Tag: First Century Christianity

The first century Christians viewed scripture and worshiped quite differently that modern Christians. These messages will address key parts of first century Christianity from the original point of view.

The Messiah Confrontation: Why Israel Knohl Says the Pharisees Wouldn’t Have Executed Yeshua

The Messiah Confrontation: Why Israel Knohl Says the Pharisees Wouldn’t Have Executed Yeshua

In this video, I review Professor Israel Knohl’s groundbreaking book The Messiah Confrontation, a work I first discovered through the excellent Kedem YouTube channel. Knohl argues that Yeshua’s execution was not the result of Pharisaic hostility—since the Pharisees, the ancestors of Rabbinic Judaism, would not have condemned Him—but rather the outcome of a trial dominated by Sadducees, a sect that no longer exists. Knohl laments that centuries of Christian–Jewish tension have been fueled by blaming “the Jews,” even though the group responsible disappeared long ago.

From a Christian perspective, I highlight an important point: if Yeshua is the Messiah, then His innocent death was necessary to fulfill prophecy. Without His death and resurrection, there is no Messiah and nothing for the crowds in Acts 2 to repent of. Antisemitism, which long predates Yeshua’s crucifixion, stems from ancient hatred of the children of Abraham—not from the gospel story itself.

Knohl devotes most of the book to tracing the development of messianic expectation in the Tanakh, the Qumran texts, and first‑century Judaism. He explains why many Jews expected a warrior‑king who would overthrow Rome, and why Yeshua’s message challenged those assumptions. While I disagree with Knohl’s rejection of Yeshua as the Messiah, his scholarship is honest, rigorous, and fair toward both Jewish and Christian traditions.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves deep, academic study of Scripture and the history of God’s people. Knohl’s treatment of messianic divinity alone is worth the read. My one critique is that he does not address Daniel 9, where the Messiah is linked to the destruction of Judea—something Yeshua explicitly referenced when He foretold the fall of the Temple.

If you enjoy serious biblical scholarship, this book is a treasure. I’ve also linked Knohl’s interview on the Kedem channel so you can explore his ideas firsthand. Shalom, and may YHVH bless you and keep you in the Name of Yeshua.

This book is available here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780827618992

https://www.youtube.com/@KEDEMChannel

The Goal of Scripture: From Eden to Isaiah 56 — What God Really Wants From Us

The Goal of Scripture: What is the real purpose of the Bible? Why did God give us His Word, His Spirit, and His commandments — and what does He actually want from humanity?
This teaching walks through Scripture from Genesis to Isaiah to uncover the consistent pattern of God’s relationship with mankind, our repeated failures, and His unwavering goal for His people.

We trace the story from the Garden of Eden to the Flood, from Abraham to the Exodus, from the Exile to the first‑century assemblies, and finally to the prophetic vision of Isaiah 56 — a “house of prayer for all nations.”

📖 What This Teaching Covers

• Slide 1 — Jude & the Purpose of Scripture

Why the Bible exists, what the Holy Spirit is doing, and how Scripture records the relationship between God and humanity.

• Slide 2 — Genesis 2:16–17

The Garden of Eden, the single command, free will, and the moment humanity chose disobedience.

• Slide 3 — Genesis 6:5–6

The Flood, mankind’s corruption, the covenant of the rainbow, the Tower of Babel, and God scattering the nations to restrain evil.

• Slide 4 — Genesis 26:4–5

Abraham’s obedience, the meaning of “Hebrew,” and how Abraham foreshadows Yeshua.
Why our blessing flows from His obedience — and why ours still matters.

• Slide 5 — Exodus 1:5–7

Joseph’s rise in Egypt, the parallels to Yeshua, and how God used famine and slavery to grow Israel into a nation.
The Exodus as a picture of salvation while still in sin — and what that means for believers today.

• Slide 6 — Jeremiah 29:10

Israel’s cycle of disobedience, exile, and God’s patience.
Why clinging to old traditions often leads us away from truth.

• Slide 7 — Second Temple Judaism

How Israel finally stopped mixing with paganism, the rise of various Jewish sects, and the emergence of the early Messianic believers (“the Way”).

• Slide 8 — Galatians 2:11–13

Peter and Paul’s confrontation over exclusion.
Why Israel’s isolation made sense historically — and why it became a barrier to the Gospel.

• Slide 9 — Luke 4 & Mark 11

Yeshua’s rebuke of spiritual exclusivity.
Why God’s house was always meant for all nations, and how Israel struggled with this calling.

• Slide 10 — Isaiah 56:1–8

The prophetic vision of foreigners joining themselves to YHVH through obedience, love, and covenant faithfulness.
God’s promise to gather “others” to His people — the ultimate goal of the Gospel.

🌍 The Big Picture: What God Wants

The entire biblical narrative points to one consistent truth:

God wants people from every nation to believe in Him and His Son — and to express that belief through obedience, love, and repentance.

We are not spectators in a cosmic conflict.
We are participants.
We must choose whom we will serve.

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The Sabbath is for all Mankind

The Sabbath is for all mankind. The Sabbath was created on the 7th day of creation, kept by all the apostles and early Christians, and will be kept in the future under penalty of death. YHVH aka God rested on the 7th day of creation as an example for mankind the same way that Yeshua aka Jesus was baptized. God was not tired and did not need rest after creating the world, He rested with Adam as an example. Yeshua was sinless and did not need to be baptized, He did that to be an example as well. The first century believers would never have considered changing the Sabbath or stopping it because that was the principle means they identified as worshipers of the one true God. This has never changed and this message proves from scripture that the Sabbath is not just for Christians and Jews, but for all mankind.

We’re Adopted, Now What?

We’re adopted, now what? It’s decision time, brothers and sisters, either decide to be a Christian and follow Him fully or don’t. After accepting Yeshua as the Messiah (Jesus as the Christ) and becoming an adopted child of God, then what? This message addresses what the first century gentiles had to do to change how they were living and become children of God. I then parallel that to today, which is shockingly similar. This message proves that the rituals in mainstream Christianity, the things believers are required to do to be considered believers, are actually from paganism and the same exact religions Paul and the other apostles were sent into the world to counter. It’s decision time, brothers and sisters, either decide to be a Christian and follow Him fully or don’t.

Be Comfortable in Your Belief System

Be Comfortable in Your Belief System: Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, or wear some other Christian moniker, please learn about your faith, where its practices come from, and then either be comfortable with it or make a change. Learn where the key doctrines of Sunday, Christmas, Easter, and the Trinity came from and contrast that to the first century church.

Yes, Christians are Supposed to Keep Passover

Yes, Christians are Supposed to Keep Passover. This one is a total slam dunk for us. There is no question the first century church kept Passover. Paul explains Messiah is our Passover and what we just did is as mirrored off the first century church as was can possibly do. This is not so we can be technically accurate, although that is important. But if we are to believe in this faith, we must pattern our lives after it and fully adopt it. Belief must be manifested as a change in behavior and practices.

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When and How to Interpret Scripture

When and How to Interpret Scripture

The bible is written in a style that us westerners aren’t familiar with. By learning a couple things about how scripture was written and expected to be received, we can glean a lot more truth even in our native languages. This message touches on the way first century believers would have interpreted the Old Testament and subsequently wrote the New. These tips will help you understand the scriptures closer to their original intent, when things are supposed to be taken literally, and when they aren’t. These are very big helps when trying to understand prophecy and the Apostle Paul.

Mainstream versus First Century Christianity

Mainstream versus First Century Christianity

Mainstream ChristianityFirst Century Christianity
Go to church on SundayKeep the Sabbath
Sunday, Christmas, EasterThe Holy Days of the Bible
Dead people are now spiritsDead people are dead awaiting resurrection
Trinity is mandatoryAccepting Yeshua as the Messiah and Son of God is the key to life
Works optional/not requiredRepentance and change mandatory
Goal of life is going to heavenBeing in a better resurrection/the kingdom of God/ the Olam Haba
Old Testament for reference onlyThe Old Testament was the only bible they had for decades
Christianity is a different/new religionChristianity is the continuation of the faith of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

Christian Rituals

Christian Rituals

Christian Rituals: We must examine ourselves before taking the bread and wine. Take a step back and examine what just happened with Easter Sunday. Look at the rituals and match them against what the Bible really says to do. Did your Easter services mention anything about examining yourselves? Did you take the bread and wine?

A Series of Crossroads

A series of crossroads

Explaining the basic series of crossroads we encounter in the faith on the road to the real truth of first century Christianity.