NorthOfNorth wrote on Feb 16
th, 2009 at 1:34pm:
Saul (Paul of Tarsus) had perceptions too.
St Paul believed the world would come to an end in his lifetime and this was probably the reason he evangelised his new faith like a man possessed. And he discarded much of Judaism along the way and pared the faith down to almost just belief in Jesus as the only requirement for salvation in order to gain large numbers of converts in rapid time. He was untrue to the original faith.
He based this belief in end times on what he read and was told by eye witnesses. He was wrong. He got it wrong even with the benefit of knowing most of the key actors personally and also being so chronologically close to the events. He had access to written accounts of the events, dozens of decades before they were adulterated by mistranslations (as evidenced in Matthew) or heavily edited by non-Semitic European peoples who were unfamiliar with their Judaic roots.
No doubt they all believed, Jesus included, that the world was coming to an end, (which may explain the Davidic coronation ceremony in Jerusalem... an attempt to restore the Holy Kingdom of David before God destroyed the world).
They all perceived, Jesus included, that God had had a guts full of the world's venality and was fixing to destroy it. They made a mistake. They concocted the belief probably because they couldn't accept that their god could watch unholy hordes subjugate his chosen people with impunity.
Those they perceived to be an army of evil, soon (they thought) to be obliterated by the wrath of god, were in fact the greatest culture bearing imperialists the world had ever seen... and they prevailed.
Paul and all the original Jewish Christians were deluded by their perceptions of their supposedly omnipotent god.
helian,
Thank you.
I respect your right to hold this point of view.
But i don't hold that point of view.
Neither am i convinced of its validity.
I feel that your assessment of what we believers view as God's plan, is still ignoring an aspect which i would refer to as the 'big picture'.
So many ppl view the tenets of Christianity purely on the basis of the declarations which are made within the NT.
And even many Christians view their faith as a 'replacement', of Judaism.
People, including Christians, who ignore the spiritual 'lessons' given in the OT are missing the 'big picture'.
Jesus himself stated that the OT
Luke 24:15
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
My opinion.....
In this manifestation [this
reality] men are [morally & physically] weak.
But God is smart [wise].
My own
perception is, that we, as individuals are made to suffer within this reality, to bear afflictions,
which test us.
Afflictions force us to make choices.
And in our choices, we are revealed for what we are,
flawed.
Isaiah 48:10
Behold, I have refined thee [Israel], but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
And that verse is speaking of the ppl of Israel.
But it is a parable, which relates to us, individually, to all mankind.
The account and history of the ancient Hebrews [Israel] are a 'type' for us, for all ppl who seek God.
For those of mankind, who wish [themselves], to BE God's redeemed ppl.
And God intends to redeem mankind, but we will reap what we sow,
....which is just.
And it is all of the afflictions, in this life, which force us to make choices.
All of you wannabe 'spiritual' ppl complain,
"Why doesn't God reveal himself!?"
....[and oh, he does! he does!]
But by
our choices,
who is being revealed?
Daniel 12:10
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
Psalms 25:14
The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.
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