It is obvious to most biblical scholars and philosophical thinkers that Yeshua/Jesus was a Jew. He viewed himself as a Jew from the tribe of Judah. Judah was an Israelite tribe derived from the Patriot Jacob, son of Issac, son of Abraham. The history which Yeshua learned from boyhood to manhood was text written in this book called the Torah/Tanakh. There was NO new testament text during the life of Yeshua/Jesus.
Yeshua lived in Nazareth of the Galilee and he walked to Jerusalem for his worship at the Temple of Yahweh. At age 12 he is reported to be learning his Jewish history and tradition with the rabbi's at the Temple. This Temple was a symbol of Yahweh's presence and his rule over the tribes of Israel. There were a total of 12 tribes of Israel (son's of Jacob) who viewed reality as derived from the Torah/Tanakh.
Yeshua would know clearly from his theology (and upbringing) that making himself God was anathema to all the principles and the morality within this scripture/text called the Torah. The Torah makes it clear that there is ONLY one God and that this God was Yahweh (the I AM God of Moses). Yeshua would be heretical if he were to ignore his Jewish God and make HIMSELF God. I find this idea ludicrous!
The lifestyle of Yeshua, which we can discern from his time period, reveals that he desired to serve his Jewish God. He desired to be a 'servant' who submitted to this Hebrew God which his parents honored and worshiped at the Temple in Jerusalem. Yahweh had demonstrated with his words and actions that his people were the Israelites who exited Egypt under the leadership of Moses.
The life of Yeshua ended tragically in or around the year 33 A.D. Yeshua had followed the teachings of his cousin, John the Baptist, prior to starting his own ministry. The ministry of John the Baptist was a ministry of 'repentance' and a submitting of oneself to the God of Moses. Yahweh was this God. Salvation and the Kingdom of Yahweh was the goal of John the Baptist and Yeshua.
The idea that Yeshua desired to replace the God of Moses with himself is ludicrous and idolatrous IMO. Yeshua would never desire this theology for himself or his disciples. But everything changed AFTER the death of this servant of Yahweh. New believers (who learned ABOUT this rabbi from Nazareth) started a NEW theology which eventually grew into this Christian Church called the Catholic Church of Rome.
All this happened decades AFTER Yeshua's death and AFTER this new theology emerged which was preached by a prior Jew who hated Yeshua and his ministry (while Yeshua was alive). Yeshua lived from around 4 B.C. to 33 A.D. During this period this Jew from Tarsus (Saul) did not know anything about the ministry of Yeshua and John the Baptist. Saul was a Pharisee who acquired his theological views from the authorities at the Sanhedrin/Temple. Tarsus, his home venue, was some 700 miles from Jerusalem and the Galilee.
Saul learned about this preacher from Galilee just prior to Yeshua's death. The viewpoint of the authorities (at the Sanhedrin) was that Yeshua was a rebel/blasphemer who did not follow the general theology of Moses and the Torah. This viewpoint made Saul of Tarsus (a determined Jew) angry and revengeful (on moral issues). He wanted to kill anyone who followed the teachings of Yeshua (who he assumed wanted to tarnish the core teachings taught within the Torah/Tanakh).
Saul, evidently, continued with his mindset for two or three years AFTER the death of Yeshua. Some time in A.D. 35 -37, Saul went to Damascus to deal with those disciples who wanted to follow the teachings of Yeshua (now dead). It was at this time that he (says) had a VISION from the 'virtual' Yeshua (now in heaven) who spoke to him (within his spirit/mind) and gave him a new gospel. Amazing!
This new gospel was at odds with the original gospel which Yeshua preached while alive. Yeshua preached, while living, that the coming Kingdom of his God was near. But Saul (who then took on the name Paul) nevertheless promoted this new 'visionary' gospel (about Yeshua as one who could SAVE all believers from their personal SIN). The gospel of Saul/Paul changed everything which Yeshua preached during his brief ministry (some 1-3 years).
Over time, this new gospel of Evangelist, Paul, became today's Christianity and this gospel evolved into this idea that Yeshua was now Deity (equal with the prior God of Moses). Yeshua (now glorified) was exalted to Godhood. This new gospel started mostly with the teachings at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. Emperor Constantine was the political leader at that time and he desired to promote this new Christian gospel to the people. The political/religious philosophy of Constantine was key to promoting this coming Catholic hierarchy. Amazing history.
Gradually, this new gospel became central and dominant for all believers who desired a political/religious hierarchy to rule over them. Roman Catholicism emerged over time and by the time of 451 A.D. (at the Council of Chalcedon) Yeshua had become the GOD MAN who could save everyone from their sins. A new gospel of salvation was preached by this new hierarchical Christian Church in Rome. The Pope (the leader of the cult) became the Vicar of Christ (on earth). Amazing!
What started out as a gospel of the coming Kingdom of Yahweh (during the lifetime of Yeshua) turned into a new gospel (theology) centered around the idea that Yeshua was now Deity (God Almighty) and also the Creator of mankind. Yeshua was now the GOD MAN who ruled from the heavens as he had been 'glorified' AFTER his death on the tree. Apparently, he was now 2nd in command at the right-hand of Yahweh.
By 325 A.D. the idea of a Trinity emerged which made the historical Yeshua equal with the Father and of the same 'substance' as the Father. This idea of God as a Trinity (three God Person's) became standard theology for ALL Christians to adopt as their worldview. The Catholic Church adopted this theology and preached these ideas to all disciples who desired salvation and eternal life. Christianity was now a 'replacement' for the prior historical Judaism. Replacement theology emerged everywhere!
The historical Yeshua who desired to be a SERVANT of Yahweh during his lifetime and who desired to promote the KINGDOM of his God (Yahweh) perished from religious reality as this NEW theology of a Trinity with Jesus as the GOD MAN emerged. Today, this theology, derived from Paul's teachings, is preached for the entire body of Christian believers to adopt (now some 2.6 billion). God is a Trinity and Jesus is the GOD MAN for planet Earth. Amazing!
As of 2022, many thinking believers in God desire to CORRECT all this deception which has emerged since the days of Paul of Tarsus. A respected scholar that I find credible is Bart Ehrman, https://ehrmanblog.org/, who is exposing much of this deception to the world of religious thinkers. Another is this rabbi over in Jerusalem called Tovia Singer, https://outreachjudaism.org/. Bart and Tovia should collaborate on issues of history and theological reality IMO.
My personal study and research shows that Evangelical Christianity is now a dying theology which will eventually be replaced with a new spiritual reality (understanding) based upon the idea that our CREATOR GOD rules this planet. This CREATOR GOD is not Yeshua/Jesus and the Vicar of Christ (our global Pope) is not representing religious reality with validity and truth as he promotes himself and his Church as the only valid theology for TRUE believers.
In reality, this Trinity God of Christianity is based upon PAGAN theology. It was derived from PAGAN theology (under Constantine after 325 A.D.). The idea that a Jew from Nazareth is GOD is also a PAGAN idea. The created can not be the CREATOR. Yeshua did not DESIRE to be God and he certainly did not portray this idea during his brief lifetime as a Jew. Yeshua PRAYED to his God (who was 'separate' from him). Think of his behavior while at Gethsemane to discern this 'separateness'.
Yeshua believed in the TORAH/TANAKH and this text viewed Yahweh (the God of Israel) as the ONLY God and Creator of mankind. A human messenger/representative can not be God Almighty. A Messiah person can not be God. A Prophet can not be God. God is a transcendent being who has given us NO IMAGE of himself. I worship God by faith and without any IMAGE. Images are a form of IDOLATRY. God does not respect IDOLATRY (images with the mind).
Give this rendition some reflection at your leisure. Think for yourself and develop your logic as you learn from experience. I must do likewise. Have a great day! I am: Donald B. Swenson, Economist/Philosopher, donaldswenson.blogspot.com. Also, http://kingdomecon.wordpress.com.
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