Apostle Paul & Torah¹

The Apostle Paul was definitely trained in Torah. Here’s why:

Self-Identification: In his writings, Paul identifies himself as a Jew (Romans 11:1) and a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5). Pharisees were a Jewish sect known for their strict adherence to Torah law.
Education: The New Testament mentions Paul studying under Gamaliel, a highly respected rabbi in Jerusalem, known for his expertise in Torah (Acts 22:3).

Paul and Jesus both taught from the Torah. They only taught from the Torah. They were against the man-made rules created to ‘fence’ and protect the Torah, but never spoke against anything in Torah.

A lot of the New Testament helped Gentiles to understand what those who were Jews already knew – Torah².

Colossae

Colossae was known for its openness to various religious influences. This included Jewish, Gnostic, and pagan beliefs, sometimes blending them (syncretism). There was even a local angel cult venerating the archangel, Michael. Despite the city’s decline, a Christian community existed in Colossae. Paul’s letter, Colossians, is addressed to this group. Paul was concerned:

Colossians 2:8 MKJV
Beware lest anyone rob you through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ.

Paul does not want them to get caught up in syncretism. The city’s syncretic nature suggests its paganism might have been a blend of regional and broader Roman practices.

Paul was reminding them of what they were taught:

Colossians 2:16-17 MKJV
Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast, or of the new moon, or of the sabbaths.
(17) For these are a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ.

And reminded them that these things are ‘shadows’ of things to come. And are found fulfilled ‘in’ Christ. i.e.

Matthew 5:17-18 MKJV
Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
(18) For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.

It is clear the Jesus (Yeshua) came to fulfil the Law (Torah). We know two things:

He, so far, has fulfilled the first 3 Feasts: Passover (He was the Passover Lamb), He had no sin in Him (He was the Unleavened bread, The Bread of Life and the first-fruits on the First Sunday during the Feast of Unleavened Bread) and Pentecost where the disciples waited 50 days for the Holy Spirit.
It is also made clear that “ Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled” and it hasn’t passed away yet, so the remaining prophetic Feasts are yet to be fulfilled in Christ.

This is why the Colossians were encouraged to not be scared of, or be judged for, the food or drink they had, or the feasts they observed, or of the new moon to keep God’s timing for those feasts, or the sabbaths which also kept God’s timing and the reminder of His rest. As you may already be noticing, these Sabbath days have great prophetic significance.

Because the early followers of our Messiah guarded the feasts, new moons, Sabbaths etc., they understood the times and seasons.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 MKJV
But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you.

Many in our modern age, however, do not keep the Sabbaths and must learn to do so again… even learning when the year begins.

We too are caught up with syncretism (consider Easter & Christmas 😉)

Hebrews 4 – “Rest”

Let’s examine the context of the “rest” spoken of in full.

Hebrews 4:1-11 NIV
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest^G2663 still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.
(2) For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.
(3) Now we who have believed enter that rest^G2663, just as God has said, “So I declared on oath in my anger, “They shall never enter my rest^G2663.'” And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world.
(4) For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested^G2664 from all his work.”
(5) And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest^G2663.”
(6) It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience.
(7) Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”
(8) For if Joshua had given them rest^G2664, God would not have spoken later about another day.
(9) There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest^G4520 for the people of God;
(10) for anyone who enters God’s rest^G2663 also rests(ceases)^G2664 from his own work, just as God did from his.
(11) Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest^G2663, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

G2663 – Original: κατάπαυσις – Transliteration: Katapausis – Phonetic: kat-ap’-ow-sis – Definition: 1. a putting to rest a. calming of the winds 2. a resting place a. metaph. the heavenly blessedness in which God dwells, and of which he has promised to make persevering believers in Christ partakers after the toils and trials of life on earth are ended. – Origin: from G2664 TDNT entry: 13:28,4 – Strong’s: From G2664; reposing down that is (by hebraism) abode: – rest.

G2664 – Original: καταπαύω – Transliteration: Katapauo – Phonetic: kat-ap-ow’-o – Definition: 1. to make quiet, to cause to be at rest, to grant rest a. to lead to a quiet abode b. to still, restrain, to cause (one striving to do something) to desist 2. to rest, take rest- Origin: from G2596 and G3973 – Strong’s: From G2596 and G3973; to settle down that is (literally) to colonize or (figuratively) to (cause to) desist: – cease (give) rest (-rain).

G4520 – Original: σαββατισμός – Transliteration: Sabbatismos – Phonetic: sab-bat-is-mos’ – Definition: 1. a keeping sabbath 2. the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians – Origin: from a derivative of G4521 – Strong’s: From a derivative of G4521; a sabbatism that is (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven): – rest.

G4521 – Original: σάββατον – Transliteration: Sabbaton – Phonetic: sab’-bat-on – Definition: 1. the seventh day of each week which is a sacred rest on which the whole world is required to abstain from all secular work a. the institution of the sabbath, the law for keeping holy every seventh day of the week b. a single sabbath, sabbath day 2. seven days, a week – Origin: of hebrew origin H7676 – Strong’s: Of hebrew origin [H7676]; the Sabbath (that is Shabbath) or day of weekly repose from secular avocations (also the observance or institution itself); by extension a se’nnight that is the interval between two Sabbaths; likewise the plural in all the above applications: – sabbath (day) week.

H7676 – Original: שׁבּת – Transliteration: Shabbath – Phonetic: shab-bawth’ – Definition: 1. Sabbath a. sabbath b. day of atonement c. sabbath year d. week e. produce (in sabbath year) – Origin: intensive from H7673 – Strong’s: Intensive from H7673; intermission that is (specifically) the Sabbath: – (+ every) sabbath.

H7673 – Original: שׁבת – Transliteration: Shabath – Phonetic: shaw-bath’ – Definition: 1. to cease, desist, rest a. (Qal) 1. to cease 2. to rest, desist (from labour) b. (Niphal) to cease c. (Hiphil) 1. to cause to cease, put an end to 2. to exterminate, destroy 3. to cause to desist from 4. to remove 5. to cause to fail 2. (Qal) to keep or observe the sabbath – Origin: a primitive root – Strong’s: A primitive root; to repose that is desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causatively figuratively or specifically): – (cause to let make to) cease celebrate cause (make) to fail keep (sabbath) suffer to be lacking leave put away (down) (make to) rest rid still take away.

So, when reading Hebrews 4:9-10, that is, the full sentence:

Hebrews 4:9-10 TNIV
There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest^G4520 for the people of God;
(10) for those who enter God’s rest also rest from their own work, just as God did from his.

Hebrews 4:9-10 Greek NT BYZ+
αρα απολειπεται σαββατισμος^G4520 τω λαω του θεου (10) ο γαρ εισελθων εις την καταπαυσιν αυτου και αυτος κατεπαυσεν απο των εργων αυτου ωσπερ απο των ιδιων ο θεος

This is Sabbatismos³ which is about keeping the Sabbath. And yes, its purpose being the reminder of the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians.

This is why we keep the Sabbath.

And Paul ends by saying,

Hebrews 4:11 TNIV
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Let’s now let’s return to: A Menu of Important Things and examine the Sabbath in The 4th Commandment Series.

1
In the Holy Bible, the first five books of Scripture (PEN’TATEUCH=“5 books” in Greek) together are referred to as “The Torah.” “The Torah” = Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
2
In the Holy Bible, the first five books of Scripture (PEN’TATEUCH=“5 books” in Greek) together are referred to as “The Torah.” “The Torah” = Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
3
G4520 – Original: σαββατισμός – Transliteration: Sabbatismos – Phonetic: sab-bat-is-mos’ – Definition: 1. a keeping sabbath 2. the blessed rest from toils and troubles looked for in the age to come by the true worshippers of God and true Christians – Origin: from a derivative of G4521 – Strong’s: From a derivative of G4521; a sabbatism that is (figuratively) the repose of Christianity (as a type of heaven): – rest.

Apostle Paul & Torah1In the Holy Bible, the first five books of Scripture (PEN’TATEUCH=“5 books” in Greek) together are referred to as “The Torah.” “The Torah” = Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy

Colossae

And reminded them that these things are ‘shadows’ of things to come. And are found fulfilled ‘in’ Christ. i.e.

Hebrews 4 – “Rest”

Apostle Paul & Torah¹