I am still interested in this concept of the "Lost Tribes of the House of Israel" You said it though it is nowhere in the Bible, and, although you have the advantage over me in knowing the scriptures, I wonder what scripture you mean, that phrase belongs to the Book of Mormon, if I'm not mistaken. Are you a Mormon?
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Helps knowing the scriptures. Acts 15:7 gives reference to a prior event which allowed teaching the gentiles as well as the Jews - not the Gentiles exclusively. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. Again, helps knowing scripture.
What prior event does Acts 15:7 refer to? Prior to Mt 10:5? You seem to claim this, as you imply that the instruction to the twelve superceeds that event. I think that you are incorrect. The clearest connection is Peters dream of the unclean animals. You also seem to attempt to distinguish Peter from Paul here: "not the Gentiles exclusively. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles" since Paul also taught Jews as well as Gentiles there is no basis for this.
To "prove" Peter would not have been in Rome Havoc can say "Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles" - but when the Apostle Peter says: "God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe." We really all (even you) need to pick Peter over Havoc, don't you think?
the Rome/Babylon connection didn't exist at the time that 1 Peter was written. That would not come for another 35 years or two generations later.
This is sort of like saying "since I am not having eggs until tomorrow, you could not have had them yesterday." Clearly, the author of Revelations is using this very statement of Peters to create the relationship in the first place, since everyone knows what Peter meant.
Lastly, still waiting on that "dating methology" that proves Paul wrote to Timothy at the same time Peter wrote from "Babylon." I know we are not talking carbon dating here. That would be the last remaining bit of evidence proving your thesis, would it not?
With bated breath,
v.
Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into [any] city of the Samaritans enter ye not: [6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
This was in my prior post - you can read I presume?
"not the Gentiles exclusively. Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles" since Paul also taught Jews as well as Gentiles there is no basis for this.
Paul taught a Gentile audience - that was his ministry. How can you be a Christian and not know this. Peter was commissioned to teach the lost tribes of Israel. Neither was forbidden to teach the stray israelite or gentile. That did not make the opposite their charge. Sheesh, I feel like Pete Burke trying to talk sense to Urko.
This is sort of like saying "since I am not having eggs until tomorrow, you could not have had them yesterday." Clearly, the author of Revelations is using this very statement of Peters to create the relationship in the first place, since everyone knows what Peter meant.
Not possible as John was taking dictation. Do you not know the scriptures? Revelation is a dictation of events shown in a vision - not popular creative writing. The linkage came from a vision that occurred 35 years after the writing of Pete's 1st epistle. Pete established nothing. Or were you not aware that it was not until after the writing of revelation that the linkage began showing up in other manuscripts. Your desperation is showing.
Lastly, still waiting on that "dating methology" that proves Paul wrote to Timothy at the same time Peter wrote from "Babylon." I know we are not talking carbon dating here. That would be the last remaining bit of evidence proving your thesis, would it not?
Ah, so now you not only don't know the scriptures, you don't know anything about the history of how the texts were authenticated and dated. For once I find myself chuckling inside wondering where your fellow Catholics are that screem to the heavens about bucking what is undeniable. Did you not get an education on this? Did you not also know that the dates to which I refer are not only widely agreed upon but agreed upon and sealed by your own church. I have to admit one has to go a long way to get a Catholic to question the decisions of their leaders; but, to see one pop forth so readily is heartening. Alas, these things are web published, or are you not also aware of that.
This may be of some help.
Who Are Jesus' 'Other Sheep' (John 10:26)?
Christ said, "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd " (John 10:16).
"This fold" refers to Judah—the Jews who were living in Judea. Christ come to His own—to the Jews—and His own did not receive Him (John 1:11). Christ was born of the tribe of Judah, but the Jews rejected Him saying, "We will not have this man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14).
Who, then, are the "other sheep"? There are two legitimate answers: one physical, one spiritual.
On a physical level, the "other sheep" are the other tribes of Israel. Israel (Jacob) had more than one son—twelve in all. The "other sheep" then are the descendants of the other sons of Jacob. Christ refers to these other tribes of Israel as "the lost sheep of the house of Israel" (Matthew 10:6).
Israel and Judah became two separate nations or houses during the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son (see I Kings 12). The nation of Israel, the northern ten tribes, were conquered by the Assyrians in 721 BC, and many of its people were removed to the area near the Caspian Sea. Eventually, the tribes migrated from there into northwestern Europe. Thus, the "other sheep," or the lost tribes of Israel, were not in Judea during Christ's ministry.
Christ concludes by saying, "And there shall be one flock and one shepherd" (John 10:16). When will the house of Judah and the house of Israel be one flock and have one king, one shepherd? The prophet Ezekiel gives the answer (Ezekiel 37:21-28). David will be that king with Christ, the chief shepherd (verses 24-25). Ezekiel 34:23-24 and Jeremiah 30:9 show that David is to be resurrected from the dead and made king. The resurrection from the dead occurs at Christ's second coming to this earth (I Thessalonians 4:13-15; I Corinthians 15:20-23, 50-52). Christ will then establish the new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Hebrews 8:8-10; Jeremiah 31:31-33; 50:4-5).
On a spiritual level, the "other sheep" are the members of God's church. Jesus and the apostles frequently call Christians "sheep" (e.g., Matthew 25:33; Mark 14:27; John 21:15-17; I Peter 2:25; etc.). Christ's Jewish audience did not "hear [His] voice" but instead rejected Him and His message and forced the Roman government into crucifying Him. Though many of the original members of the church were Jews, salvation was soon opened to Gentiles as well, and together they became an entirely new entity, the household of God, the church (see Ephesians 2:11-22).
Paul explains in Romans 9-11 that national Israel/Judah has been put aside for the time being for their ultimate spiritual good, and thus God's flock is presently His church. As the apostle puts it, "Israel has not obtained what it seeks [salvation and the promises of God]; but the elect [the church] have obtained it, and the rest were hardened" (Romans 11:7). Indeed, Paul names the church as "the Israel of God" in Galatians 6:16. He also shows in I Corinthians 12:12-27 and Ephesians 4:4 that there is only one body (flock), and Peter says there is only one Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ (I Peter 5:4).