To the Jew first

[Bible2]

Retrobyter said in post 10:

 

Second, Y’hudah (Judaea), the rest of the tribe of which David and His lineage, including the Messiah, were members.

 

Note that Jews include individuals from tribes of Israel other than Judah. For Paul is truly a Jew (Acts 22:3), and he is of the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1). Indeed, Jews include individuals from all 12 of Israel's tribes, for there are no lost tribes, insofar as the 10 northern tribes weren't entirely lost to history. In 722 BC, the northern kingdom of Israel fell and its individuals were taken into captivity into Assyria (2 Kings 18:11), never to return to the land of Israel. They and their descendants were lost to history. But the 10 northern tribes in themselves weren't lost to history.

 

For some 200 years before the captivity of the northern kingdom, when it first become idolatrous, some individuals from all 10 of the northern tribes left the northern kingdom to become part of the southern kingdom of Judah (2 Chronicles 11:16-17), and so by definition they all became Jews. Also, some individuals from the 10 northern tribes remained in the land of Israel even after its defeat by Assyria, and some of them went to Judah at the time of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30). It is for these reasons that later the Jews who returned from the Babylonian Captivity could be referred to as "all Israel" (Ezra 2:70, Ezra 6:17, Ezra 8:25,35, Ezra 10:5, Nehemiah 7:73, Nehemiah 12:47), and why the Jews living in the 1st century AD could be referred to as including all 12 tribes (Acts 26:7, James 1:1, Acts 2:36,22), and why at that time Anna could be said to be of the northern tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36), one of the so-called "lost" tribes.

 

So the people alive today who are descended genetically from a 1st century AD Jew would include individuals from all 12 tribes. Some of these descendants could know they are Jews because their individual ancestors over the last 2,000 years kept their Jewish identity and didn't intermarry with Gentiles. But others of these descendants could know themselves only as Gentiles because their individual ancestors over the last 2,000 years eventually abandoned their Jewish identity and intermarried freely with Gentiles, to the point where their descendants alive today are almost entirely Gentile genetically. Similarly, regarding the individuals of the northern kingdom of Israel who were lost to history at its captivity: over the past 2,700 years, their descendants must have eventually abandoned their Israelite identity and freely intermarried with Gentiles, to the point where their descendants alive today would know themselves only as Gentiles, and would be almost entirely Gentile genetically.

 

Also, while God knows which people alive today are descended from one of the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel from whom the 12 genetic tribes arose (Genesis 49:28), nonelect Israelites/Jews aren't considered by God to be truly Israel (Romans 9:6-11) or truly Jews (Revelation 2:9b, Revelation 3:9), or God's children or Abraham's children, but the children of the devil (John 8:39-47), just as all the nonelect, no matter whether they are Jews or Gentiles, are considered by God to be the children of the devil (Matthew 13:38-39).

 

Some genetic Israelites are believers, and so are members of the church (Ephesians 4:4-6) and Israel at the same time, just as, for example, the genetic Jew Paul the apostle (Acts 22:3) is a member of the church and Israel at the same time (Romans 11:1). And some still-living, non-believing genetic Israelites are still considered by God to be Israel insofar as they are elect (Romans 11:25,28). All the still-living, elect, non-believing genetic Israelites who don't become believers before Jesus' 2nd coming will become believers (and so will become members of the church: cf. Ephesians 4:4-6) at the 2nd coming (Romans 11:26), when they will see the returned Jesus in person (Zechariah 12:10-14). But even though all those still-living, elect, genetic Israelites will eventually become believers and be saved, they will be only a remnant of all genetic Israelites (Romans 9:27), most of whom will never be saved, just as most of humanity in general, both Jews and Gentiles, will never be saved (Matthew 7:14, Matthew 22:14).

[Littlelambseativy]

The whole Old Testament speaks of a Messish, Saviour for the Israelites. When Jesus came, they expected a king and though the gospel was preached by Jesus to the Jews first then by the apostles they didn't accept it therefore it went to the Gentiles...the Greeks and on. now because of the Internet, all havecheard the Gospel....to the Jew first, but they would not accept their King coming so humbly, so to the Greeks and around the worl.

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Littlelambseativy.

 

The whole Old Testament speaks of a Messish, Saviour for the Israelites. When Jesus came, they expected a king and though the gospel was preached by Jesus to the Jews first then by the apostles they didn't accept it therefore it went to the Gentiles...the Greeks and on. now because of the Internet, all havecheard the Gospel....to the Jew first, but they would not accept their King coming so humbly, so to the Greeks and around the worl.

 

Sorry, but that’s not true. They have NOT heard the Gospel, yet, because they are NOT yet hearing the good news about the Kingdom. What they are hearing is about the justification by God, God’s way of producing His righteousness in them. However, the good news about the Kingdom is that the Messiah - the One Anointed to be KING, is coming and bringing His Kingdom with Him!

 

Matthew 24:9-14

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (rescued; delivered).

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached (heralded) in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

KJV

 

And Yeshua` (Jesus) said, ...

 

Luke 19:11-15

11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

KJV

 

And, what IS this “gospel about the Kingdom?"

 

Isaiah 52:5-10

5 Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings (gospel), that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings (gospel) of good, that publisheth salvation (rescue; deliverance); that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8 Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

9 Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10 The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation (rescue; deliverance) of our God.

KJV

 

Even Mark records this gospel about the Kingdom WAY early:

 

Mark 1:14-15

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

KJV

 

This is FAR BEFORE the “death, burial, and resurrection” of our Master Yeshua` the Messiah (the Lord Jesus Christ); so, THAT is not this “gospel!"

[JohnD]

 

What does that mean exactly? It is written I know at least two or three times, in which is one in Romans 1:16. 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.'

If he is talking about order of preaching and getting saved, what is the significance of that?

This goes back to the Abrahamic Covenant and the fact that Messiah would come out of the tribe of Judah and the lineage of David.  The Gospel was first preached to Israel in the wilderness (e.g. the Brazen Serpent). Christ came to earth firstly as the Messiah-King of Israel and secondly as the Savior of the world.  Therefore while He was on earth He restricted His ministry to Palestine, and sent His apostles only to the "lost sheep of the house of Israel". 

 

After His ascension, the Gospel was preached to the Jews first, and even while the apostles fulfilled the Great Commission, they always went first to the Jewish synagogues with the Gospel. "The good olive tree" is believing Israel into which the Gentiles are "grafted". So the Church literally began with Jews and then included Gentiles.

 

 

This is what I have been saying all along, but I get hammered for repeating it. Good job, Ezra.

 

But sheesh, people (the rest of you), set aside your prejudices and read the Bible for what it actually says.

[JohnD]

I was with you up until the "grafting". I thought grafting refers to grafting into the vine, which is Jesus?

 

Jesus is the true vine (on the menorah the center vine that holds up the whole lamp stand is called the servant in Hebrew)

[JohnD]

What does that mean exactly? It is written I know at least two or three times, in which is one in Romans 1:16. 'For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.'

If he is talking about order of preaching and getting saved, what is the significance of that?

 

Today we are enemies of the evil one and his followers (spirit and physical). But our suffering ends in immediate translation into the direct presence of God. We have the historic proven track record of God and the documentation of his complete word... 

 

The Jew did not have all these. The historic track record was in flux as was the word and the suffering was against a far more dominant evil in those days (IMHO) and sheol was the immediate destination of the martyr for God or those who died believing what had been revealed up to that point in history.

 

The Jews did all the heavy lifting as far as the faith is concerned and had the least to go on in many ways... granted God was more active in sign giving ways then... but we can attest to the brevity of the human attention span by our own... uh, I forgot where I was going with this... j/k 

 

We may have our own personal opinions about the Jewish people or how equal we supposedly are... but for what God required of that people and what they went through because of it makes them special to God and it always will. As a Gentile born Spirit Jew I have no problem with that preference. I never did.

[JohnD]

Wondering what the significance of it is. Why was it important for Paul to point it out. Later it says something along the lines of condemnation to the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Why them 'first'. How so first?

 

God is not done with the Jews / Israel.

 

So many in the Church buy into the attitude that a second wife would about a first wife... "we replace the Jews" they say but it is not so. Unbelieving Jews are cut off for their unbelief, but God can graft them back in. And the Great Tribulation... have you ever wondered? Why a Great Tribulation? What purpose would be served exacting upon that last generation all that turmoil and strife and suffering and for five months the inability to die (commit suicide)... to clobber people who are going to hell 'the next day?'

 

To get the Jews to cry out to Jesus to save them from the world that is actually closing in on them at Armageddon / Jerusalem.  

[Littlelambseativy]

But the Gospel WAS preached to the Jews first...they denied their King, and Kinsman Redeemer,saying they wanted nothing to do with Him even when He, Jesus expounded the Words telling about Him from the Torah in the temple.....they wanted nothing to with Him..so the message went to the rest of the world.

Have they heard of Him today??...yes..it is the Christians who stand with Israel and many are turning to their Kinsman Redeemer.

[Retrobyter]

Shalom, Littlelambseativy.

 

But the Gospel WAS preached to the Jews first...they denied their King, and Kinsman Redeemer,saying they wanted nothing to do with Him even when He, Jesus expounded the Words telling about Him from the Torah in the temple.....they wanted nothing to with Him..so the message went to the rest of the world.
Have they heard of Him today??...yes..it is the Christians who stand with Israel and many are turning to their Kinsman Redeemer.

 

No, take a good look at the portion I quoted from Matthew 24. This is about the END TIMES, not the first century! The Gospel about the Kingdom must be preached (heralded) in all the world FIRST, and THEN the signs in the heavens appear!

 

Furthermore, it doesn’t matter that they denied their King! He will STILL be their King, whether they like it or not! That’s the point in the parable within the 19th chapter of Luke!

[Pamelasv]

A little later Romans says: 2:9 'There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of a man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek... (Gentile)

So, what is the significance of that? I was asking the first question with this in mind also because it gives it a different perspective. So why the Jew first? So they get thrown into hell slightly before the Gentiles? I'm serious.