January 1, 2014
PLAINER WORDS ONLINE … GENTILES IN THE FLESH
The following paragraphs are quoted from the Plainer Words Online Bible Study for September 10, 2009, entitled “THE CREATION OF THE ONE NEW MAN.”
[Beginning of Quote]
Part 1 - PROLOGUE
It is crucial that it be pointed out that there are several schools of theology which teach that the “Gentiles,” mentioned in the Second Chapter of Ephesians, does not, in fact, refer to people of other nations. But, the word, “ethnos,” translated as “Gentiles,” is a reference to the Jewish exiles (from the Ten Tribes from the House of Israel). The Jews who still lived in Palestine referred to the exiled Jews in a most derogatory manner. The exiles were called “Gentiles,” and the “uncircumsized.” These epitaphs were hurled at the dispersed Jews because many of them adopted the way of the true Gentiles. They were looked down upon by the Jews “of the Land.” We had accepted this idea until our studies compelled us to consider this with all of its attendant innuendoes. Mr. Otis Q. Sellers [who I consider the Dean of Pre-Millennial Dispensational Truth] wrote, in his “The Resultant Version” translation of the Ephesians Epistle, the following “Note” on Ephesians 2:11: “No one should attempt to interpret this portion (Chapter Two) until he is familiar with the Biblical history of Israel, and especially all of the facts related to the great barrier that existed between those in the land and those in the exile.” This type of remark gives us pause.
However, the more this idea was considered, we saw that this position was in harmony with a Torah-based teaching of Paul’s epistles with the emphasis on a First Century Hebrew Context. “The Torah” is the entire body of religious law and learning, including both the sacred literature and the ORAL TRADITION. This research directed us to see that much of this oral-traditional-Christian-teaching incorporates some elements of Gnostism.
A Christian-Rabbi web site has this to say … “If you are looking for a fresh approach to understanding Paul's letter to the Galatians, click on Products For Sale to purchase Galatians: A Torah-Based Commentary in First-Century Hebraic Context.”
One such teacher is an admitted “Christian”- Kaballist. He insisted, in his teaching, that “it was impossible to understand the Bible with a 21st Century Western-Gentile mind.” He further said, “Only the 1st Century Jewish mind can understand the ‘original documents.’” Christian Jews, who embrace the Kabbalah, subscribe to Jewish Mysticism.
Therefore, in this series of essays, we view the Gentiles in Ephesians Chapter 2 as men of other nations, not as Hebrews who were living among the pagans. [End of Quote]
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph.2:11-13).
As I pointed out in “The Prologue” of the “Creation of the One New Man” study, there is one school of theology which teaches that Paul was actually referring to Jews of the dispersion as “Gentiles.” I have discovered that a number of Pre-Millennial Dispensationalists have embraced this idea. This opinion sounded conceivable. I pondered the “What-Ifs” of this position. I “tip-toed” up to the line-of-acceptance. But, after seriously considering this line of reasoning, I backed-off accepting it in 2004 with the writing of “Plainer Words Online—One New Man.”
Would the Apostle Paul knowingly call Israelites “Gentiles?” In reading “The Apostle Paul’s Autobiography,” I just couldn’t imagine him being deceitful. The following verse settled it for me. The answer was obvious. NO!
“But [I, Paul] have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Cor. 4:3).
My view-point has expanded and solidified since I wrote “THE CREATION OF THE ONE NEW MAN” in 2009. Paul, most assuredly, meant Gentiles when he wrote Ephesians 2:11. He didn’t deliberately call Jews, Gentiles, nor did he mean, “You Gentile Jews.” He meant You Gentiles “in the flesh.”
“IN THE FLESH”
“In the flesh” was what a person was by his natural birth. “Gentiles in the flesh” described what a person was by birth—a Gentile.
Before looking at more uses of “in the flesh,” we should look at the Linguistics and Etymology of the words, “GENTILE and GENTILES:”
The root and etymology of the noun, “Gentile” (“Gentiles”), is that it comes from the Latin word, “gentilis,” which was used both as a noun and an adjective in the meaning, “the nations” and “of the nations.” In the Bible, “Gentiles” is a reference to people of other nations than Israel – non-Israelites, non-Jews. Clarification: The makers of the Catholic Vulgate Version translated the Hebrew word, goyim (“nations”), and the Greek word, ethnoi, (“nations”) with the Latin word, “gentilis,” which has the same meaning. “Gentilis” was, then, Anglicized into “Gentile” or “Gentiles” and copied into English Bible-Versions.
Many Christians are startled when they learn that the word, “Gentile,” is from a Latin word and not a Greek word. Noah Webster knew it in 1828 as we find in his definition of “Gentile:”
Under “Gentile,” Webster wrote, “In the scriptures, a pagan; a worshipper of false gods; any person not a Jew or a Christian; a heathen. The Hebrews included in the term “goim” or nations, all the tribes of men who had not received the true faith, and were not circumcised. The Christians translated “goim” by the L. “gentes”, and imitated the Jews in giving the name gentiles to all nations who were not Jews nor Christians. In civil affairs, the denomination was given to all nations who were not Romans” (Webster’s English Dictionary of 1828).
Again, we will repeat ourselves by writing; “in the flesh” is what we were by our natural birth. It is a reference to our “old man,” or our “old nature,” our “natural man,” or uncircumcised by birth.
“The Hebrew Name Version of the Bible” says of Ephesians 2:11, “… in that once you, the Goyim (nations) in the flesh (by birth).”
Rom 7:5 - For when we were in the flesh [old man], the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
Rom 8:9 - But ye are not in the flesh [old man], but in the Spirit [new man], if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
1 Cor 7:28 - But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh [old nature]: but I spare you.
2 Cor 10:3 - Though we walk in the flesh [our nature by birth], we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor 12:7 - And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh [natural body], the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Eph 2:11 - Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh [by birth], who are called Uncircumcision [by natural birth] by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh [old man] made by hands;”
There are nineteen more “in the flesh” examples which point to the fact that it is an idiom for a natural man, a physical birth, a human being, or the old man: Rom. 2:28, Rom. 8:3, Rom.8:8, Gal. 2:20, Gal. 6:20, Phil.1:22, Phil. 1:24, Phil. 3:3, Col. 2:1, Col. 2:5, 1 Tim. 3:6, Phile.16, 1 Pet. 3:18, 1 Pet. 4:1, 1 Pet. 4:2, 1 Jn. 4:2, 1 Jn. 4:3, and 2 Jn. 7. Then, there are eight references to “according to the flesh” which have the same idea as “in the flesh” by natural birth, old man, old nature, or a human being. They are: Acts 2:30, Rom. 1:3, Rom. 1:4, Rom. 9:3, 2 Cor. 1:17, 2 Cor. 19:2, Eph. 6:5, and Col. 3:22.
All of these references point out that Ephesians 2:11, emphatically, means that those who Paul addressed WERE GENTILES—BY BIRTH; NOT JEWS OF THE DISPERSION WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE GENTILES.
QUOTATIONS FROM OTHER TRANSLATIONS
References to seventeen other versions of Ephesians 2:11-12 are listed. None of which indicate Paul meant he was really writing to members of the Second House of Israel.
11 Wherefore remember, that once ye, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision, in the flesh, made by hands;12 that ye were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (ASV)
11 Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a [a]mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. 12 [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. (Amplified Version)
11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. (Common English Bible)
11 Therefore, remember your former state: you Gentiles by birth — called the Uncircumcised by those who, merely because of an operation on their flesh, are called the Circumcised — 12 at that time had no Messiah. You were estranged from the national life of Isra’el. You were foreigners to the covenants embodying God’s promise. You were in this world without hope and without God. (Complete Jewish Bible)
You were gentiles: we were Jews. God has made us fellow-Christians
11-13 Do not lose sight of the fact that you were born “Gentiles”, known by those whose bodies were circumcised as “the uncircumcised”. You were without Christ, you were utter strangers to God’s chosen community, the Jews, and you had no knowledge of, or right to, the promised agreements. You had nothing to look forward to and no God to whom you could turn. But now, through the blood of Christ, you who were once outside the pale are with us inside the circle of God’s love and purpose. (J. B. Phillips New Testament)
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (NIV)
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
11 [a]Wherefore remember that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, and [b]called uncircumcision of them, which are [c]called circumcision in the flesh, made with hands, 12 That ye were, I say, at that time [d]without Christ, and were [e]aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers from the covenants of promise, and had no hope, and were without God in the world. (1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
11 Therefore, have zikaron (remembrance) that formerly you, the Goyim in the flesh, who are called "arelim" (uncircumcised ones) by the ones being called "nimolim" (circumcised ones) which is a Bris Milah performed in the flesh by human hands 12 Have zikaron (remembrance) that you were at that time bazunder (unrelated and separate) from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having been alienated from the torat haEzrakhut (the citizenship) in the Am Brit, from Yisroel, being zarim (strangers) to the Beritot HaHavtacha, farloiren (lost) and having no tikvah (hope) and without G-d in the Olam Hazeh. [YESHAYAH 14:1; 65:1] (Orthodox Jewish Bible) (OJB)
11 Wherefore remember that *ye*, once nations in [the] flesh, who [are] called uncircumcision by that called circumcision in [the] flesh done with the hand; 12 that ye were at that time without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (Darby Translation (DARBY)
11 Wherefore, remember, that ye [were] once the nations in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands, 12 that ye were at that time apart from Christ, having been alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope, and without God, in the world. (Young’s Literal Translation)
V. 11. On this account be remembering at one time, you, the Gentiles in the flesh, the ones habitually called uncircumsion by that which is called circumcision in the flesh made by hand .. (K. S. Wuest New Testament)
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
11 You Gentiles by birth—called “the uncircumcised” by the Jews, who call themselves the circumcised (which refers to what men do to their bodies)—remember what you were in the past. 12 At that time you were apart from Christ. You were foreigners and did not belong to God's chosen people. You had no part in the covenants, which were based on God's promises to his people, and you lived in this world without hope and without God. (Good News Translation)
11 For which cause be mindful that you, being heretofore Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called circumcision in the flesh, made by hands; 12 That you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the conversation of Israel, and strangers to the testament, having no hope of the promise, and without God in this world. (Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition) (DRA)
V.11 Therefore remember, that times past gentiles in the flesh, who are called The Uncircumcision by those called the Brit-Milah in the flesh made by hands: 12 That at that time you were without Moshiach, being excluded, aliens from the Commonwealth of Yisrael, as gerim from the covenants of promise, having no tikvah, and without _____ in the olam hazeh:” (Ephsiyah – Ephesians To The Believing Remnant of Yisrael).
This is the Translation of the Epistle to the Ephesians by The Restoration Scriptures, Messianic Christians, which is addressed to The Second House of Israel (the Diaspora). According to this Messiannic Organization, many of the Second House of Israel [the “Ten Lost Tribes of Israel” did not know who they really were.
I’ll refer to this position as the “Second House of Israel Position.” The Translation of “Ephesians – Ephsiyah To the Believing Remnant of Yisrael.” According to their belief, the Gentile mentioned in Ephesians 2:11 were really “Efrayimites,” who were members of the Ten Tribes of Israel. A Footnote of theirs on Ephesians 2:11 states, “Note that these Efrayimite believers in Ephesus, were no longer pagans, or gentiles.” Thus, meaning that these members of the Second House of Israel were restored by believing they were Jews and didn’t know it, and by embracing the Ephesians message.
One Christian Rabbi who was part of the “Restoration Scriptures Organization” wrote, “By capturing YHWH’s mind we can by pass the bias in many other translations that subtly fuel—rather than eliminate these problems” of the dispensational hoax.
Some of the Rabbinical Christian teachers I have read say that their “Restoration Scriptures Translation True Name Edition” Study Bible has eliminated the Dispensational Traps and have been removed.
Another “Restoration Scripture” Footnote says, “Hebraic understanding of time is non-dispensational. One’s salvation is received in this world, in order to enter the next. Just two periods of time, without man-made dispensations.” Not only that, but their teaching of Paul’s Ephesians is, “Both Jews and Torah-honoring non-Jews, are called to be one body, as Yahshua gathers all His children into one body.” Furthermore, another Footnote reads, “Therefore , we must seat ourselves on earth as one nation, where all believers are considered the Commonwealth of Yisrael, no longer divided amongst ourselves under designations such as ‘Jew’ and ‘gentile.’” (3rd Edition, Page 932)
According to them, their New Testament is written to the Two Houses of Israel, i.e., the House of Judah (Tribes of Judah and Benjamin) and the House of Israel (the ten Tribes). In a Footnote on Page 979, Restoration Scriptures, 3rd Edition; it says, “(2) Keeping the Torah is a requirement to kingdom entry.”
Their New Testament Edition has, also, supplied the “The Acts of the Apostles” with its “29th Chapter—the missing chapter.” Another doctrine of these New Testament Jewish Rabbis is that Christ ( i.e., their Messiah) came to destroy the “enmity of Ephesians 2:15 between the two houses of Israel. … Yahahus’ (their spelling of Yahweh) revealed Will was for all believers to be considered Yisrael. “How about them apples!” According to their teaching, we are really God’s Israel! I perceive that their doctrine is that the Jew still has the advantage, much in every way, by failing to acknowledge that Paul even spoke in Acts 28:25-28.
One of the closing remarks is that I acknowledge Paul was writing to the Gentles in Ephesians 2, meaning, to all of those who considered themselves to be Gentles. That is to say those, if they remember, were in times past, either Gentiles, Gentilis or Goyim at birth (in the flesh). They were reconciled unto God in one body, thus, removing the distinction of being “of the nations,” or an “Israelite.”
It is noted that the Restoration Scriptures has to do with the Two Houses of Israel. The Ten Tribes = 2nd House called GENTILES by the Jews (Judea). (The emphasis is mine). A lot of times, we are tempted to step inside something that has an appeal as Truth. I wonder how many times folks enter into the Two Houses of Israel venue, only to get caught—hook-line-and sinker—and become captives of the devil. Our prayer is that some dear, meek, and modest “right divider” may come along and lead an ensnared-one to freedom and liberty in Christ Jesus. Second Timothy 2:25-26 should be the model to follow:
“In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”
~~THE END~~
Copyright© 2013 by Thomas L. Ballinger
Tom L. Ballinger
1031 Wilson Road
Lancaster, TX 75146
U.S.A.
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