James' Conduct Was In Harmony With Yahweh's Words In Isaiah 8:16-20

James' conduct was in harmony with Yahweh's teaching to his disciples in Isaiah 8:16-20,

8:16Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 8:17I will wait for Yahweh, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 8:18Behold, I and the children whom Yahweh has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yahweh of Hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion. 8:19When they shall tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn’t a people consult with their God? On behalf of the living should they consult with the dead? 8:20To the law and to the testimony! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

 

Yahweh's Disciples Should Obey His Words In Isaiah 8:16-20

Yahweh's disciples should clearly note Yahweh's words in Isaiah 8:20. When a person doesn't speak according to Yahweh's word in the law - the law of Moses - and in the testimony - the prophets and the writings - it is because there is no light - Yahweh's presence - in those words. Words emanating from Yahweh, words with his presence, are always in harmony with the law and the testimony - his previously and clearly revealed word. Therefore the test of any word spoken, to ascertain Yahweh's presence in that word, is the law and the testimony.

 

James' Good Conduct Should Be Followed By All In Yah'shuah's Household

James' conduct, showing his application of this lesson from Yahweh, should serve as an example for all in Yah'shuah's assembly. The words of leading figures in Yah'shuah's assembly should not be accepted simply on the basis of having been uttered by leading figures. They should be accepted or rejected on the basis of Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony. When the spoken words are in harmony with the law and the testimony they should be accepted for following by Yah'shuah's disciples. But when the spoken words are not in harmony with the law and the testimony they shouldn't be accepted for following by Yah'shuah's disciples!

 

Peter Himself Obeyed Yahweh's Words In Isaiah 8:16-20

Peter himself applied this lesson in the vision he received as recorded in Acts 10. For when the voice in the vision commanded him to act contrary to Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony he refused to abide by it. And when the Holy Spirit commanded him to accompany Gentiles, contrary to Jewish customary law, he abided by the word of the Holy Spirit, a word in harmony with the law and the testimony. Therefore the conducts of both James and Peter, leading figures in Yah'shuah's assembly, show that words should be followed only when they agree with Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony. When words don't agree with Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony they shouldn't be followed.

 

Yah'shuah Showed Which Of Peter's Words Should Be Abided By Or Not

Yah'shuah himself also gave us examples of Peter's words to be abided by and those not to be abided by. When Peter had spoken words as revealed to him by the Father, Yah'shuah duly acknowledged this and blessed him. But when Peter uttered words as prompted by Satan, Yah'shuah duly opposed him and rebuked him. In other words, Yah'shuah made distinction between the words that Peter uttered, whether they came from Yahweh or from Satan, as humans, even Yah'shuah's servants, are capable of speaking by either Yahweh's inspiration or satanic inspiration, and have indeed done so, as Peter's case proves.

 

Follow Yah'shuah's Example In Assessing Which Of His Servants' Words Should Be Followed

It is therefore for Yah'shuah's followers to follow his example, and also that of his brother James, in assessing which words uttered by his servants are to be followed. When the uttered words are in harmony with Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony they should be followed. When the uttered words are contrary to Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony they shouldn't be followed. It is therefore imperative that Yah'shuah's followers be fully versed with the law and the testimony, in order to assess which words to follow and which words not to follow, irrespective of who utters them!

 

Paul Publicly Resisted Peter In Antioch

Galatians 2:1-14 reads,

2:1Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me. 2:2I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain. 2:3But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 2:4This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage; 2:5to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 2:6But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn’t show partiality to man) — they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me, 2:7but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the gospel for the circumcision 2:8(for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles); 2:9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision. 2:10They only asked us to remember the poor — which very thing I was also zealous to do. 2:11But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to the face, because he stood condemned. 2:12For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 2:13And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so much that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 2:14But when I saw that they didn’t walk uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

 

Paul Acknowledged That James, Peter And John Were Leading Figures In The Jerusalem Assembly

Paul acknowledged that James, Peter and John were reputed to be pillars in the assembly at Jerusalem. He also acknowledged that Peter had been appointed an apostle of the circumcision - Israelites. But the reputations of James, Peter and John meant nothing to Paul, for, as far as he was concerned, Yahweh doesn't show partiality to man, implying that all are equal before Yahweh!

 

Why Paul Had The Audacity To Publicly Resist And Reprove Peter

Paul states that he had the audacity to resist and reprove Peter publicly when the latter was in Antioch. For he perceived Peter to be behaving in a hypocritical manner, and by so behaving drawing the Jews who were present in Antioch into hypocrisy. Paul saw nothing wrong in publicly reproving a figure as highly reputed as Peter, for, to him, all humans are equal before Yahweh, and just as one rebukes a person not highly reputed so also should one rebuke a person who is highly reputed, when there is cause to do so!

 

Weakness Of Human Nature

The nature of human beings should be noted in this matter of Peter's hypocrisy in Antioch. Peter was highly respected by all in Yah'shuah's assembly. These therefore followed his example. When Peter did well they followed his example in doing well. But, unfortunately, when Peter walked hypocritically they also followed his example in walking hypocritically! For they followed one whom they highly respected. Even an apostle of Barnabas' standing followed Peter in his hypocrisy.

Paul, fortunately, held Peter in appropriate esteem, respecting him but not worshipping him! For when Paul saw that Peter was walking amiss, and by so doing leading other Jewish believers into likewise walking amiss, he took note and publicly rebuked him. In other words, it is Yahweh's word that ought to be followed and not the errant example of a servant of his, even a most respected servant such as Peter. Though humans are weak in following after a crowd in wrong doing, they shouldn't be so weak. They should stand their ground and do as the apostles, including Peter, did in their early preaching days - obeying Yahweh rather than men!

Exodus 23:2 reads,

23:2You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice.

 

Peter Believed Yah'shuah's Promise To Him

1 Peter 5:1 reads,

5:1I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed.

Peter believed Yah'shuah's word to him, to share in the glory that will be revealed. For in Matthew 19:28 Yah'shuah promised his twelve apostles that they would indeed judge the twelve tribes of Israel in the regeneration.

 

Judas Iscariot Will Not Partake Of Yah'shuah's Promise To Him

Nevertheless, Judas Iscariot betrayed his master, Yah'shuah, and lost his place. Another, Matthias, took his place. In other words, when Yahweh has promised us good, the good promise is fulfilled only when we remain within Yahweh's way. When we depart from Yahweh's way the good promise no longer holds. Therefore Yahweh's promise for good is not a licence to abandon Yahweh's way and engage in iniquity, but is encouragement to continue in the way of righteousness.

 

Yahweh's Promise For Good Valid Only When We Remain In Righteousness

Ezekiel 33:12-20 reads,

33:12You, son of man, tell the children of your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his disobedience; and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turns from his wickedness; neither shall he who is righteous be able to live thereby in the day that he sins. 33:13When I tell the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his righteousness, and commit iniquity, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered; but in his iniquity that he has committed, therein shall he die. 33:14Again, when I say to the wicked, You shall surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; 33:15if the wicked restore the pledge, give again that which he had taken by robbery, walk in the statutes of life, committing no iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die. 33:16None of his sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him: he has done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live. 33:17Yet the children of your people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal. 33:18When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he shall even die therein. 33:19When the wicked turns from his wickedness, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby. 33:20Yet you say, The way of the Lord is not equal. House of Israel, I will judge you everyone after his ways.

 

Peter Understood Prophetic Words In Scripture To Be More Certain That Words In Visions

2 Peter 1:13-21 reads,

1:13I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you; 1:14knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord, Jesus Christ, made clear to me. 1:15Yes, I will make every effort that you may always be able to remember these things even after my departure. 1:16For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 1:17For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." 1:18This voice we heard come out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mountain. 1:19We have the more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts: 1:20knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 1:21For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

In 1:19 Peter talks of the MORE SURE word of prophecy. In this he compares the word of prophecy to another word. The other word is the "voice we heard come out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mountain", that uttered, "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". In other words, just because they heard a voice come out of heaven wasn't sufficient proof that the voice uttered truth. Confirmation of the veracity of that voice came from "the more sure word of prophecy"! In other words, any word we receive purporting to be truth, whether from a heavenly vision or from another person has to be verified by "the more sure word of prophecy" - verified by Yahweh's clearly revealed word in the Law, the Prophets and the Writings!

 

Peter Predicted That False Teachers Would Secretly Bring In Destructive Heresies Among Yah'shuah's Followers

2 Peter 2 reads,

2:1But there also arose false prophets among the people, as among you also there will be false teachers, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2:2Many will follow their destructive ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned. 2:3In covetousness will they exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber. 2:4For if God didn’t spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to judgment; 2:5and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; 2:6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly; 2:7and delivered righteous Lot, very distressed by the lustful life of the wicked 2:8(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, tormented his righteous soul from day to day with lawless deeds): 2:9the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment to the day of judgment; 2:10but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries; 2:11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, don’t bring a railing judgment against them before the Lord. 2:12But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant, will in their destroying surely be destroyed, 2:13receiving the wages of unrighteousness; people who count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, reveling in their deceit while they feast with you; 2:14having eyes full of adultery, and who can’t cease from sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in greed; children of cursing; 2:15forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrong-doing; 2:16but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A mute donkey spoke with man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet. 2:17These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever. 2:18For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error; 2:19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage. 2:20For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state has become worse with them than the first. 2:21For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 2:22But it has happened to them according to the true proverb, "The dog turns to his own vomit again," and "the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire."

 

Peter Reminded His Audience To Remember The Words Of Holy Prophets And Apostles Of Yah'shuah

2 Peter 3:1-4 reads,

3:1This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you; 3:2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior: 3:3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, 3:4and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming?" For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter reminded his audience to remember the words spoken by the holy prophets who preceded them, and also the commandments of the apostles of Yah'shuah. The words spoken by the holy prophets of old are those that were inspired by the Holy Spirit, even as Peter stated in 2 Peter 1:20-21. In like manner, the commandments of the apostles that his audience are to remember are those inspired by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the words to be noted and remembered are Yahweh's words, spoken by the Holy Spirit through various holy men, past and present.

 

Peter Understood ALL Of Paul's Letters To Be Part Of Scripture

2 Peter 3:15-18 reads,

3:15Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you; 3:16as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they do also to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 3:17You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness. 3:18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

 

Peter And Paul Agreed That The Patience Of Yah'shuah Is Salvation

In 3:15 Peter speaks of regarding as salvation the patience of Yah'shuah. He also affirms that Paul wrote likewise to the very audience that Peter speaks, as Paul also wrote in all of his letters. In other words, Peter affirms that Paul wrote in all of his letters that the patience of Yah'shuah is salvation!

 

Peter Acknowledged That Some Things In Paul's Letters Were "Hard To Be Understood"

In 3:16 Peter acknowledges that there are some things in Paul's letters that are not easy to understand, being "hard to be understood". He also considers Paul's letters to be Scripture, just as other writings are Scripture.

 

HOW Did Peter Consider Paul's Letters To Be Scripture?

On what basis did Peter regard all of Paul's letters to be Scripture?

In 1:20-21 Peter notes that prophecies of Scripture came by men of Yahweh moved by the Holy Spirit and not by the will of man. In this he implies that Scripture is the record of words inspired by the Holy Spirit and not those written by man devoid of the moving of the Holy Spirit.

Seeing that Peter considered Paul's letters to be Scripture he implied that they were written according to the moving of the Holy Spirit, despite portions of these letters being "hard to the understood". For even in "the other Scriptures", presumably referring to prophecies written according to the moving of the Holy Spirit, there are also things "hard to be understood".

Peter doesn't give additional reasons supporting his belief that all of Paul's letters were Scripture.

 

Did Peter Speak By The Moving Of The Holy Spirit When He Said That All Of Paul's Letters Were Scripture?

Was Peter, when he wrote these words pertaining to Paul's letters, considering them all to be Scripture, speaking by the moving of the Holy Spirit or speaking according to his own will, seeing in 1:21 he acknowledged that there are some words that are spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit and there are some that are spoken by the will of man? How can it be ascertained that Peter spoke his words pertaining to all of Paul's letters being Scripture according to the moving of the Holy Spirit or according to his own will? Is it wrong to subject Peter's words to this test, to ascertain whether he spoke these words by the moving of the Holy Spirit or by his own will?

 

Yahweh Warns Us Not To Trust In Any Brother, Even Apostles!

Jeremiah 9:4-6 reads,

9:4Take you heed everyone of his neighbor, and don’t you trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders. 9:5They will deceive everyone his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. 9:6Your habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, says Yahweh.

Yahweh warns EVERYONE to take heed of his neighbour, and not to trust in ANY brother. Therefore those heeding Yahweh's words don't trust any neighbour or any brother, even leading brothers in Yah'shuah's assembly such as apostles, even Peter the apostle.

 

Yahweh Curses Those Who Trust In Humans!

Jeremiah 17:5-8 reads,

17:5Thus says Yahweh: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh. 17:6For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. 17:7Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose trust Yahweh is. 17:8For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Yahweh pronounces a curse upon those who trust in man, but a blessing upon those who trust in Yahweh. In other words, the only person Yahweh's people are to trust is Yahweh himself, and not human beings! And the penalty for not heeding this word of Yahweh is the curse that he has pronounced - being like the heath in the desert and not seeing good when it comes!

 

DON'T Trust Peter's Words!

Yahweh's people are therefore not to trust Peter's words simply because Peter, a leading figure in Yah'shuah's assembly, uttered them. They must first ascertain whether these words of Peter were spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit, and therefore Yahweh's words, before trusting them.

 

How To Assess Whether Peter Spoke By The Moving Of The Holy Spirit

How are Yahweh's people to ascertain whether these words that Peter spoke were Yahweh's words spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit or just Peter's words spoken of his own will?

 

Follow James' Example In Acts 15

In Acts 15 James showed how Peter's words, or the words of any person for that matter, should be assessed to ascertain whether they were spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit. James compared the words Peter uttered with those previously uttered by the holy prophets of old. When Peter's words were found to be in harmony with those previously uttered by Yahweh through his prophets they were accepted and were followed by those in Yah'shuah's assembly. But if Peter's words had been found not to agree with those uttered by Yahweh through his servants the prophets they wouldn't have been accepted.

 

Take Note Of Peter's Words In 2 Peter 1:19-21 Concerning The Certainty Of Prophetic Words In Scripture

Peter himself in 1:19-21 shows that prophetic word in Scripture is "more sure" than even the words received in visions, with prophetic words in Scripture being the basis for assessing the veracity of matters, even assessing that Yah'shuah indeed was Yahweh's Christ or Anointed One.

 

Use Yahweh's Words Spoken By His Prophets To Assess Whether 2 Peter 3:15-18 Was Spoken By The Moving Of The Holy Spirit

Seeing that both James and Peter agree that Yahweh's word spoken by his holy prophets is the basis for assessing the veracity of matters, and seeing that Yahweh himself says so in Isaiah 8:16-20, previously quoted, it is indeed Yahweh's word spoken by his prophets that must be used to assess whether Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:15-18 were spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit or of his own will.

 

Are All Of Paul's Letters In Harmony With Yahweh's Word In The Law And The Testimony?

That Peter said that all of Paul's letters were Scripture implies, according to Isaiah 8:16-20, that all of Paul's letters are in harmony with Yahweh's word in the law and the testimony - Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old.

Are all of Paul's letters in harmony with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old - Yahweh's words contained in the law and the testimony?

 

NOT ALL Of Paul's Words In His Letters Are In Harmony With Yahweh's Words Spoken By His Holy Prophets Of Old!

Examination of Paul's words in his various letters shows that NOT ALL of Paul's words are in harmony with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old. Paul's words concerning Yah'shuah being Yahweh's Christ or Anointed One are in harmony with what Yahweh spoke by his holy prophets of old. But his words concerning the continuing applicability of Yahweh's law to Israelites are NOT in harmony with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old. Some of Paul's words concerning the continuing applicability of the Yahweh's law to Israelites are contrary to what Yahweh spoke by his holy prophets of old, and also contrary to what Yahweh spoke by Yah'shuah the Christ. For Yahweh prophesied by these prophets that Israelites would observe all aspects of his law to them at the time of the gathering from all the nations of their scattering, an event yet to take place (Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Matthew 5:17-18). But Paul taught that Israelites had been discharged from the law (Romans 7:6) and that the law contained in ordinances had been killed (Ephesians 2:13-16), thereby no longer acting as a barrier between Israelites and non-Israelites. Also, some of Paul's words concerning the continuing applicability of Yahweh's law contradict his others words on the same matter (Romans 1-5; Ephesians 2:13-16). Paul's message on the law therefore wasn't consistent, not only within his own teachings, but also, and more importantly, with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old.

 

The Claim That All Of Paul's Letters Are Scripture Is NOT TRUE!

It is therefore my conclusion, based on examination of Paul's words in his various letters, that the claim that all of Paul's letters are Scripture is NOT TRUE! For his words only partially agree with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old, and with some of his words contrary to Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old. Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:15-16 were therefore not uttered by the moving of the Holy Spirit, but according to his own will!

 

Have I Spoken Blasphemy?

Now some might think that by uttering the comments that I have uttered concerning Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:15-16, and concerning Paul's words in his letters, that I have spoken blasphemy!

 

Remember Yahweh's Words In Jeremiah 9:4-6 And 17:5-8

I remind these of Yahweh's words spoken by his prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 9:4-6 and 17:5-8. We are NOT to trust any neighbour or any brother. We are not to trust man. We are to trust only Yahweh. We should therefore not rely on a neighbour's word or a brother's word, but should rely only on Yahweh's word. Those who rely on Yahweh's word receive his blessing, but those who rely on a human's word receive his curse.

 

Remember The Example Of Leading Men In Yah'shuah's Assembly

The example of leading men in Yah'shuah's assembly also shows us that they didn't accept the words of other leading men at face value. They tested those words, to ascertain whether they were in harmony with Yahweh's words spoken by his holy prophets of old. When they found them so they accepted them and followed them. But words they found contrary to Yahweh's word by his holy prophets of old they rejected.

When Peter fellowshipped with Gentiles contrary to Jewish customary law, those in Yah'shuah's assembly abandoned Jewish customary law and fellowshipped with Gentiles. For Yahweh's word was for Israelites and non-Israelites fellowshipping together and was contrary to Jewish customary law on this matter.

 

Remember Paul's Public Rebuke Of Peter In Antioch

When Peter stopped fellowshipping with Gentiles, on account of fearing some of the circumcision believers, Paul publicly rebuked him for his hypocrisy. For Peter had behaved contrary to Yahweh's word spoken by his prophets, and therefore deserved his rebuke. Paul therefore showed that Peter wasn't some god-like figure, whose every word or action had to be followed. Only his conduct in harmony with Yahweh's word was to be followed, and conduct outside Yahweh's word was to be rejected.

 

Remember Yah'shuah's Comments With Respect To Peter's Words

Before Yah'shuah's death Yah'shuah had shown that at times Peter spoke as moved by the Holy Spirit, while at other times Peter spoke as moved by Satan or according to his own will. When Yah'shuah discerned that Peter had spoken according to the Father's revelation, he blessed him. When Yah'shuah discerned that Peter had spoken according to his own will, contrary to Yahweh's will, he rebuked him. And when Yah'shuah discerned that Peter had spoken as moved by Satan, he sharply rebuked Satan while addressing Peter, thereby also rebuking Peter. In other words, it is for us to assess the source of the words spoken by our brothers - whether spoken as moved by the Holy Spirit or spoken according to their will or even spoken as moved by satanic forces. For the only words that we should follow are those of Yahweh, for it is Yahweh that we are to trust and follow and not human being, not even our brothers, not even leading figures such as James, Peter, John and Paul.

 

Additional Reading On Examining Whether Apostolic Words Have Been Spoken By The Moving Of The Holy Spirit

To ascertain the veracity of Paul's words, whether spoken by the moving of the Holy Spirit or by his own will, please read the following publications:

  1. "Was Paul (Saul) of Tarsus an Apostle of Life or an Apostle of Death?" published at http://www.serveyahweh.org/Paul/paul.htm.
  2. "Is It Heresy To Call Apostle Paul A Heretic?" published at http://www.serveyahweh.org/Paul/heretic.htm.
  3. "Is The New Testament Yahweh's Word?" published at http://www.serveyahweh.org/Religion/newtestament.htm.

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