One of the books from the realm of Jewish mysticism is the Zohar. Most Christians haven’t read it and know very little about it. It’s easy to be misled when we lack knowledge.
What is the Zohar?
”The Zohar is a commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures and the primary source of the beliefs of Kabbalah, a mystical form of Judaism.”
Were Jesus and the apostles, were the primitive Christians, involved in a mystical form of Judaism?
”According to Kabbala, this text was written in the second century AD by Shimon bar Yochai. Supposedly, bar Yochai was inspired by visions from the angel Gabriel to record secret, powerful knowledge about interpreting the Torah. Unlike other Jewish commentaries on the Torah, known as the Mishna or Midrash, the Zohar is heavily mystical and borders on an occult - or witchcraft-based approach to spirituality.”
That should be a red flag.
“Kabbalists believe that Jewish leadership during the Roman era considered such knowledge to be too powerful for the common man, and so they suppressed it,”
If it is true that the Zohar was written in the second century - and there is good reason to doubt that it is - then these Jewish religious leaders are the Pharisees after the destruction of the Temple.
“According to the Zohar, God’s message in the Torah is meant to be understood at four levels: literal, allegorical, Rabbinic, and secretive. In other words, the more powerful and truthful purpose of the Torah is only accessible to thise with special knowledge and insight, per Kabbalah. This places the Zohar and Kabbalah squarely in the sphere of Gnosticism and mysticism.”
The Jewish monotheism of the Messiah and the apostles isn’t Gnosticism and mysticism.
When a trinitarian (or non-trinitarian) uses the Zohar and Jewish mysticism in evangelism - it’s important to note that not all trinitarians do, in fact, few trinitarians do - then they are falling back on Gnosticism. How effective is that in evangelization? Not very, if the person being evangelized knows what he or she is being offered.
”The text of the Zohar was unknown until first published in the 13th century by Moses de Leon. De Leon claimed the writings to be traditions passed down from Shimon bar Yochai many centuries before. However, modern scholars, Jewish and otherwise, believe that de Leon himself actually composed the Zohar‘s content. De Leon’s publication came from a place and era when Gnostic concepts were in fashion. Also, no mention is made of the Zohar or its contents in any midrash known prior to de Leon’s publication of the Zohar.
Mainstream Christianity considers the Zohar and Kabbalah to be false teachings in the same vein as other Gnostic and mystical cults. The same is true of all major sects of mainstream Judaism, although some Jewish scholars see the Zohar as useful for gaining insight into Jewish thinking, and some use the Zohar to provide additional opinions on the meaning of the Torah.”
Now we are better equipped when someone uses the Zohar and Jewish mysticism to evangelize.
Is the Zohar and Jewish mysticism persuasive to you?
It isn’t to me. Let everyone be convinced in his or her own mind.
What is the Zohar?
”The Zohar is a commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures and the primary source of the beliefs of Kabbalah, a mystical form of Judaism.”
Were Jesus and the apostles, were the primitive Christians, involved in a mystical form of Judaism?
”According to Kabbala, this text was written in the second century AD by Shimon bar Yochai. Supposedly, bar Yochai was inspired by visions from the angel Gabriel to record secret, powerful knowledge about interpreting the Torah. Unlike other Jewish commentaries on the Torah, known as the Mishna or Midrash, the Zohar is heavily mystical and borders on an occult - or witchcraft-based approach to spirituality.”
That should be a red flag.
“Kabbalists believe that Jewish leadership during the Roman era considered such knowledge to be too powerful for the common man, and so they suppressed it,”
If it is true that the Zohar was written in the second century - and there is good reason to doubt that it is - then these Jewish religious leaders are the Pharisees after the destruction of the Temple.
“According to the Zohar, God’s message in the Torah is meant to be understood at four levels: literal, allegorical, Rabbinic, and secretive. In other words, the more powerful and truthful purpose of the Torah is only accessible to thise with special knowledge and insight, per Kabbalah. This places the Zohar and Kabbalah squarely in the sphere of Gnosticism and mysticism.”
The Jewish monotheism of the Messiah and the apostles isn’t Gnosticism and mysticism.
When a trinitarian (or non-trinitarian) uses the Zohar and Jewish mysticism in evangelism - it’s important to note that not all trinitarians do, in fact, few trinitarians do - then they are falling back on Gnosticism. How effective is that in evangelization? Not very, if the person being evangelized knows what he or she is being offered.
”The text of the Zohar was unknown until first published in the 13th century by Moses de Leon. De Leon claimed the writings to be traditions passed down from Shimon bar Yochai many centuries before. However, modern scholars, Jewish and otherwise, believe that de Leon himself actually composed the Zohar‘s content. De Leon’s publication came from a place and era when Gnostic concepts were in fashion. Also, no mention is made of the Zohar or its contents in any midrash known prior to de Leon’s publication of the Zohar.
Mainstream Christianity considers the Zohar and Kabbalah to be false teachings in the same vein as other Gnostic and mystical cults. The same is true of all major sects of mainstream Judaism, although some Jewish scholars see the Zohar as useful for gaining insight into Jewish thinking, and some use the Zohar to provide additional opinions on the meaning of the Torah.”
What is the Zohar? | GotQuestions.org
What is the Zohar? How is the Zohar related to Kabbalah? Is the Zohar essentially a mystical commentary on the Hebrew Scriptures?
www.gotquestions.org
Now we are better equipped when someone uses the Zohar and Jewish mysticism to evangelize.
Is the Zohar and Jewish mysticism persuasive to you?
It isn’t to me. Let everyone be convinced in his or her own mind.
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