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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Acts 16 — Circumcision of Timothy, a truth-speaking demon, unnecessary obstacles to God’s good news

After Paul and Bar-Nabbas part ways for a journey to visit the congregations they reached the first time, Paul seemed to contradict his teachings on circumcision by circumcising Timothy. In Philippi, Paul shut up a demon that had possessed a girl and was haranguing him with truth. Paul and Silas were shut up in prison, then led the jailer to salvation by their rejoicing during their incarceration.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 39–40 — Dreams with a vision, a mission

What do the dreams by Pharaoh’s baker and wine taster on the coming famine and the interpretations delivered by Yosef (Joseph) that catapulted him to to authority in Mitsraim (Egypt) tell Yosef? What would they tell Messiah Yeshua, the antitype to Yosef’s type?

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Apostolic Writings Appointments With God Atonement Discussions Prophets and Writings Torah

Yom haKippurim — coverings of a dual sin offering

Yom haKippurim (the Day of Coverings/Atonement) is seen as a time of self-reflection. Yes, in Leviticus 16 God teaches that one is to “afflict your souls,” which is taken to be a call for a fast, as seen in Isaiah 58. However, the apostolic letter to the Hebrews shows that the day is about reflection on the High Priest Who atoned God’s people once and for all time with His own blood.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Samuel 20 — Yahunatan warns David to flee Sha’ul

Yahunatan (Jonathan) during a New Moon celebration learns that his father, Sha’ul (Saul) the ruler, plans to kill his best friend, David. Yahunatan creates a signaling method involving three days and three arrows to let David know to flee.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 38 — Yehudah, Tamar and the prophetic twins Perets and Zerah

This chapter about a scandalous encounter between Yehudah (Judah) and his daughter-in-law Tamar seems out of place in the account of Yosef’s slavery in Mitsraim (Egypt). Yet the twins in this chapter — Perets (Perez) and Zerah — share a link to Messiah with Yosef (Joseph).

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Apostolic Writings Discussions

Acts 15 — to circumcise new believers or not to circumcise, to hassle them on Torah or not to hassle

Acts 15 recounts a “watershed” moment among believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) — should believers among the nations be allowed into the assembly of Israel and how. These events didn’t happen in a vacuum. Events from Acts 1–14 — Peter’s encounter with Cornelius and Paul’s first tour of Asia Minor — led to this momentous ruling by the elders. The passage from Amos 9 of restoration of a tabernacle for all believers is important. The Yerushalayim council ruled that we mustn’t “trouble” new believers as they learn Torah.

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Discussions Torah

Genesis 37 — Yosef dreams, his brothers boil then sell him to toil

The sibling rivalry between Yosef (Joseph) and Leah’s sons, fueled by his dreams that they and even their parents would bow to him, came to a tragic climax as they seized him then sold him to a caravan headed to Mitsraim (Egypt). Yet God remained on control.