I guess you don't know that this was officially interp'd by the apostles in Acts 15.
Well, let's read Acts 15 together, and see if we can figure out what's being said.
| And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” |
So, men from Judea, Jews, came and taught the gentiles Paul and Barnabas had converted (aka Christians), and taught them that they had to keep the law of moses and be circumcised.
This is contrary to what Paul teaches, yet is in line with what the 12 Apostles teach in their ministry.
| Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders, about this question. |
Because what the men from Judea were teaching was contrary to what Paul had taught the Christians, there was a huge debate about who was right. So they decided to take it up with the 12 Apostles and elders in Jerusalem, to resolve it.
| So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them.But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” |
You'd think that if Paul and Barnabas were teaching the same things to their believers as the 12 were to their converts, then there wouldn't be any dispute, and especially not over something as important as circumcision.
So here's what we know so far:
Israel was being taught that they were required to circumcise and keep the Mosaic law to be saved.
Gentile believers (aka Christians) were being taught that they did NOT have to circumcise nor to keep the Mosaic law to be saved.
| Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us,and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” |
What is this "yoke which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear" that Peter is talking about? It's the Law. Specifically, the Mosaic law. Peter then goes on to say that they (Israel) will be saved in the same manner as they (the Gentiles), by grace through faith.
| Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, |
Now we get to the good stuff.
| “Men and brethren, listen to me:Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. |
The people is Israel, but James doesn't just say "a people for Himself." He calls Israel "a people for His name."
There's something interesting that God did back in Genesis when He chose Abram to be father of His people, and of many nations.
God changed Abram's name to Abraham. Do you know what is significant about that?
Think about it: God's name is YHWH. Abram was renamed Abraham.
Figure it out yet?
God put part of His own name into Abram's.
He literally rebranded Abram as His own, putting the "H" into Abram, so that he became "Abraham." That's how God made Abraham's descendants His people.
| And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:‘After this I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; |
What is "it" referring to? Well, directly it's referring to David's tabernacle. But it's also speaking about the House of God being set up again, so that, as James states next, "the rest of mankind may seek the Lord," not just the Jews, who before were the only ones whom were called to be God's people, but the Gentiles also.
Basically, it's stating that where before, if a man wanted to have a relationship with God, he had to go through Israel to do it, but now, the House of God is open to all, providing direct access to God.
| So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the Lord who does all these things.’“Known to God from eternity are all His works.Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.They wrote this letter by them: |
James is saying that what they teach Israel is not what is being taught by Paul to the Christians, and that they (the Apostles and elders in Israel) should not place the burden of the Law on the Gentiles.
And here's the letter that they wrote to the Gentiles:
| The apostles, the elders, and the brethren, To the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia: Greetings.Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “ You must be circumcised and keep the law” —to whom we gave no such commandment—it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who will also report the same things by word of mouth.For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. |
This is not an instruction to keep the law, it's an admonishing to abstain from wickedness. If anything, it's an instruction to NOT keep the law.
| So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement.Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words.And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles.However, it seemed good to Silas to remain there.Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God.And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. - Acts 15:1-41 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts15:1-41&version=NKJV |
And that's that.
The raised fallen tent of David is the incoming Gentiles.
Incorrect. The tabernacle of David is the House of God. It being raised up again is not a group of people, ie the Gentiles, it is a sign that God was opening up His house to all, Jew or Gentile, who believed, whereas before it was only through becoming a Jew and believing.
And the fact that that would happen was known for ages.
The raising of the tabernacle of David? Yes.
You might call it the verse D'ists hate to say out loud.
And I think you spoke too soon.
