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The Rabbinical Teachings or the Church Fathers?



The sages of our faith have influenced our theology greatly. Followers of the Jewish ways lean on the Rabbinical teachings to interpret the Bible and followers of Christianity lean on the teachings of the Church Fathers for help in interpretation. The danger in either of these is that it is easy to allow man to dictate what we believe rather than allowing the Word of God to speak to us through the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Interpreting God's Word seems to be such a monumental task for most people that they simply don't try. Why struggle with the meaning of a passage when the most brilliant scholars in the world can not agree?

The rabbinical writings began with the writing of the Mishnah. The Mishnah is a collection of the Pharisee's oral traditions concerning their interpretations and applications of the Law. The Mishnah is written in a topical order while the Midrash follows the order of the Bible. The Talmud is a compilation of the Mishnah and the Gemara. The Gemara is an elucidation of the Mishnah and commentaries on other writings of the Old Testament books. While these Hebrew writings can be very valuable in helping us understand background information to the Sacred Texts, it also contains many traditions. Jesus had confrontations with the ruling Jews concerning many of these traditions. They criticized Him for healing on the Sabbath (Mark 3). Jesus referred to the law of pulling the ox out of the ditch on the Sabbath in opposition to their traditions.

Believers who are seeking to conform their practices to the Word of God sometimes run to the traditional ways of the Jews instead of the Word of God itself.

The other extreme is believers who base their beliefs on the Church Fathers. Modern Christian theology appeals to the interpretation of the Church Fathers as a basis of our beliefs and practices. They say that Jesus did away with keeping the law, the feasts, and Shabbat. How do we know He did? The answer is because the Church Fathers tell us that is what He did. The Church Fathers tell us that the early church met on Sunday rather than Shabbat.

It amazes me that most people who base their beliefs on the Church Fathers have never read the Church Fathers.

I have never met a theologian yet who has actually read the Church Fathers. Since the argument is that the Church Fathers received their teachings from Jesus Himself, then I want to read the oldest Church Fathers. This collection is called the ante-Nicene Church Fathers. I have read the ante-Nicene Church Fathers. Although they talk about Christianity, I do not find any evidence that these men were believers. In fact, by their own testimony they were philosophers from the school of Alexandria. Who said they were Church Fathers? There is no evidence that any of them received any of the teachings of the apostles.

It is time we stop following the "Church Fathers" and start following the Father of the Church! Many of the beliefs and practices of God's children today are based on many years of traditions of men. It is time we return to the Word of God as He intended it to be. Jesus lived on this earth to show us how to practice God's Word as He intended it. He died to save us from our sin. Jesus said He did not come to destroy the Law but to do it! (Matthew 5:17) The Greek word translated "fulfill" means "to do." When Jesus did the Law the Pharisees did not like it because His practice contradicted their traditions. Obviously the Pharisees traditions contradicted the Law!

The Church Fathers' traditions also contradict God's Word in many places. They say Jesus did away with the Law. They say Christians are not under the Law. If there is no Law then it would be acceptable to God for Christians to do whatever they want. Christians could murder, lie, commit adultery, and worship idols and that would be fine with God. I do not know of any sane Christian who would say those things are acceptable to God yet those same people say we don't have to keep the fourth commandment. There is no rational thought in such an argument! And we wonder why people do not want to become Christians.

Let us get back to the Bible! Let's get back to what the God's children should be!
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©Dr. Steven L Smith 2017


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