An Old Testament Response to People Who Deny the Truth of the Trinity

It is impossible to provide an in-depth analysis of the presence of the Trinity in the Old Testament. Books have been written on the subject and still the controversy exists. Questions are asked about the reality of the Christophanies in the Tanakh. People wonder if you can place the Holy Spirit in the pages of the Torah.
Therefore, only a brief examination of select Old Testament passages can be offered in this article as well as an even briefer look at the meaning of the word Rachaph in Genesis 1:2.

Christopher Wright in his work Knowing the Holy Spirit through the Old Testament writes that the presence of the Holy Spirit is found in the second verse of Scripture. The words "and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters" provides the perspective that the Ruach of 1:2 cannot refer to the wind or breath due to the fact that the word for "moved" is rachaph which means "to hover". Wright's ultimate point is that it is impossible for the wind to hover but that the Holy Spirit's role in requires the sense of hovering (page 14).

In the October issue of Tzedakah Times, it was asked that you begin to consider the use of the word "US" in Genesis 1:26; 3:22; and 11:7. Does it mean as many rabbinic Jewish scholars advocate that the word US in these passages are referring to either the "royal WE", the idea that God referred to Himself in the third person, or that Moses was including the angelic host in these passages?
However even many Jewish scholars admit the impracticality of this interpretation. Richard Friedman (Commentary on the Torah, p. 12) prefers to lessen the inerrancy of the Torah by arguing that perhaps this is an example of artistic license. Ultimately, however, even Friedman admits that he cannot give a "good answer" as to why the word US is used. In addition, he avoids the awkwardness of US when he translates the word in Genesis 11:7 with the contraction "let's."

Perhaps the argument could be resolved by recognizing that the desire to avoid the issue of US did not begin in the days of Abraham but in the writings of Maimonides and Rashi. But more on this possibility in the next issue!

Why Christianity is Not Simply Pauline ... No Matter What the Rabbis Say

A very dear Jewish friend once said to me that Christianity was not about Jesus but rather about Paul. This might come as a surprising statement to you until you look at the motivation for why my friend would hold to such an unusual view.

Jesus is seen throughout the world, and not only in Christendom, as a person of love and forgiveness. Jesus is attractive on a "religious" level. However, Jesus on this "religious" plane is not recognized as the unique and exclusive way to God.

Therefore, my friend's position is that Jesus came to reform Judaism and not to transform the world. She views Paul as the originator of Christianity because it provides an alternate response to the claims of Jesus' Messiahship. For if Paul was the real founder of Christianity, then one can appreciate Jesus' message without having to respond to the sacrificial gift of Jesus on the cross.

My friend did not come to this view in a spiritual vacuum. She came to this view because these attacks on both Jesus and Paul are not new. Therefore, this fallacy must be understood by Christians with a burden for Jewish people in order to develop an apologetic response in evangelism.

The first question to ask those who promote this view, and please know it also exists in the area of "Christian" scholarship, is when do they believe the Gospels were written? More than likely, they will believe that the books were written late 1st or early 2nd century and not by the men to whom they are ascribed. In other words, John did not write John. Peter did not write 1 and 2 Peter and Paul did not write most of the pastoral epistles. Their arguments are based upon a view of Scripture that is more along the lines of the Jesus Seminar than the truth of inerrancy that evangelicals uphold. The above statement is true with both many Jewish and "Christian" proponents who view that Christianity is all about Paul and not Jesus.

Second, you need to know that many of the rationales for their argument come from the work of Hyam Maccoby. Maccoby was a Jewish scholar whose life focus was apparently to denigrate Christian beliefs. He was a scholar but one tainted by an agenda - disproving the Christian faith. Therefore, arguments from Maccoby should be taken with "a grain of salt".

Third, the argument will be made that Jesus only intended to reform and not transform Judaism. They will argue that it was Paul who took liberties with Jesus' message and founded Christianity. The best response is to go to Deut. 18:18-19 and read the promise that another prophet would arise after Moses. Jesus stated that he was this prophet (John 3:14; 5:46; and the Transfiguration passages) and provides evidence of this claim. Jesus stated that He was God (Matt. 26:64; John 8:58; 10:30) and that this message was a realization not of the anticipated kingdom but of the kingdom of God/heaven (Acts 1:8). Jesus was both a reformer and a transformer. He took a man-designed Judaism and brought hope and eternity for the Jewish people and us as well.

Obviously, time and space are limited and prevent an in-depth study of the subject. Use these few hints as a discussion starter the next time you hear someone say that our faith is Pauline and not about Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth. Shalom in Messiah Jesus' name!

God's Plan for Tzedakah Ministries in 2008 and Beyond!

The year 2007 for Tzedakah Ministries was focused on the work of everyday ministry as well as the completion of the DVD evangelism tract, Mystery Solved?: Who Is the Jewish Messiah?

The DVD has proved to be very profitable in the work of ministry and 300+ DVDs have been distributed in the first six months of availability. Therefore, it is time for Tzedakah Ministries to move onto new projects while continuing the work of the previous year(s).

One of the first tasks for Tzedakah Ministries in 2008 is for the word to continue to spread about www.mysterysolvedwithmessiahjesus.wordpress.com The blog which began as 2007 ended is becoming a well-visited place for those searching for answers to questions involving Jewish missions. Of the almost 900 visitors since November, more than a few have been unsaved Jewish people.

Another task is the completion of Sunday School materials for the Christian church on the subject of the true meaning of Romans 1:16. The foundation of this work was begun several years ago and the re-finished product will hopefully be available for your church's use by late summer.

A third but not final task is the creation of more and more evangelistic tracts that you can give to your lost Jewish friends, family members, etc. The mission statement at the bottom of this page demands that the work of Jewish evangelism never stop as the work never ends. Please be in prayer for all these tasks and for the others still to revealed!