The Origin Of Christianity Was Not Pagan, But Pure And Set Apart

There are many who teach lies about the true origins of Christianity. The ancient (not modern) Koine Greek word, "Χριστιανὸν [Christianon / Christian]" is over two-thousand years old, and means : "follower of the Χριστός [Christos / Christ] (Messiah - Anointed One)". The Hebrew word, "משיח [Mashiach]" was ALWAYS rendered in the Koine Greek language as "Χριστός [Christos]" during ancient times, including within the Septuagint Old Testament which was translated from the Hebrew Tanahk by 70 Torah-observant Jews in 250 B.C., and also the original Greek New Testament which was written by the divine inspiration of the Set-Apart Spirit via the hands of several apostles of Yeshua [Jesus] the Messiah during the 1st century A.D.

They shared the Good News with many Greek-speaking Gentiles throughout the world, as He commanded them to do (for the Gentiles did NOT even know the Hebrew language). Messiah instructed them within Matthew 4:19, etc., to follow Him. A follower of the Christos is a Χριστιανὸν [Christianon / Christian], according to the Scriptural Greek New Testament. Anyone who contradicts what the Spirit of truth said via the apostles within these divinely-inspired Scriptures is a deceiver who spreads disinformation and lies. The Roman Catholic church is corrupt, and was formed over 300 years after the time of Messiah during the 4th century A.D., as a syncretistic ecumenical religion (blending some aspects of pagan ritual with Christianity), thus contradicting many of the Scriptures. It also murdered over 50 million non-Catholic (mainly Protestant) Christians during several Inquisitions of the Dark Ages (which lasted over 600 years). The apostles wrote about the Christos and the Christians in a positive context,...but Yohanan [John] wrote about the Roman Mystery Babylon in a negative context, within the prophetic book of Revelation. It is obvious from the context of chapter 18, that many of YaHuWaH's people are Christians within the Roman Catholic church, for He calls them, "My people", and will command them (during the soon-coming apostasy) to come out of her (Mystery Babylon), and avoid the corruption and (pharmakeia) witchcraft magickal sorceries (which the final false prophet will conduct by satanic power to deceive many in the future Luciferian one world government, economy and religion into worshipping and obeying the political prince/king antimessiah, receiving his 666 numerical mark of the beast in order to be able to buy, sell, etc.).

The apostles of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah were called "Christians" in a positive, NOT "negative" context. Not once did any of the apostles condemn the use of this word title. Anyone who claims otherwise is directly opposing what the Spirit said through the Old and New Testament Scriptures,...and basically calling Him a "liar". We should never grieve, quench nor vex the Spirit, but serve YaHuWaH our Elohim, haElyon (the Most High) with reverential obedience, for He is a consuming fire. This is what the Spirit anointed and inspired the apostles Luke and Peter to write as examples for us to follow : "When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians [Χριστιανός].)" (Acts 11:26)

"However, IF YOU SUFFER AS A CHRISTIAN [Χριστιανὸν], DO NOT BE ASHAMED, but PRAISE God in THIS NAME." (1 Peter 4:16) If you notice, the context is quite clear. Peter never said, "If you suffer as a Nazarene". The word, "Christian" was specifically used for a divine purpose within this passage of Scripture. He also said that we should not be ashamed for suffering as a Christian, but praise God in this name (title).

This is the ancient Koine Greek word, "Χριστός [Christos / Christ]" within the New Testament Scriptures : http://biblehub.com/greek/5547.htm

And here is the Greek word, "Χριστιανὸν [Christianon / Christian] : http://biblehub.com/greek/christianon_5546.htm "Χριστιανός [Christianos / Christians]" : http://biblehub.com/greek/5546.htm Many ignorant believers within the Judaism and Messianic movements openly mock and scoff at Christians, and also add to and take away from what the Scriptures truthfully say. This is strictly forbidden by YaHuWaH, and will be severely punished on Judgment Day. "Not many of you should become teachers, my brethren, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1)

It is NOT possible for the word, "Christos" to be "pagan in origin" (as many ignorant Messianics erroneously claim it is), for ALL of the ancient Greek Old and New Testament manuscripts used the word, "Christos" in place of the Hebrew, "Mashiach". The word, "Christos" was written at least 39 times within the ancient Koine Greek Septuagint Old Testament (in 250 B.C.), and 538 times within the ancient Koine Greek New Testament (during the 1st century A.D.). Yeshua commanded us to follow Him. So therefore, the words Χριστιανὸν [Christianon / Christian] and Χριστιανός [Christianos / Christians] are a perfect Hebrew-to-Greek translation, and divinely-inspired by the Set-Apart Spirit of YaHuWaH our Elohim. Likewise, Messiah's name, etc,. was written in THREE different languages on the sign which was placed on His cross. If everyone knew Him only in Hebrew as Yeshua, there would have been no need to also write His Name in two other forms from the Greek and Latin languages on the sign above His head when He was being crucified on the execution Taw-Cross for our Redemption and Salvation. The Scriptures say : "And Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was, Yeshua of Nazareth, the King of the Jews'. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Yeshua was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin." (Yohanan / John 19:19-20) The sign on the execution stake said in Hebrew: Yeshua haNotzri Melech haYehudim In Greek: Iesous ho Nazoraios ho Basileus ton Ioudaion And in Latin: Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum The Scriptures repeatedly state within the New Testament, that the Good News was sent first to the Jews,...and then also to the Greeks. The Message about Messiah was preached first in Hebrew to the natives of Yisrael by the Messiah and His apostles. Then afterwards, several of His apostles preached and also wrote the New Testament epistles in the Koine Greek language for the benefit of the Greek-speaking Jews and Gentiles receiving the Messianic Message of Salvation. It would have been impossible to evangelize the world and spread the Good News (as the Messiah commanded), within the Hebrew language, when the world's international language (of the Gentiles) during that time was Koine Greek (and had already been so for millennia, after the global conquest by Alexander the Great). The apostles Mark (Markos) and Luke (Loukas) originally had Greek names. The apostle Sha'ul (Paulos) was born in Rome, and remained a Roman citizen all his life. Even though Hebrew was the native language of Yisra'El, it was common for the Yisraelites during the time of the Roman occupation to speak to the Gentiles (including the Roman authorities) in the Koine Greek language. The New Testament Scriptures conclusively-prove that the apostles Luke, Paul, Peter, etc., preached to the Gentiles in Koine Greek, and converted many to the Gospel of Messiah.

It is a fact that not one ancient complete Hebrew nor Aramaic New Testament manuscript has ever been discovered anywhere at anytime by anyone. But around 6,000 ancient Greek New Testament manuscripts have in fact been discovered. Instead of believing in vain opinions and theories, we should only believe the Scriptural, historical, linguistical, and archaeological evidences which all collectively prove the factual-truth conclusively 100% beyond ALL reasonable doubt.
May we have an open mind and heart in believing and embracing what the Spirit of truth says within the Old and New Testaments, instead of resisting Him, and becoming contradictory liars.

"Don't add to His words, or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar." (Proverbs 30:6) "You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it..." (Deuteronomy 4:2) "I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book." (Revelation 22:18-19)

The Word, Amen Is Sacred, Not Pagan

Some have alleged that the word “amen,” customarily used in affirmation, including affirmation of a prayer in Biblical usage (e.g., Matthew 6:13), is “pagan.” Is this true?

The word “amen” appears in the Bible scores of times (according to the Englishman’s Concordance, thirty times in the Old Testament, and 143 times in the New Testament). This fact alone, If one really believes the Bible is the inspired word of Elohim (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21), should be evidence enough that there is nothing inherently “pagan” in the word.

The Bible itself is the standard by which the appropriate use of words in connection with the worship of YaHWeH Elohim is judged, including words used as names and titles of Elohim.

Yet, it’s alleged in misleading articles on some Internet websites that the word translated “amen” in English versions of the Bible is the name of a pagan Egyptian deity and should not be used by Scripture-Believers. It’s asserted that the Hebrews borrowed the word translated “amen” from the Egyptians and incorporated it into their language. But such a connection is not found in more reputable sources of information.

It is for good reason that reputable sources, such as leading Bible dictionaries and lexicons, do not identify the name of an Egyptian deity as being the source of the Biblical Hebrew word translated “amen.” Other than the fact that the Egyptian name for one of their many deities and the Hebrew word anglicized as “amen” may have a somewhat similar sound, there is no evidence that the Hebrews borrowed the word “amen” from the Egyptians. Similar sounding words in different languages with different meanings are rather common, and such similarities of themselves are no proof of common origin. If you say “I ate a raw carrot,” or, “Rah, team, go,” does that mean you’re invoking the name of the Egyptian deity “Ra”? Of course not!

Both the Hebrew word “amen” and the Egyptian word for their god “Amon” (transliterated into English in a variety of ways) appear in the Old Testament. But the two words are spelled differently and pronounced differently, and most importantly, have completely different meanings. They do share some consonants, but the Hebrew “amen” is אמן (‘âmên), pronounced aw-mane (rhymes with rain) in Hebrew. The Hebrew spelling of the name of the Egyptian deity however, is אמון (see Jeremiah 46:25; Nahum 3:8). Note the extra consonant, which affects not only the spelling, but the pronunciation as well. In this case, the third (from the right) consonant (ו) takes the form of a vowel, transliterated into the English letter “o.” Thus the transliteration of the word is ‘âmôn, pronounced aw-mone’.

The Hebrew word translated “amen“ means verily, truly, so be it. It is from a primitive Hebrew root, אמן (âman), pronounced aw-man’. The root word has a variety of meanings founded on the idea of building up, or supporting, and hence to foster, to be firm, to trust, to be true, etc. The root and words derived from it, “amen” (‘âmên) being one of them, are found hundreds of times in the Old Testament, and have nothing whatsoever to do with the name of an Egyptian deity.

The root word âman is used in such senses as being faithful (1 Samuel 2:35; Isaiah 8:2); and believing or having faith (Exodus 4:31; Isaiah 7:9), as well as other related uses. Two derivatives of the root are used in Isaiah 25:1, translated “faithfulness and truth.” From the same root is אמנם (‘omnâm), translated “Truly” (NKJV), or “Of a truth” (KJV). Another cognate derived from âman is אמת (’emeth), pronounced eh’-meth, and often translated “truth,” or “truly.”

Some Jewish commentators, the Latin Vulgate, and hence the King James Version of the Bible consider the word אמון in Jeremiah 46:25 to be a Hebrew word meaning “multitude” (Strong’s number 527). However, many commentators and Bible translators understand the word to be the name of the Egyptian deity Amon (Strong’s number 528). Among the latter, besides the New King James Version translators, are the following translations: Septuagint, Apostles’ Bible, NET, ASV, ACV, BBE, Darby, God’s Word to the Nations, JPS, Lexham; to name some. The following commentaries, among others, understand the word to be the name of the Egyptian deity: Adam Clarke, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Keil and Delitzsch, Coffman’s, Thomas Coke, Expositor’s, Pulpit. Most if not all of these understand “No” in this verse to be a name applied to the city called Thebes by the Greeks, where a statue and temple of Amon were erected. It was a primary place of worship for the deity Amon.

“Thebes was known in the Egyptian language from the end of the New Kingdom as niwt-imn, ‘The City of Amun.’ This found its way into the Hebrew Bible as נא אמון nōʼ ʼāmôn (Nahum 3:8), probably referring to the Egyptian deity Amun-Ra, most likely it is also the same as נא (‘No’) (Ezekiel 30:14–16, Jeremiah 46:25). In Greek this name was rendered Διόσπολις Diospolis, “City of Zeus”, as Amun in the interpretatio graeca became Greek Zeus Ammon” (“Thebes, Egypt”; en.wikipedia.org). The Romans identified the Egyptian deity Amon with Jupiter, and called the city by a similar name meaning “City of Jupiter.”

According to the 1911 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica, the name of the deity Amon (or Ammon; Amin, etc.) was, “connected by the priests with a root meaning ‘conceal’ “ (“Ammon,” Vol. 1, p. 861). A similar meaning for the name is found in The Dictionary of Classical Mythology, Religion, Literature, and Art, as follows: “Egyptian Amun, the hidden or veiled one” (“Ammon,” p. 26).

The Hebrew word corresponding to our “amen,” the subject of our discussion, clearly does not have the same meaning as the name of the Egyptian idol. In addition to its other applications, “Amen” is used as a title of Elohim — “the Elohim of truth” (“Elohim Amen,” Isaiah 65:16). The Greek word translated into the English “amen” is simply the Hebrew word transliterated into Greek, and pronounced essentially the same as the Hebrew original. It’s meaning is essentially the same as the Hebrew and it’s used in much the same way. It’s also used as a title or name of Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, “…the Amen, the faithful and true witness…” (Revelation 3:14).

Words transliterated into English from Hebrew and Greek are rarely pronounced by English speakers the exact way a native speaker of one of the other languages would pronounce the word. This goes for names as well as other words. The names Abraham, Jacob, David, Israel, Jerusalem, and numerous others, for example, are not pronounced in English exactly as in Hebrew.

There is nothing especially “set-apart” or sacrosanct about a particular pronunciation of such words, or any other words; and the same goes even for names and titles of Elohim. Even among native speakers there will be variability in how particular letters and words are pronounced. Consider the different ways English words might be pronounced by people from different areas of the United States, such as Boston as opposed to Alabama, or from different English speaking countries, such as England, the United States, Canada, Australia, India, and the Philippines. Even within individual regions, states, or cities, there are often variations in how a given word might be pronounced by different individuals or groups.

What is paramount is the meaning of the word, whatever its precise pronunciation. There is no valid reason the English word “amen” should be pronounced in English usage exactly as the Hebrew and Greek forms might have been in the original languages of the Bible.

And there is no valid reason to avoid the use of the word “amen” in affirmation of a prayer, or, when appropriate, in other ways it is used in Scripture.

Christmas Is NOT Of Pagan Origin, But Has Roots In The Sacred Hebrew Festival of Hanukkah

There has been much disinformation and lies spread from erroneous, non-scholarly sources about the holiday of Christmas, which directly contradict the 100% conclusive fact that it has origins within the ancient, sacred Hebrew feast of Hanukkah. The vast majority of the early Assembly of Messianics (Christians) during the 1st century were Hebrew-Yisraelites, and they brought many of their Hebrew customs and traditions into Christianity. 

Within John 8:12, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) called Himself the "Light of the world", shortly before the beginning of the festival of Hanukkah. He afterwards celebrated the feast, and taught about Himself during it, for it consists of many prophetic parallels, types and foreshadows which pointed to Him who is the ultimate substance and fulfillment of all things. Even though Hanukkah is not mentioned in the Old Testament, it was written about within the New Testament as the "Feast of Dedication":

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was Winter. And Yeshua walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long do You make us doubt? If You be the Messiah, tell us plainly. Yeshua answered them, I told you, and you believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you believe not, because you are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:22-30)

The celebration of Hanukkah centers around the theme of light, relating to the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean Revolt. It is customarily observed by the lighting of candles on a nine-branched candelabrum / menorah, called a Hanukkiah. This holiday lasts for eight days, and always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This is an unique clue. Hanukkah is always celebrated on Kislev 25. The month of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar overlaps the Julian/Gregorian calendar month of December. Oftentimes, Hanukkah is celebrated by Hebrews at the same time Christians are celebrating Christmas. 

Early Hebrew-Yisraelite Christians remembered the account of Yeshua entering the Temple in Jerusalem during Hanukkah, and referring to himself as the Son of Elohim and Light of the world. They were severely persecuted by their fellow non-Christian Hebrews back then, and were often shunned, excommunicated, beaten, and worse. Since the synagogue was the source of ancient Yisraelite life, the dates of the Jewish calendar were calculated from there based on rabbinical interpretation of the Mosaic Law. Persecuted Hebrew Christians who were cast out would gradually lose connection with their synagogue, and that would include their rabbi-calculated calendar.

It is widely believed that to simplify matters during this extremely complex and hard time of isolation, many Hebrew Christians used the Julian calendar, in unity with Gentile Christians. So therefore, the celebration of Yeshua as the "Light of the world," came to be associated with the 25th day of December instead of Kislev, which often occurs close to the Hebrew calendar date of Kislev 25. Drawing from the inspirational theme of dedication, this holiday begins exactly eight days before the Julian new year (January 1). Thus Christmas, understood as a christened (messianic) version of the Hebrew feast of Hanukkah, would be an eight-day celebration, beginning on December 25, marking the Light of Elohim coming into the world, and ending on January 1, marking the re-dedication of time with the new Julian calendar year. All of this occurred during the first few centuries of the early Assembly of Christianity.

Also, according to the traditions of the rabbinic Jewish calendar, many Hebrew-Yisraelite Christians believed that the world was created on Abib (Nisan) 14, which came to be associated with March 25 on the Roman Julian calendar. They not only associated the beginning of the world on that date, but also the beginning of the new world, both physically and spiritually, because of the divine birth of Yeshua the Messiah. Therefore, the visit and declaration about our Savior by the archangel Gabri'El to the virgin Miriam (Mary), came to be celebrated on March 25. Non-coincidentally, it is still celebrated on that same date today.

If we count exactly 9 months from March 25, it is December 25, which is the associated date for the birth of the Messiah. Many ancient Hebrew Christians believed that Yeshua was miraculously conceived on March 25 and born on December 25, by the calculated reckoning of the Roman Julian calendar. The oft-quoted Christian historian, Sextus Julius Africanus, (from AD 160 - 240) believed March 25 was the day of the creation of the world, and likewise, also the day of Messiah's conception (Joseph F. Kelly, The Origins of Christmas, p. 60). Saint Irenaeus, who lived between AD 130 - 202, in his work Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies), claimed that the conception of Messiah Yeshua transpired on March 25, according to ancient Church tradition, and linked it to His birth precisely nine months later, on December 25.

Many propagandists erroneously misinterpret Jeremiah 10:1-5, falsely claiming that it is contextually referring to "decorating a Christmas tree",...when in fact, it is NOTHING of the sort. If one looks closely at the language of that passage of Scripture, it is quite obvious that it is about Canaanite pagans who chopped down trees, carved idols out of wood, and then afterwards overlayed them with gold and silver, standing them out in the groves for their magick rituals and worship of satanic deities. Christmas tree decorating did NOT even exist during that time, and is likewise, a Christian (not pagan) tradition. These evergreen trees (which represent Yeshua our Messiah as our eternal life) are not carved into idols, overlaid with gold or silver, nor worshipped as pagan gods in outdoor garden groves, but are brought indoors, and decorated with lights (which represent Him as our Light of the world), and topped with a star (which symbolizes the star of Bethlehem which hovered over the place of His birth, etc.).

Did you know that King Solomon decorated palm trees within the holy temple, with chains around them which look like the decorative ropes on Christmas trees today? 

“He paneled the main room with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold and decorated with palm trees and chains.” (2 Chronicles 3:5)

Another translation says it this way : 

“He overlaid the main room with juniper wood and overlaid it with fine gold; and he ornamented it with palm trees and chains.” (2 Chronicles 3:5)

Even though pagans worshipped evergreen trees in Europe, etc., for millennia, they were not known to bring them into their houses for decorating. The true account of St. Boniface (an English bishop and missionary) chopping down Donar's Oak Tree reveals insight into how medieval Christians evangelized these Germanic pagans during the early 8th century. When St. Boniface chopped down the Donar's Oak Tree to prevent a human sacrifice, the pagans watched in terror, fearing that their deity Thor would send lightning to kill them all for such blasphemy.

However, when this never occurred, Boniface showed that a small fir tree was growing between the roots of the oak tree he just chopped down. He wisely used this as an evangelistic tool. He told the pagans that their deities were helpless and could not stop the destruction of their sacred oak tree, but the Christian Creator YaHWeH has provided in its place this small fir tree. He pointed out the fir tree was triangular, symbolically representing the Trinity, and that its leaves are always green, representing Elohim's eternal love for us. Finally, he pointed out that the needles of the tree always point up toward YaHWeH. Later during that same year he brought a small fir tree into the chapel during the winter months to serve as a constant reminder to his congregation of these truths.

The first Christmas tree is believed to have originated in Germany during the 16th century. It was not a pagan, but a Protestant Christian, who took St. Boniface's winter tree and turned it into a traditional Christmas tree. Martin Luther (who began the Protestant Reformation) is claimed to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree, in order to illustrate the “light" of Messiah to his children.

Christmas and Hanukkah are directly connected to the celebration of Yeshua the Messiah being our Light of the world, the Son of Elohim sent to redeem humanity back to YaHWeH the Father of lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow. No one conclusively knows when He was born. But we can celebrate what our Creator did for us, because of His everlasting compassion.

There is nothing wrong with the giving of gifts to others. It is symbolic of our selfless love for others, to give from ourselves and our resources. After all,...the Scriptures reveal that the wise men who traveled from the East (possibly Persia) brought at least three gifts (of highly valuable Frankincense, Myrrh and Gold) to Yeshua the Messiah after His birth. WHY do we celebrate His birth? Because He was born to die as a ransom for us, so that we (via becoming spiritually born-again) may be saved from our sins, and live eternally as the sons and daughters of haElyon (the Most High) Father by His Set-Apart Spirit. It was the GREATEST Gift of Love which could ever be given.

"She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus [Yeshua / Iesous], for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21)

"For God [Elohim / Theos] so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

"Greater love has no one than this, that one should lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

"One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes a special day does so to the Master..." (Romans 14:5-6a)

"When Yeshua (Jesus) spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."" (John 8:12)

"This is the day which YaHWeH  has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24)