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To: GCC Catholic
What of the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-19)?

The Great Commission (which conflicts with Mark's account),if it was part of the original manuscript, says "making disciples" (maqhteusate)of all tribes/or nations (panta ta eqnh.

The word ethnos in Greek can mean any heterogeneous group, a multitude, a gathering of people, a tribe, or even a nation pretty much one and the same thing). It is not specific to a "nation." Of course, we like to translate it as the nation for obvious reasons.

He could have just as well meant (which would be in agreement with his own statement about why he was sent) tribes of Israel.

And Acts 1:8? "But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth."

Utmost part of the earth would have surely included the holy Aostolic See of Rome, Alexandria, Constantinople, Antioch, etc. where the Church was to be established in its fullness.

Instead, he talks about Judea and Samaria, all converging to Jerusalem. There is a reason for this. If you read about his encounter with a Samaritan woman who gave him water, he also mentionns Jerusalem.

That's because Samaritans are Jews, their names are Jewish, their scripture is Torah, and in fact they practice OT Judaism to this day, along with animal sacrifices. But they believe that the Temple is not supposed to be in Jerusalem and that makes them "heretics" in the eyes of the mainline Judaism.

So, he was expressing a desire and wish of bringing Samaritans "back" into the fold, that they may accept Jerusalem as the "Mecca." He makes no mention of his churches established in gentile lands, as if they don ;t matter; he only speaks of Judea and Samaria in particular.

The word "earth" means country or state. This is a concept to be found in Slavic and the languages, where the word for country or state is the same as the word for earth. In fact the Russian island in the north is called Novaya Zemlya, meaning New Earth.

In Greek, the word ge (as in geology) means arable land, the ground, territory or a region, not unnecessarily the entire earth, but it can mean that too. So, form the context he was apparently talking about Israel as a whole.

Also, what of Malachi 1:11, where the "clean oblation" is regarded to be the Eucharistic sacrifice?

From the context, it is obvious that he is talking about animal sacrifices. God is "offended" with lame animals; he wats nothing but pure stock. Indignantly he says "would you offer such (imperfrect gifts) to your governor?"

The word goy (goyim for plural) means a confluence of people, a tribe, or a nation such as Israel (one language, one faith); it is also used for the descendants sof Abraham, and even of the Jews. This word is equivalent to the word Gentile and basically means unbelievers. The OT (I believe Gensis) calls certain tribe of Hebrews as "goyim" (Gentiles).

And as for the incense, it is part of the Jewish liturgical service. The OT God is know for liking the "sweet smell"—what anthropomorphism!

38 posted on 08/06/2008 2:35:20 PM PDT by kosta50 (Eastern Orthodoxy is pure Christianity)
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To: kosta50
From the context, it is obvious that he is talking about animal sacrifices

Actually the Hebrew has "mincha," which was a grain sacrifice, and not "zevach," which meant animal sacrifice.

40 posted on 08/06/2008 2:49:12 PM PDT by maryz
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