Which are the most ancient verses documented in the Nazarene Writings (New Testament)?
They are not found in any of the four Gospels, which were written after some of the epistles of Shaul (Paul). Many believe that the Gospels were written first because they appear first in most versions of the Nazarene Writings, but they were actually written later on, after the epistles.
APOSTOLIC DISCOURSES
The most ancient verses documented in the Nazarene Writings are the apostolic speeches or discourses. The apostolic discourses constitute the earliest apostolic theological provisions that we have to this day. As old as ten days after the physical removal of Yeshua the Messiah, they were pronounced in the year 33 of the first century by Kepha (Peter) and approximately in the years 40 or 42 of the first century by Shaul.
Kepha’s speech, for example, precedes Shaul’s encounter with the Messiah on the road to Damascus. These apostolic discourses are the most ancient samples, within the Nazarene writings, of spoken Torah that we have.
Yeshua is not mentioned as a divinity in any of these discourses. What they do mention is the extraordinary and elevated status that the Eternal gives Yeshua, backing up his work and teachings in the event of his resurrection from the dead. Yeshua was a Jew, a descendant of the house of Dawid, who was anointed by the Eternal, with a special anointing, to do what he did, to say what he said, and to act as he did. He was assassinated by the Romans, as a Jewish rebel who had the potential to raise an enormous revolt against the Roman Empire and on the third day, the Eternal vindicated him by raising him from the dead and making him Master and Messiah.
KEPHA’S DISCOURSE
In Acts 2, we have a discourse by one of Yeshua’s closest disciples, the apostle Shimon Kepha (Simon Peter). This is the oldest document of testimony that we have within the Nazarene Writings.
Acts 2:22 [The Scriptures - TS]
“Men of Yisra’el, hear these words: יהושע{Yehoshua} of Natsareth, a Man from Elohim, having been pointed out to you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs which Elohim did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know,
<A Man from Elohim> – Kepha refers to Yeshua as a man.
<signs which Elohim did through Him> – The Eternal was the one who did the signs and wonders through His righteous servant Yeshua. For the original apostles, the one behind Yeshua, empowering him and enabling him to do what he did, is the Eternal, the Elohim of Yisra’el.
Kepha continues his discourse:
Acts 2:23 [TS]
23 this One, given up by the set purpose and foreknowledge of Elohim, you have impaled and put to death through the hands of lawless men
24 “Him Elohim raised up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was impossible that He could be held in its grip.
... ... ...
29 “Men and brothers, let me speak boldly to you of the ancestor Dawid, that he died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
30 “Being a prophet, then, and knowing that Elohim had sworn with an oath to him: of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, to raise up the Messiah to sit on his throne,
31 foreseeing this he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah, that His being was neither left in the grave, nor did His flesh see corruption.
32 “Elohim has raised up this יהושע, of which we are all witnesses.
33 “Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of Elohim, and having received from the Father the promise of the Set-apart Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.
<Him Elohim raised up> The Eternal raised Yeshua from the dead and <exalted> him to His right hand through the miracle of his resurrection. This is the original apostolic teaching. Shimon Kepha concludes his discourse saying
Acts 2:36 [TS]
“Therefore let all the house of Yisra’el know for certain that Elohim has made this יהושע, whom you impaled, both Master and Messiah.”
It is clear that for Kepha the Eternal made Yeshua both Master and Messiah through the resurrection. This was done after the resurrection, and not before it.
SHAUL’S DISCOURSE
We find the same doctrine and teaching in a discourse by Shaul of Tarsus. When he made this speech, he had not written any epistles yet, and no gospel had been written yet, as we are talking about the years 40 to 42 of the first century.
Acts 13:29-30 [TS]
29 “And when they had accomplished all that was written concerning Him, taking Him down from the timber, they laid Him in a tomb.
30 “But Elohim raised Him from the dead,
<Elohim raised Him from the dead> – the same teaching as Kepha. There are no changes to this pure doctrine, the Eternal raised Yeshua from the dead.
He continues his discourse
Acts 13:31-33 [TS]
31 and He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galil to Yerushalayim, who are His witnesses to the people.
32 “And we bring you the Good News, the promise made to the fathers,
33 that Elohim has filled this for us, their children, having raised up יהושע, as it has also been written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son, today I have brought You forth.’
34 “And that He raised Him out of the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has said thus, ‘I shall give you the trustworthy kindnesses of Dawid.’
35 “For this reason He also says in another Psalm, ‘You shall not give Your Kind One to see corruption.’
36 “For Dawid, indeed, having served his own generation by the counsel of Elohim, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption,
37 but He whom Elohim raised up saw no corruption.
It is noteworthy that Sha’ul places a significant emphasis on the resurrection of Yeshua. Everything revolves around the miracle of the resurrection. The reason for this is that Sha’ul is a Jewish Rabbi (a spiritual teacher, a religious teacher in Judaism, and as such, he knows that anyone claiming to be the Messiah loses that claim if he dies; Yeshua died but he was raised back to life by the Eternal.
<You are My Son, today I have brought You forth.’ > – for Sha’ul Psalms 2 is fulfilled with Yeshua’s resurrection.
Sha’ul concludes:
Acts 13:38- 39 [TS] 38 “Let it therefore be known to you, brothers, that through this One{Yeshua} forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and by Him everyone who believes is declared right from all sins from which you were not able to be declared right by the Torah of Mosheh.
According to the original doctrine of the apostles, Yeshua became the Son of the Eternal at the resurrection. Sha’ul will say exactly the same thing in his letters
Romans 1:1-4 [TS] 1 Sha’ul, a servant of יהושע Messiah, a called emissary, separated to the Good News of Elohim, 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Set-apart Scriptures, 3 concerning His Son, who came of the seed of Dawid according to the flesh, 4 who was designated Son of Elohim with power, according to the Set-apart Spirit, by the resurrection from the dead: יהושע Messiah, the Master of us,
<seed of Dawid according to the flesh> – Yeshua was a descendant of Dawid
<designated Son of Elohim… by the resurrection from the dead> – Yeshua became the son of the Eternal at the moment of the resurrection.
SUMMARY:
● Yeshua was a man accredited by the Eternal.
● Yeshua was a descendant of King Dawid (which was a requirement to qualify as the Messiah).
● Yeshua died and was resurrected by the Eternal.
● Yeshua was exalted by the Eternal through the resurrection.
● Yeshua is declared Master and Messiah through the resurrection.
● Yeshua is declared Son of the Eternal (Psalm 2) through the resurrection.
This is THE PURE, UNADULTERATED, ORIGINAL APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE.
Source:
Dan ben Avraham