To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date sent: Fri, 9 Jun 2000 22:29:07 -0500
Subject: [HF] Bible Study #001 - The Ancient Hebrew Church
Hi Kinsmen,
While working on new membership, I wanted to present an
informal Bible study on the Hebraic background of the ancient
Church. This is for the purpose of kick starting some discussion.
I was reading a Jewish author some months ago, who was
talking about the Jewish dispersion during the time of the second
temple. He said something that perked my attention. He pointed
out that the Jewish dispersion of the Mediterranean region had
virtually disappeared by the fourth century. I found that
statement somewhat strange until I began to do the numbers.
It appears that the larger part of the diaspora (Jewish dispersion)
had been absorbed into Christianity. (Keep in mind that ancient
Christianity began in the matrix of Judaism.)
Here are some factors that you can consider:
(1) The earliest believers were almost exclusively Jewish. Many
thousands of the Jews accepted Jesus as the Messiah. Review
these Scriptures: Acts 2:41,47; 4:3,4; 5:12-16; 5:41,42; 6:7;
8:3,4; 9:21,22; 9:40-42; 11:19-21. (etc.)
(2) Of the thousands trusted in Jesus, this include a great number
was of the diaspora. It has been estimated that 10% of the
Roman Empire was Jewish during the time of Christ.
(3) What happened to all these peoples. They had children, their
children had children, and so on. These generations continued in
the faith of Jesus. Eventually they lost sight of their Jewishness,
and had taken on the name Christian.
(4) Jewish demographics today say that 90% of people from the
Iberian Peninsula, especially of Spanish lineage, have Jewish
blood lines. Remember Paul’s desire to go to Spain. Was a
large colony of Jews there. Cf. Rom. 15:28,29. (The word
Sephardic comes from the Hebrew word for Spanish or Spain.)
(5) Another factor is the conversion principle. The Pharisees
relished Gentile converts. Jesus spoke of this. (Cf. Matt23:15)
Some Talmudic writers even brag on the fact that they came
from Gentile lineage. Put this in to the pencil, and you see an
oddity. To some extend it can be said that Jews and the
Christians had traded places. While Jews concentrating on
Gentiles, the Church was converting Jews as well as Gentiles.
(This is almost like role reversal.)
There are other factors that could be brought into play, but with
this broad picture in view, perhaps there is a deeper reason that
Christians today are seeking a return to the faith of the early
Church. Could these longings tie in with genetics.
This has been for your reading pleasure. It is open for discussion
and observation.
Your servant in Christ.
Buddy
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
Lawrence "Buddy" Martin
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.ChristianChallenge.org
