"And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer." (1 Nephi 10:14)
Do we really have The Fulness of the Gospel? This is an often discussed and debated question among Mormons and Christians alike. Usually the outcome of these debates and discussions end with the idea that a particular group has The Fulness of the Gospel" because we have more scriptural books, continuing revelation, a living prophet, more people, more in number or more ornate buildings. In other words, it often appears that the phrase 'Fulness of the Gospel" appears more like a contest of who has the most, more, or all of God's words and ordinances.
The Israelite View of "The Fulness of the Gospel"
We do not find the phrase "Fulness of the Gospel" in the writings of The Old Testament (The Torah, The Prophets, and The Writings) or in The New Testament. The closest rendering of the phrase is mentioned in Paul's letter to the Romans:
"And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
Paul's usage of the phrase "fulness of the blessings of the gospel" reflects a correct Hebrew usage of the words "fulness" and "blessings of the gospel of Christ".
Meleah - מְלֵאָה
In Hebrew the word for fulness is the word meleah meaning: abundance or full produce or fruit that is ripe. We see these ideas communicated in the following portions of the Torah:
"Thou shalt not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits (meleah), and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me." (Exodus 22:29)
"And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the corn of the threshingfloor, and as the fulness (meleah) of the winepress." (Numbers 18:27)
The Hebrew word meleah draws upon images of fruit that has become ripened and or the fulness (i.e. ripened grapes etc) of the winepress. In other words, fulness is related to the idea of the ripened fruit of an abundant harvest- specifically those ripened first fruits which are made as an offering to God.
Besorah - בְּשֹׂרָה
The word Gospel does not appear in the Old Testament. It is found in the New Testament and is an old English word meaning news or message and was translated from the Greek word euangelion. We find one of it's Hebrew equivalents through the usage of the Septuagint which leads us to the original Hebrew word "Besorah". "Besorah" is a Hebrew word that means news, message, or report- as in the results of a declaration, instruction, or message:
"He who brought the news answered and said, “Israel has fled before the Philistines, and there has also been a great defeat among the people. Your two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been captured.” (1 Samuel:4:17)
SHEMA - שְׁמַע - The Hearing
While the mechanical translation of besorah into the word gospel is one rendering, there is a much older word in Hebrew that gives us a deeper insight into the word Gospel. It is the Hebrew word shema:
"As soon as Laban heard the news (ot-shaymah/shema) about Jacob, his sister’s son, he ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things" (Genesis 29:13)
"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." (Job 42:5)
The idea of "the hearing" is connected to the central affirmation of all Israel- The Shema:
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates." (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
The Fulness of The Hearing- The Acceptable Fruit of The Shema
Hebrew is a picturesque language. Like a painter's palette, Hebrew words are used to create pictures that are meant to convey prophetic images and revelatory masterpieces with depth and contrast. Where the western mind has been conditioned to an ultra literal and linear approach to interpreting scripture, the Israelite mind was conditioned to perceive scripture in block logic or pictures meant to convey messages and patterns.
Where the western mind defines the phrase "Fulness of the Gospel" in more mechanical terms like:
"Fulness of the Gospel Means- We have much or all of the gospel message, ordinances, etc."
The Israelite Mind would define "Fulness of the Gospel" - The message that brings forth the ripe or acceptable fruit of God- The Ripe Fruit of The Shema.
In light of this, the declaration regarding The Book of Mormon in regarding the Gentiles receiving the fulness of the gospel takes on even greater meaning.
"And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in fine, after the Gentiles had received the fulness of the Gospel, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer." (1 Nephi 10:14)
or perhaps an expanded translation:
""And after the house of Israel should be scattered they should be gathered together again; or, in other words, after the Gentiles had received the message( the hearing) that brings forth the acceptable fruit of God, the natural branches of the olive tree, or the remnants of the house of Israel, should be grafted in, or come to the knowledge of the true Messiah, their Lord and their Redeemer." (1 Nephi 10;14)
Notice the connection now between the word fulness as ripened or acceptable fruit to the symbol of the Olive Tree. This should now give us new insight into the words of the Prophet Zenos and the allegory of the Olive Tree.
The Book of Mormon contains the message/hearing that brings forth the culmination of THE SHEMA of Israel. The instructions contained in the message/hearing are those teachings that help us to plant the seed, nourish it, cultivate it, and bring forth the good fruit. It is the message that brings forth the ripe/acceptable fruit to God (YHVH) through The Messiah. It is that message/teachings which allow the souls of men and women to transform from seeds into the First Fruits of God.
There are many who declare that they have the "Fulness of the Gospel". To which I would answer-Do you produce the acceptable fruit of God?
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." (3 Nephi 14:16-20)
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