by John and Ruth Greene
There an expression that the original authors and the text of scripture use for what a disciple [Christian] is. For the most part, this understanding has been covered over by Bible translators of the past. Have a look at the Bible verses involved below. As you read below, for the red lettered portion of each verse, you can read the verse a second time using the concept of the English word that is typically translated as ‘purpose’. That is the word idea that translators of the past have substituted for what is shown below:
“Indeed, the hand of the Master was in their midst. In addition, large numbers believed, turning to the Master. Now word of this report made the circuit to the ears of the assembly, the one in Jerusalem. And they sent out Barnabas to travel as far as Antioch, that when he arrived and saw the favor of Elohim, rejoiced and counseled all to be a sacrificial offering [as His showbread], to persevere in the Master. In that he was a good man, even complete in the Set Apart Spirit and truth, so many people were added to the Master.” – Acts 11:21-24, direct translation
“In that we have been assigned an inheritance, set out [apart] in advance [His track of righteousness] as His sacrificial offering [as His showbread] concerning His active purpose, all according to the counsel of His own will. We exist for the praise of His righteousness, trusting in advance through Messiah in whom you also heard the truth, the good message, your rescue in whom you also had trust, set and sealed the Set Apart Spirit of promise, Who is the pledge of security for our inheritance into the liberation of the purchased possession into the praise of His righteousness.” – Ephesians 1:11-14, direct translation
“Because now the principalities and authorities in the heavens [of the world] must be made known through the gathering, the many-sided wisdom of Elohim according to the age, a sacrificial offering [as His showbread] which is brought forward in Messiah Yahshua our Master, in Whom we possess boldness and assurance, with reliance through belief in Him.” – Ephesians 3:10-12, direct translation
And having known that all fellow workers, for the benefit of those that love Elohim, being the appointed, are sacrificial offerings before Elohim [as His show bread] to His more excellent purpose.” – Romans 8:28, direct translation
“Even in the way that Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these likewise resist the truth: men of depraved minds, reprobates working around the truth. But they will not drive forward over the majority because their raging folly will be evident to all, just as theirs likewise became. Now you conform to instruction in the Way: as His sacrificial offering [as the showbread] through belief, patience, love, endurance through persecution and suffering – such as came to me in Antioch, in Ikonion, and in Lustra. Such persecution I bore, and from out of all this, the Master rescued me. Now then, all that delight in living righteously in Messiah Yahshua will be persecuted. Now evil men and enchanters drive forward over more evil: wandering astray and leading astray.” – 2 Timothy 3:8-13, direct translation
In scripture, the word ‘prothesis’ is translated in English either as ‘showbread’ (Matthew 12:4; Mark 2:26; Luke 6:4, Hebrews 9:2) or ‘purpose’ as noted in verses translated above. (I also reviewed and validated conformity in Aramaic for comparison.) Using an expression with the word ‘showbread’ in the verses above is an understanding in the New Covenant that is globally ignored in Christianity. So, how is it true that disciples [Christians] are ‘showbread’ before Elohim? (“The Secret of Dedicated Disciples“; “The Way: Getting Stuck in a Rut – And Out Again“; “Redefining Good“)
To reveal this, let’s review Leviticus 24:5-9, which tells us the the priests took measures of the best quality flour and baked this into twelve loaves for exchanging each Sabbath. After baking, the showbread were placed in two stacks on the table of showbread. Frankincense was burned continuously as a fire offering of remembrance in two golden vessels alongside the showbread. The old showbread was exchanged with new, removed from the table and eaten by the priests. While scripture does not say this, certain writings claim that the showbread remained fresh and hot, so that when the priests received it after a week, the showbread remained as if freshly baked. (“Power in Praise“; “The Great Apostasy of Unrighteousness“; “Authority: The Real Meaning of Romans 13“)
The minds and hearts of disciples [Christians] are set apart to Elohim as the showbread, exposed and dedicated to Him by our obedient and loving service. The frankincense is our praise and prayer as fragrant offerings to Him in living each day. With the Set Apart Spirit [‘Holy Spirit‘], disciples are also His temple, wholly dedicated to Him. It could be said that through our praise and offerings of prayer, we are kept fresh unto Him, abiding in His Presence through the Spirit, and as an example to the world. (“Abiding With YHWH in Quiet Places“; “The Truth About Prayer“; “Praying in the Wilderness“; “Set Apart to His Purpose“)
Elohim’s track of righteousness, as previously established for all His people, is where His people are purposed or ‘destined’ to walk. This is the ‘predestination’ that so many Christian denominations teach about in error, as if YHWH predetermines the steps of all; as if good or bad men and women are robots without free choice. Your choice, your way of life is yours, with which you are judged. True disciples abide in YHWH through Yahshua [Jesus], walking in His established righteous Way. Remember, this Way was in place, as was His provision, long before the Messiah came as the Offering. Yahshua [Jesus] came to set disciples right before the throne of Elohim for all time, fully able to save those with a righteous heart of love, through Him and the Spirit that are set apart to YHWH. (“YHWH: The Choice to Stay Loyal“; “Justice & Righteousness“; “The God of General Goodness“; “Disciples & the Occult of the World“)
Perhaps now you can begin to see what has been hidden from so many Christians for so long. Evidence supports that this meaning was intentionally altered long ago, along with the concept of being set apart, either to righteousness or unrighteousness. Sure Christians talk about it in vague terms of good and bad, just as so many have been corrupted and taken sides with the enemy. A disciple of Messiah is to be set apart to the purpose of YHWH, through Yahshua [Jesus] and the Set Apart Spirit [‘Holy Spirit‘]. All others are judged as unrighteous, set apart to the judgment of the unrighteous eternally, set out to suffer destruction based on personal choice, the end result of each life course. (“The Challenge of Living in Righteousness“; “Blind to Righteousness“; “Discernment 101: Learning to be Discerning“; “Discernment: Having an Ear to Deeper Understanding“; “Discernment the World Doesn’t Have“)
As we have often discussed in our research here at Bible Vision, translators and those that have instructed them have often had their way with the scriptures, by cleverly tailoring scripture to meet the desire. It’s not a popular point among many, yet the evidence is not refutable. Leaders that have sponsored Bible scholarship typically have had an agenda in doing so. For example, the names and titles of ‘God’ were changed, effectively making Him nameless. While they had enthusiasm for scripture, Greek translators sometimes crafted scripture to fit their own culture, incorporating non-scriptural influences, mostly that already existed in the language they spoke in that day (just as we are apt to do in this day). As a result many religious words used today are grounded in paganism. Satan and his agents have certainly been working to thoroughly confuse mankind. (“Breaking Strongholds of False Authority“; “Recognizing the Counterfeit“; “Following the Right Jesus“; “Babylon & the Foul Ones“)
There is also concrete proof of intentional meddling as early as Constantine, who swore to remove all traces of Judaism from scripture and what he had adopted as his new state religion. The work of the early Catholic Church and early translations leading up to the Latin Vulgate were used as tools of subjection, employing the Latin language as a ‘holy language’ in over arching efforts to mandate authoritarian control. (“Ongoing Corruption of Christianity“; “What is God’s Church?“; “Seeking a New Spirit“; “Spiritual Fruit & Renewing Your Mind“; “The Image & Mark of the Beast System“; “Video: Corruption of Christianity in the Third Century“)
Another famous example of crafting scriptures involved King James as he sought to make the church his own, as well as to magnify his own authority. Whole movements and denominations have been founded on understandings of whatever Bible translation was available.
Lost through time, religion and translation is the emphasis of grounding Christians in the understanding (the mindset) that they have been set apart to a special purpose and what this really means. This has been blurred so that those that call themselves Christians can be more easily conformed to the world, bent and molded to what the leaders of a particular worldly authority desire. What a sad reality! Twisting scripture is not truth or salvation. (“Millenniums of Human Exploitation“; “Strongholds & the Armor of YHWH“; “Fighting a World of Fear & Delusion“; “Living in an Apostate World“; “The Push Behind Interfaith & Salvation“)
As a result, understandings in scripture have been covered over or lost to time where most modern disciples are concerned. For those of us that are concerned with the details of accurate understanding, this is especially important. May your heart be moved to be the same! Knowing the real emphasis of scripture is both vital and helpful for those seeking deeper understanding in building a closer relationship through the Spirit, provisioned by our Messiah for all time. Because of His sacrifice, His disciples are set right before Elohim, just as we seek to obey Him more fully as we mature spiritually in YHWH and become more like Yahshua [Jesus]. (“Replacing Sin and Becoming Set Apart“; “Being Set Apart Makes You Aware of Sin“; “Understanding Sin“; “Building a Relationship With YHWH“; “Foundation of Salvation“; “Roots of Salvation“)
