VIRGIN BIRTH
The Christian idea of a virgin birth is derived from the verse in Isaiah 7:14 describing an "alma" as giving birth. The word "alma" has always meant a young woman, but Christian theologians came centuries later and translated it as "virgin." This accords Jesus’ birth with the first century pagan idea of mortals being impregnated by gods.
CRUCIFIXION
The verse in Psalms 22:17 reads: "Like a lion, they are at my hands and feet." The Hebrew word ki-ari (like a lion) is grammatically similar to the word "gouged." Thus Christianity reads the verse as a reference to crucifixion: "They pierced my hands and feet."
SUFFERING SERVANT
Christianity claims that Isaiah chapter 53 refers to Jesus, as the "suffering servant."
In actuality, Isaiah 53 directly follows the theme of chapter 52, describing the exile and redemption of the Jewish people. The prophecies are written in the singular form because the Jews ("Israel") are regarded as one unit. The Torah is filled with examples of the Jewish nation referred to with a singular pronoun.
Ironically, Isaiah’s prophecies of persecution refer in part to the 11th century when Jews were
tortured and killed by Crusaders who acted in the name of Jesus.
From where did these mistranslations stem?
St. Gregory, 4th century Bishop of Nazianzus, wrote: "A little jargon is all that is necessary to impose on the people. The less they comprehend, the more they admire."
jewsforjudaism.org/ss
Jews for Judaism is mistaken, Guno. Bible scholars say this - I posted this earlier on this board but perhaps you missed it?
ON THE WORD VIRGIN - ALMA - WORD USED IN ISAIAH -
NOTES FROM BIBLE SCHOLAR, UNGER, ON THE WORD VIRGIN:
Virgin is denoted by two words in Hebrew:
1. bethulah - proper meaning denotes a virgin maiden. (Genesis 24:16 and Leviticus 21:13) Deuteronomy 22:14, 23, 28; Judges 11:37, 1 Kings 1:2 Joel 1:8 is, according to Unger, not an exception because it "refers to the loss of one betrothed or married".
2. almah - (veiled) - young woman of marriageable age. This is the word used in Isaiah 7:14. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah did not use bethulah,because both the ideas of virginity and marriageable age had to be combined in one word to meet the immediate historical situation and the prophetic aspect centering in a virgin-born Messiah.
Virgin is denoted in Greek by: parthenos - a virgin, marriageable maiden or young married woman, pure virgin. (Matthew 1:23, 25:1,7,11; Luke 1:27, Acts 21:9, 1 Corinthians 7:25, 28,33, 2 Corinthians 11:2) When the translators of the Septuagint translated Isaiah 7:14 into Greek they used the Greek word parthenos. To them Isaiah 7:14 denoted that Messiah would be born of a virgin.
As you can see the Messiah was born of a virgin! Which is precisely what the prophecy required and what Jesus Christ fulfilled. He was born of a Virgin.
_________________________________________________
On the word Pierced - referring to the pierced hands and feet of Jesus Christ -
Isaiah 22 is the prophecy of Christ crucified his hands and his feet which I am glad you included feet because HaShev had in another post denied the Hebrew Scriptures included feet.
Jesus was crucified in the usual manner of Romans - His hands and feet were pierced with large spikes which attached his body to the wooden cross.
The Bible Scholar Blinzler stated that Crucifixion was unknown in Jewish criminal law. The hanging on a gibbet, which was prescribed by Jewish law for idolaters and blasphemers who had been stoned, was not a death penalty but another additional punishment after death, designed to brand the person as one who was "cursed by God" and in accordance with Deuteronomy 21:23 LXX: For he is cursed of God that hangeth on a tree.
The Jews applied those words also to Christ because he was Hung on a "tree" so by acknowledging this in scripture we find that the Jews therein already admitted that Jesus Christ was crucified on a tree - which would mean his hands had been pierced precisely as it is written in Isaiah 22.
Of course, as the Jews wrongly interpreted / used wrong word to define virgin we can see that it isn't out of the question that they are misinterpreting again - if what you claim Jewish Judaism claims is correct. Perhaps they are short on Bible Scholars. Or perhaps they are attempting (and failing) to misinterpret in order to hide the truth from others. Anything is possible, Guno.
To prove my point ..........in 63 BC, Pomepy's legions cut their way into the Judean capital. Which is when "Palestine" became a Roman province, though nominally a puppet Jewish Dynasty survived according to Scholars.
Thus the type of death pictured in Isaiah 53 and Psalms 22 did not come into practice under the Jewish system unto hundreds of years after the account was written. What does that make it, Guno?
A prophecy.
My own observation: As Israel was already established - Isaiah 53 is not about Israel - clearly Israel cannot "save anyone". Isaiah 53 is about Jesus Christ and this is only more evidence provided to prove that He was and is the Jewish Messiah. Psalm 22 is also about Jesus Christ.
________________________________________________
Suffering Servant
You are too late and I can see what Jews for Judaism is attempting to do but it will not work. Israel is not the suffering servant and Isaiah was not referencing Israel in Isaiah 53. How do I know this? Because Israel cannot redeem anyone. Israel cannot save anyone, Guno. Israel is not a "servant'... Israel does not wear clothing or garments!
This Chapter of Isaiah is referring to Jesus Christ even as Psalm 22 is - they cast lots for his garment.
It is written: They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Psalm 22:18
Israel is a nation - it does not need to wear clothing, Guno. Nor is it even possible!
The fulfillment is found in John 19:23, 24.
It is written:
The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also a tunic, now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece, They said........Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be..
John 19: 23,24
--------------> As one Bible scholar pointed out, Guno, The Old Testament statement in Psalms 22 seems to be contradictory until we look at the account at the scene of the cross. The garments were parted among the soldiers, but the vesture was awarded to one casting lots. <----
You see? It is exactly as Psalm 22 prophecies it would happen.
It is written: They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.
Psalm 22:18
You see that? There is your answer, Guno!
Now listen to me, Guno. You have to decide whether you will be a follower of men or a follower of God. I know that you and others here are recognizing that Jesus Christ could not possibly fulfill all of these prophecies even staging his birth, birthplace, ministry, miracles, persecution, betrayal, manner of death, tomb of a rich man he was placed in, resurrection, appearing to many, his ascension... what man could do that? No! It is not possible. Jesus Christ is the Messiah and some of you know it too......
So what to do?
Receive Him as your Messiah and do not concern yourselves with the opinions of men. So what - what they think? Who cares? You come and follow Christ! Shake the dust from your feet against those ones who reject Him as Messiah and YOU come and follow Jesus Christ!
You know, Guno, in John 12:42 it is recorded that many of the religious leaders knew that Jesus was the Messiah but because they feared being thrown out of the synagogues they denied Him. As the Scriptures recorded, they loved the praises of men more than the praise of God.
So they denied the Messiah. Those men are in hell today. Do not join them, Guno. Come to the LORD and receive Him as your Messiah. Today is the day of Salvation. TODAY!
