M
manichunter
Guest
The Apostle Paul claimed to be still a Pharisee. Why did he continue to make this claim? Was he a new type of Pharisee or was he always a different type of Pharisee? Ac 23:6 - But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. (All Scripture used is NKJV)
What was a Pharisee- Pharisaios
A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country's cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
At its most basic definition it meant to be separated or sanctified (holy) for God's use. It comes from the Hebrew root word parush. Its founders originally had good intentions, and some of its followers at the time of Christ had good intentions as members of the Pharisees as well. It was one of five school of thought or denominations at the time of Jesus. There is nothing different about to day concerning us following the same pattern of set different schools of thought and institutions.
We read a lot of stories of how Pharisees were converted to the Way of Jesus. Why? It has something to do with some of them being honest God seekers like Saul. Not all the qualities in the above definition are bad or could be applied to every Pharisee.
Here are some more honest Pharisees:
Joh 3:1 - There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Mr 15:43 - Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Jesus was buried in a tomb meant for a member of the Sanhedrin which had to be either a Pharisee or Sadducee since you had to be one in order to an Elder, you had to pick a side to get some where in politics like today's political parties, ain't nothing new under the sun.)
Ac 6:7 - Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (You could not be a priest at this time which was incorrect since some where not from the tribe of Levi unless you were a Pharisee or Sadducee)
Hence why is Paul still calling himself a Pharisee?
I think he meant something by it that we do not understand today. To be a Pharisee meant multiple things, some good and some bad depending upon the person.
They were the shepherds and pastors of Israel at the time and Jesus commanded the people to obey them. Matt 23:1-3 1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
http://www.biblicallifeassembly.org/lib ... f/toap.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee
There is a great gulf between today's christian thinking and that of the first century. Paul claimed to be a Pharisee and He backed it up by his observance towards Torah.
1.He kept the Holy Festivals
Ac 20:16 - For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
2.He instructed the Corinthian church to keep the Feast of Passover
1Co 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3.He made a vow and commited animal sacrifices in the manner of Torah. He did not rebuke James suggestion
Ac 21:26 - Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
4.He called the Torah holy
Ro 7:12 - Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
5.He said that he delighted in the Torah
Ro 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
6.He bragged on Ananias concerning him keeping the Torah
Ac 22:12 -"Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
7.He obeyed the Torah
Ac 21:19-24 19When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.
What was a Pharisee- Pharisaios
A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works. They held strenuously to a belief in the existence of good and evil angels, and to the expectation of a Messiah; and they cherished the hope that the dead, after a preliminary experience either of reward or of penalty in Hades, would be recalled to life by him, and be requited each according to his individual deeds. In opposition to the usurped dominion of the Herods and the rule of the Romans, they stoutly upheld the theocracy and their country's cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. According to Josephus they numbered more than 6000. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause; and were in turn severely rebuked by him for their avarice, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection of piety in order to gain popularity.
At its most basic definition it meant to be separated or sanctified (holy) for God's use. It comes from the Hebrew root word parush. Its founders originally had good intentions, and some of its followers at the time of Christ had good intentions as members of the Pharisees as well. It was one of five school of thought or denominations at the time of Jesus. There is nothing different about to day concerning us following the same pattern of set different schools of thought and institutions.
We read a lot of stories of how Pharisees were converted to the Way of Jesus. Why? It has something to do with some of them being honest God seekers like Saul. Not all the qualities in the above definition are bad or could be applied to every Pharisee.
Here are some more honest Pharisees:
Joh 3:1 - There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Mr 15:43 - Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Jesus was buried in a tomb meant for a member of the Sanhedrin which had to be either a Pharisee or Sadducee since you had to be one in order to an Elder, you had to pick a side to get some where in politics like today's political parties, ain't nothing new under the sun.)
Ac 6:7 - Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (You could not be a priest at this time which was incorrect since some where not from the tribe of Levi unless you were a Pharisee or Sadducee)
Hence why is Paul still calling himself a Pharisee?
I think he meant something by it that we do not understand today. To be a Pharisee meant multiple things, some good and some bad depending upon the person.
They were the shepherds and pastors of Israel at the time and Jesus commanded the people to obey them. Matt 23:1-3 1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.
http://www.biblicallifeassembly.org/lib ... f/toap.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee
There is a great gulf between today's christian thinking and that of the first century. Paul claimed to be a Pharisee and He backed it up by his observance towards Torah.
1.He kept the Holy Festivals
Ac 20:16 - For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the Day of Pentecost.
2.He instructed the Corinthian church to keep the Feast of Passover
1Co 5:8 - Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
3.He made a vow and commited animal sacrifices in the manner of Torah. He did not rebuke James suggestion
Ac 21:26 - Then Paul took the men, and the next day, having been purified with them, entered the temple to announce the expiration of the days of purification, at which time an offering should be made for each one of them.
4.He called the Torah holy
Ro 7:12 - Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.
5.He said that he delighted in the Torah
Ro 7:22 - For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
6.He bragged on Ananias concerning him keeping the Torah
Ac 22:12 -"Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there,
7.He obeyed the Torah
Ac 21:19-24 19When he had greeted them, he told in detail those things which God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, "You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; 21but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs. 22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. 23Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. 24Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.