Category: Apostolic Writings

These studies cover the writings by the closest shelakhim (apostles) of Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ). Commonly called the “New Testament,” this standard canon includes the four Gospels, the letters and the Apocalypse (Revelation).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Genesis 28:10-32:3: Is it better to learn through mistakes?

Ya’akov had to flee his family because of how he deceived his father to obtain the blessing that was his in the first place and he meets with God at Bethel. From there, he becomes even more acquainted with deception at the hands of Laban, but as the victim, not the perpetrator. During this time, God humbled Ya’akov, brought his flesh low so he could live in the Spirit. It’s a pity that the descendants of his grandson Ephraim chose to live by his fleshly example rather than his spiritual example.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions Torah

Abraham learns faith in God despite his trust issues (Genesis 18:1–22:24)

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Do we trust God in His promises? We can come up with all sorts of ideas about God. But if we don’t really trust Him and His leading, why bother following? These are questions tackled in this discussion on the Torah portion Vayera (“and He appeared”), covering Genesis 18-22. Abraham is shown to have trust issues up to his great test of faith. At that point, he sees something. This passage is all about the Promised One — the Mashiakh (Messiah) — represented by Abraham’s son Yitzkhak (Isaac).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Luke 22:39-53: Yeshua sings the Hallel about God’s mercy

Do we really trust in God and the direction He is taking us? God was taking Yeshua to the Cross, yet Yeshua trusted God. We may face terrestrial enemies ― oppressive governments, scoffing friends, oppositional family members ― but the toughest enemy is sin and death. Yeshua faced all these enemies and over came. God is the steadfast one, He has no whims of fancy. As we look into Yeshua’s trials, crucifixion and resurrection, think about God’s mercy and what endures forever. Yeshua repeatedly taught His disciples about God’s khesed — mercy — and encouraged them to extend it to others.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 16:16–33: Grief turned to joy

The Eleven closest students of Yeshua (Jesus) were a little confused and didn’t understand or want to understand His proverb “You won’t see Me, then you will.” Yeshua would be leaving the Eleven, but they were not going to be left behind, powerless and alone. Neither are we.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 16:12-15: The Helper guides into ‘all truth,’ speaking directly from God

Yeshua said three times that He would “take what is Mine” referring to His Spirit and give it to the Eleven and their spiritual heirs, which is us. One of the Spirit’s main duties is to help us recall what we have studied so we can recall it when it is time to give a testimony of what we know to be true. But this learning is not just for our comfort. It’s so we can bring truth and comfort to the world.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 15:25–16:11: Tag-team Comforters of Israel

It is not a slip of the pen that the apostle Yokhanan (John) uses the same Greek to describe Yeshua as our Advocate and the Holy Spirit as our Helper. Both know our deepest anguish. Yeshua lived it Himself, and the Holy Spirit experiences it in us. They work as a team.

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

John 15:16-24: Bear ‘fruit’ via agape love for one another

Spirit-minded believers are to be ekhad — one — with each other and with God. Believers must agape love each other, in other words, to esteem others the way Yeshua did us — selflessly. Apostle Paul advised believers to avoid division and strife in the “body” of Christ. Those who cause divisions are “worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.”