May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 1
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T.O.C. Bible Works Note The Original Followers Tangent Interpretations, there are a many Resources Principles Heavy Lifters Copernicus Syndrome May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 3
Bible Works 9 http://www.bibleworks.com/classroom/ May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 4
The Plan Focus: The original followers of Yeshua 4 Points: 1. Believed Yeshua was the Messiah, the prophesied one to come to Israel 2. They continued to observe the perfect instruction manual of our Heavenly Father as given to Moses (PIM) May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 5
4 Points: The Plan 3. Supported Paul s mission to the Gentiles 4. Their theology stood within the acceptable boundaries of orthodoxy of the Christian church in the centuries before Constantine May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 6
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 7
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator with perfect instructions May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 8
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator with perfect instructions who claims to be unchanging May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 9
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator with perfect instructions who claims to be unchanging would finally reach a point in time May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 10
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator with perfect instructions who claims to be unchanging would finally reach a point in time where He would declare May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 11
Tangent Problematic Proposition How can an all-knowing creator with perfect instructions who claims to be unchanging would finally reach a point in time where He would declare that His perfect instructions were horrible and that it was time for a change? May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 12
Tangent What do we know about the author? The Most High is immutable (Malachi 3:6) I change not The Most High is omniscient all-knowing May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 13
Implications: Tangent An Omniscient Creator is perfect, no imperfection exists, nor can exist. This is contained in the very essence of the Hebrew word ko-desh There can exist no contradictions May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 14
Implications: Tangent An Intelligent Creator implies the creation of an intelligible universe Within this intelligent creation you and I find ourselves, and there is by implication an intelligible purpose. Challenge: Derive this purpose May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 15
I Submit Tangent An Intelligent Creator wouldn t have left us unequipped to ascertain and aspire to His purpose. Certainly, He has provided an instruction manual somewhere in time and space, bearing His signature. May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 16
Implications Tangent We must search for His signature (His intervention in the affairs of humanity) followed shortly thereafter by His instructions (Hebrew = Torah) or Instruction Manual. Or An Operating Manual for Planet Earth May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 17
Tangent We would expect these instructions to be perfect (Psalm 19:7) since He is perfect Perfect: No missing parts No room for improvement In them would be why you were created and the purpose of your life. In addition, one can learn how to relate to our Heavenly Father and commune with Him May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 18
Tangent As well as how to relate to the rest of His creation These are filed under the single word love as defined in great detail throughout these instructions This instruction manual sets forth the ONLY Perfect and Acceptable Way May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 19
Tangent The Question on the table Why would, indeed, how is it possible, that an all-knowing, perfect, unchanging GOD would contradict His previously perfect instruction manual? By implication, either before or after the contradiction, He reveals Himself and His previous instructions to be imperfect... May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 20
The Art of Interpretation Who would be willing to attest that there are scriptures or sets of scriptures that have seen more than one interpretation? May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 21
Resources Under Consideration 1. The Scriptures 2. The early church fathers 3. Jewish writings 4. The other writings of this specific group 5. Historians 6. Constantine May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 22
Principles 1. Proverbs 18:17 The first to present their case seems right, until another comes forward and examines them. 2. The Weight of Evidence 3. II Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves: Make a determination if you are still following the truth. 4. I Thessalonians 5:21 Test Everything!... May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 23
Heavy Lifters The Ways that Never Parted: Jews and Christians in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages / edited by Adam Becker and Annette Reed Hellenists and Hebrews: Reassessing Division within the Earliest Church by Craig Hill May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 24
Heavy Lifters Judaism and Christianity in the Age of Constantine by Jacob Neusner Paul was not a Christian: The original message of a misunderstood Apostle by Pamela Eisenbaum The Jewish Gospels: the story of the Jewish Christ by Daniel Boyarin May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 25
Heavy Lifters The Church from the Circumcision; History and Archaeology of the Judaeo-Christians by Bellarmino Bagatti Jewish-Christianity in Acts in the Light of the Qumran Scrolls by Joseph Fitzmyer Who Was a Jew? Rabbinic and Halakhic Perspectives on the Jewish-Christian Schism by Lawrence Schiffman May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 26
Heavy Lifters Nazarene Jewish Christianity: From the end of the New Testament period until its disappearance in the fourth century by Raymond A. Pritz. Archeological Discoveries Relative to the Judeo-Christians by Ignazio Mancini Formation of the Christian Church by Skip Moen May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 27
Copernicus Syndrome Short history lesson regarding Nicholas Copernicus 1473 1543 [70] May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 28
Copernicus Syndrome Classical scholar Translator Artist Mathematician Jurist May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 29
Copernicus Syndrome Diplomat Physician Governor Hobby Astronomer Gifted gentleman May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 30
Copernicus Syndrome Future scientists he influenced Johannes Kepler 1571 1630 Galileo Galilei 1564 1642 Isaac Newton 1642 1727 gravity 3 laws of planetary motion Star of Bethlehem Josephus Contaminated evidentiary source May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 31
Copernicus Syndrome Let s look at the situation Copernicus found himself in Around 262 BCE to 190 BCE Apollonius of Perga earth center of universe Formalized by Ptolemy in 2 nd cent. AD May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 32
Copernicus Syndrome Scientists & Mathematicians Philosophers Observable by all people Roman Catholic Church interpretation of Scriptures Psalm 104:5 May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 33
Copernicus Syndrome Scientists & Mathematicians Philosophers Observable by all people Roman Catholic Church interpretation of Scriptures Psalm 104:5 He established the earth upon its foundations so that it should never be moved. ( from awina tou aiwnos ) May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 34
Copernicus Syndrome a Presupposition is an implicit assumption about the world or background belief relating to an utterance whose truth is taken for granted. They didn t Test Everything (1TH. 5:21) New evidence was presented to be considered but May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 35
Copernicus Syndrome We have another example in Paul Interpretation of Scriptures - Yeshua was not the Messiah Voting member (Acts 26:10) Cast down my pebble (black) Revelation 2:17 White for acquittal May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 36
Copernicus Syndrome New evidence was presented Road to Damascus (Acts 9) Later, in Acts, we see the same Scriptures but different interpretation Here, we have a case where one immediately challenged his presupposition and changed his basis for interpreting the Scriptures. May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 37
Copernicus Syndrome Let s look at another example where there was no change Many of the Religious leaders in the time of Yeshua believed that as blood children of Abraham, they were IN! John the Baptist straightened that out Romans 9:6 May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 38
Copernicus Syndrome So here we have examples of different people or groups of people, who got new information, some changed their basis for understanding what the Scriptures said and others did not. Some initially maintained their position but eventually changed (several hundred years later) May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 39
Copernicus Syndrome NY Times October 31 st, 1992 After 350 Years, Vatican Says Galileo Was Right: It Moves (the earth moves) With a formal statement at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Saturday, Vatican officials said the Pope will formally close a 13-year investigation into the Church s condemnation of Galileo in 1633. May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 40
Copernicus Syndrome Sometimes a literal read of the Scriptures can be perceived incorrectly. What does the text say means Hebrew and Greek is where we have to go along with context and history. To reject a text because we don t like what it says or implies puts us in not so good a company. May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 41
Conclusion So what is the Copernicus Syndrome? We desire to know and walk in the truth. Sometimes we can previously suppose that something is true but later, we find out it was not. I submit, when new information makes itself available, give it a fair hearing May 3, 2014 http://hodf.org 42
May September 3, 201428, 2010 http://hodsbs.org http://hodf.org 43