In the Jewish and Christian tradition/scriptures, God makes a covenant with Noah and blesses him after the flood. Noah's sons become the fathers of tribes and nations, with Japeth going north into what many believe was Anatolia, Greece, or Europe. The seven Noahide laws within this covenant were not for the Jews, because that tribe didn't even exist yet--they were for all peoples.
In the Christian tradition, Jesus makes an "new and everlasting covenant" (Luke 22:20) with his believers, but his followers were Jews. Elsewhere in the NT, Jesus claims he has been sent only to the "lost sheep of Israel" (Mat 15:24). Those lost Jews were in the dispersion, and there are several references to this in the NT:
“Then the Jews said to one another, 'Where does He intend to go so we won’t find Him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does He?'” (John 7:35)
“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.Greetings” (James 1:1)
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen” (Peter 1:1)
So when Jesus commands his followers to go out and make disciples of all nations (the Great Commission) in Matthew 28:18, is he speaking of the Jews in the dispersion? Or is he speaking of everyone?
Because if the Covenant with Noah is still in effect, the people in foreign lands who are descended from Japeth are still living under it!
I'd like to get some Muslim perspective on this (or anyone else who wants to comment)
In the Christian tradition, Jesus makes an "new and everlasting covenant" (Luke 22:20) with his believers, but his followers were Jews. Elsewhere in the NT, Jesus claims he has been sent only to the "lost sheep of Israel" (Mat 15:24). Those lost Jews were in the dispersion, and there are several references to this in the NT:
“Then the Jews said to one another, 'Where does He intend to go so we won’t find Him? He doesn’t intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks, does He?'” (John 7:35)
“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.Greetings” (James 1:1)
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:To the temporary residents dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen” (Peter 1:1)
So when Jesus commands his followers to go out and make disciples of all nations (the Great Commission) in Matthew 28:18, is he speaking of the Jews in the dispersion? Or is he speaking of everyone?
Because if the Covenant with Noah is still in effect, the people in foreign lands who are descended from Japeth are still living under it!
I'd like to get some Muslim perspective on this (or anyone else who wants to comment)