From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 1997 11:05 PM
To: "Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup"
Subject: The Gentiles and the Noahide Laws
To: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
From: James Trimm <jstrimm@swbell.net>
Subject: Re: Meat offered to idols
Cc: gregoryr@frugal.com, fcj@juno.com
>From: gregoryr <gregoryr@frugal.com>
>To: Hebraic Heritage Newsgroup <heb_roots_chr@geocities.com>
>Subject: Re: Meat offered to idols
>
>A reply that was posted on the CRMI Message Board (
>http://frugal.com/~crmi/ ) in response to a newgroup posting.
>
>Re: Meat offered to idols
>Monday, 22-Sep-97 16:51:59
>
>To James Trimm:
>I'm wondering what you mean by "Noachdic Laws"? Do you mean the Noahide
>Laws as prescribed by the Jewish Rabbis, which supposedly present a way
>for non-Jews to gain heaven or do you mean laws given to Noah in the
>scriptures? I don't believe there is a way to heaven for non-Jews based
>on the Noahide laws, so why would I follow them? Please clarify this.
>Thank you.
>
>Fern Carlson
>(fcj@juno.com)
>
>*******************************************************************
Your question raises two issues:
1. Why should we keep God's commandments?
2. Why do I think there is a unique Noachdic law for Gentles?
I will deal only with item two for now, perhaps I will have time to adress
item one soon.
THE NOACHDIC COVENANT
The Noachdic Covenant is very similar to what
Dispensation- alists call "The Age of Human Government".
The terms of this covenant are found in Gen. 9:1-17 where G-d makes a covenant
with Noah and his descendants (Gen. 9:9, 12) the "nations"/Gentiles
[Same word in Hebrew] (Gen. 10:32). This covenant is an
"ever-lasting covenant" (Gen. 9:16) and is for "perpetual generations"
(Gen. 9:12). According to the conditions of this covenant G-d
promised never to flood the earth again (Gen. 9:11-15). The
nations /Gentiles were given animal life as food (Gen. 9:2-3);
forbidden to eat blood or flesh from a living animal (Gen. 9:4);
forbidden to murder (Gen. 9:5-6); required to administer justice
in accordance with G-d's Law (Gen. 9:5-6); and required to
procreate (Gen 9:1, 7).
TWO PEOPLES
There is a false teaching in Christendom today that Jews and
Gentiles no longer exist as different peoples with differing ob-
ligations. This teaching is based on a misunderstanding of such
verses as Rom. 3:22; 10:12; Gal. 3:28 and Eph. 2:14.
The fact is that Rom. 3:22 & 10:12 speak of Jews and Gen-
tiles as having the same guilt for sin, and same method of salva-
tion (Rom. 3:21-26; 10:9-13). Acts 15:11 speaks in much the same
way, yet Acts 15 highlights the fact that Jews and Gentiles have
differing obligations.
Gal. 3:28 and Eph. 2:14 do not speak of obligations either.
These verses speak of the unity of the Body of Messiah (Gal.
3:27-28; Eph. 3:6). Gal. 3:28 also states that "there is neither
male nor female" (Gal. 3:28) yet males and females still exist
and have separate obligations (1Cor. 11:3-15; 14:34-35; 1Tim.
2:12-14; Titus 2:3-5).
Jews and Gentiles are also different peoples with different
covenants (Rom. 9:4), different sets of Torah (Law) (Ezkl. 5:6-7
with Psalm 147:19-20 & Deut. 4:8; Acts 15:1-29; 21:20-26; Rom.
9:4; Gal.) and even different emissaries (apostles) (Gal. 1:16:
2:7-9; Acts 9:15). The New Scriptures twice condemn "those which
say they are Jews, and are not." (Rev. 2:9; 3:9).
THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL (JEWS)
Abraham, a wondering Gentile Syrian, (Deut. 26:5; Rom.
4:9-12) became the first of the people of Israel that we today
call "Jews". (Gen. 17:24). These people of Israel were not to be
reckoned among the nations (Gentiles). (Num. 23:9 JPS) G-d re-
lates to Israel through all of the covenants (Rom. 9:4), they
have their own Torah (Law) (Ps. 147:19-20; Deut. 4:8; Ezkl.
5:6-7), they are G-d's chosen (elect) people (Deut. 4:1-2, 6-8;
7:1-11; 14:2; Is. 41:8-9; 42:1; 44:21; 45:4; 65:9, 23; Zech. 2:8;
Ps. 135:4; 1Pt. 1:2; 2:9) and a Kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:6;
1Pt. 2:5, 9).
*
Rav Shaul (Paul) asks the question "What advantage has
the Jew? or what profit is there of the circumcision?" (Rom. 3:1).
By the claims of Christendom, Shaul should have answered this
question "none at all." Yet he answers "Much in every way:
chiefly because that to them have been committed the oracles of
God."(Rom 3:2). Elsewhere Shaul speaks of his "kinsmen according
to the flesh. Who are Israelites; to whom pertains the adoption,
and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the Torah
(Law), and promises." (Rom. 9:3b-4).
THE PEOPLE OF THE NATIONS (GENTILES)
In Hebrew the word for "nations" and "Gentiles" is the same
word, "GOYIM". I once heard a popular Hebrew-Christian TV evange-
list proclaim that prior to Acts 10, Gentiles were just "fuel for
the fire of Hell". The fact is that nothing could be further from
the truth. Gentiles maintained a dynamic relationship with G-d
through the Noachdic Covenant, having Noah as their patriarch
(Gen. 9:8-9). These men have been variously called "Righteous
Gentiles"; "Sons of Noah"; "G-d Fearers" or "Sebomenoi".
The Scriptures tell us about several of these Righteous
Gentiles:
* Job the man from Uz (Job 1:1) was "one that fears God"
(Job 1:1, 5, 8; 2:3)
* Jethro the Midianite priest (Ex. 18:1, 2-27)
* A generation of Ninevites (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-10)
* Nebuchadnezzar eventually accepted the G-d of Israel
(Dan.4:33-37)
* Uriah the Hittite (2Sam. 11:6-13)
* A certain centurian [Cornelius?]
(Lk. 7:2-10; Mt. 8:5-10)
* Cornelius the centurian (Acts 10:1-48)
* The first "Christians" (Acts 11:19-26)
* Righteous Gentiles at Thessolonica (Acts 17:4, 17)
These "Sons of Noah" were not obligated to keep the Mosaic
Law (Deut. 4:8; Ps. 147:19-20) but were obligated to keep the Law
of the nations (Gentiles) (Ezkl. 5:6-7) which is commonly called
"The Seven Laws of Noah". These seven laws are drawn from the
opening chapters of the Tenach, which precede the calling out of
Abraham, and therefore apply to all men. They are:
THE SEVEN LAWS OF NOACH
1. TO PROMOTE JUSTICE -- Under the Adamic covenant G-d en-
forced justice (Gen. 3:8-19; 6:5), however, under the Noahdic
Covenant man was empowered to enforce justice in accordance with
G-d's Law (Gen. 9:5-6) For this reason, Dispensationalists
recognize the Noahdic Covenant as the start of their "Age of
Human Government".
2. AGAINST IDOLATRY -- The serpent suggested "You shall be
as gods..." (Gen 3:5) the very first idol was man himself [cf.Hu-
manism].
3. AGAINST IMMORALITY -- The admonition, "be fruitful
and multiply" (Gen. 1:28; 9:1, 7) excludes non-reproductive sexual
unions. Women are commanded to direct their sexual desires only
to their husbands (Gen. 3:16) An outbreak of immorality resulted
in G-d flooding the earth (Gen. 6:1-2, 5; Jude 1:6-8; 2Pt. 2:4-6,10)
4. AGAINST BLASPHEMY -- The serpent questioned the authority
of G-d saying, "Has G-d really said..." (Gen. 3:1) moreover the
Noahdic Covenant forbids murder as a defacement of the image of
G-d. (Gen. 9:6)
5. AGAINST MURDER -- It was clearly wrong for Cain to murder
Able (Gen. 4:1-24) a commandment made plain in the Noahdic
Covenant (Gen. 9:5-6).
6. DIETARY RESTRICTIONS -- All animals are kosher (consum-
able) for Gentiles (Gen. 9:2-3; see also Acts 10:15), however two
restrictions exist, against eating flesh with its life still in
it (limb of a living animal) and consuming blood. (Gen. 9:4)
7. AGAINST THEFT -- We know from Gen. 2:17 and Gen. 3:6
that Eve took the fruit that did not belong to her.
[These Seven Laws of Noah are mentioned several times in the
ancient Rabbinic writings (t.Avod. Zarah 8:4; b.Avod. Zarah 64b;
j.Avod. Zarah 2:1; b.San. 56-60 especially 56a-56b & 59a-59b;
b.Yoma 28b; Midrash Rabbah Gen. 34)]
Rav Shaul (Paul), the emissary (apostle) to the Gentiles
(Gal. 1:16; 2:7-9; Acts 9:15), taught Gentiles that they need not
convert to Judaism (Gal. 2:3; 6:12-13), or keep the Mosaic Law
(Acts 15:1-29; 21:20-26; Rom. 9:4). Instead it was determined
that Gentiles should have "no greater burden than the following 4
essentials:" (Acts 15:28)
1. ABSTAIN FROM THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS -- (Acts 15:20, 29;
21:25; Rev. 2:14, 20) This rule establishes the outer limit of
what is for Gentiles regarded as idolatry. Shaul elaborates that
this rule is not because idols have power, but because knowingly
eating such food endorses idolatry (1Cor. 8:1-13; 10:7, 14-28).
2. ABSTAIN FROM SEXUAL IMMORALITY -- (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25;
Rev. 2:14, 20; see also 1Cor. 6:13-18; 7:2; 10:8; 1Thes. 4:3).
3. ABSTAIN FROM THINGS STRANGLED -- (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:20)
Because such animals have not been properly slaughtered, their
blood remains in them.
4. ABSTAIN FROM BLOOD -- (Acts 15:20, 29; 21:20)
The other Noachdic Laws (Justice; Against Blasphemy; Against
Murder; Against Theft) are not mentioned in this list of essen-
tials for Gentiles (found in Acts 15:20, 29 & 21:25) because
these essential rules are only the greatest burden, the outer
limits of the Gentile's obligation. This is based upon a princi-
ple called "KOL V'CHOMER" (light and heavy) which recognizes
certain commandments as "weightier" than others (see Mt. 23:23;
also Mt. 12:11-12; Jn. 7:22-23). There was never any question as
to whether or not Gentiles could forsake justice, blaspheme,
murder or steal; so there was no need to list these with the
greatest burden of Gentile Law.
James Trimm