It seems obvious to me that Yeshua's character and his beliefs changed (were altered) substantially AFTER his death (say) 33 A.D. Prior to his death Yeshua was a Torah believing Jew (of Aramaic culture) who believed that his God, Yahweh, had chosen him to be a Jewish Messiah. He started his ministry after his baptism/epiphany. His mentor was likely John the Baptist, until John died via beheading under Herod Antipas. Yeshua's ministry then began with his teachings.
Yeshua's ministry was meant to promote the Kingdom of his God, Yahweh. He called some 70 disciples which helped him with his ministry. This ministry lasted some 1 - 3 years (no-one knows the full details). But his ministry ended with his trial and crucifixion. After his death, numerous sects and beliefs emerged. Various perceptions and beliefs developed within the area of historical Israel. One of sects which emerged was called the Ebionites. This sect even had their own Gospel (scripture). Another sect (similar) were the Nazarenes!
Many Jewish/Christian believers (sects) viewed Yeshua as fully human (not Deity) and born of Joseph and Mary (naturally). They did not believe in the 'virgin birth' or Paul's salvation doctrines. In fact, many viewed Paul as a FALSE prophet (a Heretic). The choice of the Ebionites (for a leader) was the brother of Yeshua, James. James started the Jerusalem church after Yeshua died and the Ebionites agreed with the teachings of James (mostly). James lived and preached until around 62 A.D. His following gradually died as the church in Rome became dominant.
The BIG event which gradually changed the beliefs of many followers of Yeshua (after his death) was the DESTRUCTION of the TEMPLE complex in Jerusalem. Yeshua had prophesied that this TEMPLE of YAHWEH would be destroyed completely. When this happened in 70 A.D. (some 37 years after Yeshua's death), believers fled the scene...some went to Jordan and others hid in this enclave called Pella. There were some 20 - 30 different sects which emerged after Yeshua's death (some say more). The message to understand is that there was no ORTHODOX church at this time.
Some three years after Yeshua's death, this evangelist, called Paul of Tarsus, emerged and started his ministry of Salvation via the 'blood' of this Messiah person, Yeshua/Jesus). Believers could achieve 'atonement' (forgiveness of all sins) as Paul taught that the glorified Yeshua paid the PRICE for anyone who would bow to his teaching of salvation via the 'blood' (death) of this Messiah from Nazareth. Paul taught that without the shedding of 'blood' there is no forgiveness of one's sins. Where did Paul get his gospel? It appears from his vision experience while on the road to Damascus.
This NEW GOSPEL which emerged from the teachings of Paul of Tarsus CHANGED completely the teachings of the historical Yeshua. Yeshua desired the Kingdom of his God and he viewed himself as a faithful SERVANT of his God, Yahweh (who adopted him as a Messiah person at his baptism). The Ebionites (and other sects) viewed Yeshua as a Messiah person who was a natural born Jew from Nazareth with this Kingdom gospel as his core teaching. The Gospel/sermon on the Mount demonstrated the teachings of Yeshua on this Kingdom concept.
Yeshua's teachings were about how to understand Yahweh's (his God's) law and his core teaching (prayer) which he wanted each believer to internalize demonstrated his beliefs. This prayer is key to the Gospel which Yeshua taught during his brief lifetime (and ministry). I repeat this prayer on a regular basis as it conveys the core teachings of this Messiah person (messenger of Yahweh). The words of this prayer are instructive if you think about these WORDS. Here are the core words (ideas) which reveal the teaching of this Messiah person, Yeshua.
Ignore the image (photo) as this is a reconstruction (image) which is rather deceptive and inappropriate. Yeshua was an Aramaic Jew who did not look like a blue eyed American (as shown above). Read the WORDS, however! The words reveal his thinking and his core beliefs.
Yeshua was an Aramaic Jew from Nazareth who probably looked like this image on the left!
After the Destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. many believers felt that the God of Israel had disowned his chosen Jews (Israelites) as their CENTRAL Temple Complex and Sanctuary were destroyed by Titus. The Romans had destroyed the Jewish complex (some 2 million dead) and the many Jewish/Christian believers fled the scene to Jordan and to Pella. Gradually, a NEW belief system emerged and this belief system was canonized after the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. Christians emerged as the STATE religion after the days of King Constantine the Great who promoted this religion as official for all believers.
In time a Central Christian body of believers emerged in Rome, Italy. This body created a POPE as the Vicar of the glorified Yeshua/Christ to serve as a god person (leader) for all believers. The Catholic POPE emerged as the reference point for all TRUTH and tradition. His words were viewed as direct words from the now glorified Yeshua/Christ who was supposedly residing at the right-hand side of Yahweh in the heavens. Today, our global POPE is called Pope Francis!
In time a canon of scripture was created which became official scripture for this Centralized Church group in Rome. Some 27 books called the New Testament were canonized and viewed as the official (orthodoxy) TRUTH for all believers. Some time around 393 A.D. and after the 27 books of the New Testament emerged as official documents. The common man did not really read these writings until much later. The Tyndale Bible emerged around 1534 A.D. This believer/translator was later burned at the stake for trying to flaunt the official hierarchy and their control system over believers.
The history of our Christian religion is filled with episodes of condemnation by the centralized authorities who desired ONE truth for everyone to believe. All this control ended (somewhat) with the Protestant Reformation after Luther's 95 theses in 1517 A.D. denouncing the Centralized Roman system of control (including the Pope). Gradually, a new theology emerged with scripture as the central reference point for TRUTH. All this has now ended (mostly) as we have entered the END TIMES for this Church Age.
Today, beliefs are eclectic and diverse within all religions. Truth is a point of view. Interpretations are derived by groups who can not agree on many of the core doctrines. Jews differ from Evangelicals. Evangelicals differ from mainline denominations. Some 4,000 different denominations have emerged (some say many more) which all differ in various degrees. Some hold firm to this Trinity doctrine and others have abandoned this doctrine. Jews and Muslims do not agree with most Christians.
All this points to the reality that we are living in the END TIMES (for religion and politics). Chaos is emerging as no single body of believers can agree on TRUTH. The Pope still wants to control the TRUTH for his 1.2 billion followers. But fragmentation is developing in this Catholic religion as it is in ALL religions. All this points to the reality that we are LIVING in the END of the END TIMES. A NEW model for our planet is needed. Truth is now subjective and people follow their own set of beliefs. The organized/centralized bodies are fragmenting.
My view is that we need to get back to the God of Israel as a core philosophy. This God was the creator of our planet IMO and still rules as our Higher Power within the consciousness of most believers. This Creator God was called Yahweh during the lifetime of our last Messiah (Yeshua). This Creator God is revealed in the book of Revelation, Chapter 4. Is this Creator God still viable and acting as Ruler over our universe/planet? My sense is YES! The Kingdom (Government) of this Creator God is emerging. My viewpoint! Think for yourself!
This scientist (non-believer) has it right IMO. The END is 'nye' for both believers and non-believers!
The Church Age started in 33 A.D. and it could end in 2023 -2030. A New model will then be necessary! Are we now in a transition period?
My sense is that all religion and/or the church age ends as our Creator God emerges as King over this universe/planet. Real freedom, justice, and happiness can then emerge for the planet! Is this reality or fantasy? You will need to consider this for yourself! The above is my viewpoint!
I am: Donald B. Swenson, Economist/Philosopher, donaldswenson.blogspot.com
http://kingdomecon.wordpress.com
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