Differing views on the Noachide Laws and the Apostles The Jerusalem Council causes many scholars to disagree (or what?). In the Acts of the Apostles, Paul, Jewish believers, and the elders of the faith have a discussion on what the requirements for the Gentile believers are in order for them to be accepted into the faith. During their conversing, Paul and the council decided that the believing Gentiles needed to only obey seven laws, now termed “The Noachide Laws.” These seven laws ordered abstention from bloodshed, blasphemy, idolatry, sexual transgressions, theft, eating live animal flesh, and a “requirement to establish a legal system.” Some Scholars today make their differences on whether the Noachide Laws were meant to separate …show more content…
Hegg states that he believes the Noachide Laws were given to the Gentiles in order to have fellowship with and receive encouragement from their believing Jewish brothers as a result unifying the body of believers. He says that “Nowhere in the early rabbinic literature are the Noachide Laws given as a means for Gentiles to obtain a place in the world to come,” that is to save a place for themselves in heaven. This perspective positively impacts the student’s efforts to study the Noachide Laws and the Apostles. By shedding light on the intentions of the Jerusalem Council and the Apostles in enacting these seven laws and giving them to the Gentiles, the student is able to see the compassion and encouragement behind the law’s wording. Additionally, Mr. Hegg states in his article that Paul and the apostles’ universally agreed that the purpose for the Noachide Laws was not to ensure salvation for the Gentiles, but was instead to provide them with guidelines by which they could live godly lives within their pagan …show more content…
Shaye J. D. Cohen, rabbi and professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy at Harvard University, has a completely different stance on this issue. Dr. Cohen disagrees with Mr. Hegg by saying that the purpose of the Noachide Laws was to separate the Jews form the Gentiles. This statement leads the student to believe that G-d never wanted the Gentiles to be united with His people. On the contrary, Paul says in Romans that the Father has grafted the wild olive tree’s braches (Gentiles) into the cultivated olive tree (Jews) so that we may have eternal like with Him. Still, Paul continues to says that, “if G-d did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.” Thus, although some unbelieving Jews have been cut away from their place on the olive tree, the Gentiles who have been grafted in should not become arrogant, but instead should show great fear, for G-d can cut them away just as easily as He did the previous residents. In addition, Dr. Cohen states in his book that the Gentiles could only secure for themselves a place in heaven if they only obeyed the seven laws given to Noah. This statement leads the reader to believe that Gentiles had no privilege to partake in the gift of salvation provided by the death of Yeshua Ha-Mashiach. While on the contrary, Yeshua gave His gift to all who would receive it with a repentant heart; Paul testifies to this statement in 2 Corinthians saying, “and He died for all, so that they who live might