Letter of Bar Naviy

The Letter of Bar-Nâvíy

‫נָבִי‬-‫בַּר‬ Chapter 1 Bar-Nâvíy wants to share with his brothers what he had received himself 1. I bid you peace, sons and daughters who are in the name of our Sovereign Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed, Who loved us in peace.

2. Seeing that the fruits of the mighty Ones’ righteousness abound among you, I rejoice exceedingly and above measure at your happy and honored spirits, because ye have received the gift of the engrafted spirit with such effect.

3. Wherefore also I inwardly rejoice the more, hoping to be saved, because I truly perceive in you the spirit poured forth from the Sovereign rich in love. Your 1

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greatly desired appearance has thus filled me with astonishment over you.

4. I am therefore persuaded of this, and fully convinced in my own mind, that since I began to speak among you the many things I understand because the Sovereign has accompanied me in the Way of righteousness, I am also on this account completely obligated to love you above my own self, because great are the persuasion and love dwelling in you, while you hope for the life1 that He has promised.

5. Considering this, therefore, that if I should take the trouble to communicate to you some portion of what I have myself received, it will prove to me a sufficient reward that I minister to such spirits, I have hastened to write unto you briefly, in 1

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This could also be translated “deliverance”.

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order that, along with your persuasion, ye might have perfect knowledge.

6. The doctrines of Yâ-hwéh, then, are three: the hope of deliverance [Yâhuwshúa` = “Yâ-hwéh is deliverance/wealth”], the Beginning and the fulfillment of our persuasion; rectification, which is the principal thing and the purpose of judgment; and love shown in gladness and exultation, the testimony of works of righteousness.

7. For Yâ-hwéh has made known to us by His predicators both the things which are past and present, giving us also the firstfruits of the knowledge of things to come, which as we see things accomplished, one by one according as He spoke, we ought to draw near to Him with reverence with the greater richness of persuasion and elevation of spirit. Then I, not as your 3

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teacher, but as one of yourselves, will show forth a few things by which during the present circumstances ye may be rendered the more joyful.

Chapter 2 The “Yehuwthíy” slaughter-offerings are now abolished 1. Seeing then that the days are evil, and Sâţâ´n possesses the authority of this world, we ought to give heed to ourselves, and diligently inquire into the ordinances of Yâ-hwéh.

2. Reverence and patience, then, are helpers of our persuasion; and longsuffering and continence are things that fight on our side.

3. While these remain pure in what respects Yâ-hwéh, Wisdom, 4

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Understanding, Science, and Knowledge rejoice along with them.

4. For He has revealed to us by all the predicators that He needs neither slaughter-offerings, nor burnt-offerings, nor donations, saying thus, 5. “What is the multitude of your slaughter-offerings to Me for?”

Says Yâ-hwéh, “I am sated of burnt-offerings, and I do not desire the fat of lambs, nor the blood of bulls and goats, not even when ye come to appear before Me: for who has required these things at your hands? Ye shall no more tread My courts to bring with you meaningless tributes; it is a smell of an abomination unto Me… your months and your appointed feasts I cannot bear.” [Yshá`Yâhuw 1: 11-14] 5

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6. He has therefore abolished these things, that the new law of our Sovereign Yâhuwshúa` the Anointed, which is free from the yoke of a requirement, might have an offering not made by human hands.

7. And again He says to them, “[Thus says Yâ-hwéh of Hosts, the mighty Ones of Yisrâ’Ë´l: sweep away your burnt offerings onto your slaughter-offerings so you shall eat flesh, because] did I speak to your fathers, [or did I command them] on the day I brought them out from the land of Mitsráyim concerning matters of burnt-offerings and slaughter-offerings?

8. For instead this is the matter I commanded them, saying: Let no one of you bear a grudge in his heart against

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his neighbor, and love not an oath of the Lie.2” [YirmYâ´huw 7: 21-23] 9. We ought therefore to perceive, unless we are without the acknowledgement, the favorable mind of our Father; for He speaks to us, desiring that we should not go astray like them, and that we should seek how we may approach Him. 10. To us, then, He declares, “A slaughter-offering [pleasing] to the mighty Ones is a broken heart; a smell of sweet savor to Yâ-hwéh is a heart that honors Him that made it.”

We ought therefore, brothers, to learn accurately concerning our salvation, lest The Masoretic text and LXX say here “Heed My voice, and I will be for you the mighty Ones, and ye, ye shall be for Me the people, and ye will walk in every way that I command you so that it may go well with you.” Note that this original rendering preserved in the Letter of Bar-Nâvíy repeats the concepts of the two greatest commandments: to love one another, and to love Yâ-hwéh above all things (especially the Lie), and more accurately reflects Yâ-hwéh’s nature.

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the Wickedness, having made his entrance in us by deceit, should fling us away from our deliverance.

Chapter 3 The Yowm Kippurím fasts of the “Yehuwthím” are not true fasts, nor acceptable to Yâ-hwéh 1. Then He says to them again concerning these things, “Why do ye fast to Me as on this day,” says Yâ-hwéh, “so that your voice should be heard this day with a cry? I have not chosen this fast,” says Yâ-hwéh, “that a man should afflict his self.

2. If ye bend your neck like a reed, and put upon you sackcloth and lie down in

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ashes, is this what ye will call a fast and a day of acceptance for Yâ-hwéh?3” 3. To us He says, “Look! Isn’t this other one the fast I have chosen?” says Yâ-hwéh, “Not that a man should humble his self, but that he should loosen every bond of iniquity, to untie the bindings of forced conjugal agreements, and to restore to liberty them that are crushed? So tear in pieces every unjust conjugal arrangement; feed the hungry with your bread, clothe the naked when you see him, bring the stray afflicted ones into your house, and if you see a humble man, to not shun him, nor any from the 3

As the Day of Yâ-hwéh will be the day we are accepted by Him into His Kingdom, we should afflict ourselves because of the massive annihilation of our rebellious brothers, but be acceptable to Him the Way He says to.

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members of your own house or of your own Seed.

4. Then shall your Light break forth like the dawn, and your restoration shall quickly spring up, and your Righteous One shall go forth before you, and the Honor of Yâ-hwéh shall gather your rear; 5. And then you shall call, and Yâ-hwéh shall heed you; even while you are yet speaking, He will say, ‘Look, here I am with you’; if you remove from among you the yoke, and the pointing of the finger, and the word of vanity [Matt. 12: 36], and furnish cheerfully your Bread to the hungry, and show compassion to the soul that has been afflicted…”

[Yshá`Yâhuw 58: 5-10]

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6. For this purpose, therefore, my brothers, He is long-suffering, foreseeing how the people whom He has prepared shall with guilelessness believe in His Beloved. For He revealed all these things to us beforehand, so that we should not rashly rush forward as novices to be stranded on their laws.

Chapter 4 The anointed falsifier is at hand: let us awake and proclaim!

1. It therefore behooves us, who inquire much concerning events at hand, to diligently search into those things that are able to save us. Let us then utterly flee from all the works of Lawlessness, lest these should overpower us; and let us hate the Error of the present time, that we may set our love on the age to come: 11

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2. Let us not give loose reins to our selves, that it should have liberty to run with sinners and the wicked, lest we become similar to them.

3. The final Snare (or source of danger) approaches, concerning which the scriptures speak, as Chanówkh (Enoch) describes [Chanówkh 104: 6-8]. For this end Yâ-hwéh has cut short the times and the days, so that His Beloved may hasten and come to His inheritance. [Compare MattithYâ´huw 24: 22] 4. And the predicator also speaks about this: “Ten kingdoms shall reign upon the earth, and a little king shall rise up after them, who shall subdue under one three of the kings.”

5. In like manner Dâ´niyyË´’l says concerning the same, 12

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“And I beheld the fourth beast, wicked and powerful, and more savage than all the beasts of the earth, and how from it sprang up ten horns, and out of them a little budding horn, and how it subdued under one three of the great horns.”

6. Ye ought therefore to understand.

And this also I further beg of you, as being one of you, and loving you both individually and collectively more than my own life, to take heed now to yourselves, and not to be like some, who are adding sin upon sin and are saying that our covenant is still theirs also.

7. Ours it is, but they permanently lost it in this way, after Moshéh had just received it. For the Scripture says, “And Moshéh was fasting in the mount forty days and forty nights, and received the covenant from Yâ-hwéh, tables of 13

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stone written with the finger of the hand of Yâ-hwéh;” 8. But they lost it, turning away to worshipped images. For Yâ-hwéh speaks thus to Moshéh: “Moshéh go down quickly; for the people whom you have brought out of the land of Mitsráyim have transgressed.”

And Moshéh understood, and threw the two tablets out of his hands; and their covenant was broken, in order that the covenant of the Beloved, Yâhuwshúa`, might be sealed upon our heart, by the hope which flows from believing in Him. 9. Now, being desirous to write many things to you, not as your teacher, but as befits one who loves you, I was anxious to write to you, being your devoted servant, to take care not to fall short from what we 14

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possess, with a view to your purification.

Wherefore let us take earnest heed in these last days; for the whole [past] time of your persuasion will profit you nothing, unless we now in this time of the Lawlessness also withstand the coming Snare [4: 3], as befits the sons of Yâhwéh, in order that the Black One [2 Âthâ´m and Chauwâ´h 4] may find no means of entrance!

10. Let us flee from every vain thing; let us utterly hate the works of the Way of the Wickedness. Do not, by retiring apart, live a solitary life, as if you were already justified; rather, assemble together and consult concerning what serves your general welfare, 11. For the Scripture says,

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“Hówy to them who in their own perspective are wise, and pretend to be discerning!” [Yshá`Yâhuw 5: 21] Let us be spiritually minded: let us be a temple perfect for Yâ-hwéh. As much as in us lies, let us meditate upon the fear of Yâ-hwéh, and let us keep His commandments, that we may rejoice in His righteous deeds.

12. Yâ-hwéh will judge the world without respect of persons. Each will receive as he has done: if he is righteous, his righteousness will precede him; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is before him.

13. Take heed, lest resting at our ease, as those who are the called [of Yâ-hwéh], we should fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince, acquiring power over us, 16

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should thrust us away from the kingdom of Yâ-hwéh.

14. And all the more attend to this, my brothers, when ye reflect and behold, that after so great signs and wonders were wrought in Yisrâ’Ë´l, even thus were they [at length] abandoned. Let us beware lest we be found thus, as it is written, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

Chapter 5 The suffering and death is either of the Anointed or for apostate Yisrâ’Ë´l 1. For to this end the Sovereign endured to deliver up His flesh to corruption, that through the remission of sins we might be purified, which is cleansed by the sprinkling of His blood.

2. For it is written concerning Him, partly with reference to Yisrâ’Ë´l, and 17

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partly to us [Yâhuwthím]; and [the Scripture] says thus: “He is One being pierced for our rebellions [apostasies], and One being crushed for our perversities: …by His bruises the curing is for us…. He was led along like the Lamb to the slaughter, and as a ewe before her shearer is mute...” [Yshá`Yâhuw 53: 5] 3. Therefore we ought to be deeply grateful to Yâ-hwéh, because He has both revealed to us things that are past, and has given us wisdom concerning things present, and has not left us without understanding in regard to things that are to come.

4. Now, the Scripture says, “Not unjustly are nets spread out for birds.” [Proverbs 1: 17] 18

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This means that the man perishes justly, who, having had knowledge of the Way of righteousness, rushes off into the way of darkness.

5. And further, my brothers: if Yâ-hwéh endured to suffer for our lives, He being Sovereign of all the world, to Whom the Power said at the foundation of the world, “Let Us make man after Our Image, and after Our Likeness,” understand how it was that He endured to suffer at the hand of men: 6. The predicators, having obtained favor from Him, predicted concerning Him. And He, since it behooved Him to appear in flesh that He might abolish death, and reveal the resurrection from the dead, endured [what and as He did], 7. In order that He might fulfill the promise made unto the fathers, and by 19

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preparing a new people for Himself, might show, while He dwelt on earth, that He, when He has resurrected mankind, He will also judge them Himself.

8. Moreover, He proclaimed, teaching Yisrâ’Ë´l, and doing so great wonders and signs, He greatly loved him [Yisrâ’Ë´l].

9. But when He chose His own delegates who were to preach His Glad Tidings, [He chose from among those] who were sinners in spite of all their sins, so that He might show He came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Then He manifested Himself to be the Son of the Power.

10. For if He had not come in the flesh, how would men be saved by beholding Him? Since even looking upon the luminary orb which is to cease to exist, 20

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and is the work of His hands, their eyes are not able to bear its rays.

11. The Son of the Power therefore came in the flesh for this purpose, that He might bring to a total the sum of their sins against those who had persecuted and slain His predicators.

12. For this purpose, then, He endured.

For Yâ-hwéh says, “The wounds of His flesh came from them;” and (When they) “smite the Shepherd, then the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.”

13. He Himself willed thus to suffer, for it was necessary that He should suffer on the gallows-cross.

For says he who predicts regarding Him, “Spare My Self from the sword,” [Psalms 22: 20] 21

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Yet “fasten My flesh with nails; for the assemblies of the wicked have surrounded Me.” [Psalms 22: 16] 14. And again He says, “Behold, I have given My back to the beaters and My cheeks to strokes… but I have set My countenance as a hard rock.” [Yshá`Yâhuw 50: 6-7] Chapter 6 The sufferings of the Anointed, and the New Covenant, were announced by the predicators 1. Therefore, when He has fulfilled the commandment, what does He say?

“Who is he that will contend with Me? Let him oppose Me: or who is he that will enter into judgment with Me? Let him draw near to the Servant of Yâhwéh.”

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2. Woe unto you, for ye shall all wax old, like a garment, and the moth shall eat you up! [Yshá`Yâhuw 50: 8-9] And again the predicator says, seeing that as a hard rock He was ordained for crushing: “Behold I lay down for the foundations of Tsiyyówn a Stone, a precious, elect, honorable, Cornerstone.”

3. Next, what says He? “And the one trusting in It shall live forever.4” [Yshá`Yâhuw 28: 16] Is our hope, then, upon a stone? Far from it. But it is because Yâ-hwéh has laid His flesh [as a Foundation] with strength, for He says, “And He set Me as a hard rock.”

4. And the predicator says again, 4

Masoretic text says “be anxious”. The LXX and the Aramaic and Greek 1 Këph 2: 6 both say “not be ashamed”. We must consider that this may be the original rendering of Yshá`Yâhuw 28: 16.

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“The Stone which the builders rejected, the Same has become the Chief Cornerstone.” [Psalms 118: 22] And again he says, “This is the great and wonderful Day which Yâ-hwéh has made”. [Psalms 118: 24] 5. I write the most simple things unto you, that ye may understand, I who am the off scouring of your love.

6. What, then, again says the predicator?

“The assembly of the wicked surrounded Me” [Psalms 22: 16]; “they surrounded Me as bees do a honeycomb,” [Psalms 118: 11-12] and “for My garment they cast lots.”

[Psalms 22: 18] 7. Since, therefore, He was about to be manifested and to suffer in the flesh, His 24

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suffering was foreshown.

For the predicator speaks against Yisrâ’Ë´l, “Woe to their selves, because they have counseled themselves an evil counsel, saying to themselves, ‘Let us bind the Just One, because He is displeasing to us.’”

8. And Moshéh also says to them, “Behold these things says Yâ-hwéh the mighty Ones: “Enter into the good land which Yâhwéh swore [to give] to ’Avrâhâ´m, and Yitschâ´q, and Ya`aqóv, and inherit ye it, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

9. What, then, says Knowledge? Learn: “Trust,” she says, “in Him Who is to be manifested to you in the flesh: that is, Yâhuwshúa`.”

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For man is earth in a suffering state, for the formation of ’Âthâ´m was from the face of the earth.

10. What, then, does He mean: “into the good land, a land flowing with milk and honey?”

Blessed be our Sovereign, Who has placed in us wisdom and understanding of secret things, for the predicator says a parable of Yâ-hwéh. Who shall understand, except him who is wise and prudent, and who loves his Sovereign?

11. Since, therefore, having renewed us by the remission of our sins, He has made us after another pattern, in order that we should have the soul of sons, inasmuch as He has created us anew by His spirit.

12. For the Scripture says concerning us, while He speaks to the Son, 26

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“Let Us make man after Our image, and after Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the beasts of the earth, and the fowls of heaven, and the fishes of the sea.”

And Yâ-hwéh said, on beholding the fair creature ’Âthâ´m, “Increase, and multiply, and replenish the earth.”

These things refer to the Son. 13. Again, I will show you how Yâ-hwéh speaks concerning us.

He has accomplished a second creation in these last days. Yâ-hwéh says, “Behold, I will make the last like the first.”

In reference to this, then, the predicator proclaimed,

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“Enter ye into the land flowing with milk and honey, and have dominion over it.”

14. Behold, therefore, we have been created anew, as again He says in another predicator, “Behold,” says Yâ-hwéh, “I will take away from these,” That is, from those whom the spirit of Yâhwéh foresaw, “their stony hearts, and I will put hearts of flesh within them,” [YchezqË´’l 11: 19] because He was to be manifested in flesh, and to dwell within us.

15. For, my brothers, the habitation of our heart is a pure temple to Yâ-hwéh.

16. For again says Yâ-hwéh, 28

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“[The heavens are My throne, and the earth is the footstool of My feet – where is this house that you will build for Me?] And where is this place, My resting place?”

[Yshá`Yâhuw 66: 1] He answers, “I will declare Your name to (the Convocation in the midst of) My brothers; in the midst of the assembly (of the pure ones) I will praise You!” [Psalms 22: 22] We, then, are they whom He has led into the good land.

17. What, then, does “milk and honey” mean? This, that as the infant is kept alive first by honey, and then by milk, so also we, being quickened by the Word and kept alive by the Persuasion in the promise, shall live and have dominion 29

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over the earth. [To the `Ivríym 5: 12, 1 Këph 2: 2] 18. Now He also said above, “Let them increase, and rule over the fishes.”

Who then is able to govern the beasts, or the fishes, or the fowls of heaven? For we ought to perceive that to govern implies authority, so that one should command and rule.

19. If, therefore, this does not happen at present, yet still He has promised it to us.

When? When we ourselves also have been made perfect, to become heirs of the covenant of Yâ-hwéh.

Chapter 7 The goat offered at the Fast and the scapegoat were models of the Anointed5 5

It is apparent by this scripture chapter that Leviticus 16 has been massively altered by Masoretic scribes trying to deny Yâhuwshúa`.

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1. Understand, then, ye sons of gladness, that the good Sovereign has foreshown all things to us, that we might know to Whom we ought to render thanksgiving and praise for everything.

2. If therefore the Son of the Power, Who is Sovereign of all things, and Who shall judge the living and the dead, suffered that His stroke might give us life, let us believe that the Son of the Power could not have suffered except for our sakes.

3. Moreover, when fixed to the gallowscross, He had vinegar and gall given Him to drink. Listen to how the priests of the people gave previous indications of this.

When His commandment was written, Yâ-hwéh enjoined, that whosoever did not keep the fast should be put to death [Leviticus 23: 29], because He also Himself was to offer the vessel of the spirit in 31

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slaughter-offering for our sins, in order that the model established in Yitschâ´q when he was offered upon the altar might be fully accomplished.

4. What, then, says He by the predicator?

“And let them eat of the goat which is offered, at the fast, for all their sins.”

Attend carefully: “But let all the priests alone eat the innards, unwashed with vinegar.”

5. Wherefore?

“Because to Me, Who am to offer My flesh for the sins of My new people, ye are to give gall with vinegar to drink: eat ye it alone, while the people fast and mourn in sackcloth and ashes.”

[These things were done] that He might show that it was necessary for Him to suffer at their hands for them.

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6. How, then, ran the commandment?

Give your attention. Take two goats of goodly aspect, and similar to each other, and offer them. And let the priest take one as a burnt-offering for sins.

7. And what should they do with the other?

“Curse” says He, “the other one.”

Note how the model of Yâhuwshúa` now comes out.

8. “And all of you spit upon it, and pierce it, and crown its head with scarlet wool, and thus let it be driven into the wilderness.”

And when all this has been done, he who bears the goat brings it into the desert, and takes the wool off from it, and places that upon a shrub which is called Rachia 33

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[probably raspberry], of which also we are accustomed to eat the fruits when we find them in the field. Of this kind of briar alone the fruits are sweet.

9. Why then, again, is this? Give good heed. One is upon the altar, and the other is cursed, and moreover, why is the one that is cursed crowned? Because they shall see Him then in that day having a scarlet robe about His body down to His feet; and they shall say, “Is not this He Whom we once despised, and pierced, and mocked, and spat upon, and hanged? Truly this is He, Who then declared Himself to be the Son of the Power.”

10. For how similar is He to it! With a view to this, He required the goats to be of goodly aspect, and similar, that, when they see Him coming then, they may be 34

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amazed by the likeness of the goat.

Behold, then, the model of Yâhuwshúa` Who was to suffer.

11. But why is it that they place the wool in the midst of thorns? It is a model of Yâhuwshúa` set before the view of the Convocation.

[They place the wool among thorns], that anyone who wishes to pick it up may find it necessary to suffer much, because the thorn is formidable, and thus obtain it only as the result of suffering. Thus also, says He, “Those who wish to behold Me, and lay hold of My kingdom, must through tribulation and suffering obtain Me.” Chapter 8 The Red Heifer – A model of the Anointed 1. Now what do you suppose this to be a model of, that a command was given to 35

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Yisrâ’Ë´l, that men of the greatest wickedness should offer a heifer, and slaughter and burn it, and that then boys should pick up the ashes, and put these into vessels, and bind scarlet wool around wood (`ëts = wood, tree, gallows) along with hyssop, and that thus the boys should sprinkle the people, one by one, in order that they might be purified from their sins?

2. Consider how He speaks to you with simplicity. The calf is Yâhuwshúa`: the sinful men offering it are those who led Him to the slaughter. But now these men are no longer guilty, are no longer regarded as sinners,6 6

Yâhuwshúa` asked His Father to forgive them, for they did not know what they were doing, and those sinners who had Him hung did actually believe afterwards themselves, as is seen in the Glad Tidings of Këph, the Glad Tidings of Nikódemos, though they maintained an outwards public appearance of denial so as to not divide their unbelieving assemblies. They did profess their belief to Pilátus also, adjuring him to keep silent to the people in Yruwshâláim and Yâhuwthâ´h.

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3. And the sons that sprinkle are those that have proclaimed to us the remission of sins and purification of heart. To these He gave authority to preach the Glad Tidings, being twelve in number, corresponding to the twelve tribes of Yisrâ’Ë´l.

4. But why were there three boys that sprinkle? To correspond to ’Avrâhâ´m, and Yitschâ´q, and Ya`aqóv, because these were great with the mighty Ones.

5. And why was the wool [placed] upon the wood? Because by means of the gallows-cross [wood (`ëts) also means gallows-cross] Yâhuwshúa` has His kingdom, so that those believing on Him might live forever.

6. But why was hyssop joined with the wool? Because in His kingdom the days in which we shall be saved will be evil and 37

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polluted, [and] because he who suffers in body is cured through the cleansing efficacy of hyssop.

7. Now to us it is clear that these things thus stand for this, but to them [the “Yehuwthím”] they were obscure, because they did not heed the voice of Yâ-hwéh.

Chapter 9 The spiritual meaning of circumcision 1. He speaks moreover concerning our ears, how He has circumcised both them and our heart. Yâ-hwéh says in the predicator, “By the hearing of the ear they obeyed me.” [Psalms 18: 44 LXX] And again He says by hearing, those shall hear who are afar off; they shall recognize what I have done. [Yshá`Yâhuw 33: 13] And, 38

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“Be ye circumcised in your hearts,” [YirmYâ´huw 4: 4] Says Yâ-hwéh.

2. And again He says, “Hear, O Yisrâ’Ë´l, for these things says Yâ-hwéh your mighty Ones.”

And once more the spirit of Yâ-hwéh proclaims, “Who is he that wishes to live forever?

By hearing let him heed the voice of My Servant.” [Compare Yâshâ´r 3: 6, 30 and Yshá`Yâhuw 50: 10 LXX] 3. And again He says, “Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth, for Yâ-hwéh has spoken…”

[Yshá`Yâhuw 1: 2] These are for a witness. And again He says, 39

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“Understand [what is] the Word of Yâhwéh, [scornful men,] who are rulers of this people...” [Yshá`Yâhuw 28: 14] And again He says, “Hear, ye sons, the voice of one crying in the wilderness.”

Therefore He has circumcised our ears, that when we might hear His Word we might believe, 4. for the circumcision in which they trusted is abolished. For He declared that circumcision was not of the flesh, but they transgressed because the evil envoy deluded them.

5. For thus the mighty Ones speaks to them, “These things says Yâ-hwéh your mighty Ones” (here I find a new commandment) 40

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“[Break up your unplowed ground, so] you do not sow among thorns,” Then, “Circumcise yourselves to Yâ-hwéh!”

And why does He speak thus? To listen to your Sovereign. Yet again He says, “Circumcise the hardness of your heart,” [YirmYâ´huw 4: 4] and do not harden your neck [Proverbs 29: 1]?

And again: “Behold,” says Yâ-hwéh, “all the heathen masses are uncircumcised in the flesh, but this people are uncircumcised in heart.”

6. But you will say, “Yea, verily the people are circumcised for a seal.”

But so also is every Arâmíy and arab, and all the priests of worshipped images: are 41

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these then also within the bond of His covenant? Yea, even the Mitsráyim practice circumcision!

7. Learn then, my sons, concerning all things richly, that ’Avrâhâ´m, the first who enjoined circumcision, looking forward in spirit to Yâhuwshúa`, when he circumcised having received the secrets of the three letters.

8. For the Scripture says, “And ’Avrâhâ´m circumcised ten, and five, and four hundred7 men of his household.”

What, then, was the knowledge given to him in this? Notice that he mentions the fifteen first, and then after a pause the four hundred. The ten and the five are 7

Source text: “ten and eight and three hundred”, where the `Ivríy eighth letter ‫ ח‬does not form part of His name, though as an X, it shows Xristós may have been the altering scribes’ intent. The letter “H” survives in most translations. The letter T survives in the source text but it is four hundred and not three hundred. The T is the first letter of the `Ivríyth (Hebrew) word for hanging, as on a gallows-cross.

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thus denoted: Ten by y, and Five by h [the name of Yâ´hu hy]: here you have Yâhuwshúa`. And because the gallowscross hanging in the letter t (t) was to convey the favor, he says also, “Four Hundred.”

Therefore He shows Yâhuwshúa` by two letters, and the gallows-cross hanging in the other one.

9. He knows this, Who has put within us the engrafted gift of His doctrine. I have permitted no one else to have a more excellent lesson than this, but I know that ye are worthy.

Chapter 10 The precepts of Moshéh respecting food are spiritual in significance 1. Now, since Moshéh did say, 43

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“You shall not be eating the swine, or the eagle, or the hawk, or the raven, or any fish which does not possess scales,” He accepted three doctrines in his understanding.

2. Moreover, Yâ-hwéh says to them, give as a covenant to this people [YirmYâ´huw 31: 31, Leviticus 11: 44-45], His statutes for them. So then it is not a command of the mighty Ones that they should not bite these things with their teeth, but Moshéh spoke it to them in a spiritual sense.

3. With this meaning he mentioned the swine, tantamount to saying, “You shall not join yourself to men who resemble swine.”

For when they live in pleasure, they forget their Sovereign; but when they come to necessity, they acknowledge Yâhwéh; who are just as the swine, that 44

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when it has eaten, does not recognize its master; but when hungry it cries out, and on receiving food is silent again.

4. “Neither shall you eat,” says he, “the eagle, nor the falcon, nor the kite, nor the raven.”

He means, “You shall not join yourself, to such men as do not know how to procure food for themselves by labor and sweat, but which seize on that of others in their lawlessness, and while wearing an appearance of integrity, are on the watch to plunder others.”

Who are just as these birds, not seeking food for themselves while they sit idle, seeking how they may devour the fleshly things of others, proving themselves pests by their wickedness.

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5. “And you shall not eat,” he says, “the lamprey, or the polypus, or the cuttlefish.”

He means, “You shall not join yourself or be like to such men as are altogether wicked, and are condemned to death.”

Who are just as those fishes mentioned above are accursed, and wallow in the mire, not swimming on the surface like the rest, but dwell in the mud that lies at the bottom of the deep.

6. Moreover, “You shall not,” he says, “eat the hare.”

Wherefore? To symbolize this to us: “You shall not be an adulterer, nor be like to them that are such.”

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Because the hare multiplies, year by year, the sites of its broods; for it makes as many holes as the many years that it lives.

7. Moreover, “You shall not eat the hyena.”

He means, “You shall not be a fornicator, or a corrupter of boys, nor resemble yourself to such.”

Wherefore? Because that animal changes its instinct year after year, so it is sometimes male, and other times female.

8. Moreover, he has rightly detested the weasel. For he means, “You shall not be like to those whom do commit the Wickedness with the mouth because of their uncleanness, nor join yourselves with those impure women who commit the Wickedness with their mouths”, 47

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Because that animal conceives it with its mouth.

9. Moshéh, therefore, speaking as concerning meat, issued three great doctrines with a spiritual significance; but they, according to the desires of the flesh, received them as if they had merely meant it of meats.

10. Yet Dâwíth, however, comprehended the knowledge of his three doctrines, and speaks in like manner: “Happy is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the irreverent…” [Psalms 1: 1] just as the fishes mentioned before go in the depths in darkness; “…and does not take a stand in the Way of the sinners, …” [Psalms 1: 1] just as those who pretend to fear Yâhwéh, but yet err like the weasels; 48

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“and does not sit in the seat of scorners, …” [Psalms 1: 1] just as those fowls that sit idle in wait for what they may devour. Here you have the Law concerning meat set forth completely, and according to its true meaning. Take a full and firm grasp of this spiritual knowledge.

11. But Moshéh says still further, “Ye shall eat every animal that is clovenfooted and ruminant.”

What does he mean? He means thereby such a one who, on receiving food, recognizes Him that nourishes him, and when he is satisfied by Him, visibly rejoices in Him. Well spoke [Moshéh], having respect to the commandment.

What else, then, does he mean? That we ought to join ourselves to those that fear Yâ-hwéh, those who meditate in their 49

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heart on the commandment of the Word that they have accepted into their heart, with those who both declare the righteous judgments of Yâ-hwéh and keep His commandments, those who know that meditation is a work of pleasure, and who themselves ruminate upon the Word of Yâ-hwéh. But what does the “clovenfooted” mean? That means the righteous man who both walks in this world, while yet looking forward to the pure world to come.

Behold how wisely Moshéh legislated.

12. But how was it possible for them to perceive or comprehend these things? We then, rightly understanding His commandments, explain them as Yâ-hwéh intended. This is why He circumcised our ears and our hearts, that we might understand these things.

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Chapter 11 Immersion and the Gallows-cross prefigured in the Tenákh 1. Let us further inquire whether Yâhwéh took care to foreshadow anything concerning the water [of immersion] and the gallows-cross. Concerning the water, indeed, it is written, in reference to the sons of Yisrâ’Ë´l, that they should not receive that immersion which leads to the remission of sins, but should procure Another for themselves.

2. For the predicator therefore declares, “Be appalled, O heaven, and let the earth tremble the more at this,” declares Yâ-hwéh, “because this people have committed two evil things: they have forsaken Me, the Fountain of living waters, and have 51

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hewn out for themselves broken cisterns that will not hold waters.” [YirmYâ´huw 2: 12-13] 3. “isn’t My pure hill Tsiyyówn a desolate rock? …For they8… shall be as fluttering fledgling birds, which are pushed out of the nest.” [Yshá`Yâhuw 16: 1-2] 4. And again says the predicator, “I shall proceed before You and I will make level the mountains, and will break into shivers the gates of bronze, and chop in two the iron city-gate bars; and I shall grant to You the hidden secrets, treasures that haven’t been seen, that they may acknowledge that I am Yâhwéh the mighty Ones.” [Yshá`Yâhuw 45: 2] 8

The scripture reference refers to the daughters of Mow’â´v which spiritually mean those who are from her own father, not His Father. It relates to them justifying themselves, having forsaken His rectification.

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5.

And “He is Who shall dwell in a lofty cave of the strong rock…”

And then, what does the same predicator say in reference to the Son? “…his water is reliable; ye shall see the King in His Honor, …and you yourself shall ponder the fear of Yâ-hwéh.”

[Yshá`Yâhuw 33: 16-17] 6. And again He says by another predicator, “Though he (the man who doeth these things) shall be like a tree (`ëts) planted by the courses of waters, that shall yield its fruit in due season; even his leaf shall not wither and fall, and all that he doeth shall prosper.

7. Not so are the wicked, not so, but even as chaff, which the wind sweeps away from the face of the earth. Therefore the 53

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wicked shall not be confirmed in the judgment, nor sinners in the council of the righteous; for Yâ-hwéh acknowledges the Way of the righteous, but the way of the irreverent shall perish.” [Psalms 1: 3-6] 8. Note how He has described at once both the water and the gallows-cross [(`ëts) wood or tree also means gallowscross]. For this is the meaning: Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the gallows-cross, go down into the water [death], says He, “for they shall receive their reward in due time”: then is when He declares “I will give it to them.”

But now He says, “Their leaves shall not fall.”

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This means, that every word that proceeds out of your mouth in persuasion and love shall serve to bring conversion and hope to many.

9. Again, another predicator says, “…And it [the mountain of the house of Yâ-hwéh] shall be exalted above every hill…” [Yshá`Yâhuw 2: 2] This means He shall honor the vessel of His spirit.

10. Further, what says He? “And there was a river flowing on the right… and from it arose beautiful trees… and whosoever shall eat of them shall live forever.” [YchezqË´’l 47: 2, 12] 11. This means we that indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement, but arise, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [of Yâ-hwéh] and the trust in Yâhuwshúa` by the spirit.

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“And whosoever shall eat of these shall live forever,” This means: Whosoever, He declares, shall heed those who call them, and believe, shall live forever.

Chapter 12 The Gallows-cross of the Anointed is frequently announced in the Tenákh 1. In like manner He points to the gallows-cross of the Anointed in another predicator, who says, “And when shall these things be accomplished?” [Dâ´niyyË´’l 12: 6] And Yâ-hwéh says, “When a tree shall be bent down, and again arise, and when blood shall flow from a tree.”

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Here again you have an intimation concerning the gallows-cross, and of Him Who was to be hanged.

2. Yet again He speaks of this by Moshéh, when Yisrâ’Ë´l was attacked by foreigners [`Amâlë´q, Exodus 17: 8-16]. And that He might remind them, when assailed, that it was on account of their sins they were delivered to death, the spirit speaks to the heart of Moshéh, that he should make a figure of the gallows-cross, and of Him about to suffer thereon; for unless they put their trust in Him, they shall be overcome forever.

Moshéh therefore placed one weapon atop another in the midst of the hill, and standing upon it, so as to be higher than all the people, he stretched forth his hands, and thus again Yisrâ’Ë´l acquired the mastery. But when 57

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again he let down his hands, they were again slain.

3. For what reason? That they might know that they could not be saved unless they put their trust in Him. 4. And in another predicator He declares, “The whole day I had stretched forth My hands toward a stubbornly rebellious people, even one that contradicts My righteous Way.” [Yshá`Yâhuw 65: 2] 5. And again Moshéh makes a model of Yâhuwshúa`, how it was necessary for Him to suffer, and that He Whom they believed to have destroyed on the gallows-cross would be the Author of life when Yisrâ’Ë´l was falling. For since transgression was committed by Chauwâ´h through means of a serpent, Yâ-hwéh brought it to pass that all sorts 58

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of serpents bit them, and they died, that He might convince them that on account of their transgression they were given over to the anguish of death.

6. Moreover Moshéh, when he commanded, “Ye shall not have any graven or molten [image] for your mighty Ones,” did so then himself that he might reveal a model of Yâhuwshúa`. Moshéh then makes a bronze serpent, and places it upon a beam, and by proclamation assembles the people.

7. Therefore when they were come together, they besought Moshéh that he would offer slaughter-offering in their behalf, and pray for their recovery. But Moshéh spoke unto them, saying, “When any one of you is bitten, let him come to the serpent placed on the pole; 59

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and let him hope and believe, that even though the serpent is dead, it is able to give him life, and immediately he shall be restored.”

And they did so. You have in this also [an indication of] the honor of Yâhuwshúa`; for in Him and for Him are all things.

8. What, again, does Moshéh say to Howshë´`á (“Joshua”) the son of Núwn, when he gave him this name, Yâhuwshúa`, as being the Predicator?

With this purpose that all the people might give ear only to him alone, because the Father would manifest all things concerning His Son Yâhuwshúa` in Yâhuwshúa` the son of Núwn!

9. So therefore this was the name Moshéh gave him when he sent him to spy out the land of Qná`an, and he said, 60

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“Take a scroll into your hands, and write what Yâ-hwéh declares: ‘that Yâhuwshúa` the Son of the Power9 shall in the last days cut off from the roots all the house of `Amâlë´q10.’” [Chanówkh 52 (53), Yâshâ´r 81: 60, Exodus 17: 1411, YirmYâ´huw 48: 8, YchezqË´’l 7: 16, Glad Tidings of Phílippos 133] 10. Behold again: Yâhuwshúa` is not merely the Son of ’Âthâ´m, but the Son of the Power, was Who was manifested, both by a model and in the flesh. But since they were going to say that the Anointed was the son of Dâwíth, he, fearing and 9

Masoretic Jewish scribes apparently modified this out to deny Yâhuwshúa`.

“Dweller in a valley”, the son of ’Eliypház and grandson of `Ësâ´w. Note the spiritual definition of `Amâlë´q is name-denying Christianity. Since they are related to `Ësâ´w, who despised the inheritance of our fathers, Yâ-hwéh, these are described well in Chanówkh chapter 52 (53) as living in a deep valley with wide entrances. Note that Yâhwéh Yâhuwshúa` shall remove from the roots all of the house of the Valley Dwellers (`Amâlë´q), means He will uproot the Lie, the Wickedness, and reveal His Truth at His coming, as described in the Glad Tidings of Phílippos.

11 “Take a scroll into your hands, and write what Yâ-hwéh declares: ‘that Yâhuwshúa` the Son of the Power shall in the last days cut off from the roots all the house of `Amâlë´q’” (valley dwellers).

10

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understanding the error of the wicked, says, “Yâ-hwéh said unto my Foundation, ‘Sit at My right hand side, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”

11. And again, thus says Yshá`Yâhuw, “Yâ-hwéh said to His Anointed, to my Sovereign12, Whose right hand I have taken hold of, that the heathen masses should yield obedience before Him; ‘And the strength of kings I will break in pieces…’” [Yshá`Yâhuw 45: 1] Behold how Dâwíth calls Him my “Foundation” and not “son”, and Moshéh calls Him “the Son of the Power”, and Yshá`Yâhuw calls Him “my Sovereign”.

Chapter 13 12

Masoretic Jewish scribes modified this to “Koresh” (Cyrus). Bar-Nâvíy reveals here another scripture they modified to deny Yâhuwshúa`.

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’Ephráyim and not “Yehuwthím” to first become the heirs of the Covenant through persuasion 1. But let us see if this people or the former are the heir, and if the covenant belongs to us or to them.

2. Hear ye now what the Scripture says concerning the people. Yitschâ´q prayed for Rivqâ´h his wife, because she was barren; and she conceived. Furthermore also, Rivqâ´h went forth to inquire of Yâhwéh; and Yâ-hwéh said to her, “Two heathen masses are in your womb, and two communities in your belly shall be separated; and the one people shall surpass the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.”

3. You ought to understand who Yitschâ´q is, who Rivqâ´h is, and concerning what persons He declared that 63

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this people should be greater than the other.

4. And in another prediction Ya`aqóv speaks more clearly to his son Yâhuwçë´ph, saying, “Behold, Yâ-hwéh has not deprived me of your presence; bring your sons to me, that I may bless them.”

5. And he brought Mnashshéh and ’Ephráyim13, desiring that Mnashshéh should be blessed, because he was the elder twin. With this view Yâhuwçë´ph led him to the right hand of his father Ya`aqóv. But Ya`aqóv saw in spirit the model of the people to arise afterwards.

And what did [the Scripture] say? And Ya`aqóv changed the direction of his hands, and laid his right hand upon the head of ’Ephráyim, the second and 13

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Mnashshéh are Great Britain, the English, and ’Ephráyim are USA and the Scottish.

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younger, and blessed him.

And Yâhuwçë´ph said to Ya`aqóv, “Transfer your right hand to the head of Mnashshéh, for he is my first-born son.”

And Ya`aqóv said, “I know it, my son, I know it; but the elder shall serve the younger: yet he also shall be blessed.”

6. Ye see on whom he laid [his hands], that this people should become first, and heir of the covenant.

7. If then, still further, the same thing was intimated through ’Avrâhâ´m, we reach the perfection of our knowledge.

What, then, does He say to ’Avrâhâ´m when he believed, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness?

“Behold, I have made you the father of nations who believe in Yâ-hwéh while in uncircumcision.”

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Chapter 14 Yâ-hwéh has given us the covenant that Moshéh received and rebellious Yisrâ’Ë´l broke 1. Yes ’âmë´n; but let us inquire whether Yâ-hwéh has really given that covenant which He swore to the fathers that He would give to the people. He did give it; but they were not worthy to receive it, on account of their sins.

2. For the predicator declares, “And Moshéh was fasting forty days and forty nights on Mount Çiynáy, that he might receive the covenant of Yâ-hwéh for the people.”

And he received from Yâ-hwéh two tables, written in the spirit by the finger of the hand of the mighty Ones. And Moshéh having received them, carried them down to give to the people.

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3.

And Yâ-hwéh said to Moshéh, “Moshéh, Moshéh, go down quickly; for your people have sinned, whom you didst bring out of the land of Mitsráyim.”

And Moshéh understood that they had again made molten images; and he threw the tables out of his hands, and the tables of the covenant of Yâ-hwéh were broken.

4. Then Moshéh did receive it, but they proved themselves unworthy. Learn now how we have received it.

Moshéh received it as a bondservant; but Yâ-hwéh Himself, having suffered in our behalf, has given it to us, that we should be the people of inheritance.

5. But He was manifested in order that they also might be completed within their iniquities, and that we, being constituted heirs through Him, might receive the 67

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covenant of the Sovereign Yâhuwshúa`, Who was prepared for this purpose, that

by His personal Manifestation, He might redeem our hearts from darkness, which were already wasted by death and given over to the iniquity of error, that He might enter into a covenant with us through His Word.

6. For it is written how the Father, about to redeem us from darkness, commanded Him to prepare a pure people for Himself.

[Chanówkh 10: 25-26] 7. The predicator therefore declares, “I, Yâ-hwéh, Your Power14, have called You in righteousness, and I demonstrate strength by Your hand, and I protect You, although I have given You up for a covenant to the people, for a Light of the 14 Apparently altered by Masoretic scribes wanting to deny what is written here, they have only Yâ-hwéh, the LXX has added the Theos, but Bar-Nâvíy includes “your”, and therefore this is the Power speaking to His Person, the Son, Yâhuwshúa`.

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heathen masses, to open the eyes of the blind, and to bring forth from fetters them that are bound, from out of the prison-house those that sit in darkness.”

[Yshá`Yâhuw 42: 6-7] We perceive, then, from where we have been redeemed.

8. And again, the predicator says, “Behold, I have given You for a Light of the heathen masses, that You might bring My deliverance even to the ends of the earth!”

Thus says Yâ-hwéh the mighty Ones that redeems you. [Yshá`Yâhuw 49: 6-7, Deeds of the Delegates 13: 47] 9. And again, the predicator says, “The spirit of Yâ-hwéh is upon Me; because Yâ-hwéh has anointed Me to preach the glad tidings to the humble ones, He has sent Me to cure the 69

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broken-hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight for the blinded; to proclaim the year of Yâhwéh’s goodwill, but the Day of Vengeance is for our mighty Ones to comfort all that mourn…” [Yshá`Yâhuw 61:1-2] Chapter 15 The Millennial meaning of Shabbâ´th 1. Further, also, it is written concerning the Shabbâ´th in the Ten messages that [Yâ-hwéh] spoke, face to face, to Moshéh on Mount Çiynáy, “And set apart ye the Shabbâ´th of Yâhwéh with clean hands and a pure heart.”

2. And He says in another place,

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“If My sons keep the Shabbâ´th, then will I cause My mercy to rest upon them.”

3. The Shabbâ´th is mentioned at the beginning of the creation [thus]: “And The mighty Ones made in six days the works of His hands, and made a cessation on the seventh day, and rested on it, and purified it.”

4. Attend, my sons, to the meaning of this expression, “And He finished in six days.”

This implies15 that Yâ-hwéh will finish all things in six thousand years, for a day is with Him a thousand years. And He Himself testifies, saying, “Behold, today will be as a thousand years.”

15 In `Ivríyth (Hebrew), a phrase which starts in “and” converts the past tense meaning of it to future tense (and vice versa). This is the “waw-conversive” rule, and note that it is applicable to each of these phrases.

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Therefore, my children, in six days, that is, in six thousand years, all things will be finished.

5. “And He rested on the seventh day.”

This means: when His Son, coming [again], shall abolish the time of the Lawless one, and judge the irreverent, and change the luminary orb, and the moon [Yshá`Yâhuw 30: 26], and the stars, then shall He truly rest on the seventh day.

6. Moreover, He says, “You shall set it apart with pure hands and a pure heart.”

Therefore we are deceived if we imagine that anyone can now keep pure that Day, which The mighty Ones has purified, if he is not pure in heart in all things.

7. Behold, therefore: truly then He will keep it pure with proper rest, when we ourselves will have received the righteous 72

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promise, and the Wickedness no longer exists, and when all things have been made new by Yâ-hwéh, we shall be able to work righteousness. Then we shall be able to keep it pure, when we have been first purified ourselves.

8. Further, He says to them, “Your new moons and your day of repose I cannot endure.”

Ye perceive how He speaks: “Your present Shabbâ´ths are not acceptable to Me, but that which I have made is; and when I will have given rest to all things, I shall make a beginning of the eighth day [the year 8001], that is, a beginning of another Age.” 9. Wherefore, also, we keep the eighth day [of the Feast of Tabernacles] with joyfulness, also a weekday on which Yâhuwshúa` rose again from the dead 73

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[Feast of Firstfruits]. And when He had manifested Himself, [after] He ascended into the heavens [Feast of Weeks].

Chapter 16 The handmade vs. the non-handmade spiritual temple of Yâ-hwéh 1. Moreover, I will also tell you concerning the temple, how the wretched [“Yehuwthím”], wandering in error, trusted not in their mighty Ones Who made them, but in the building, as being the house of Yâ-hwéh. [YirmYâ´huw 7: 4] 2. For almost after the manner of the heathen masses they set Him apart in the temple. But learn how Yâ-hwéh speaks, when abolishing it: “Who has meted out heaven with a span, and the earth with his palm? Have not I?” 74

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Thus says Yâ-hwéh, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth My footstool: what kind of house will ye build to Me, or what is the place of My rest?”

Ye perceive that their hope is vain.

3. Moreover, He again says, “Behold, they who have cast down this temple, even they shall build it up again.”

4. And it shall come to pass. For through their going to war, it was destroyed by their enemies [Rome, AD 70]; yet now: they, as the servants of their enemies, shall rebuild it. [YchezqË´’l 25: 12] 5. Again, it was revealed that the city and the temple and the people of Yisrâ’Ë´l were to be given up. For the Scripture says, 75

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“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that Yâ-hwéh will deliver up the sheep of His pasture, and their sheepfold and tower, to destruction.”

[Chanówkh 88: 89-92] And it so happened as Yâ-hwéh had spoken.

6. Let us inquire, then, whether there still is a temple of Yâ-hwéh. There is – where He Himself declared He would make and finish it. For it is written, “And it shall come to pass, when the week is completed, the temple of The mighty Ones shall be built in honor within the name of Yâ-hwéh [forever (Chanówkh 89: 38-39, 92: 916)].”

7. I find, therefore, that a temple does exist. Learn, then, how it shall be built in the name of Yâ-hwéh: before we believed 16

The reason Bar-Nâvíy is making the case that the temple still exists is because this quoted verse says “forever”.

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in the mighty Ones, the habitation of our heart was corrupt and weak, being indeed like the temple made with hands. For it was full of image worship, and was a habitation of demons, through our doing such things as were opposed to Yâ-hwéh [compare YchezqË´’l 8].

8. But it [the habitation of our heart] shall be built, observe ye, in the name of Yâhwéh, in order that the temple of Yâhwéh may be built in honor.

9. How? Learn: When we have received the forgiveness of sins [Deeds 10: 43], and placed our trust in the name of Yâ-hwéh [Yâhuwshúa` – Deeds 2: 38], we have become new creatures, formed again from the beginning. Wherefore the mighty Ones truly dwells in our habitation, that is, within us. How so? The persuasion on His Word, the calling of His promise, the 77

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wisdom of the statutes, the commandments of the doctrine, He Himself predicating in us is He Himself dwelling in us; and it opens to us, who were enslaved by death, the gate of our temple, that is, the mouth of wisdom; and by having granted us repentance (returning), introduced us into the incorruptible temple.

10. He then, who wishes to be saved, looks not to the man, but to Him Who dwells in him and speaks in him, being amazed at never having either heard him utter such words with his mouth, nor having ever desired to hear them himself. This is the spiritual temple being edified for Yâhwéh.

Chapter 17 Conclusion of the first part of the letter 78

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1. As far as was possible, and could be done with articulateness, I cherish the hope that, according to my desire, I have omitted none of those things at present that bear upon your salvation.

2. For if I should write to you about things future, ye would not understand, because such knowledge is hid in parables.

These things then are so.

Chapter 18 Second part of the Letter: The Two Ways 1. But let us now pass to another sort of knowledge and doctrine. There are two Ways of doctrine and authority, the one of Light, and the other of Darkness. But there is a great difference between these two Ways. For over one are stationed the Light-bringing envoys of the mighty 79

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Ones, but over the other the envoys of Sâţâ´n.

2. And the first (i.e., Yâ-hwéh) is indeed the Sovereign from all eternity for all eternity, but the other (i.e., Sâţâ´n) is prince of the time of iniquity that now is.

Chapter 19 The Way of Light 1. The Way of Light, then, is as follows.

If anyone desires to travel to the appointed place, he must be zealous in his works. The knowledge, therefore, which is given to us for the purpose of walking in this Way, is the following: 2. You shall love Him that created you: you shall honor Him that redeemed you from death. You shall be simple in heart, and rich in spirit. You shall not join yourself to those who walk in the way of 80

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death. You shall hate doing what is unpleasing to the mighty Ones: you shall hate all fakery. You shall not forsake the commandments of Yâ-hwéh.

3. You shall not exalt yourself, but shall be of a lowly mind. You shall not take honor to yourself. You shall not take evil advice against your neighbor. You shall not allow over-boldness to enter into your self.

4. You shall not commit sexual sin: you shall not commit adultery: you shall not be a corrupter of boys. You shall not let the Word of Yâ-hwéh issue from your lips with any kind of impurity. You shall not accept persons when you reprove any one for transgression. You shall be humble: you shall be peaceable. You shall tremble at the Words that you have heard. You 81

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shall not keep any hatred in your heart against your brother.

5. You shall not entertain any doubt as to whether a [scriptural] thing shall be true or not. You shall not lift the name of Yâhwéh to corruption. You shall love your neighbor more than your own self. You shall not slay your child by procuring abortion; nor, again, shall you destroy it after it is born. You shall not withdraw your hand from your son, or from your daughter, but from their infancy you shall teach them the fear of Yâ-hwéh.17 6. You shall not covet what is your neighbor's, nor shall you be avaricious.

You shall not join yourself with the haughty, but you shall be counted with the righteous and lowly. Receive you as good things the trials that come upon 17

This verse speaks spiritually also, meaning those who we conceive in His spirit with His Seed.

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you, recognizing that nothing is done without Yâ-hwéh. You shall not be of double mind or of double tongue, for a double tongue is a snare of death.

7. You shall be subject to Yâ-hwéh, and to masters as to the Image of Yâ-hwéh, with modesty and fear. You shall not issue orders with bitterness to your maidservant or your man-servant, who trust in the same [Yâ-hwéh], lest you should not reverence that mighty Ones Who is above both of you; for He came to call men not according to their outward appearance, but according as the spirit had prepared them.

8. You shall let your neighbor share in all things; you shall not call things your own; for if ye are partakers in common of things which are incorruptible, how much more [should you be] of those things 83

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which are corruptible! You shall not be hasty with your tongue, for the mouth is a snare of death. As far as possible, you shall be pure in your self.

9. Do not be ready to stretch forth your hands to take, whereas you contract them to give. You shall love, as the pupil of your eye, every one that speaks to you the Word of Yâ-hwéh [“Yâhuwshúa`” (Disclosure 19: 13)].

10. You shall remember the Day of Judgment, night and day. You shall seek out every day the presence of the pure ones, laboring either by word visiting them, or going to exhort them, and meditating how to save a life (soul) by the Word. And by your hands you shall labor to give It to the poor, so that your sins may be forgiven.

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11. You shall not hesitate to give It, nor murmur when you give It. “Give It to everyone that asks you,” and you shall acknowledge Who is the good Recompenser of your gifts. You shall preserve what you have received [His Words], neither adding to It nor taking from It. To the last you shall hate the Wickedness [ZkharYâ´hu 5: 3-1118].

You shall judge righteously.

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“And He said this to me: ‘This is the curse going out over the surface of the whole earth: because everyone of the ones thieving from this side, according to it, shall be erased; and everyone of the ones filling it in from this other side, according to it, shall be erased: I shall send it out,” declares Yâ-hwéh of Hosts, “and it will come to the house of the thief, and to the house of the one filling in the Lie for My name, and it will remain within his house, and it will destroy it and its timbers and its stones!”: Then the Envoy speaking to me came forward and He said to me: “Lift your eyes now, and look! What is this one going abroad?” And I asked: “What is it?” And He replied: “This is the bushel (’Ëyphâ´h), the one going abroad”, and He added: “This is their vision source throughout all the earth [“Holy Bible”].” Then see! The cover of lead was raised and this one woman was sitting within the bushel. And He said: “This is the WICKEDNESS! [the LorD XëzVs ChrIstos 666]” And He pushed her into the interior of the bushel and He pushed the cover of lead over its mouth. And I lifted up my eyes and I looked, and see! Two women going out with wind in their wings and their wings were like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the bushel out of the earth and out of the heavens. And I said to the Envoy, the One speaking to me: “To where are they carrying the bushel?” And He replied to me: “To build for it a house in the land of Shin`â´r. When it is ready, then it will be set there on her place [the image of the beast exiled to Bâvél].”

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12. You shall not make a schism, but you shall pacify those that contend by bringing them together [MattithYâ´huw 12: 30]. You shall confess your sins. You shall not go to prayer with an evil conscience. This is the Way of Light.

Chapter 20 The Way of Darkness 1. But the way of darkness is crooked, and full of cursing; for it is the way of eternal death with punishment, in which way are the things that destroy the self, viz., image worship, over-confidence, the arrogance of power, fakery, doubleheartedness, adultery, murder, plundering, haughtiness, transgression, deceit, malice, self-sufficiency, drugs, magic, avarice, lack of the fear of Yâhwéh.

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2. [Also in this way] are those who persecute the good, those who hate the Truth, those who love the Lie, those who discern not the reward of righteousness, those who cleave not to that which is good, those who do not attend with just judgment to the widow and orphan, those who are not awake to the fear of Yâ-hwéh, but are awake for the Wickedness, from whom gentleness and patience stand afar off; persons who love vanity, follow after a reward, pity not the needy, labor not in aid of him who is overcome with toil; who are ready to slander, who do not acknowledge Him that made them, who are murderers of sons, corruptors of the workmanship of the mighty Ones; who turn away him that is in need, who oppress the afflicted, who are advocates of the rich, who are unjust judges of the 87

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poor, and who are in every respect transgressors.

Chapter 21 Conclusion 1. It is well, therefore, that he who has learned the judgments of Yâ-hwéh, as many as have been written, should walk in them. For he who keeps these shall be honored in the kingdom of Yâ-hwéh; but he who chooses the alternative things shall be destroyed together with his works. On this account there will be a resurrection, on this account a retribution.

2. I beseech you who are superiors, if you will receive any counsel of my good will: maintain among yourselves those to whom you may show kindness: do not forsake them.

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3. For the day is at hand on which all things shall perish with the Wickedness.

Yâ-hwéh is near, and His reward.

4. Again, and yet again, I beseech you: be good lawgivers to one another; continue trustworthy counselors of one another; remove from among you all fakery.

5. And may Yâ-hwéh, Who rules over all the world, give to you wisdom, intelligence, understanding, knowledge of His judgments, with patience.

6. And be ye taught of the mighty Ones, inquiring diligently what Yâ-hwéh asks from you; and do it that ye may be safe in the Day of Judgment.

7. And if you have any remembrance of what is good, be mindful of me, meditating on these things, in order that both my desire and watchfulness may 89

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result in some good. I beseech you, entreating this as a favor.

8. While yet you are in this fair vessel, do not fail in any one of those things, but unceasingly seek after them, and fulfill every commandment; for these things are worthy.

9. This is why I have been the more eager to write to you, as my ability served, that I might cheer you up. May you gain salvation, ye sons of love and peace. The Sovereign of honor and of all favor is with your spirit. ’Âmë´n.

Source translation by the Rev. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. Excerpted from Volume I of The Ante-Nicene Fathers (Rev. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson, editors).

American Edition copyright © 1885. Translation revised and 90

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Name restoration and depaganization done 2002-4.

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