Israeli Jewish believers in Jesus say the recently publicized Hebrew tablet describing the death and resurrection of a messianic figure challenges centuries of teachings by rabbinic Judaism that the redemptive process of Jesus was a departure from biblical Jewish understanding.
The unique stone tablet dubbed "Gabriel's Revelation" contains 87 partial lines of archaic Hebrew in which the archangel commands a messianic ruler identified as the "Prince of Princes" to rise after having been dead for three days.
The tablet was found in neighboring Jordan some eight years ago, but just last week gained international attention after featuring as one of the centerpieces at a special Israel Museum event marking 60 years since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
The content of the tablet quickly made headlines after a leading Israeli professor of Bible studies, Israel Knohl of the Hebrew University, spoke of his conclusions regarding the script. In an interview with the International Herald Tribune, Knohl called the text "revolutionary" in its confirmation that Messiah suffering and dying was originally a Jewish concept.
Knohl differed with other experts who examined the tablet by suggesting it is speaking of a specific messianic Jewish figure named Simon, a first century BC leader who led a failed revolt against King Herod of Judea.
Knohl said that whether the tablet is speaking of Simon or not, the fact that the concept of a messiah figure suffering, dying and being resurrected was already established by the time of Jesus should shake the Christian world.
According to Knohl, the tablet proves that "what happens in the New Testament was adopted by Jesus and his followers based on an earlier messiah story."
But Gershon Nirel, a prominent Israeli historian and Jewish believer in Jesus, has a different take. He says the tablet is further evidence that Jesus was the kind of messiah Israel was waiting for, even if the rabbis now teach that Jesus failed to meet the biblical messianic criteria.
"Judaism is coming closer to the idea of redemption through the cleansing blood of Messiah, an idea that had been abandoned throughout the last centuries," said Nirel.
Israeli theologian and fellow Messianic Jew Tsvi Sadan added that even if Knohl's conclusions rub some believers in Jesus the wrong way, they still represent a step in the right direction.
"One can agree or disagree with Knohl’s conclusion, but the persistence of one of the leading Old Testament scholars in Israel today to prove that the death of the Messiah for Israel’s sake is not a Christian innovation is commendable in light of the tenuous relationship between the Jewish people and Jesus," explained Sadan.
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=16576
http://menorahblog.typepad.com
3 comments:
I read that story and it's quite a farce, really. Many portions of the stone are reportedly missing so much so that a coherent interpretation of the original text is not possible.
Anyhow, do they really need a stone to tell them that the Messiah shall come and die as the perfect sacrifice, as the propitiation, for our sins?
Hebrew Scriptures were very specific on when the Messiah shall come and what He will accomplish at His first coming.
I totally agree with you.
....but it looks like it took a lot
more then Jesus Himself to convince
them the first time. It looks like it will take more the a stone. The time of Jacob's trouble should do the trick. after that they will recognize the one they pierced. The
Rock of Ages.
God Bless,
BrotherMark
Sad it is ;-( that the multitudes believe a heretical
tradition regarding The One many, who say they are
believers, seek to follow. He Who is "The Messiah,
The Son of The Living GOD".
Seems there is undeniable proof that the traditional name
of 'jesus' was not The Messiah's GOD given birth Name
in any language! And proof exists in not just one, but all
New Testament Greek manuscripts from which catholic
and christian translators created their version of the
"bibles"!
Yes, undeniable proof!
First, the Greek word "Iesous" was used by those who
translated the Greek Septuagint, which was the Hebrew
to Greek translation of the Old Testimonies.
In the Greek Septuagint, which was translated prior to
the birth of The Messiah, the Greek word "Iesous" was
used to represent "Je(o)shua, son of Nun, so named by
Moses". (Numbers 13:16)
And so it was established that the Greek name "Iesous"
represented the Hebrew name YeHoWsHuwa'(which
should have been translated as Jeshua, rather than
'joshua' in the English language Old Testaments).
Then in most all the New Testament translations, from
the various Greek manuscripts, the word "Iesous" was
translated correctly as Je(o)shua(YeHoWsHuwa') in both
Acts 7:45 and Heb 4:8 and then the same Greek word
"Iesous" was traditionally(for the past 500, or so, years)
translated as their "imag"ined 'jesus' in all other places
of the English language New Testaments ;-(
However, in the original kjv(aptly named as king james'
version for it was of his church OF england) those who
did the translating of the New Testament decided to
rename Je(o)shua and declared the Je(o)shua of the
Old Testament to be of the same name as their
"imag"ined 'jesus' in both Acts 7:45 and Heb 4:8 ;-(
At least the translators of the kjv were consistent, and
in every place translated "Iesous" as 'jesus', yet the
result of their consistency is confusion ;-(
And so it was that a heretical tradition was established
less than 500 years past ;-(
Now if one wishes to take liberty and change the name
of the Old Testament "Je(o)shua" to 'jesus', well that is
their choice, yet a sad choice indeed and Truth ;-(
And worse yet you could accept the traditional lie that
the Greek word "Iesous" represents both "Jeshua" and
the catholic and christian 'jesus'. For those who seek
The Light of Truth that is confusing at best! Another
sad choice ;-( Simply, The Messiah, and Jeshua of
The Old Testimonies were given the same name.
I have been, and know that i will yet be accused of
having my portion with the "sacred name folk" or some
other similar religious group. And yet that is as far
from Truth as one could be, for i believe that, "that
which decayed and waxed old" did indeed and Truth
"vanish away" with the destruction of the earthly,
natural kingdom that was centered in old jerusalem.
The Kingdom of GOD is now Spiritual and the body of a
believer is the Temple for the indwelling Spirit, The Spirit
that leads believers on The Way to The Truth of The Life.
Sadly, many believe that a name is not important ;-( Now
when a man makes such a statement to me i simply reply,
"ok, if that's what you believe Martha", or if it be a woman,
"ok, if that's what you believe Matthew". And the Name
of The Messiah? Not important? Since when is Truth not
important?
Truth is important, for apart from Truth there is nothing
but "confusion and every evil work" and Truth IS that the
"imag"ined name of 'jesus' was not spoken for more than
1500 years after The Only True GOD raised The Messiah
from among the dead! Truth IS that The Messiah's GOD
given birth Name was YeHoWsHuwa'(Jeshua in modern
day English)!
Prior to the 16th century there was no 'j' sound in the
English language and that is is verifiable in most any
encyclopedia. And there never has been a 'j' sound in
either Hebrew or Greek.
Seems the vain "imag"inations of the "catholic" and
"christian" systems of religion have caused "The Way
of Truth to be evil spoken of", so why continue to use
their "imag"ined name for "The Son of Living GOD"?
Those who yet cling to the "imag"ined name of 'jesus',
after The Truth was presented unto them, have chosen
to accept the traditional lies of pagan catholicism and
her firstborn "christian" daughter, "the church OF england" ;-(
I am sad for all yet held captive by the "strong delusion"
that is their "imag"ined 'jesus' ;-(
Yet there is hope!
For Miracles do happen!
Hope is there would be those who would experience
The Miracle that is receiving "a love of The Truth"!
Truth IS, Yeshua(Jeshua in modern day english) is
The Messiah, Immanuel, The Son of The Living GOD!
Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of
this wicked world and it's systems of religion, for
"the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil
one"(1Jn5:19) indeed and Truth....... francisco
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