Why are the New Testament concepts so foreign to the Abrahamic Message of the Jews and Muslims ?

Question

Are you going to believe 3,000 years of Revelation and Prophets or a guy named Paul who never met Jesus ?


.

Answer 1

I believe the 500 years of Christian dominance over the world.

Isn't it how God shows his favor in Old Testament - letting his chosen people prosper and multiply and conquer their enemies?

Answer 2

Well first of all, if you want serious religious discussion, it's not called the New Testament, it's called the "Christian Scriptures." I can't speak for Muslims or Jews really, but as a potentially converting Jew the concept of G-d becoming human is blasphemous and abhorrent. The reason I personally don't buy it that I think Jesus was a radical Jew in that he taught that the Torah and closeness to G-d was something that could be internalized and that a relationship with G-d with could be achieved without adherance to the law. I think he was radical and if I was alive when he was I would have been on his side. His Diefication didn't happen until long after his death. He never claimed it, it developed later, and that's okay but I don't believe he was G-d made flesh, nor do Jews believe G-d would ever be made flesh.

You can't use the Christian Scriptures to explain things, just as you can't define a word by using that word in the definition. So all the references to "because the bible says so" are meaningless. You need to ask a Jew and a Muslim, not a Christian. THe reason Christian's believe Jesus is G-d is primarily because of Paul, as many have mentioned. Only Matthew was particularly concerned with tying in the Hebrew Scriptures with his theology. The other gospels were less concerned with the continuity.

Answer 3

The Muslims are a big zero so far as the Abrahamic covenant are concerned. Look at it again, the Muslims are not included. Promises were made by God to Ishmael, and are being kept, but the covenant God made to Abraham isn't one of them. Considering that every time they have gone to fight Israel they have gotten stomped into the sands of the region, the covenant to Abraham does not apply.
As others, such as "the good guy" have already pointed out, Jesus knew Paul, and Paul knew Jesus. The Apostles used the Torah to prove the validity of Jesus and all that He claimed was true, and that He is the true Messiah. Muslims would have us to believe that God tossed everything from the previous 5000 or so years out, and wanted to start a fresh, with a new religion that is supposed to be the true religion. I do know better, if for no other reason than the statement that there is no shadow of turning with God. What He said to any of His prophets of the old testament, or Jesus, or God, to the Apostles and believers of Jesus day, and beyond to now, are still the same. If you want to accept a real lie, then Islam is the game for you. If not, then Islam has to be rejected as the sham that it is, and God's message to mankind as given in the Bible fully embraced and accepted as the only real truth.

Answer 4

Well, first of all, Paul DID meet Jesus. That was the main reason for his conversion-- Jesus appeared to him while he was travelling to persecute Christians.

But to your main question, I would say that the New Testament IS the fulfillment of 3,000 years of Revelation and Prophets. They all prophesied of Christ and looked forward to the time when he would come.

I don't have time to go into it fully, but many scholars, including British biblical scholar Margaret Barker, believe that there have been significant changes to the Old Testament and what we know of Israel's original faith that has served to "de-Christianize" the Old Testament. This has altered what became modern Judaism and Islam, making their "Abrahamic message" much different than what the Abrahamic message originally was.

The theory is that during the reign of King Josiah, and then in the Babylonian exile the Jews who had care of the Holy Scriptures, known as the Deuteronomist reformers, edited the scriptures in their care, suppressing several key teachings and practices associated with the First Temple and the monarchy. They did this because they felt that Israel must have been doing something wrong to merit their destruction and captivity by Babylon. So, they went into their religion, history, and scriptures and changed what they felt was wrong so that Israel could be more faithful in the future.
They went back in and wrote Deuteronomy, Judges, Joshua, 1 and 2 Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings--and edited other books to conform with their point of view.

Without going into too much detail, it appears that one of their main purposes was to remove much of the Messianic imagery and the role of the coming Messiah in affecting the universal Atonement, for which the sacrifice of animals was just a prototype or symbol. The original idea was that the
Messiah (Christ, in Greek) would come to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of mankind. This was the belief and teaching of all the ancient prophets.

Unfortunately, the Old Testament we have inherited today does not fully represent the beliefs of ancient Israel. Modern Judaism and Islam base their beliefs on this incomplete version of what the original faith believed. Feel free to contact me with further questions.

Answer 5

The new testament concepts are perversions not found in the Abrahamic religions because they are invalid and without basis, particularly the trinity and son of God business. In God's true message to man there are no perversions, the concepts are very simple. Some answers that you get will be based on a dogma of fanatacism, the "I was raised a Catholic / Christian / whatever all my life...reading my Bible every night kind of person who never actually did take a look at anything else, or did an honest to God research about the validity of the New Testament. Like sheep in a herd, their Church told them this was so and they said "Amen" so be it. I did my duty to God, I sat in a pew at church and bore it. I recommend a very objective and thorough book.

Answer 6

The message which follows thru out is the love Abraham had for God. Jesus birth was what Jews and all those who love God were waiting for. A saviour who saves the world. His work began 2000 years ago and has been continuing now also, cause I saw myself in need of a deliverance and I was saved by Jesus. Thats what saved Paul, whose life was motivated to kill christians but suddenly changed.

Our love for God only can take us beyond our thinking about people. It did so to Abraham, Issac, Jacob and all those who were God's people. Since God sent us the messaih when we believe Him, our lives are reversed.

Please visit this website , how bad I was and how I came to know the truth..http://www.protectinghands.com/ladder_to_heaven.htm

u can also visit www.sidroth.com , he will have more answers with respect to the new and old testaments.. i remember reading them..

Answer 7

Because the Old Testament was meant to give us the law and show us the righteousness of God. It gives us the 10 commandments that illuminate our sin. It shows us that one day we will stand before a judge, guilty of sin that we can't pay the fine for , the penalty for which is eternal death. The New Testament by contrast shows us how God sent his son to die and pay the penalty for our sin so that we may live forever with Him in heaven. That is what all the Old Testament sacrifices were demonstrating.The Old Testament clearly shows us that we are unable to keep all the law and therefor are in desperate need of a savior.It prophesies of a coming redeemer who will die on a cross to take away our sin.The New Testament is there to show us the way we can be reconciled with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus said I didn't come to do away with the law but to fulfill it. It is the transition from law to grace. I hope this helps. God bless you!!!

Answer 8

Paul did personally meet Jesus on the road to Damascus. Please read Acts 9th Chapter.

The Bible is God's written Word to us.
It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit.

“Above all you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20-21. (New International Version)

Breakdown of the Bible
36 human authors inspired entirely by God over 1600 years.
66 separate books

39 Old Testament
Genesis- The creation of the world, sin, flood and birth of Israel
Exodus to Esther- History of the nation of Israel
Job to Proverbs- the books of poetry and wisdom
Isaiah to Malachi- Prophecy or foretelling of the future events to come.

27 New Testament
Matthew to John - Four Gospels representing the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ now with all authority in Heaven and earth.
Acts- Birth of the Church (The Bride of Christ)
Romans to Jude - Letters to the Churches
Revelations - The ultimate future plans for: The Church, Heaven, Hell, a New Heaven and a New Earth.

Here are some Bible Study Resources for anything you may want to look up:
http://www.Biblegateway.com
http://www.Ntgateway.com
http://www.Bible.org
http://www.bible-history.com
http://www.answersingenesis.org/

Answer 9

First of all, Paul did meet Jesus. Second, it was not just Paul, but the 12 apostles (including Matthias who replaced Judas), and all of their decedents. Paul was just one voice. And Third, the "new" testament fulfills the old, so it is not so unfamiliar to the Jews of the time. In fact the Apostles were Jews who used Jewish history and scripture to show that Jesus was the Messiah.

Answer 10

It's the same God in both! By the way, Paul not only met Jesus, but he knew Him personally.

Answer 11

Paul was blinded on the side of the road BY Jesus! If that dosen't count as 'meeting' him, then what does?