THE LOST PRE-CHRISTIAN TEACHINGS OF
YESHUA
ORDER OF THE SEMINAR This introduction will take about
forty minutes. After the introductory
presentation, I will ask forquestions, comments, anddiscussion.
Please make notes of yourquestions and comments onyour slide outline and save themfor end of the introduction.
That way we can stay onschedule and cover all thematerial.
After questions, comments, anddiscussion, we will take a break.
HOW DID THE TEACHINGS GET LOST? Aren’t they in the Bible? Yes, in the New Testament Epistles and Gospels
Also preserved in the Aramaic Core of the Gnostic Gospel ofThomas
BUT: Written down 40-80 years (two to four generations) after crucifixion Mistranslated into Greek from earlier Aramaic (Hebrew) sources Gentile (non-Jewish) church writers misunderstood references in
sayings and parables Paul (50-60 A.D.) and Gospel writers (50-100 A.D.) spun sayings and
parables to support their own theological agendas Earliest authentic sources (Q and Thomas Core 30-50 A.D.) lost but
have been recovered by scholarshipModern biblical scholarship has tools to recover the historical pre-
Christian teachings of Yeshua
ARAMAIC AND HEBREW LANGUAGES AT THE TIME OF YESHUA (JESUS)
Separate, but closely related, semitic languages in ancientworld
Most Jewish Scripture (Old Testament) written in Hebrew Babylonian Captivity in 6th century B.C.E. Large, well-educated, and thriving Jewish community in
Babylon By second century B.C.E. all Babylonian and Palestinian
Jews spoke in Aramaic. Became the common language ofthe entire Fertile Crescent
Jews read Scripture in Hebrew and Aramaic, but spokeAramaic in daily life
Yeshua and the Jewish rabbis taught in Aramaic but usedcommon Hebrew religious vocabulary.
THE NAME YESHUA
The name “Jesus” originated about 200 years ago Real name was Yeshua
Yeshua, hwvy (Historical Aramaic-Hebrew Name)
Means “Liberation” in Hebrew (Aramaic) Represented by English name Joshua, Jehoshua in Bible
Historical title was Mar: Aramaic term meaning Spiritual Master Greek New Testament uses Pharisaic Rav, Rab, Raboni
Iesous (Gentile Greek Name AD 80) New Testament uses Greek ’IhsouV Continues to be usage in Greek Orthodox Church
In these presentations I will refer to Mar Yeshua, the Master Jesus, Yeshua,Jesus, and the Master
When I use the name Yeshua, I refer to the historical person. When I use the name Jesus, I refer to the legendary and non-historical
Jesus Christ of Christianity and the New Testament
hwvy
YESHUA: LIBERATION Yeshua: Root meaning from hvy
is LIBERATION Mt. 1.22: “You shall call his name
Yeshua because he will liberate hispeople from their sins.”
Liberation in the Messianic Age According Luke’s Gospel, Yeshua
chose to read from Isaiah in hissynagogue. Isaiah 58 describes theconcept of spiritual liberation:
“Is not this the fast that I havechosen? to loose the bands ofwickedness, to undo the heavyburdens, and to let the oppressedgo free, and that ye break everyyoke?
YESHUA’S TEACHINGS CORRUPTED OR FORGOTTEN BY CHRISTIANITY
Christianity as we know it emerged ageneration after the execution of Yeshua
The Epistles and Gospels written two tofour generations after the crucifixion ofYeshua
In a foreign language (Greek) Aramaic words and parables of Yeshua
were misunderstood in Greek and spun toreflect emerging Christian doctrines aboutJesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God
Historical teachings of Yeshua replaced byChristian theological doctrines
EARLY GENTILE CHRISTIANITY SEPARATES FROM JUDAISM
Why?1. Jewish and gentile church conflict2. Gentile churches focused on catechism,
creed, doctrine3. Crucifixion-Resurrection of Jesus4. Sacrifice for sins of mankind5. Second Coming of Jesus6. Jesus as the only Christ
NONE OF THESE WERE TEACHINGSOF YESHUA, BUT OF CHRISTIANITY!
HOW DO SCHOLARS RECOVER THE TEACHINGS OF YESHUA?
Remove the “spin” of the writers Examine Aramaic words and concepts
that underlie the Greek translations Ex. Greek basileion translated Aramaic-
Hebrew malkuth. But they meandifferent things. Yeshua did not teach a“Kingdom” of Heaven.
MALKUTH not “Kingdom” [place,location] NOT VISIBLE, LIMITED, BOUNDARIED
STATE LIKE DISNEYLAND IT MEANS Sovereignty, Rulership, Rule,
Ruling Authority Divine Omnipotence, Power of Godhead,
Our Father-Mother Abba That is why Yeshua said:
Don’t believe them when they say theMalkuth is here or there (“Lo here, lothere”)
“The Malkuth of Heaven [SovereignPower of Godhead] is within you.”
TRANSLATION CAN DISTORT MEANING
Aramaic-Hebrew words mean (denote) and suggest (connote) certainthings, but these are NOT equivalent to their translations into Greek words
Ex. Aramaic emunah means faithfulness, fidelity, perseverance. Englishphrase “keeping faith with”
BUT the New Testament Greek word pistis that is used to translate emunahas “faith” means belief
Most of the Aramaic meaning of “FAITH” was lost in the Greek of the NewTestament
Christianity defined faith (pistis) as “correct belief in creed and doctrine,”as opposed to Yeshua who understood faith (emunah) as faithfulness tothe ways of God—justice, truth, compassion, etc.
When you read the word “faith” in the New Testament, think “faithfulness.” Word for God used by Yeshua was Abba, wrongly translated by Greek
Pater, “Father,” as in Our Father, who art in heaven…” Abba meant “Father-Mother.” More later. One way the teachings of Yeshua were corrupted was in translation.
Aramaic Word Greek WordCommonmeaningBELIEF
HOW ELSE DO SCHOLARS RECOVER THE TEACHINGS OF YESHUA?
Study the sacred scripture used by Yeshua--the“Bible” for his disciples, the earliest JewishChristian communities, and other contemporarymessianic communities like the Essenes ofQumran.
Study the Talmudic, Mishnaic, and otherliterature of Jewish rabbis and mysticscontemporary with Yeshua, much of which isderived from oral Kabbalah.
1st century and earlier Sefer Yetzirah, Sepher Ha-Razim, and the haggadah preserved in theMishna, Babylonian and Palestinian Talmud, thePirke Aboth, and the vast literature of the inter-testamental period such as the Testaments ofthe Twelve Patriarchs, known loosely as theApocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the OldTestament.
Compare the words and concepts found in theteachings of Yeshua with other contemporaryJewish messianic words and concepts.
ABBA: GODHEAD
Yeshua’s Aramaic word for God wasAbba
Incorrectly translated into Greek in theNew Testament as Pater, meaning Father
But the Hebrew word for father wasmasculine Ab, not Abba
The name Abba is the masculine word“Father” plus a feminine ending Ab-ba
Jewish wisdom and kabbalistic schoolsprogressed beyond the concept of aHebrew national deity to an eternalGodhead that is the source of all being,and like a Father-Mother generates andemanates all reality from non-being.
Best English translation of Yeshua’sword Abba is Father-Mother
ABBA: THE FATHER-MOTHER GOD Godhead, angels, all heavenly beings, and Adam
were male-female or androgynous—i.e., whole,complete, or shalem.
In the Odes of Solomon and other psalmsproduced by Jewish mystics of Yeshua’s period,God was called Abba and regarded to be bothFather and Mother
EX: The first-century Ode of Solomon #17declares, “The Spirit of Holiness opened theraiment of the Abba, and mingled the milk fromthe two breasts of the Abba…”
For Yeshua, the Abba meant “Father-Mother.” Thus the Lord’s Prayer is properly translated
NOT “Our Father…”, but “Our Father-Mother,Who art in Heaven…”
Yeshua taught a Halakah of spiritual perfectionthrough restoring the unity of heaven and earth,and the inner and outer self
More about this later
ABBA: EMANATION INTO EXISTENCE
For Yeshua, the mode by which Being cameinto existence was by emanation of theeternal attributes of Godhead out of Non-Existence
The kabbalistic Creation story—notCreation, but Emanation and Formation
Ain “Not,” The Abba emanated Non-Existence
Ain Soph “Not Limited,” Infinite Space Ain Soph Aur “Infinite Light”
The Anan or ‘cloud’ of Light thatconceals the Abba
Emanation of the Sephiroth or Vessels ofGod’s Names, Powers, Virtues
1st century Sefer Yetzirah: Kether Kingship,Hochmah Wisdom, Binah Compassion, andall the other Energies of the Abba.
Shattering of the Vessels: TIME begins. The shards or qlippoth: Evil energies
THE BASOR OR PUBLIC PROCLAMATION OF YESHUA
Jewish proto-Rabbis taught privately tosmall groups, usually their owndisciples, although they also had publicdisputations that could be audited. The disciples (talmidim) stood and
teacher sat. Yeshua, however, delivered a specific
public proclamation, although he alsotaught his disciples privately in a specialseder meal. He stood or sat, but his large crowds of
hearers sat. In semitic culture and all the ancient Near
East, this was the format for proclaiminga public Basor to all the people of akingdom or nation.
Yeshua’s historical public proclamationwas not the teaching of a Rabbi, but theproclamation of a Basor.
WHAT WAS A BASOR? BASOR: A royal
proclamation about thebirth or anointing of anheir to the King.
The Basor wasproclaimed by anappointed messengersent directly from theKing’s Throne who wentto all regions of theKingdom to publicallyannounce the royalbirth/succession.
WHY? So that therewould be public supportfor the royal heir andsuccessor, and to thwartany attempts at a coupwhen sovereignty wouldlater be transferred.
WHAT WAS AMESSIANIC
BASOR?
KING: hwhy YHWH (God): Sovereign Ruler of the Universe.
ORIGINAL MESSENGER FROM GOD’S THRONE WAS A PROPHET (Nabi,“Bubbling Fountain”): A righteous person (tzadik) appointed by God as amessenger to declare Divine Will to Israel.
MESSIANIC PROPHET: Prophet who had ascended to the Chariot-Throne(Merkabah) of God and received Divine Revelations about the Messiah and thefuture of Israel and all humanity—Isaiah, Enoch, John the Baptist, Yeshua,others.
We will discuss the Ma’aseh Merkabah or mystical Work of the Chariot later
WHAT WAS A MESSIAH? MESSIAH, MASHIAH (“Anointed with Oil”):
Originally designation for a Jewish king. Notcrowned, but anointed with oil
Many ideas of Messiah
The Messiah that Yeshua taught was the Bar-Enash or “Son of Man” Messiah
Adam Kadmon was Old Humanity
Bar-Enash Second Adam, or New Humanity
Co-Sovereign with Godhead, the Abba
Heavenly archetype of a New Adam(“Humanity”) into which people would bespiritually reborn through the practice ofHalakah or conscious self-transformation.Babylonian “New Adam.”
Greek Term for Messiah is Christos, Christ:One who has been anointed with oil (“chrism”)
General outline of the Messianic Basor of Johnthe Baptist, Yeshua, others
THE BASOR OR GOSPEL OF YESHUA:THE BABYLONIAN SCHOOL OF DANIEL
THE BAR-ENASH OR“SON OF MAN”PROPHECY OF DANIEL
WORLD RULED BY BEASTS
Series of prophetic visions about thefuture rise and fall of the Greeks,Medes, Persians, and other “beasts”—ancient patriarchal dynasties built onblood, slavery, and conquest.
BUT FINALLY he sees the futureanointing of an archetypal new Adamin human form who will triumph overthem all: The Bar-Enash
THE BASOR OR GOSPEL OF YESHUA:THE BABYLONIAN SCHOOL OF DANIEL (CONTINUED)
THE NEW ADAM Aramaic Bar-Enash, Hebrew Ben-Adam, Future
Adam, KJV “Son of Man” BEST ENGLISH TRANSLATION: The New
Humanity “And I beheld, in the Hidden Mysteries of
Heaven (“clouds”), there came one like untoa Bar-Enash (i.e., in human form rather thanthe form of a beast), and he came to theAncient of Days,* and was presented beforehim. And to him was given dominion andglory and Malkuth (“Divine Co-Sovereignty”), that all peoples, nations, andlanguages should serve him. His dominionis for the entire ‘olam of the Earth (an“everlasting” dominion), which dominionshall not pass away, and his Malkuth is onethat shall never be destroyed.”
* Apocalyptic Name of Godhead orFountainhead that is prior to time and being,and emanated all reality as spiritualattributes of Him/Herself into existence.
The eternal Abba or Father-Mother of All.
MESSIANIC BAR-ENASH (“SON OF MAN”) REVELATION FROM THE BOOK OF ENOCHBOOK WAS SCRIPTURE OF YESHUA, THE MESSIANIC JEWS, EARLY CHRISTIANS, AND IS QUOTED IN JUDE 14-15
WRITTEN IN ARAMAIC LIKE THE BOOK OF DANIEL IN BABYLON IN THE FIRST CENTURY B.C.E. Thistext is translated from one in the Essene Scriptorium at Qumran [one of the Dead Sea Scrolls].
•And there I saw One who had a head of days,* and His head was white like wool,and with Him was another being whose countenance had the appearance of aman, and his face was full of graciousness, like one of the holy angels. And Iasked the angel who went with me and showed me all the hidden things razim) ,concerning that Son of Man[kind] Messiah (Bar-Enash), who he was, and whencehe was, and why he sat with the Head of Days?*
•And he answered and said unto me: This is the Son of Man (Bar-Enash) who hathrighteousness, with whom dwelleth righteousness, and who revealeth all thetreasures of that which is hidden (razim), because the Lord of Spirits [Messianicdesignation for God] hath chosen him, and whose lot hath the pre-eminencebefore the Lord of Spirits in uprightness for an ‘olam of ‘olamim…
•And this Son of Man (Bar-Enash) whom thou hast seen shall overturn the kingsand the mighty from their seats, and the strong from their thrones, and shallloosen the reins of the strong, and break the teeth of the evil ones. ..
*Head (Rosh, “Beginning, Fountainhead”) of Days (“Time, Existence”); also called the Lord(Adonai, “Ruler, Absolute Master”) of Spirits (beings in 3rd to 10th heavens)
CHRIST: THEBAR-ENASH
MESSIAH
Aramaic phrase for Hebrew Ben-Adam, “Son of Man[kind]” Enash = Adam, Archetypal Humanity from which all souls are born Adam was originally male/female Divided into the archetypal man and woman, Adam and Eve The Bar-Enash or “Son” [offspring, new generation] of “Man” [mankind,
humanity] was a New Humanity or spiritual human archetype Version 2.0, new and improved! YESHUA’S MESSIAH (CHRIST): Corporate archetypal Humanity, not one individual person All people are born into flesh out of Version 1.0, the Old Humanity (or
Paul’s term, the First Adam), BUT… Each individual can rebirth the soul into Version 2.0, the New Humanity (or
Paul’s term the Second Adam) The means for spiritual rebirth is Yeshua’s Halakah, a universal Spiritual
Path that has parallels in many religions such as Buddhism
COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION