic ecclesia. [NOTE the term ‘church’ is a false translation and concept of the term ‘ecclesia’ (congregation) used in the writings of the 1st and 2nd, century.]
Jerome [347-420 CE ] author of the Latin Vulgate, and Augustine [354-430CE] called the Jews ‘accursed by God’. Augustine is also remembered for his theories regarding original sin and the Trinity.
Ambrose [340-39 CE] bishop of Milan, Italy, praised the burning of a synagogue as an act pleasing to God.
313CE Emperor Constantine – and his pagan influence: [see also the Ediks & councils here below] To unify his empire, Constantine realised that by making the new Christian faith official will be to his advantage because various nationalities being part of his Byzantine Empire. “With a sitting Emperor confessing Christianity, it was no longer a shame to be a Christian. Now, being a Christian could even secure great material and social advantages such as political, military and social promotion. As a result many heathens and pagans entered the Church. Of course they brought their pagan influences with them. Because of the deepening spiritual vacuum of humble leadership in the Church of the Western Roman Empire, the Church leaders were more than happy to pacify the heathens by allowing them to continue their pagan practices..” (my underlining) (*6)
Constantine called together church leaders and at the Edict of Milan in 313 CE which promulgated a Canon which stated inter alia Christianity teaches that the Holy Days have been done away with and are replaced by Christmas and Easter.
“in a milestone de-Judaizing edict in March of A.D. 321, declared that ‘Sun-day,’ the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god whom he continued to embrace, was to be a day of rest throughout the Roman Empire….The Church Council of Laodicea circa A.D. 364 then carried this process of the de-Judaizing of Christianity to its inevitable conclusion by declaring that religious observances were to be conducted on Sunday, not Saturday. ‘Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians. But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.’ (Canon XXIX” [15.178] (*6) Thus synagogues and teaching of the Torah were outlawed.
318 CE complaints were lodged against Arius, patriarch of Alexandria. He denied Yeshua had equality with God
325 CE Council of Nicea, Nicene Creed: declares Yeshua same substance as God, and therefore God. Anyone that dared change the creed would be punished.
365 /370CE Catholic Council of Laodicea calls Sabbath observers Judaizers’ worthy of death
381CE Emperor Theodosius : Council of Constantinople – doctrine of Trinity invented and accepted as Theology.
- The following is shocking to read today. Again I need to emphasize that Christians sadly do not know this history.
One of the most eloquent Church Fathers, John Chrysostom (344-407 CE), whose name means “golden mouth,” denounced the Jews in the strongest language: “They sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils; they outraged nature and overthrew their foundations of the laws of relationship. They are become worse than the wild beasts, and for no reason at all, with their own hands, they murder their offspring, to worship the avenging devils who are foes of our life… They know only one thing, to satisfy their gullets, get drunk, to kill and maim one another… The Jews are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy, rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance, and the Jews must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Jews. It is incumbent upon all Christians to hate the Jews.” (see *6)
One particular example of anti-Semitic teachings in the Church that we would like to expose pertains to Martin Luther. [Especially because of his influence on Hitler] Luther (1483–1546 CE) originally favored the Jewish people in the hope that they would accept his form of the faith, even praising their contribution to Christianity. However, most people aren’t aware that later in his life, when he did not succeed in converting the Jewish people, his attitude towards them changed dramatically. The following are quotes taken from Martin Luther’s, On the Jews and Their Lies (published 1543 CE).
· “The rabbis should be forbidden to continue teaching the Law [Torah].”
· “Therefore be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veering his eyes on them.”
· “In brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule—if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, his dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us… With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience.”
- “Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss Sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire… Second, that all their books—their prayer books, their Talmudic writings, also the entire Bible—be taken from them, not leaving them one leaf, and that these be preserved for those who may be converted… Third, that they be forbidden on pain of death to praise God, to give thanks, to pray, and to teach publicly among us and in our country… Fourth, that they be forbidden to utter the name of God within our hearing. For we cannot with a good conscience listen to this or tolerate it…” (see*6)
± 1000 CE. As an aside I need to add the little known fact that only after 1000 CE celibacy was introduced by the Roman Catholic Church. Most of the Bishops, and even some priests, were from rich and aristocratic families. With the result that when they passed away their substantial estates were inherited by their families. The RCC wanted those estates and riches. Therefore, celibacy was instituted. This of course lead to awful practices – the fruits of which has been in the news for decades – because of this unbiblical and un-natural life style.
Now for a few minutes ask yourself: to what extent has all of the above influenced your church and therefore you yourself regarding Judaism and the Jews?
All the above lead to the false teachings that are found in Christian churches.
Here are some:
* The Torah is bondage.
• The Torah was done away with after Yeshua’s death and resurrection.
• The Torah was only for the Jews.
• The Jews were saved by keeping the Torah.
• The Torah is temporary.
• The Torah was given to the Jews to curse them.
• The Torah was abolished.
• The Torah was nailed to the “cross.”
• We only need to obey the spirit of the Torah.
• The letter of the Torah has been done away with.
• The Torah brought death to those who obeyed it.
• We are 1) free from, 2) dead to and 3) delivered from the Torah as a standard of right behaviour.
• Obeying the Torah today is legalism.
• Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, therefore it’s no longer necessary to obey it…on and on and on and!
• The Church has supplanted Israel [the ‘Replacement Doctrine’].
Jews will go to Hell; they desperately need saving. (*6)
—- All of the above are absolutely WRONG! — Do you know this?
EXAMPLES of the PERSECUSION of Jews
Crusades; 1st: 1095-1099 Pope Urban II gave his blessing for the First Crusade; thousands and thousands of Jews slaughtered in Europe: e.g. Mains, Speyer & Worms along the Rhine – whole communities were wiped out. (*7) Crusaders are often remembered for their chivalry, faith, and zeal. But in reality, many of the Crusaders were cruel, men who hated the Jews with a passion. As punishment for the Jews’ role in the murder of Christ, the Crusaders took revenge on the Jewish people living in the Holy Land. In the year 1000, when the Crusaders first arrived in the Holy Land, there were 300,000 Jewish residents. But by the time the Crusaders left the Holy Land less than 200 years later, only 1,000 Jewish families still remained.
4th Crusade: sack of Constantinople 1452. (This aided the spread of Islam!) People waited desperately on the shore of the Bosporus to try to escape.
Expulsions: 1290 fromEngland, 1308-1390 from France, 1492 from Spain, 1503 from Portugal.
1478 Spanish Inquisition King Ferdinand II & Queen Isabella ; Their Inquisition carried on till 19th century in Spain and South America!
1215 Fourth Lateran Council: instituted yellow badge for Jews in Italy
Black Death 1342-1400 blamed on Jews
Blood Libel: first instance in England 1280? – boy William of Norwich found killed. Jews were accused of his murder to use his blood for baking their Matzos. An absolute preposterous accusation!
Pogroms: 1648 – 1909
Hitler in 1924 addressing a Church gathering in Berlin quoted Luther. Hitler and his henchman instituted Ghettos, Concentration camps and organized the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews known today as the Holocaust [Sho’ah]
“After enduring 1,900 years of discrimination, persecution, forced conversion, banishment and killings, can anyone blame Jews for being hesitant about entering into relations with Christians, or trusting them? Evangelicals should understand why Jews resist… the very religion more responsible for their mistreatment than any other.” (*8)
FOOTNOTES
*1 Coming to terms with History of Christian Antisemitism. Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler, Breaking Israel News, 27 June 2018.
*2 Replacement Theology: Supersessionism, also called replacement theology or fulfillment theology, is a Christian doctrine which asserts that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, supersedes the Old Covenant, which was made exclusively with the Jewish people. [Wikipedia] Followers of this maintain that G-d sees the New Believers as having replaced Israel and the promises.
Root sources:
Justin Martyr (about 100 to 165): “For the true spiritual Israel … are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ.” [22]
Hippolytus of Rome (martyred 13 August 235): “[The Jews] have been darkened in the eyes of your soul with a darkness utter and everlasting.”[23]
Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD): “Who else, therefore, are understood but we, who, fully taught by the new law, observe these practices,—the old law being obliterated, the coming of whose abolition the action itself demonstrates … Therefore, as we have shown above that the coming cessation of the old law and of the carnal circumcision was declared, so, too, the observance of the new law and the spiritual circumcision has shone out into the voluntary observances of peace. [Wikipedia]
*3 Also Wilson in his book How Jesus became a Christian misses the point– see in Bibliography no. 14.
*4 Remember there were no such thing as a book in those days. So one could not say to someone: Read and study the scriptures at home!
*5 I only give brief important points to be considered. More information can easily be found in encyclopedias or online.
*6 Tony Robinson. The Restoration of Torah. http://retorationoftorah.org.
*7 A little known fact and which is never referred to, is that Rashi, the esteemed Sage of Judaism, at first confirmed that Isiah 53 referred to the Messiah, but after the cruel and barbarous persecution of Jews at Mains, Speyer and Worms, where for example Jews were herded together in a synagogue which was set fire to, and where he lived, Rashi changed his opinion and thereafter said Isiah 53 referred to Israel as the ‘suffering servant’.
*8 The Jewish-Christian divide. Christians, Jews must overcome mutual misconceptions in order to achieve reconciliation. Dan Calic. Op-ed. Ynetnews.com, 24/5/2012.