Ask an Jew Anything on your mind

[theLords]

Well there are some differences since the evolution of Christianity. I'm not saying everything has changed. But with the rise in Christian converts in history and the smaller number of Jewish Christians. You cannot doubt the Christian OT is not the exact Jewish bible. Trust me I should know.

Well, I'm not exactly inclined to trust this knowledge from you because you are still learning and not "officially" a Jewish convert yet. My understanding is that there are many other Jews who recognize that the Christian Old Testament is the Jewish Tanakh.

The problem I'm having is that you were unable to answer the question. You keep stating that the Old Testament has been changed, yet this is untrue! I'm grateful that you have brought this to light. Now, we as Christians can understand the Jewish rejection of Christ in a brighter light! I had no idea that the Jews were going around teaching this lie!

So, one more time, please allow me to ask this question and please answer with a yes or no: If a Jew and a Christian, read the same exact Jewishly produced English translation of the Tanakh, like the JPS--are they or are they not reading the same exact Holy book?

 

[Johnny916]

Well, I'm not exactly inclined to trust this knowledge from you because you are still learning and not "officially" a Jewish convert yet.

The problem I'm having is that you were unable to answer the question. You keep stating that the Old Testament has been changed, yet this is untrue! I'm grateful that you have brought this to light. Now, we as Christians can understand the Jewish rejection of Christ in a brighter light! I had no idea that the Jews were going around teaching this lie!

So, one more time, please allow me to ask this question and please answer with a yes or no: If a Jew and a Christian, read the same exact Jewishly produced English translation of the Tanakh, like the JPS--are they or are they not reading the same exact same Holy book?

I wouldn't say the exact same text. Since many Christians have changed the text over time for various reason. You would have to study various Jewish sites understand in detail about the differences. I can link you if you want.

 

[jasoncran]

well being the only know christian here of jewish descent. i took my bible and compare my grandmothers tanakh(in archaic english) i found some amazing things. word for word with the kjv in the same era of english. the books were in different order. i compared proverbs 3:4-6 and also some verses in isiah and psalms 23.

how could that be if the kjv is corrupt.

 

[theLords]

I wouldn't say the exact same text. Since many Christians have changed the text over time for various reason. You would have to study various Jewish sites understand in detail about the differences. I can link you if you want.

Okay, so your answer is no. Do you see the problem in your "no" answer? Who are you studying under? Are you self teaching yourself through websites?

 

[Johnny916]

This is not working out here. Can I be banned? How do I delete my account? I cannot waist my time of lies.

 

[Theofilus]

Well,You keep stating that the Old Testament has been changed, yet this is untrue!

I'm afraid Johnny is right on this. It was changed when it was translated. That is true of any text and between any two languages. Very often, a word can be translated in more than one way. Which translation is chosen will depend on the tranlator. If a Christian is doing the translating, then he will choose to translate it in the way that is most consistant with his Christian beliefs. If an Orthodox Jew is translating, then he will translate it in a way that is more consistant with his beliefs. But even then, translating accurately between two languages that are as different as Hebrew and English is very difficult. The only way to be sure you're reading the Tanak as it was intended to be read is to learn Hebrew.

That being said, I believe that God is capable of preserving His Word, and that no essential doctrines have been corrupted.

 

[Theofilus]

I would like to ask you something completely different than others have asked.

Two sects of Judaism are mentioned in the New Testament - the Pharisees and Sadusees. I've been told that Orthodox Judaism is basically a modern version of Phariseism and that Orthodox Jews themselves say so. Is this true?

There is a much smaller sect of Judaism today that claims to be a modern day version of Saduceism. They are called Karaites. Do you know anything about them and what do you think of their beliefs?

 

[theLords]

I'm afraid Johnny is right on this. It was changed when it was translated. That is true of any text and between any two languages. Very often, a word can be translated in more than one way. Which translation is chosen will depend on the tranlator. If a Christian is doing the translating, then he will choose to translate it in the way that is most consistant with his Christian beliefs. If an Orthodox Jew is translating, then he will translate it in a way that is more consistant with his beliefs. But even then, translating accurately between two languages that are as different as Hebrew and English is very difficult. The only way to be sure you're reading the Tanak as it was intended to be read is to learn Hebrew.

That being said, I believe that God is capable of preserving His Word, and that no essential doctrines have been corrupted.

I understand what your saying, but this simply touches on translation variations due to language, and not what I am trying to get across.

The fact that Johnny answers this question of mine as no is what is troubling:

So, one more time, please allow me to ask this question and please answer with a yes or no: If a Jew and a Christian, read the same exact Jewishly produced English translation of the Tanakh, like the JPS--are they or are they not reading the same exact Holy book?

A Jewish convert must still rely on an English translations of the Tanakh until the Hebrew language has been mastered, the same as a Christian would have to. Now as Christians we have our Strong's and our Lexicon's and the Holy Spirit to guide us. We have the ability to go into deep Bible study on a word for word basis.

To call the Old Testament corrupt within this context, is in fact untrue.

 

[Johnny916]

Are you guys mad at me?

 

[jasoncran]

well johnny you came here and stated you are jewish proselyte . i approved your first post and was curious to what you would do. being of hebrew descent and just having debated(in fact in the middle of that ) the jews on fb. i relished the oppurtunity to learn. i know you wont convert. and trust me we aren attacking you.but the bible is a HOLY BOOK to us and you claim its full of errs and lies. well one came here knowingly that we are christians and you kinda brought that on yourself.

if went to jewfact.org and they had a forum and i said that the torah isnt all that is the revealed words and then claimed the bible as fact in the first few posts. i would expect to be hammered.

if i did do such a thing . i would go in prepared. i'm on a athiest/agnostic forum to learn more on science. i have stated to some in private what i am and also in the religious sections what i believe. on of the mods there is here as a member. i dong hide what i believe. i dont go into the science section and start threads on evolution is false and creationism is true. i could do that with the religious section but i choose not to. i'm learning more by simply aking questions on what the big bang theory is and now fusion power.

i have made my mind on why i dont by the big bang theory on a scientific reason.but that is for the science forum.

 

[Johnny916]

I feel sad now. I just feel confused. I never like debating because I don't understand everything. I'm always alone. I want to be something I feel inside but not in my background. I want to be free and be the person I wish I could. I love life but also hate it. I poured money and time into everything. I hate myself.

 

[theLords]

I feel sad now. I just feel confused. I never like debating because I don't understand everything. I'm always alone. I want to be something I feel inside but not in my background. I want to be free and be the person I wish I could. I love life but also hate it. I poured money and time into everything. I hate myself.

How old are you, my dear? I'm sorry to see that you are feeling sad and confused.

The fact that you have a desire to worship and seek YHVH God is beautiful. We as Christians, serve YHVH God. He is calling you towards Him. He wants to heal you of your sadness and your confusion and help you to love life. He is drawing you towards Him. Continue in your Hebrew studies and in seeking YHVH God.

As a Christian, I simply desire to clear up the misconceptions you have about Christianity. Like the one that the Old Testament is not the Hebrew Scripture. I understand that Jews and Christians interpret the Scriptures differently, that's true! But to say that the texts in and of themselves are corrupt is misinformation and untrue.

 

[jasoncran]

I feel sad now. I just feel confused. I never like debating because I don't understand everything. I'm always alone. I want to be something I feel inside but not in my background. I want to be free and be the person I wish I could. I love life but also hate it. I poured money and time into everything. I hate myself.

why? ah so what your not a jew. to be one that is a real according to my bible is simply to believe in the LORD. when i got saved, unlike most christians i went to the the tanakh.yup God told me this is your roots , learn it. its where you came from. i learned enough on judaism that way that my dad believed i was going to temple.the only time i put on a yarmuk is when my family members died.

i love the tanakh. theres soo much there that points to the Lord. i have taken the beatitudes and shown them in the tanakh before and also pauline quotes. whiles its true that the bias of the translators is there. both of us operate on faith. you say i'm wrong on faith and vice versa. but when you look at the tanakh and compare texts there really no corruptions.(with the masoretic using bibles and others that used reliable texts)i prefer the kjv some dont. i do.

i ask that you at least compare the kjv english to one of the jewish tanakhs and compare them as both must be in archaic english and see what you get. i was shocked!

 

[Johnny916]

This is hard to say but I'm 22 years old. Even more difficult to say I'm not perfect. I made to many bad decisions in life. Judaism in my eyes is perfect! Something will make me better but also allow me to fix my broken memories of the past. I feel like I'm forcing myself in a prison cell. Since I'm in my room majority of the day. I'm living but I have no life. Even though I'm respectful most of the time. I feel like life is pointless. Sorry for cursing but I messed up to many times in my life and I'm paying for it. I'm jealous people are happy. Have happiness. I feel I can never be happy or loved.

edited post.

 

[jasoncran]

ok, you got that before i did lords.

anyway, well then lets forget theology for the moment.

why do you feel down?

 

[Johnny916]

ok, you got that before i did lords.

anyway, well then lets forget theology for the moment.

why do you feel down?

The umbrella reason is I'm alone. I can go outside. I'm just alone. I want to be with people not alone. I have a few friends and a small family. But I want to get out and be 22. When you're also alone with your thoughts you can feel like you are going insane.

 

[jasoncran]

The umbrella reason is I'm alone. I can go outside. I'm just alone. I want to be with people not alone. I have a few friends and a small family. But I want to get out and be 22. When you're also alone with your thoughts you can feel like you are going insane.

so converted to judaism is going to help?

ok what do you feel a 22 yr should be doing by know? if you dont want to talk in the open you may pm me or the lords as she is closer to your age. when i was 22 i was into sin and was a thief, and a few months after my 23 yrd bday i came to christ after my sin of bisexuality. i hate me as a person then and struggle with that at times. i also didnt know what the real definition of a man was. i struggled with women and i had to skills. i was an outcast in my eyes. to date God healed me of bisexuality(i no longer have to lust or want men) and he also healing me of self loathing and i have accepted that i am a nerd.i have been married. instead putting my identity on what i have in materials and the gorgeous body as a gf/wife. its now who i am in CHRIST. I came to God wanting to be healed, and he has done just that, sure it wasnt overnight but he is doing what he said he would do. setting me free!salvation isnt just all at once (yes your soul is just as saved)but the life you live must line up with what the bible says.

 

[theLords]

This is hard to say but I'm 22 years old. Even more difficult to say I'm not perfect. I made to many bad decisions in life. Judaism in my eyes is perfect! Something will make me better but also allow me to fix my broken memories of the past. I feel like I'm forcing myself in a prison cell. Since I'm in my room majority of the day. I'm living but I have no life. Even though I'm respectful most of the time. I feel like life is pointless. Sorry for cursing but I messed up to many times in my life and I'm paying for it. I'm jealous people are happy. Have happiness. I feel I can never be happy or loved.

edited post.

Thank you for sharing your heart with us. I am sorry to see that you are in so much pain. Judaism is beautiful because the Lord YHVH gave it to the world so that through it, the world could have salvation and be reconciled to Himself (through Jesus Christ) in fellowship once again.

I am not perfect either, and I have many mess ups in my life that I still lament over. I have mess ups that will be with my until the day I die. I currently messed up so bad, that I'll be paying for it for the next 10 years! Our mess ups are extremely painful. God wants to take our hearts and our pains away and heal us.

Look at what the Hebrew Scripture says:

Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called terebinths of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, wherein He might glory. (Source: Isaiah 61 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre)

The Lord YHVH whom you serve desires to give you garland for ashes, and the oil of joy for your mourning. He desires to give you the spirit of praise in return for your spirit of heaviness.

The Lord YHVH doesn't want you to be lonely. He wants to be your friend, just as He was Abraham's friend!

2 Chronicles 20:7
Didst not Thou, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham Thy friend for ever? (Source: 2 Chronicles 20 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre)

Isaiah 41: 8
But thou, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham My friend; (Source: Isaiah 41 / Hebrew - English Bible / Mechon-Mamre)

(All quoted Scripture comes from the Hebrew source in respect to you Johnny)

Johnny,
You said you used to be a Christian? What turned you away from Christianity?

 

[Johnny916]

so converted to judaism is going to help?

ok what do you feel a 22 yr should be doing by know? if you dont want to talk in the open you may pm me or the lords as she is closer to your age. when i was 22 i was into sin and was a thief, and a few months after my 23 yrd bday i came to christ after my sin of bisexuality. i hate me as a person then and struggle with that at times. i also didnt know what the real definition of a man was. i struggled with women and i had to skills. i was an outcast in my eyes. to date God healed me of bisexuality(i no longer have to lust or want men) and he also healing me of self loathing and i have accepted that i am a nerd.i have been married. instead putting my identity on what i have in materials and the gorgeous body as a gf/wife. its now who i am in CHRIST. I came to God wanting to be healed, and he has done just that, sure it wasnt overnight but he is doing what he said he would do. setting me free!salvation isnt just all at once (yes your soul is just as saved)but the life you live must line up with what the bible says.

Well I respect you. It is strange you mentioned "bisexuality". I have actually started to lust after men for some reason. Picturing myself as a feminine male. Even though one of my goals in life is to get married to a woman and have a family with her. Sometimes I wonder what is going on with my mind and how the human brain functions like it does. I would be telling the truth that I have lied before. I would also be telling the truth I have sinned many times. I probably have sinned more then I lied. Who knows. Like I mention before my life is not in a good place. I'm in good health, I help people, i have good intitions for myself. I just want apart of the pie. Seeing Judaism changed my mind on going down the road many are going. I felt I never had the family I wanted growing up. I feel Judaism will bring into the Jewish family and allow me to meet a nice Jewish woman to have a children with. Also I want to be a Freemason since many of my ancestors are Masons and the fire burning in my heart just tells me Judaism is true. I'm not someone wanting a revolution. I want to be there for everyone. Feel true love, respect, family and all that.

 

[PouringRain]

This is hard to say but I'm 22 years old. Even more difficult to say I'm not perfect. I made to many bad decisions in life. Judaism in my eyes is perfect! Something will make me better but also allow me to fix my broken memories of the past. I feel like I'm forcing myself in a prison cell. Since I'm in my room majority of the day. I'm living but I have no life. Even though I'm respectful most of the time. I feel like life is pointless. Sorry for cursing but I messed up to many times in my life and I'm paying for it. I'm jealous people are happy. Have happiness. I feel I can never be happy or loved.

Johnny, I am sorry that you feel this way about your self and your life. I think it is great that you want to draw close to God and that you are seeking him. Only God can fix your broken memories of the past and heal you.

It sounds as though you are using Judaism as a means of escape and running from the things you hate about your life. What happens when you become a Jew and you realize that Judaism is not a perfect religion and Jews are not perfect people? What happens when it doesn't make you happy? What happens when you realize that no matter how much you try, you will never be perfect and live up to all the laws? If you feel we are ganging up on you, what happens your fellow Jews speak out against things you do and don't do?

You do not need to answer any of those questions. Just some things to think about.