Feel like doing an indepth study of 1 John 1:1 in context?

1 John 1:1. WE announced[1] to you that which was from the beginning which we have heard and have seen with our eyes, looked upon, and handled with our hands, that which is the Word of Life. 2. And the life was manifested, and we have seen and do testify and announce to you the life which is eternal; which was with the Father and was revealed to us.

FOOTNOTE 1:

The use of “we” is probably John referring to other Elders and Apostles in the Faith that have reviewed or sanctioned the letter. It was common for even the “pillars” as Rav Shaul referred to some of them, to appeal to the Twelve as a whole for certifying proper halakha or relating events as they actually happened. It is also a key “fingerprint” of John’s writing as he has done this before (John 21:24).

Continuing:

1 John 1:3. And what we have seen and heard, we make known to you also that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Y’shua the Mashiyach.[2]

FOOTNOTE 2:

As in The Good News According to John, Yochanan bar Zawdee (Shaliach/Apostle John) writes with a poetic flair that breaks grammatical conventions and marks his texts as both an Aramaic original and as a unique creation that could only come from his pen.

The first sentence in the Good News begins with four words that “break all the rules” in order to make a spiritual point about all divine attributes resting on and in Mashiyach, which we will briefly review here for easy comparison with his First Epistle: Breshit aytohi hwa Miltha:-- In the Beginning was the Miltha (Word).

Once again, we have the unusual ‑ and unprecedented ‑ mating of two male terms (there, was) with one female noun miltha, (word). This usage is so unique as to constitute a literary fingerprint for John’s style, as it appears nowhere else in either the Renewed Covenant or any known Aramaic/Syriac literature, with the exception of those works that draw directly on John.

Paul never breaks this grammatical rule, and the same can be said of Peter, James and Yehuda. However, in the first line of his letter here, John makes it clear that he is returning to teach: “He who was with us from the beginning, the one whom we have heard and have seen with our own eyes, have looked upon and have touched with our hands, we declare to you is the Word of life.” 1 John 1:1 (Ref. Assyrian and native Aramaic speaker, George M. Lamsa).

Just as the opening words from the Good News, John again packs an amazing degree of spiritual depth into very few words. The first aspect is the exact poetic construction; only it is one male verb and female noun which has essentially the same effect (aytohi miltha).

The parallels continue with the word B’resheet (in the beginning), which dovetails with the first lines of both his Good News as well as that of Genesis. In fact, if we compact this text we still have the phrase, “from the beginning there was the Word.”

Perhaps the greatest comparison is with the foundational statement of Torah itself: Shema Yisrael YHWH Eloheinu, YHWH echad. Hear O Israel, YHWH is our Elohim, YHWH is one.

If we examine various translations of this text, an interesting pattern emerges. Some translate this as “that which we have heard and seen,” as opposed to Lamsa’s “The One whom we have heard and seen”. Why? The answer is that this phrase in the first line of John’s Good News (eykhadaya) is implied in Aramaic. Choosing a literal translation, using the word “what” here gives a reading that could refer to the truth, a precept, teaching, and so on.

Lamsa takes a different view, perceptively pointing out that there is only one “Who” that has been from the very beginning, and that same Individual is the Word of Life. The “Word” then is neither a concept nor a teaching, but an all-powerful Being.

However, what is not entirely wrong; English has two ways of expressing “who” but Aramaic only has one. It is just as correct to say, for example, “the man who was good to me” as it is to say “the man that was good to me.” The Lamsa rendering, Elohim is a Who rather than a That and, of course, He is the only One who existed before creation.

Further, it is in this uniqueness where we find the idea of “The One” (eykhadaya) staring back at us by subtle inference. These details showcase, conceptually, the linkage between Aramaic 1 John, and the Shema declaration of Deuteronomy 6:4.

In the Shema, Israel is being asked to hear; in 1 John members of Israel respond to what they have heard. Similarly, the Shema proclaims that Elohim is ONE (echad). Aramaic in 1 John reflects this with implied “eykhadaya.”

In fact, “the One whom we have heard” strongly and clearly reflects the Aramaic mindset of John. It is simply a connection indicative of a Semitic mindset, in much the way Isaiah’s (26:3) use of the phrase shalom shalom (perfect peace) is.

Continuing:

1 John 1:4. And these things we write to you, that our joy in you may be complete.[3] 5. And this is the announcement which we have heard from him and declare to you, that Elohim is light and no darkness at all is in him. 6. And if we say that we have fellowship with him and we walk in the darkness, we are liars and walk not in the truth.

7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with each other and the blood of Y’shua his Son cleanses us from all our sins. 8. And if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. But if we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our iniquity. 10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not with us. (AENT)

FOOTNOTE 3:

Perhaps the most beautiful pattern in 1 John has to do with another incredible implied wordplay where the multiple meaning of an Aramaic root is exploited two or more times in a phrase. A statement by Ben Franklin was used to highlight this concept where he stated, “Gentlemen we must all hang together or most assuredly we shall hang separately.”

But what if, instead of a direct exploitation of hang’s dual meanings, Franklin referred to one meaning of the word while indirectly referencing its other use. In other words, what if he had instead said: “Gentlemen, we must all hang together or most assuredly they will string us up with rope separately.”

Granted while not nearly as graceful as the first foray, it would nevertheless be clever. The joke then would rely on a slight delay mechanism, since it may take a few seconds for the hearer to rationalize ‑ “Right, string up with rope is hang too, I get it.”

The same thing is happening in these two passages from 1 John: And these things we write to you that our joy in you may be complete. 1 John 1:4 (Lamsa). There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear is tormenting. He who fears is not made in perfect love. 1 John 4:18 (Lamsa).

The key to this bit of genius is found when looking at what is described as opposed to what is being stated. Put simply, if perfect love casts out fear, or complete joy fills you up, what else can the result be other than shalom (peace)? And so, once again, we see a direct root relationship between perfection/completion (mshamliya) and peace (shlama), and the meaning of the first occurrence is clearly describing the end product of the second!

(The above was borrowed from the Aramaic English New Testament)

Neo-Nazis pervert MAGA hat into becoming MGHA hat (Make Germany Hate Again!)

We saw on the news last night in a short clip by correspondent Richard Engel that Neo-Nazi groups in Germany have confiscated the "MAGA hat" and made it into MGHA hats: "Make Germany Hate Again." I guess these godless, stupid, brainless bozos didn't learn anything from their sordid, bloody history....

1 Corinthians 15: 33 Don't be fooled. "Bad company ruins good character." 34 Come to your senses! Live righteously and stop sinning! There are some people who lack knowledge of God - I say this to your shame. (CJB)

Titus 1:12 Even one of the Cretans' own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons" - 13 and it's true! For this reason, you must be severe when you rebuke those who have followed this false teaching, so that they will come to be sound in their trust 14 and no longer pay attention to Judaistic myths or to the commands of people who reject the truth.

15 To all who are themselves pure, everything is pure. But to those who are defiled and without trust, nothing is pure - even their minds and consciences have been defiled. 16 They claim to know God, but with their actions they deny him. They are detestable and disobedient; they have proved themselves unfit to do anything good. (CJB)

Romans 16: 17. And I plead with you, my Brothers, that you beware of them who cause divisions and stumblings apart from the doctrine which you have learned: and that you stand distant from them. 18. For they who are such do not serve our Master Y’shua the Mashiyach, but their own belly: and by bland speeches and good wishes, they deceive the hearts of the simple. (AENT)

2 Timothy 3: 1. But know this: That in the latter days hard times will come: 2. and men will be lovers of themselves and lovers of money, boasters, proud, revilers, unyielding towards their own people, deniers of grace, wicked, 3. unloving, addicted to irreconcilable malicious gossips, ferocious, haters of the good, 4. treacherous, rash, inflated, attached to pleasure more than to the love of Elohim, 5. having a form of respect for Elohim but wide from the power of Elohim. Them who are such, repel from you. (AENT)

 

 

Parashah 49: Ki Tetze (When you go out) Deuteronomy 21:10 - 25:19

If you're "chomping at the bit" to start reading this week's Torah portion, you can find a synopsis of Parashah 49: Ki Tetze, on our website.

This Torah portion features 74 commandments, more than any other Torah portion. Some of the commandments discussed include the law of the rebellious son, the obligation to bury the dead without undue delay, the requirement to return a found object, the prohibition against causing pain to any living creature, the prohibition against prostitution, the laws of marriage and divorce, the procedure of the Levirate marriage, and the obligation to eradicate the memory of Amalek.

Regardless as to how YHWH's commands sounds to "modern ears", we must always remember that, throughout the Torah, we are exhorted by God through Moshe/Moses to "cleave" to YHWH our Elohim who was attempting to show His people the necessity and benefits of being holy from the inside-out. The repeated emphasis should cause us to stop and think about the meaning and importance of cleaving to/holding fast to Him and behaving according to HIS desires!

To get started, imply click on the link above to read our synopsis, and then read all of the Torah, Haftarah and Brit Chadasha portions outlined in our article.

Another day, another mass murder….

So, last week (the last week of July 2019) some moron killed innocents in California at a food festival. Yesterday, some sicko killed 20 people at a Walmart in El Paso, and this morning, yet another kook with a gun killed 9 and wounded 20 in in Dayton Ohio at a community event.

The gunman used a .223-caliber high-capacity magazine and was wearing body armor, according to the Mayor. The suspect had additional magazines. Officers neutralized him in under a minute, and killed him.

I don't care what anyone says - there is NO WAY to "predict" that someone will do this! Our society is completely out of control. Why? Because we don't pay any attention to YHWH's Divine Instructions! There's no respect for anything or anybody anymore. We're a totally me-oriented society that doesn't like rules of ANY kind and tends to "side" with criminals instead of the law.

How sad, because there is no turning back now.

And for those who will insist we "pray" and endlessly remind us that "God is in control" here's a wakeup call:

YHWH gives us all FREE WILL! He isn't going to stop lunatics with guns from committing mass murders - just like He hasn't stopped Israel's enemies from attacking; just like He hasn't stopped the endless wars in the Middle East, nor has prayer eradicated pedophelia, sex or human trafficking, or beastiality, or child abuse, or poverty.

Prayer hasn't stopped the ills or diseases of the world. It hasn't stopped man's destruction of our planet and our environment, or entire species of animals from being driven into extinction by mankind.

Prayer also hasn't put a stop to prejudice, pedophelia, spouse abuse, "gay marriage" or anything else YHWH hates; nor did it stop the two world wars or the Holocaust where at least six million of HIS people were killed by a raving lunatic and his blind and brainless followers.

Wanna know why? Because most of the world does NOT belong to YHWH, and consequently He doesn't hear the prayers! (Please think about that before posting a response!)

Proverbs 28:9 If a person will not listen to Torah, even his prayer is an abomination. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 6:19 Or don't you know that your body is a temple for the Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside you, whom you received from God? The fact is, you don't belong to yourselves; 20 for you were bought at a price. So use your bodies to glorify God. (CJB)

1 Corinthians 3:12 Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw. 13 But each one's work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire - the fire will test the quality of each one's work.

14 If the work someone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward; 15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire. 16 Don't you know that you people are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple. (CJB)

One has to wonder whether those who refuse to adhere to the WHOLE Bible and are only "believing in Jesus" and NOT OBEYING Torah, truly belong to Him....Surely, those who pick and choose and dismiss one "testament" over another, are not His servants....

Countering yet another comment made by a Jesus-rejecter

The reason we created our website, The Refiner's Fire, was to defend YHWH's Truth from all those who attempt to skew or even debunk His Word, and to try to keep people focused on HIS WORD, and not man's opinion...Our whole goal was to not only to present and teach the Bible to the world, but also to show how and why "religions" and various teachings and opinions are completely off the mark.

One of several "pages" on our site is the "Countering the Jewish Counter-Missionaries" page, designed to "talk back" to the Jewish Rabbis and their followers, who do their best to "debunk Jesus" and the New Testament.

The screen shot below, is but one of myriad examples of the opinions and rants of Jewish counter-missionaries who do their level best to trash our Divine Messiah....

Here, we're going to examine the comments made by someone who clearly views himself qualified to discuss and debunk YHWH's Truth:

Ignoring the deliberate and sarcastic misspellings of "Jesus" by this "intellect", my first thought was that Yeshua wasn't "hanged" - he was crucified. That aside, it's quite sad that this guy couldn't remove his "narrow-minded glasses view" long enough to use the "PaRDeS" method to discern the true Hebrew and meaning of Isaiah 53:9-10.

Just for fun, let’s even track this back a little further to verse 7 in order to get a fuller picture:

Isaiah 53: 6 We all, like sheep, went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way; yet ADONAI laid on him the guilt of all of us. Or: and in fellowship with him 7 Though mistreated, he was submissive - he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to be slaughtered, like a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth.

8 After forcible arrest and sentencing, he was taken away; and none of his generation protested his being cut off from the land of the living for the crimes of my people, who deserved the punishment themselves.

9 He was given a grave among the wicked; in his death he was with a rich man. Although he had done no violence and had said nothing deceptive, 10 yet it pleased ADONAI to crush him with illness, to see if he would present himself as a guilt offering. If he does, he will see his offspring; and he will prolong his days; and at his hand ADONAI's desire will be accomplished. (CJB)

This “NT intellect” who wrote such evil about Yeshua, doesn’t seem to realize that the “grave of the wicked” that Yeshua ended up in for a short while was She’ol (Matthew 12:38-41, Ephesians 4:7-10). And that his human body, his mortal flesh, DIED – like any other human ... and that he did this for a reason: To - like the Passover Lamb - OFFER HIMSELF to become our substitute, our redemption: https://blog.therefinersfire.org/2019/03/the-passover-connection-to-yeshua.html.

Take a good look at verses 9 and 10, where you will see that ADONAI would be pleased to see His Son choosing to obey him, and that IF Yeshua did obey Him, He would prolong his days (in other words, give Yeshua, the human Messiah with a divine nature the right to “sit at the right hand of ADONAI” forever (Acts 7:55–56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1; etc.)

I’d say that Yeshua’s life was prolonged, wouldn’t you? “Forever” is a long, long time! YHWH prolongs the days of ALL who do HIS will through willing obedience.

Yeshua, His Son, was destined to martyr himself on our behalf at a specific time, and yet this Jewish-wannabe “intellect” has the audacity to try to debunk what YHWH clearly outlined in Isaiah 53….

And by the way, Yeshua wasn't "supposedly single" (as our “intellect” suggests) - he WAS single! He was never destined to have a wife, for YHWH wouldn’t have expected His Son to purposely turn a woman into a widow, leaving her with no income and no place to go….

And last but not least, the "seed" Yershua left was the seed of YHWH's Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven which true believers will get to enter. Yeshua came to Israel to show people HOW to do that.

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1. And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

And the Apostles wrote about what YHWH commanded and what Yeshua taught. Anyone who attempts to debunk that needs to go back to school and learn how to read!

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14. But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.
 

Parashah 48: Shof'tim (Judges) Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9

Shabbat shalom, mishpocah!  As always, you can find a synopsis of our weekly Torah portion on our website.

This week’s treasure:

Parashah 48: Shof'tim (Judges) Deuteronomy 16:18 through 21:9

Haftarah reading: Isaiah 51:12 through 53:12.

B'rit Hadasha suggested reading: Matthew 5:38-42; 18:15-20; Acts 3:13-26; 7:35-53; 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 1 Timothy 5:17-22; Hebrews 10:28-31.

Remember, we’re in the process of discussing Moses' "last will and testament."  It was what he said the day he departed from the Israelites as they were making their Exodus through the desert.

In this parashah we see YHWH handing down further instructions to His people that still apply to us today, yet are - unfortunately - ignored by most. (Remember, ALL who believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are HIS people!) Please read the following very carefully:

Deuteronomy 16: 18 "You are to appoint judges and officers for all your gates [in the cities] ADONAI your God is giving you, tribe by tribe; and they are to judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You are not to distort justice or show favoritism, and you are not to accept a bribe, for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of even the upright. 20 Justice, only justice, you must pursue; so that you will live and inherit the land ADONAI your God is giving you.

It's a sad commentary on our society to see our current judicial system ignoring this! We've thrown God out and are judging by man's laws today....

"You are not to distort justice or show favoritism" .... Whose justice - man's or God's? "...you are not to accept a bribe...." How many of our "worldly" judges and leaders are guilty of this? How many votes have been "bought" by our political leaders, and how many people have bribed their favorite candidates with money? "The land" YHWH promised His people was, of course, Israel at that time. But the thing is, "Israel" consists of all believers in YHWH who are all supposed to obey HIS commands for all time - and "their land" must be free of all "other gods" and idols and pagan ways....How much of America (or the world, for that matter) is free of pagan ways and "other gods"?

To get started, imply click on the link above to read our synopsis, and then read all of the Torah, Haftarah and Brit Chadasha portions outlined in our article.

Did Jesus really only come to “bring the Gospel?”

Mainstream Christianity insists "Jesus" preached the Gospel - the Good News about the Messiah's death, burial, and resurrection - which is all some people tend to focus on. But Scripture, read in context, reveals He did NOT preach those things at all; rather, He preached the Kingdom of YHWH (Yahweh)!

Luke 4: 43 "But he (Yeshua/Jesus) said, "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."

Luke 8: 1.And it happened after these things that Y'shua was going around in the cities and in the villages and was preaching and declaring the Kingdom of Elohim.

Acts 28: 23 "From morning till evening the Apostle Paul explained and declared the Kingdom of God and tried to convince people about Yeshua from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets."

Acts 24: 14 But this indeed I (Paul) acknowledge, that in that same doctrine of which they speak, I do serve the Elohim of my fathers, believing all the things written in Torah and in the prophets.

So, while his death, burial, and resurrection are an important part of the Good News, it's not the whole story! YHWH isn't just in the business of "saving" people. As Creator and law giver, He is in the business of teaching us how to be good subjects in His Kingdom to come! If His Messiah "Jesus" supposedly abolished Torah at the cross" then why was EVERY believer completely Torah observant for one hundred years after Yeshua's death, including the Apostle Paul who was "caught" being Torah observant 29 years after Yeshua's death (Acts 21:23-24)! Was Paul a hypocrite, saying one thing and doing another; or were his teachings, perhaps, misunderstood?

YHWH said HE would send a prophet who was to do everything He ordered him to do:

Deuteronomy 18: 15 "ADONAI will raise up for you a prophet like me from among yourselves, from your own kinsmen. You are to pay attention to him, 16 just as when you were assembled at Horev and requested ADONAI your God, 'Don't let me hear the voice of ADONAI my God any more, or let me see this great fire ever again; if I do, I will die!' 17 On that occasion ADONAI said to me, 'They are right in what they are saying. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kinsmen. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I order him.

Yeshua Himself said He came to do HIS FATHER's will; not his own!

John 6: 35. Y'shua said to them, I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to me will not hunger. And whoever believes in me will not ever thirst. 36. But I have said to you that you have seen me, and you do not believe. 37. All who my Father has given to me will come, and whoever comes not to me I will cast outside! 38. For I came down from heaven,[1] not to do my will, but to do the will of Him who sent me. 39. And this is His will, that of Him who sent me, that all that He has given to me I do not lose even one. 40. For this is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him, will have life that is eternal. And I will raise him up on the last day. (AENT)

[1] As in the context of Miltha (the Word) or the "Manifestation" or the "Will of" YHWH coming down from heaven to do the Will of YHWH upon earth; his Spirit is of YHWH but his nephesh (soul) and body are human and temporal. This shows that Yeshua was NOT in charge; HIS FATHER WAS!

Yeshua came to proclaim the Kingdom of YHWH and to do everything his Father commanded. He tore down the fences of man's legalism. Neither he nor his Apostles ever advocated against Torah!

John 12: 44. But Y'shua cried out and said, He who believes in me, it is not in me he does believe, but in Him who sent me. [1] 45. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me! 46. I have come as the light into this world that all who believe in me might not remain in the darkness! 47. And he who hears my words, yet does not keep them, I do not judge him, for I have not come to judge the world but to give life[2] to the world.

48. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, there is something that judges him. The word that I have spoken, it will judge him on the last day. 49. For I have not spoken from my soul, but the Father who sent me. He gave a Commandment to me what I should say and what I should speak. 50. And I know that His commands are eternal life. [3] Therefore, these things that I speak just as my Father told me, thus I speak.[4] (AENT)

[1] Y'shua does not bring a new Faith, but reveals the original Faith of YHWH the Father.

[2] Y'shua proclaims that he came to give life, then he declares that his father's Commands are eternal life! The Father's "Commands" are instruction in righteousness; this is Torah which contains Commandments, Judgments, Testimony and Witness regarding the Kingdom of Elohim. Those who enter into Covenant with Mashiyach are entering into Covenant with his Father YHWH; therefore, it is evil - an outright lie - to teach that Torah is done away with and replaced by a new theology!

[3] The Commands of YHWH bring eternal life. YHWH's "Commands" refers to all of His Commandments; these are one and the same as every Word that proceeds out of the Mouth of Elohim. These are not Commands only between Y'shua and his Father but they are universal for all souls who will enter into the Malchut Elohim.

[4] Y'shua speaks the Word of YHWH, not his own words; therefore, he conveys the revelation of YHWH according to the Ruach haKodesh without the baggage of man's religious tradition. Religion has a propensity to reinvent or interpret the Word of YHWH to make it "acceptable" to man's standards; whereas Mashiyach came not to please men, but to honor and bring Glory to his Father.

Yeshua was sent by the Father NOT to do his own will, but the Father's! So many seem to think he came to replace the Father and abolish Torah....Yet he came to restore man's relationship with YHWH and remind us to totally rely on YHWH for everything.