In vain do they worship me...

 

In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

Translations of biblical texts may have unintentional biases as well as intentional interpolations. It is claimed that King James when ordering the translation of the scripture forbade the use of congregation for ekklēsia, because he had no authority in a congregation, but was the head of the church.

The Bible is not a single book, it is a library of sixty-six books. This fact has been lost leading to misconceptions and erroneous interpretations.

There is no division, Old and New Testament, there are two covenants: the first, and second. The word “Testament” is found only in old English versions; all modern versions translate the Greek word diathēkē as covenant.

Chapters and verses while helpful to finding what you are looking for can confuse the context. See Mark 8:38, Mark 9:1.

Punctuation, capitalization, and the use of the definite article can drastically change the meaning of a passage.

When an anglicized word is used it is generally to obscure the meaning of the original word. baptizō = baptize, which is to immerse or submerge. But baptize can mean any form of initiation into a church.

Does this mean we are unable to determine the correct meaning of scripture? Not at all. Our primary focus must be on Jesus. John wrote that Jesus did a lot more than what he included in his letter and added, “these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in his name.” The Hebrew letter starts with “God, after he spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in his Son.” At his transfiguration, seeing that Moses and Elija had joined Jesus, Peter blurted out that he would establish three sacred tents, God spoke saying, This is my son, “listen to him!”

The primary means to accurately decipher the meaning of a word in scripture is to see how it is used in other scriptures. The consistency of usage must be followed. Matt 16:18 “I will build my church” is nonsense. The word ekklēsia is used around seventy times in the Greek Septuagint version of Hebrew scriptures. Matthew wrote in Greek and assigned the word ekklēsia to what Jesus was going to build. Jesus referred to his kingdom using the same word for the assembly, the congregation and kingdom of Israel. Ekklēsia first used of the congregation of people at the foot of mount Sinai.

When translating scripture, the four steps of the hermeneutical process must be followed – (1) understanding the historical and cultural context, (2) understanding the literary context, (3) making observations, and (4) drawing application.

It is also important to consider the various terms of human to God interface when interpretating or translating scripture.

Eden was the perfect setting for Adam and Eve’s relationship with God.  It remained that way until Adam and Eve chose to eat the fruit of one tree. That tree represented choice; the choice to believe and honour God or to dishonour God. Adam and Eve made a bad choice. After Eden God maintained a close relationship with Adam’s family, but not like it was in the Garden. Cain’s exile, because of killing Abel meant he would be hidden from God’s face, “Cain went out from the presence of the LORD.” Cain and Abel’s sacrifices were not expiatory; they were acts to honour God. Cain forfeited the close relationship he had with God in Adam’s family.

God did not specify any form of worship. God did not impose religious ordinances on people. He wanted people of their own volition to interact with him. Three people who behaved appropriately were: Noah, Job, and Abraham. Other than offering sacrifices to God, no cultic rituals were connected to these people. “Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his time; Noah walked with God.” Job “was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Told by God to leave his homeland Abraham did as ordered. Later Abraham did what God required and offered Isaac as a sacrifice. “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness', and he was called the friend of God.” There was no prescribed or institutional form of worship, there was no organized religion. Relating to God was personal. Our relationship with God is personal and individual. The human connection with God is through faith.

When choosing Israel as his special nation, God didn’t discard non-Israelite people. “When Gentiles, who do not possess the law, do instinctively what the law requires, these, though not having the law, are a law to themselves. They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, to which their own conscience also bears witness;” Rom 2:14, 15 

God called Israel while they were still in slavery in Egypt. He brought them out of slavery, offering them the land he gave to Abraham. God established the law and covenant. “The LORD our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. Not with our ancestors did the LORD make this covenant, but with us, who are all of us here alive today.” God kept the promise that through Abraham all nations of earth would be blessed through Israel. The covenant and law were exclusively for Israel, they did not apply to other nations or people. Israel’s relationship with God included ritualistic practices, and institutional obligations. God’s relationship with Israel lasted from Sinai to the destruction of the temple circa 70 CE.

“The last days” probably began with John’s ministry. “The last days” was a period of transition from the first covenant to the new covenant. Jesus told his disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” “the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Jesus “has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself.” Jesus “was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.” “These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” “…in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.” God accomplished his plan and fulfilled his promise in Jesus. Through Jesus people can be reconciled with God. “The end of the age” culminated with the return of Jesus.

The return of Jesus:

Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter, James, and Jude are known authors of early scriptures, Hebrews is anonymous.

Hebrews:

Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.  

For yet 'in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay

Matthew:

Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see "the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven" with power and great glory. 

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 

From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

Mark:

…of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

…some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.

…they will see "the Son of Man coming in clouds" with great power and glory. …this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 

Luke:

…they will see "the Son of Man coming in a cloud" with power and great glory. 

…when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.

Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets. 

John:

Seeing John, Peter “he said to Jesus, 'Lord, what about him?' Jesus said to him, 'If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!”

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.

Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him;

Jesus said, “I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have,”

Paul:

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

…may the Lord “strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus…”

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James:

Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 

Peter:

Scoffers will come saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!”

It is obvious that early Christians believed Jesus would return soon. The letters written reminded believers that Jesus was coming back. There is no physical evidence, or record of the return of Jesus. I cannot explain what occurred, but I believe Jesus did as he said he would in the timeframe he gave. To believe otherwise suggests Jesus was wrong.

The coming of Jesus was linked to the destruction of the temple and the end of the first covenant. All scriptures were written before the destruction of the temple. The four gospels and all the letters were written in and tell about “the last days” or “end of the age.” The short period of Jesus life was a unique period, God was on earth. Jesus brought grace to people in the age of law. The law and covenant were of force until the destruction of the temple. “Christianity” was a Jewish offspring, Jesus was the promised blessing. For some years Christianity was exclusively Jewish. The promise to Abrham was that all nations would be blessed. Against the protest of zealous Jews Gentiles were admitted into God’s family. Gentiles were not required to follow the law, nor were they covered by the first covenant. During the last days Christianity and Judaism existed concurrently. The old law and covenant were becoming obsolete, and the new covenant was initiated.

Except for Luke the scriptures were written by Jews generally reflecting a Jewish point of view. The teaching of Jesus is most important, knowing Jesus is imperative. The practices of early believers must be seen in the context of the law and first covenant. A relationship with God is still personal and individual. It is based on faith and God’s grace. As it has been from the beginning God has not prescribed any form of worship. “Just as Abraham 'believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness', so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham.” And “…if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise.”