Faith of ancient Judaism was focused on the Law or Torah. Since the faith of early Christians came out of Judaism, they had to define the place for the Torah in their life. However, there was a problem. Many Christians had different opinions about the role of the Torah. The letters of Paul and the gospel of Matthew both attempt to explain how the Law should fit into the faith of Christians. Although the role of the Torah in Paul's letters and the Gospel of Matthew are different, they have some similar ideas.
Paul's opinion regarding the Torah was that a person does not get to heaven by obeying laws. Many early Christians were concerned about whether the men had to be circumcised or not. Paul said that circumcision was not necessary to be a follower of Jesus, because it is more important for a person to accept Jesus Christ into his or her heart. This is proved in Galatians 2:16 where Paul said, "Yet we know that people don't receive God's approval because of their own efforts to live according to a set of standards, but only by believing in Jesus Christ." Paul also mentioned that Christ's death would have been pointless if we could receive salvation by only obeying rules. According to Paul, Christ's death freed us from the laws such as circumcision, just as a wife is freed from marriage if her husband dies.
In Romans 7:10, Paul said, "I found that the commandment which was intended to bring me life actually brought me death." By this, He meant that sinful passion aroused from the Law and distorted the Law. Paul was not saying that the Torah was sin, but that the law of sin within us causes us to rebel against the Torah. Salvation, which is a relationship with God through the risen Christ, was what Paul preached. He taught that ethical behavior was a consequence of Salvation.
In the book of Matthew, the role of the Torah is different in some ways. Matthew 5:19 says, " So whoever sets aside any command that seems unimportant and teaches others to do the same will be unimportant in the kingdom of heaven.
Mark uses the symbolism of the cross as a representation of Jesus, while Matthew uses the symbol of the Torah. ... Matthew reads more like an instruction manual. ... By following the lessons in Matthew we can follow Jesus. ... Matthew did this by personifying Jesus as Torah. By having Jesus echo the Torah in his message, Matthew can relate with the Jews while also speaking to the Gentiles. ...
Paul's views on the proper relationship of Judaism to Christianity The spread of Christianity to the Non-Jews or Gentile world could not have been possible without the works of one man, Paul of Tarsus. ... The relationship that the Torah and the Law of Moses and the gospel are in that the laws were preparing us for the coming of Jesus Christ and the new teaching of the gospel. ... Paul also ties the Holy Spirit into this relationship. ... To conclude Paul views on the relationship between Jews and Christians takes many aspects. His views of Christians not following the law but the spi...
Paul played a significant role in the foundation and growth of Christianity. ... Paul was an advocate for the inclusion of all among the followers of Christianity. ... In Paul's letters to the Galatians he elucidates the fact that there should be no discriminatory restrictions as to who can practice Christianity, "Gentile or Jew, servant or free" (Galatians 3:28). ... Although Luther conducted these acts hundreds of years after Paul's existence, Paul's teachings had an enormous impact on Luther's work. ... His letters offer guidance in religious practice, such as ...
The Role of the Local Church with Regard to Missions I. ... So I hope in giving this lesson to help make clear the role of the local church in cross-cultural missions. ... Mary had support in Joseph (Matthew 1). ... God wants you to give to His work (Matthew 10.8). ... Methods of communication: Letters, emails, telephone, radio, photos, video or audio tapes, care packages, and even personal visits. ...
The Sadducees believed in the Torah and only the Torah. ... Paul is believed to be the founder of the Christian faith that is outside of Jesus himself. ... It is believed that Paul received a revelation from God on the road to Damascus. ... The vision told Paul that he, the Messiah, was the very Jesus whose followers Paul sought to destroy. ... Matthew, to convert the world to Christianity. ...
He pronounces that Jesus is the Messiah (Matthew 16:16). ... The point here is that perhaps Peter wanted to cover two different subjects in two different letters. ... That means the author should remain the same between the two letters. ... They also do not dismiss the simple fact that these two letters include the name of the author to be Peter. ... It seems that the audience includes many churches that Peter and Paul ministered to. ...
In the case of my chosen faith Judaism, the sacred texts play are pivotal role in the creation of a dynamic religion. ... Every single Jew is commanded to know the Torah, and the first sentence that a Jewish child is taught is Torah tziva lanu Moshe, morasha kehilath Yaakov ― "Torah was commanded to us through Moses and it is the inheritance of every Jew." Torah was meant for everybody. ... This moral law is embodied in the protocols laid out in the Torah. ... As mentioned previously the Torah is the most sacred Jewish text. ...
