Becker Bible Teacher Resources

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Three Paradigms ¹

1. Better Faith Paradigm - Church triumphant, synagogue defeated.  The Eucharist made preeminent over the Law of Moses. Christians have spiritual ability to see with freedom and confidence vs. the Jew's spiritual blindness leading to misery and shame.

2. Mother-Daughter Paradigm - Judaism is the mother and Christianity her daughter.  Relies upon the idea that the Old Testament is Jewish and the New Testament Christian. Since the Old Testament predates the New Testament, it is concluded by these adherents that Judaism predated Pentecost Christianity. Christianity is said to descend from Judaism since Jesus and the early Christians were Jews.

3. Siblings Paradigm -  Relatively new paradigm does not relate Judaism to be equal to the Old Testament or Christianity to be New Testament. The Mother was not Judaism, but rather, the Ancient Faith of Israel.  The Mother did not have only one child, she had many. Each child interpreted and practiced the ancient faith of Israel differently; only some survived the destruction of Jerusalem Temple and exile from the Land of Israel.

The Ancient Faith of Israel consisted of non-Jerusalem Temple Jewish Movement, Samaritan Israelites, Hellenistic Judaism, Jewish Jesus Movement, Sadducees/Herodians, Historic Christianity, Pharisaic movement, Essene Judaism, Militant Judaism, People of the Land, Qumranic Judaism, and Unknown types. The two major surviving siblings that retained and increased their religious/cultural force from the Ancient Faith of Israel were Judaism (Proto-Rabbinic) and Christianity (Non-Jewish). Though Samaritans and Christian Jews also survived, they eventually lost their influence as specific groups in comparison with Judaism and Christianity.

Dr. Lizorkin-Eyzenberg claims Christianity is actually older as it developed through the Ancient Faith of Israel, than is Rabbinic Judaism, when the foundational document dating is recognized.  Historically, Christianity was recorded in the New Testament in the late 1st Century.  Judaism's foundational document is identified as the Mishna; it was published in the early 3rd century.

¹Traditional Paradigms Reconsidered in an ETeacher Biblical course by Dr. Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg, 2014,at https://student.eteachergroup.com/course-details/C53106

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Failing to maintain peace by ensuring free communication, dignity of human lives and human rights, and the practice of fraternity brotherly love. (Sixth Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:13)

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The swearing of an oath without intention of keeping it. Pledging an oath and violating the promise contradicts to the Divine nature of God. (Third Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:7)

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Historically, leaders in Biblical times had more than one wife; this helped establish the Jewish nation through its abundance of blessings through the generations. There is no prohibition specifically mentioned in Scripture against polygamy.  However, New Testament marriage, with Christ as the symbolic groom to His church bride, symbolically and typologically holds to one man and one woman as participants in the marriage union. This movement away from polygamy to monogamy progresses as Christ's teachings unfold.  Though polygamy is difficult to classify as a sin, an ongoing, growing, mature relationship with Christ and the teachings of the Holy Spirit leave no doubt to their monogamous expectations concerning marriage (See Titus 1:6 condition of blamelessness). (Seventh Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:14)

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A serious problem of modern day technology, participation in or viewing of pornography is a serious offense. It destroys marriages, personalities, hearts, minds, and souls and moves people further away from an intimate relationship with the Lord. (Seventh Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:14)

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The hope of salvation of self without Christ's atonement as well as the hope to receive forgiveness without the foundation and walk taught by Christ (First Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:2,3)

The producers and sellers of munitions and weapons have a moral responsibility for the use of arms delivered by them. Since the users of weapons are out of their control, participation in arms manufacturing or selling should be avoided. (Sixth Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:13)

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The practice of prostitution for the pleasure of sex or pleasure of money is a sin and should bring shame to the sinful participants. However, the practice of prostitution undertaken by a mother to raise out of destitution and provide children food and shelter in difficult times, for instance, is not as serious a sin. It is a matter of intentions with the presence of lust a critical measure of the degree of sin. It cannot be denied that society suffers for its presence. But, prostitution provides a valuable, therapeutic role for those in society unable to express themselves sexually because of disability, rejection, or challenged by a myriad of difficulties; though it remains a sin, Christ's judgment will surely consider these needs and weigh it all in fair balance. One fact seems certain; the prostitute and the customer share equally in the sin of prostitution. (Seventh Commandment Violation, Exodus 20:14)

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