Notes on Introduction Continued of Kaiser’s “Recovering the Unity of the Bible”

   In the previous blog, I noted the six general categories of unity that Kaiser utilizes and only spoke about the first category. It is my hope to go more in detail on the other five categories in this blog. The six general categories Kaiser uses to examine the cohesiveness of the Bible again are:

(1) structural, (2) historical, (3) prophetical, (4) doctrinal, (5) spiritual, and (6) kerygmatic.

Page 20

The historic unity of the Bible.

   Kaiser starts with noting that, “The Bible tells a single story gathered around the people of Israel.” page 21. He states that it covers the history of Abraham through the exile of Israel. “But it doesn’t end there, for the Jewish Messiah is the Christ of all nations, and God’s covenantal promises made with Israel are never relinquished; God will end history just as he began it- with the Abrahamic, Davidic, new covenant promise-plan of God,” per Kaiser on pages 21, 22.

   This is an interesting note. The people of Israel are the lineage that Yeshua the Messiah came through. This almost seems like a lost concept in our Western mind sets, also. Our Father Abraham Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith by Marvin R. Wilson is a great book to study more on the topic of our Jewish roots that our faith was birthed out of.

   When I think about our faith coming out of the Jewish faith, it makes me think of Yeshua’s words in Matthew 19:30, “But many who are first will be last, and the last first” and Matthew 20:16, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” I know that this might be out of context. Considering the context of the laborers in the Vineyard, it is probably more speaking about not complaining that someone is rewarded the same whether they’re a believer all their life or came to faith right before their dying breath.

   However, I have to think this concept can be applied at the micro and macro levels over all history that this movement began with the Jewish people and will end with the Jewish people coming to faith as a nation. One continuous story through out all time. I believe there is more support for this thought.

   For example, Yeshua says in his triumphal entrance into Jerusalem in Matthew 24:37-39, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the L-rd.’” In Acts 1:10, 11, “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, nd said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

   Not to say Paul says in Romans 11:25-32,

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”; “and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins.” (cited from Isa. 59:20, 21 and Ps. 14:7; 53:6 and Isa. 27:9)

   “As regards the gospel, they are enemies of G-d for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of G-d are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to G-d but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For G-d has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.”

 As Paul said in Romans 11:36, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

   It appears there is a clear time in the middle that the Gentiles are allowed to come to faith in mass and the Jewish people have a small remnant but in the end many will come to faith again. Well, I’ve gone on somewhat of another rabbit trail:)

The prophetic unity of the Bible.

   The prophets of the Old Testaments and the Apostles of the New Testament all cried out with a unified voice of the kingdom of G-d and of the Messiah. It is great that Kaiser points out 2 Peter 1:20, 21, “knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from G-d as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”   This is great to point out the unity of the Bible by pointing out the prophets and apostles were led by the Holy Spirit. There is one G-d, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  

   Kaiser also mentions the two comings of the Messiah that encompassed the focal points of all prophecy. The first coming was to “provide salvation for mortals: his second coming would set up a rule and reign that would have no end or competitor.” (page 27)

Well, three down and three to go.

Shalom and grace be with you,

In Yeshua Messiah,

Coley

  

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