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==Saint Paul==

==Saint Paul==

Saint Paul (previously Saul of Tarsus, who studied at the feet of [[Gamaliel|Rabban Gamaliel]]), shows in his letters indications that he, as a rabbi acknowledged and authorized by the Great Sanhedrim in Jerusalem, knew the esoteric doctrines and traditions of Judaism "far beyond those of my contemporaries". He counted all of this as "rubbish" compared to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified, "''a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.''"  

[[Saint Paul]] (previously Saul of Tarsus, who studied at the feet of [[Gamaliel|Rabban Gamaliel]]), shows in his letters indications that he, as a rabbi acknowledged and authorized by the Great Sanhedrim in Jerusalem, knew the esoteric doctrines and traditions of Judaism "far beyond those of my contemporaries". He counted all of this as "rubbish" compared to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and him crucified, "''a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.''"  

The letter to the [[Colossians]] is an informed refutation and rebuttal of esoteric philosophy and empty mystical practices. Paul desired that they might "''have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.''" Against the doctrine of the utterly transcendant ''Ein Sof'' with its emanations of ten Sefirot and all kabbalistic practices he wrote:{{quotation|[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. '''''For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell''''', and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven ... See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to '''''Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily''''' ... Let no one disqualify you, insisting on selfabasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? (Colossians 2:8-9 18-20 RSVCE, ''boldface emphasis added'')}}

The letter to the [[Colossians]] is an informed refutation and rebuttal of esoteric philosophy and empty mystical practices. Paul desired that they might "''have all the riches of assured understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.''" Against the doctrine of the utterly transcendant ''Ein Sof'' with its emanations of ten Sefirot and all kabbalistic practices he wrote:{{quotation|[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation; for in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in everything he might be pre-eminent. '''''For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell''''', and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven ... See to it that no one makes a prey of you by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not according to '''''Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily''''' ... Let no one disqualify you, insisting on selfabasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? (Colossians 2:8-9 18-20 RSVCE, ''boldface emphasis added'')}}

Similarly, the letter to the Hebrews says immediately at the beginning: "He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power."

Similarly, the letter to the Hebrews says immediately at the beginning: "He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power."

===Saint John and Saint Peter===

===Saint John and Saint Peter===

Compare '''John 1:1-3, 14'''.{{quotation|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the '''Word was God'''. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ... '''And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us''', full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')}}[[Saint Peter]] states plainly and unequivocally {{quotation|[W]'''e did not follow cleverly devised myths''' when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his glory. (2 Peter 1:16 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')}}And [[Saint John]] says{{quotation|That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--'''the life was made manifest''', and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you '''the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us''' (1 John 1:1-2 RSVCE, ''boldface emphasis added)}}

Compare '''John 1:1-3, 14'''.{{quotation|In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the '''Word was God'''. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. ... '''And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us''', full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. (RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')}}[[Saint Peter]] states plainly and unequivocally {{quotation|[W]'''e did not follow cleverly devised myths''' when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his glory. (2 Peter 1:16 RSVCE ''boldface emphasis added'')}}And [[John the Apostle|Saint John]] says{{quotation|That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life--'''the life was made manifest''', and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you '''the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us''' (1 John 1:1-2 RSVCE, ''boldface emphasis added)}}

 

==Christianity and Kabbalah==

==Christianity and Kabbalah==

Christian biblical doctrine about Jesus clearly dismisses as totally irrelevant and erroneous the Jewish mystical teaching of Kabbalah.

Christian biblical doctrine about Jesus clearly dismisses as totally irrelevant and erroneous the Jewish mystical teaching of Kabbalah.