He called himself a Pharisee, but claimed a birthline from Jacob/Israel. Hence, "Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;" Philippians 3:5 He was a Benjaminite, and to be a Pharisee did not necessarily mean that one was a jew. Pharisee simply put is "
5330 Pharisaíos – properly, "a
separatist, a
purist";
a Pharisee."
["Pharisee" is derived from the Aramaic term,
peras ("to divide and separate"). This literally refers to a "
separatist"; hence, a Pharisee was someone "
separated from sin."]" Before the birth of Christ and John the Baptist, it is believed that the remaining Judahites, Benjaminites, and Levites in the area actually became the 1st Pharisees. Much like the Democrats and Republicans of today, within a few hundred years it is easy to forget what people
used to be like. To be a Pharisee was a symbol of power among people in that era, much like today many people admire members of Congress, or the U.S. Senate. And not that these people aren't good people, (although today there aren't many good politicians anymore), but we know that evil inspired people sometimes get into offices through usurpation of powers.
Also, In Galatians 2:15 when Paul says "[sup]15[/sup] “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles [sup]16[/sup] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[sup][
a][/sup] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified." It would more accurately read as thus :
"15 We, Judaeans by nature, and not wrongdoers from the Nations, 16 knowing that a man is not deemed righteous from rituals of law, if not through the faith of Yahshua Christ, we then have relied in Christ Yahshua in order that we would be deemed righteous from the faith of Christ, and not from rituals of law, since not any flesh shall be deemed righteous from rituals of law. 17 Now if seeking to be deemed righteous in Christ we ourselves are also found to be wrongdoers, then is Christ a minister of failure? Certainly not! 18 For if I again build these things which I have destroyed, I continue a transgressor myself. 19 For I through law have died in law, in order that in Yahweh I shall live. I have been crucified with Christ. 20 Now I live no longer, but Christ lives in me. And that I now live in flesh, in faith I live: in that of the Son of Yahweh, who having loved me then surrendered Himself on my behalf" - Christogenea New Testament
He was proclaiming that they are unique that
by nature they are Judeans(predominately of Israelite stock), meaning by birth, through the nature of their families. Also, they are not
wrongdoers from other
nations. Seems a little racist that Paul would, in essence, be saying "Those
other people do evil, but we do not because we are born of God, as white, Israelite men."
See, a simple mistranslation of the greek into 'Jew' and 'Gentile', causes more confusion that is necessary. There is simplicity in Christ, but its been made difficult to find because of the translators before us. Many chose the wrong term because they simply were ignorant of anything else. And a few purposefully removed and replaced things they deemed too.....controversial.
Yahweh wouldn't kill him if he allowed Cain to be part of the plan.
Scriptures declares how much Yah Hates Esau and Edom for ever.
They are the Tares I believe that Christ was referring to.
Many teach that God is the God of Love and loves everyone, Love the sinner hates the sin.
That isn't what the Tanahk teaches.
Psa 137:9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stone
Mal 1:4 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
that is Esau mixed with Cains Seed..
What a contrast to the teachings of Christ.
Yes I know the New covenant love your enemy and all that.
Yahweh is never changing yet the covenant changed.
Does he still have indignation against Edom forever?
.
my contention is that we are only to 'love our
racial enemies.' They too are in Christ as well, and we must work together to build the kingdom. Instead of hating the very people that Yahshua came for (Israelites), and loving every evil thing in this world, we should abhor and despise anything that is contrary to Christ. Including other peoples religions, ideals, and methodology. If it is
anti- Christian, we must abhor it.