The Abuse of Genealogies - Myths & Genealogies (Part 3)

On the Abuse of Genealogies 1 Timothy 1:3–8 (ESV) As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make con dent assertions. 8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 1 Timothy 1:4 (ESV) nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. fi Titus 3:9 (ESV) But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unpro table and worthless. “All women in Jesus lineage including Mary His mother, the Davidic line, had black blood ties to Ham, father of the black race’s bloodline. This book furnishes genealogical charts that prove that Jesus was a Palestinian black Jew with no Ashkenazi (white) Jewish blood in Him.” https://www.amazon.com.au/Jesus-was-BlackJew-Ashkenazi-ebook/dp/B08RCNVTFK. accessed 19 August 2022 Does Mary’s blood line go back to Ham? Luke 3:23, 36 (ESV) Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, 36the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, The One West Camp is a subdivision of Hebrew Israelite groups that believe in the Old Testament, the New Testament and the exclusive identi cation of the Twelve Tribes of Israel with ethnic communities of Black, Latin American, and Native American descent in the Americas. https:// Photo: Melina Mara/The Washington Post [1] fi en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_West_Camp. accessed 21 August 2022 What are the problems with this chart? Handout and group time Box labelled “Jesus Christ King of Israel” 1.What do you notice about the positioning of this box on the chart relative to the rest of the boxes? 2.Visually speaking, is the box about Jesus the central point of the chart? 3.Does the size and the positioning of the box communicate what the genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 communicate about Jesus? 4.Why aren’t there any genealogies in the Bible after Matthew 1 and Luke 3 that deal with the “Israelites—God’s Chosen People”? 5.How does Colossians 3:11 apply to some people’s desires for additional genealogies that don’t focus on Christ? 6.What other scriptures apply to the focus of this chart? Quotation from 2 Esdras 6:9 1. Count the canonical bible references on the chart. How many are there? 2.Is 2 Esdras 6:9 inspired scripture? 3.Why is 2 Esdras 6:9 the focal point of the chart? 4.Is Esau really “the end of the world”? Can/do any of Esau’s descendants ever be saved? 5.Is the Patriarch Jacob and/or his descendants really the beginning of the world that follows the old world? 6.How important did John the Baptist say that Jewish lineage was in the eyes of God? See Matthew 3:8-10. Synagogue of Satan 1. Look up Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. 2.In Revelation 2:9-10, what do “those who say they are Jews but they are not” do to the believers in the church of Smyrna? 3.In Revelation 3:8-10, how are those “of the synagogue of Satan” contrasted with true believers in the church of Philadelphia? 4.Is the Apostle John charging those “of the synagogue of Satan” with making false genetic claims or with other sins? 5.Since the Apostle John also wrote the Gospel of John, use John 8:39-44 and to explain Revelation 2:9 and 3:9. 6.How does Romans 2:28-29 support or undermine your answers to #s 4-5? 7.How does Romans 9:6-8 support or undermine your answers to #s 4-5? 12 Tribes of Israel migrated to Europe as Celts, Goths, Saxons, Irish, Scots, Danes, etc. The Twelve Tribes of Israel under the New Covenant. 1. What biblical references support the notion that the 12 tribes of Israel migrated to Europe as Celts, Goths, Saxons, Irish, Scots, and Danes? 2.What biblical references support the idea that the 12 tribes of Israel migrated as a group to any part of western Europe? 3.Is the New Covenant concerned about migration? See Jeremiah 31:31-33. 4.Does the New Covenant relocate God’s chosen people to any single part of the globe? 5.Does the New Covenant create a new people? See Romans 9:24-26. 6.What kind of people are created by the New Covenant? a new genetic line? a continuation of an old genetic line? a spiritual line? 7.How do 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8, 13; 9:15; 12:24 support or undermine your answers above? What does the synagogue of Satan refer to in Revelation 2:9; 3:9? Revelation 2:9–10 (ESV)“ ‘I know your [church of Smyrna’s] tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 3:9–10 (ESV) Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your [church of Philadelphia’s] feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. In Revelation 2, what are the people “who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” doing or saying? Revelation 2:9–10 (ESV)“ ‘I know your [church of Smyrna’s] tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.10Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. • slandering true Christians • throwing Christians into prison • killing true Christians Did/do genetic Jews ever slander, throw into jail, or kill true children of God? John 8:39–44 (ESV) They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.41You are doing the works your father did.” . . . 44You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning . . . In Revelation 3, what are the people “who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” doing or saying? Revelation 3:8–10 (ESV)“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your [church of Philadelphia’s] feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. • not keeping Christ’s word • denying Christ’s name • denying that Christ loves his people Why is Revelation 2-3 not referring to people falsely claiming to be physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? • Jesus de ned true children of God as people who believed His words. • John the Baptist taught the eternal irrelevance of Jewish physical lineage. • Paul de ned Jewishness as a matter of heart circumcision, not physical circumcision. • Paul described his own Jewish lineage as “dung” in comparison to knowing Christ. • The mystery of the gospel is that since Christ came to redeem Jews and fi fi Gentiles and to unite them into one body, one’s genetic lineage is of no importance any more. Jesus de ned true children of God as people who believed His words and had right actions like Abraham. fi John 8:39–44 (ESV) They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did.41You are doing the works your father did.” . . . 44You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John the Baptist taught the necessity of repentance and the eternal irrelevance of Jewish physical lineage. Matthew 3:8–10 (ESV) Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.10Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the re. Paul de ned Jewishness as a matter of heart circumcision, not physical circumcision. fi Romans 2:28–29 (ESV) For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.29But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Paul de ned Jewishness as a matter of heart circumcision, not physical circumcision. fl fi Romans 9:6–8 (ESV) But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8This means that it is not the children of the esh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. fl Paul described his own Jewish lineage as “dung” in comparison to knowing Christ. Philippians 3:3–8 (ESV) For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no con dence in the esh— 4though I myself have reason for con dence in the esh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for con dence in the esh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ Photo: Simon Carey The mystery of the gospel is that since Christ came to redeem Jews and Gentiles and to unite them into one body, one’s genetic lineage is of no importance any more. fl fl fl Ephesians 2:11–16 (ESV) Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the esh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the esh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his esh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. The mystery of the gospel is that since Christ came to redeem Jews and Gentiles and to unite them into one body, one’s genetic lineage is of no importance any more. Colossians 3:11 (ESV) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. British Israelism falsely claims that the “10 lost tribes” were Scythians and migrated to the British Isles. Even if that history were correct, does that matter? Colossians 3:11 (ESV) Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. What is British Israelism? “British Israelism (also called Anglo-Israelism) is the pseudoarchaeological, pseudohistorical and pseudoreligious belief that the people of Great Britain are "genetically, racially, and linguistically the direct descendants" of the Ten Lost Tribes of ancient Israel." [1] [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Israelism. accessed 19 August 2022 What is British Israelism? “ANGLO-ISRAELISM: A theory which identi es the Anglo-Saxon race with the Lost Ten Tribes.” https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1524-anglo-israelism. accessed 19 August 2022 What are the tenets of British Israelism? • Most Israelites are not Jews • British are descended from the Lost Tribes • British throne is a continuation of the Davidic throne • Britain and the United States are the inheritors of Jacob's birthright (i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Israelism. accessed 19 August 2022 British Israelism in Australia? In Australia, the promotion of British Israelism is still found in movements such as the Geelong Revival Centre (Headquartered in Norlane, Victoria). Literature from this group includes material such as:"History records the coming of the royal princess, Tamar Tephi (Tea Tephi), to Ireland in an ancient sailing ship in the year 583 B.C.. Princess Tephi, through King Zedekiah, her father, was a direct descendant of King David of the Bible. From the land of ancient Israel, via Egypt and Spain, the throne of David thus came to the British Isles. From Ireland, this throne subsequently moved to Scotland and nally to England, where it is established today under Queen Elizabeth.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Israelism. accessed 19 August fi 2022 British Israelism and anti-Semitism “Some American adherents of British Israelism would later adopt a racialized, strongly anti-Semitic theology that became known as Christian Identity, which has at its core the belief that non-Caucasian people have no souls and therefore cannot be saved. Since its emergence in the 1920s, Christian Identity has taught the belief that Jews are not descended from the Tribe of Judah." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Israelism. accessed 19 [11]: xii [9]: 68 August 2022 British Israelism and anti-Semitism “Instead, some Christian Identity adherents believe that Jews are descended from Satan and Lilith (see Serpent seed) while others believe that Jews are descended from Edomite-Khazars (see Khazar hypothesis of Ashkenazi ancestry). Their adoption of the British Israelist belief that the Israelite-derived Anglo-Saxons had been favoured by God over the ‘impure' modern Jews meant that a reluctantly anti-Semitic Klansman ‘could now maintain his anti-Semitism and at the same time revere a Bible cleansed of its Jewish taint.’" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Israelism. accessed 19 August 2022 The mystery of the gospel = Christ redeems Jews and Gentiles and unites them into one body, which makes one’s genetic lineage irrelevant in the church. Romans 10:12 (ESV)For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. Galatians 5:6 (ESV) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. What are the problems with this chart? • misunderstands “the synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 3:9) as a genetic issue rather than a spiritual issue • Quotes 2 Esdras as inspired scripture • tries to make 12 tribes of Israel the ancestors of Western Europeans • mistakes the new covenant as continuing a racial line rather than creating a new spiritual body • minimizes Christ to a small box instead of the head of the chart or the central focus of the chart • makes non-biblical distinctions between Gentiles c line of Gentiles rather than in the entire fallen human race fi • locates “the cursed” in a speci What’s the problem with focusing on genealogies? There’s no problem with proper attention to genealogies. Paul is forbidding an improper focus on genealogies. • “all scripture is inspired by God and is pro table”(2 Tim. 3:16) • “the law is good, if one uses it lawfully” (1 Tim.1:8) What does an improper focus on genealogies look like? • it is “endless” • it is obsessive—“devoted to” • it leads to “speculations” • it misses the goal of apostolic instruction—love springing from deep internal change • it misses the point of the OT law—to lead sinful people to an awareness of their sinfulness, not to offer hope in a genetic connection table and worthless conversations fi • it leads to unpro Hymn # 285: Beneath the Cross of Jesus