Hebrew Roots

In contrast to “Messianic Judaism” the relatively recent “Hebrew Roots Movement” is an emerging group primarily consisting of Gentile Christians worldwide covering a range of backgrounds, races and colour united under their devotion to God’s law. Throughout the history of Christianity, accounts can indeed be found of Christians that joined their practice according to varying levels of conformity with the Torah; for example, in the mid second century the Christian churches in Jerusalem and Asia Minor celebrated Passover on the 14 of Nissan in opposition to the Church of Rome that insisted on a transition away from the “Jewish” Passover to Easter Sunday. Melito, Church bishop of Sardis is known to have authored a Christian adaptation of the Jewish “Haggadah”- a text used by Jews to guide the Passover meal and the procedures and prayers involved. In 193 AD a letter addressing the issue was sent by Pope Victor I to Polycarp, the Bishop of Smyrna and beloved pupil of the Apostle John. Polyc...

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances (Dogmasin 1378) that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” - Colossians 2:14 Dogmasin is a variation of the greek word Dogma. Here are the only three instances where the Greek word “Dogma” or a variation of it is used in the New Testament: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree (dogma 1378) from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees (dogmata 1378) for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. – Acts 16:4 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees (dogmaton 1378) of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. – Acts 17:7 Dogma carries with it of a sense of something coming from man (culturally this is used for a religious decree or belief) but regardless of the type of decree – ...

“Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.” – Genesis 26:5 Have you ever wondered why God felt it necessary to include so many synonyms for law, to express the simple sentiment that Abraham was obedient to his requirements? Why the redundant use of “commandments” “statutes” and “laws” in one sentence, if God laid upon the Israelites the yoke of only one body of law to obey and not several? Searching through the variety of available English translations, it becomes clear that if these “synonyms” had any significance in the Hebrew – during the translation process into English they have lost all meaning: The NIV translates it as: commands, decrees and instructions. The ESV translates it as: charge, commandments, statutes, laws The CSB translates it as: mandate, commands, statutes and instructions It seems the CEV (Contemporary English Version) decided to skip the headache entirely: “because Abraham did everything I told ...