Early Church and the Messianic Jewish Kehilah

Early Church and the Hebrew Roots Christians

Prayer

We know from scripture that Jesus' followers kept the Sabbath and Jewish festivals (Acts 13:13-15; 17:2). Although the Apostle Paul was the disciple to the Gentiles, he was still thoroughly Jewish. We see that up until this time the Church in Jerusalem was very Jewish. This situation continued on throughout the first century and well into the second century.

The first Christians were all Jews or Jewish proselytes, either by birth or conversion,They differed from other contemporary Jews only in their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, referred to by historians as the Jewish Christians. Early Christians generally used and revered the Jewish Bible as Scripture, mostly in the Greek (Septuagint) or Aramaic (Targum) translations. As the New Testament canon developed, the Letters of Paul, the Canonical Gospels and various other works were also recognized as scripture to be read in church. Early Christians demonstrated a wide range of beliefs and practices, many of which were later rejected as heretical.

Jewish Christianity, initially strengthened despite persecution by Jerusalem Temple officials, fell into decline during the Jewish-Roman wars (66-135) and the growing anti-Judaism perhaps best personified by Marcion (c. 150). With persecution by the orthodox Christians from the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine in the 4th century, Jewish Christians sought refuge outside the boundaries of the Empire, in Arabia and further afield.

Peter baptised Cornelius the Centurion, marking the beginning of a mixed Jewish and Gentile church.although he was also a "God-fearing" proselyte who participated in a Jewish synagogue. The major division prior to that time was between Hellenistic and non-Hellenistic Jews or Koine Greek and Aramaic speakers. The conversion and acceptance of the Gentile Cornelius can be described in terms of the Judaic teaching which describes strangers becoming part of the community. Acts does not use the term "Jewish Christians", rather those led by James the Just, Simon Peter, and John the Apostle, the "Pillars of the Church", were called followers of "The Way". Later groups, or perhaps the same group by different names, were the Ebionites, Nazarenes and Elkasites.

A blow to this persecuted Jewish sect was the death of their 2nd leader (their 1st leader Jesus having been crucified c.30). According to Josephus, "the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James" met his death after the death of the procurator Porcius Festus, yet before Lucceius Albinus took office which has thus been dated to 62. Three events would greatly affect the fortunes of early Jewish Christianity. The first was the Conversion of Paul (and the possible conversion of his teacher Gamaliel), the second was the Council of Jerusalem, and the third was the Destruction of the Second Temple, which according to Josephus is seen as one of the most significant event of the Jewish Roman wars. According to the Church History of Eusebius, the line of Jewish Christian bishops of Jerusalem ended after the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-136).

Pastor Yosef Ben Marques © 2013

Daily Torah - Bible Verses

How do we apply scripture to real life as Messianic Jews - Nazarene?

Our sole purpose in life is to love and glorify Elohim, read the Torah everyday and follow all it's commandments through the Hebrew roots of our faith

We comply with what our Lord Yeshua said in Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" and only then you could be "persuaded in your own mind."

Therefore, "Let no man therefore judge you in food, or in drink, or in respect of an holiday, or of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days" (Col 2:16)

In these pages you will find how you and us as Messianic Jews- Nazarene following the whole Torah applying it to real life and live a successful and meaningful existence as observants of Torah, answering all our questions through it and through Yeshua the Messiah.

Why we use Hebrew names here

Messianic Jews - Nazarene love Elohim and use the original names of the Tanakh - Hebrew Bible in their daily prayers and in their congregations. The words "Jesus" and "Jehova" are not the original names that appear in the Tanakh - Hebrew Bible or the Greek New Testament. They are transliterations that all have use for so many centuries that almost become true. The real names are Yeshua and Elohim. Read More

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We, Nazarene - Messianic Jews, are committed Jews who love Elohim, read the Torah everyday, follow all it's commandments: the Law of Moses (without the sacrificial laws), embracing Shabbat. Biblical Festivals and the Commandments of our Savior Yeshua Hamashiach as a guideline for successful living..
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