OLD
AND NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN SIMILARITIES
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There were no local shrines, temples or
synagogues in each village/town. (Synagogues did not come into
existence until the Inter-Biblical Period between the records
of Malachi and Matthew.)
-
There were no weekly Sabbath worship
services(Synagogues only came into existence in 200 B.C for the
primary purpose of teaching the Diaspora Jews).
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There were not weekly nor monthly collections
of tithes and offerings. (I Corinthians 16:1-4) “Now concerning
the collection(logia=laying
aside,
gathering, collection, contribution) for the
saints, as I have given order(dialasso=to
arrange throughout; thoroughly, prescribed, set in order)to
the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first
day of the week(mia=one, first,
a certain agreed day, Sunday)let every one
of you(hekastos=each
one of you, each of you
by himself)lay by him(para=
let him put
aside, near) in store(tithemi=reserve,
keep) as God hath prospered him(eudoo=to
succeed in business affairs;in
whatever he is prospered), that there be
no gatherings (logia=laying
aside, collections)when I come. And when I come,
whomsoever ye shall
approve(dokimazo=to
test, allow, approve) by your
letters(epistole=written
message),
them will I send to bring your
liberality(charis=gift)
unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also,
they shall go with me.”
-
There were not full-time clergy; the Levitical
priests were provided not just with cities, but also with
pasture lands(Joshua 21). They were not exempt from being
stewards of God's resources, thus they were shepherds to provide
livestock products for their neighbors and nation(II
Thessalonians 3:6-10).
-
The Old Testament Jews were required to
celebrate communally as a people in the national Temple (Note:
God's original design was a portable and transportable
Tabernacle) only three times a year: Passover, Pentecost.
Tabernacles and the commemoration of the Passover Meal in their
homes(Deuteronomy 6:1-11).
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