In the first century, Yeshua began his ministry teaching "repentance" (Matthew 4:17). What did that word mean to the Jews who heard him firsthand? How would we find out?

The answer is fairly simple. To the Jews in the first century, their dictionary was the TaNaKh, that is, the Torah, the Writings, and the Prophets, also known today as the Old Testament.

Our plan, going forward, is to cover many of these important words, that is, we're going to tackle a main theological term of the "New Testament" and re-establish it's correct meaning from the TaNaKh, then re-apply it to the NT text, including after the resurrection of Yeshua, and see if we get any additional light on the meaning of the Scriptures.

Below is a sampling of some of the words/phrases we intend to cover...

• Disciple
• Ekklesia
• Faith
• Forever
• Forgiveness
• Freedom
• Give an Account
• Grace
• Hell
• "His Name"
• Law
• Lawlessness
• Life
• Light
• Neighbor
• Once Saved Always Saved
• Proselyte
• Repentance
• Salvation
• Sin
• Slavery (Galatians 5:1 bondage KJV)
• Sojourner
• Stumbling Block
• The Gospel
• The Scriptures
• The Word
• To "Do and Hear"
• Truth
• Walk (The Way to Walk)
• Weak and beggarly elements,
• Wisdom

We will post the work that will be discussed in the meeting and provide at least one Scripture for a refence. All the rest of the discussion will be in the Sabbath meeting.

Matthew 21:42 Yeshua said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, "The stone which the builders rejected, the same has become the chief cornerstone: this is Yahweh's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?" [Psalm 118:22]
KJV Matthew 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel [Gen 4:18] unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias [2 Chronicles 24:20], whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Note: Current order of TNK
Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. [NAS]
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, "These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. "[KJV]
Note: "all things must be fulfilled", not "all things have been fulfilled".
Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. [NAS]
Note: If it was in fact that Paul was teaching that the law had been done away with, these Breans were searching the TNK to find the support for such a doctrine. And where might that support be?
Galatians 3:8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." [KJV]
2 Timothy 3:15 "and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yeshua."
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God breathed and is profitable for learning...
Teaching---------------------------------(What is right)
Reproof----------------------------------(What is not right)
Correction-------------------------------(How to get it right)
Instruction in right-living---------------(How to keep it right)
KJV 2 Peter 3:16 As also in all his (Paul’s) epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. [KJV]

1 Peter 3:15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to give an account (Greek avpologi,an ) to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you...

This Greek word, which means "speaking in defense", is the discipline of defending a position (usually religious) through the systematic use of reason. Other passages include Acts 26:2, Philippians 1:7, and Romans 1:20.

Generally speaking, "Apologists" base their defense of Hebrew Roots Christianity on historical & archaeological evidence, theological & philosophical arguments, and scientific investigation. In other words, in giving an "account", we work hard to understand the language of any given biblical text in its linguistic milieu, taking seriously the grammatical, syntactical, and literary structure through which the author communicated his meaning. This, of course, requires that we work hard to understand the historical context in which the text was written.

All in all, a disagreement in doctrinal understanding requires both parties to prepare a position paper using the above mentioned evidence and then to be presented in a systematic point by point manner. Usually, when this is done, a clear result can be found among all parties who are sincerely searching for the truth. Parties who have less than satisfactory results with this New Testament prescribed manner may need to find more probative evidence to support their position.

See also the Weight of Evidence as it is defined on this site.

Genesis 1:3-4
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Acts 13:43
Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Matthew 18:23-35
v35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Romans 6:15
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Galatians 4:9
But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?