Messianic Publications
ApologeticsActs

Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council: Did they conclude the Torah was not for Gentiles?

Tim Hegg39 min readAwaiting author

“Even the Apostles admitted the Torah was a burden no one could bear!” Such a statement characterizes a common sentiment about the Torah—one based upon an equally common interpretation of Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council. But let us look again at Acts 15 and the decision of the Apostolic Council convened in Jerusalem. What was the issue at hand? What had brought about the need for the Council in

About the author

Tim Hegg graduated from Cedarville University in 1973 (B.A.), Northwest Baptist Seminary in 1976 (M.Div, magna cum laude) and in 1980 (Th.M., magna cum laude). He is one of the overseers at Beit Hallel, a synagogue community in Tacoma, WA. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, and the Society of Biblical Literature, and has contributed papers at the annual meetings of both societies. He has taught as an adjunct professor at several local seminaries in Tacoma, WA. He is the author of The Letter Writer: Paul's Background and Torah Perspective (FFOZ, 2002; 2nd Edition: TorahResource, 2008), FellowHeirs (FFOZ, 2003), the Four Part Series It is Often Said (FFOZ 2002-2006), Paul's Epistle to the Romans, vol. 1 (TR, 2005) and Vol 2 (TR, 2007), Studies in the Torah, Vol 1: Genesis (TR, 2010), and editor of Tehillot HaMashiach, a Messianic Erev Shabbat and Shabbat Morning Service Siddur (TR, 2008). He is married to Paulette, and has four children and four grandchildren.

torahresource.com

More from Tim Hegg

Awaiting authorJanuary 21, 2019

Legalism

It seems that it is the destiny of all who pursue Torah-living to be labelled by some as “legalists.” If not often, at least occasionally we hear the warning (sometimes from very sincere and loving brothers and sisters in the Lord) that our view of the Torah is either legalistic or leads to it. While such warnings may at first seem bothersome, we should listen and take heed. A wrong

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Awaiting authorOctober 10, 2016

Intro to Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur centers its attention upon atonement—being right with God even though one knows himself or herself to be a sinner, and that God cannot have fellowship with sinners. Here is the mystery of atonement: God makes a way for a sinner to be made clean, and thus to be a fitting companion with Him. During the Temple time, elaborate cultic rituals were done on this day, the only day

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Awaiting authorJanuary 27, 2016

A Community or a Congregation: For What are We Striving?

The Messianic Movement has come about because people have sought to recover a biblical understanding of the Torah/Law of God and its application to our lives as believers in Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ). The following article suggests that if we hope to establish generational, biblical, Yeshua-centered communities, we must have a similar reformation and reclamation in the area of ecclesiology (the biblical doctrine of the “ekklesia/assembly”) as well. In this

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