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Paul would have transgressed ? - Printable Version

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Paul would have transgressed ? - BenEfraym - 02-05-2012

Shalom Chaverim!


I have a question that I wish I could share with everyone. Looking at the books of Acts of the Apostles, we see that Paul made four trips. In his second trip in a given time he arrived at Ephesus (1 Cor 16:8) and was there until Pentecost.

The question is: How could Paul have been in Ephesus on the day of Shavuot / Pentecost, the Torah commanded that they should go to Jerusalem three times a year (Deut. 16:16)?

In Paul's time the Temple was still standing still. So would not an excuse to say that Temple had not more, and so do not go to Jerusalem to celebrate.

We can see that the Brit Chadasha parties pilgrimages to Jerusalem not only happened, like Paul in one of his trips would go to Jerusalem to celebrate Shavuot (Acts of the Apostles 20:16).

How to explain in solely grounded in the Bible, this issue we find in 1 Corinthians 16:8?

How is this passage (1 Cor 16:8) in Aramaic.

In Aramaic he says he will stay "until" Pentecost?

This "until" is in line with the same Aramaic?



Thanks


Re: Paul would have transgressed ? - PM Saunders - 02-06-2012

I MAY be able to answer this. However I am using multiple translations. First Rotherham's Emphasized Literal Bible for Deuteronomy 1616:
Quote:16 Three times in the year, shall each one of thy males see the face of Yahweh thy God, in the place which he shall choose, at the festival of unleavened cakes, and at the festival of weeks, and at the festival of booths,??and none shall see the face of Yahweh empty?handed: 17 every man, according as his hand can give,??according to the blessing of Yahweh thy God, which he hath bestowed upon thee.

In a more non-literal translation, the NET:
Quote:16 Three times a year all your males must appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Temporary Shelters; and they must not appear before him empty-handed. 17 Every one of you must give as you are able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God that he has given you.

Now I do not see where it says a person must go to Jerusalem in particular unless I am missing something... which is very possible. From what I can see, it says to appear before YHWH in a place of his choosing which to me suggests it may not always be the same place nor must it be the temple in Jerusalem... although that seems to be a common understanding.

As for what the Aramaic says concerning 1Cor 16:8 AENT 4th:
Quote:8: For I will continue at Ephesus until Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

Then there is a footnote concerning this verse:
Quote: "Proof that not all the residents of these cities were Gentile. Some knew they were Jews and practiced as such. Otherwise Rav Shaul could not have kept a feast like Shavuot in a thoroughly Pagan place, even though this was a required feast for him to come up to Jerusalem. Still many Jews of that time kept those feasts where they lived.

AS for Acts 20:16 AENT 4th...

Quote:For Paul had determined with himself to pass by Ephesus, or else fearing he might be delayed, because he was hurrying, if possible to keep the day of Pentecost (Shavuot) in Urishlim.

So from my understanding, it was not uncommon for Jews to not always travel to Jerusalem to observe Pentecost (Feast of Weeks). By the sound of Acts 20:16, he had every intention of going to Jerusalem to observe, but if he could not (if I understand correctly) it would not have been a huge issue considering the footnote of 1Cor 16:8... "Still many Jews of that time kept those feasts where they lived" and we know not all Jews lived in Jerusalem.

So unless he made 2 trips where he was planning on going by Ephesus and worrying about being late for Pentecost... in chronological order it sounds like he was going to skip Ephesus altogether to make it to Jerusalem (Acts 20:16). However he decided to make the stop there and then deciding to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost since he would not be able to make it to Jerusalem (1Cor 16:8).

Hope this helps a little bit. <!-- sBig Grin --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/happy.gif" alt="Big Grin" title="Happy" /><!-- sBig Grin -->