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== Synagogue ==

[[Synagogue]] is the English word representing the Hebrew word<Ref>{{03664}}</Ref> for the ''congregation of ten families''.  A common Hebrew word for a gathering ''Kanas''<Ref>[[1 Chronicles 22]]:2  And David commanded to gather together <03664> the strangers that [were] in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
: [[Nehemiah 12]]:44  And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather <03664> into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and [[Levites]]: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.
: [[Esther 4]]:16  Go, gather together <03664> all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which [is] not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.
: [[Psalms 33]]:7  He gathereth <03664> the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.
: [[Psalms 147]]:2  The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together <03664> the outcasts of Israel.
: [[Ecclesiastes 2]]:8  I gathered <03664> me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
: [[Ecclesiastes 2]]:26  For [God] giveth to a man that [is] good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up <03664>, that he may give to [him that is] good before God. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.
: [[Ecclesiastes 3]]:5  A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather <03664> stones together <03664>; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
: [[Isaiah 28]]:20  For the bed is shorter than that [a man] can stretch himself [on it]: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap <03664> himself [in it].
: [[Ezekiel 22]]:21  Yea, I will gather <03664> you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof.
: [[Ezekiel 39]]:28  Then shall they know that I [am] the LORD their God, which caused them to be led into [[captivity]] among the heathen: but I have gathered <03664> them unto their own land, and have left none of them any more there.</Ref> appears almost a dozen times. 

Even when the word is translated into the Greek word ''sunagoge''<Ref> {{4864}}</Ref> which is from the verb ''sunago''<Ref>{{4863}}</Ref> meaning "to gather together, to gather". ''Sunagoge'' is translated ''congregation'' and ''assembly'' and means  ''a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits).''

Jesus [[commanded]] that His [[Disciples]] to make the people organize themselves into ''symposia''<Ref name="symposia">{{4849}}</Ref> which was a Greek word for a group of ten men and would include their [[family|families]].

"The symposium (or symposion) was an important part of ancient Greek culture from the 7th century BCE." And like the Jewish [[synagogue]] it was an intricate part of the distribution to those in need forming the [[social bonds]] of a free society and the rallying of "company" upon "company" of men in time of emergencies or [[dearth]]s.

This division of '[[tens]]' was so common in all cultures<Ref>The least unexpected heir of *dek’m is perhaps the word dean, Ger. Dekan. It. and Sp. decano, Port. deão, French doyen, which comes from Latin decanus,  “commanding ten men”.</Ref> it continued for a thousand years and more. The ''Orders of Knights'' or Equestrians. "Each knight had to have supporting personnel, usually at a ratio of ten men-at-arms per knight."<Ref>"Because the character of the Order that became known as the Teutonic Knights reflected its charter, its rules, its legislation, and that body of laws known as the customs, it is important to look at those documents in detail. They were written down in German so that every member could understand them easily, and they were short and clear, so that they could be easily memorized. Each member took a vow of poverty, chastity, and obedience. From the moment they entered into the religious life as monks they owned nothing personally. As a practical measure the monks kept their simple clothing and military equipment separately, but everything was owned in common. In theory they were obliged to tend the sick and thus honor their original purpose for existence. To a certain extent this was compatible with their military duties and their religious devotions, and to a certain extent it was not, so that hospital duties generally fell to a special branch of the membership. .... gave them an additional nickname, the Knights of the Cross." [https://department.monm.edu/history/urban/books/prussiancrusade2.htm CHAPTER TWO, THE EARLY YEARS OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER]</Ref>

We find forms of the word [[synagogue]] in the [[Bible]], like ''archisunagogos'',<Ref>{{752}} </Ref> meaning the ''ruler of the synagogue''. He is not really ruling over people, but over a place or the orderliness of the assembly. The people who enter the place of assembly must remain orderly while in that place, according to what the ''archisunagogos'' dictates, but all they have to do is leave the place and they are free to do as they wish and are not subject to the ''archisunagogos''. 

The Greek word ''synagogue''<Ref>{{4864}}</Ref> does not mean a place like a building, but it can mean an ''assembly'' that gave you a place in society.

So, a "[[synagogue]]" was not a building any more than a [[Church]] was a building. When someone was kicked out or put out of a [[synagogue]] they were actually [[put out]] not only their own group or congregation but they were [[put out]] of an assembly of [[Tens|tens, hundreds and thousands]].

Here we can see the real importance of the roll of the ''archisunagogos'' because he is to make sure that the people in the assemblies of [[Tens]] are connected with the other groups in the ranks of [[Tens| hundreds and thousands]]. Buildings are incidental to the gatherings and their purposes.

In the case of the Church it was actually a [[called out]] assembly and never used to identify a building in the Bible. Even the "[[Church in the wilderness]]" is used to identify the [[Levites]] as the [[called out]] assembly of [[Moses]].

Jesus [[called out]] a group of people to be [[separate]] from the [[world]]. He called them His [[Little flock]] and they were to receive the [[appoint]]ment of a kingdom for the purposes of servicing the people according to the [[perfect law of liberty]]. Jesus also "[[commanded]]" that the ministers "make" the people organize themselves in congregations of [[Tens]] to facilitate the [[daily ministration]] to the needy.

These [[called out]] ministers were a form of government but not like the governments of the [[world]] of the gentiles. They were to provide the righteous [[benefits]] to a [[communion]] and [[fellowship]] of the Christian society but without exercising authority one over the other. The [[benefits]] provided by the ''princes'' of the [[world]] were call the "[[wages of unrighteousness]]".

[[Early Israel]] like the [[early Church]] gathered in congregations of [[Tens|ten families]], often choosing [[Levites]] as their ministers. These were [[Free Assemblies|free assemblies]] because there was no means by which to bind the people together according to the Law of [[Moses]] and certainly according to the words of Jesus except by [[love]] and [[charity]].

At other times in history, membership in a synagogue or congregation became the result of a [[Baptism|contract with kings like Herod the Great]] who offered a [[Socialist|socialist]] system of [[Welfare|welfare]] like that of [[Nimrod]], which ''made the [[Corban|word of God to none effect]]'' because it included a forced sacrifice.

The chief ruler of the synagogue could kick you out of the [[Welfare|welfare system]] operated through the synagogues like we see in [[John 9]]:22<Ref>: [[John 9]]:22  These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that Jesus was the [[Christ]], he should be put out of the synagogue.</Ref> But those were not truly [[Free Assemblies]] since the days of [[Herod]] the Great and his own version of [[Baptism]].
[[File:Jesusfeeds.jpg|right|300px|thumb|[[Abraham]], [[Moses]], John the [[Baptism|Baptist]]  and [[Jesus]] and the [[early Church]] advocated a [[Daily ministration]] for the needy of the Christian community that was dependent on [[Charity]] only and it was not like the system of [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] nor the [[Bread and circuses|free bread]] of [[Rome]]. It was their [[Pure Religion]] that brought them into a [[Christian conflict]] with  [[Public religion]] and the [[Covetous Practices]] of the [[World]].]]

With the arrival of [[John the Baptist]] and [[Jesus]], some of these heads of synagogues repented <Ref>: [[John 12]]:42  Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the [[Pharisees]] they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:</Ref> These men followed the ways of Christ, repenting of the [[Corban]] of the [[Pharisees]] which had ''made the word of God to none effect''. These true believers led their synagogues back to the righteous ways of Christ. They were still part of a welfare system in [[Pure Religion]], but they now depended upon [[Faith]], [[Hope]] and [[Charity]] - rather than force - to provide for their needs. This righteous system of [[Corban]] set the people free in many ways, but next they needed a [[Daily ministration]] dependent upon the [[Perfect law of liberty]].

Men like Crispus began following the ways of Christ:

: [[Acts 18]]:8 "And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized."

Crispus, and Joses who became Barnabas, became part of an [[hierarchy]] that served the people with the [[Freewill offerings]] of the people, rather than the [[Benefits]] of men who call themselves [[Benefactors]] but exercised authority one man over another. They did not rule over the people, but over the offering. If they did a poor job, people picked a minister who did a better job. The right to choose what to give and to whom to give was in the hands of the people in a different form of government that was not like [[Rome]]. This was the [[Christian conflict]] between [[Rome]] and the true [[Christians]]. That conlict demonstrates how [[Modern Christians]] have more in common with the [[Pharisees]] and Pagans than they do with the [[early Christians]].

Their elections were not national but local in a living network of self-organizing [[Tens]].

There were also the ''politarches''<Ref>{{4173}} </Ref> which means the ''ruler of the city'' like a mayor or governor.

Or there is the word ''architriklinos''<Ref>{{755}} </Ref> which, although it sounds ominous, literally means the ruler of three couches. His job was to arrange things at a feast or big dinner so everything went well.

While the ''[[Church]] in general'' is an organization, it consists of participants: the laity or people; and the ministers, who conform to Christ for His purposes. Ministers are to be [[Benefactors]] of the people, but they are not to [[Exercises authority|exercise authority]] one over the other. They maintain an absence of [[hierarchy]] in the sense of ruling over people but there was a ''hierarchy'' over that which was offered by the people. 

There is clearly an ''hierarchy'' in the Church which we see with Jesus' comment in [[Matthew 23]]:11 "But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."<Ref>Luke 22:26 But ye [shall] not [be] so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.</Ref> So when a minister picks a minister he is picking a ''servant'' that will help him connect to the rest of the [[kingdom of God]] in a charitable and loving way.

He goes on in [[Matthew 23]]:12 to say, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."<Ref>[[Luke 22]]:27 For whether [is] greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? [is] not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28  Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29  And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;</Ref>

So we see in one sense the Ministers of the Church are an [[hierarchy]].

''[[Hierarchy]]'' is a late Middle English word via the Old French and medieval Latin from Greek ''hierarkhia'', from hierarkhēs ‘sacred ruler’. The earliest sense was ‘system of orders of angels and heavenly beings’; the other senses date from the 17th century.

And the Greek word ''hieros'' has a meaning ''dedicated'', ''holy'', ''sacred'' and ''separate'', or the word  ''hiereus'' meaning ''[[Priests]]'', all included the idea of being ''separate'' or ''set aside''. They did not rule over the people but over what the people freely gave

The [[Levites]] belonged to God and were separate, and they provided a service to the people without ruling over them either. The [[Apostles]] were also to be separate ''living in the [[world]] but not of the [[world]]''. 

By understanding what [[Religion]] is -- and specifically [[Pure Religion]] -- by discovering what it really means and the function [[priests]] provided in free societies before they were bound by superstitions, or [[CCC|covenants]] ... this will help people understand what ''hierarchy'' can mean and what services it can provide.

When [[society]] contributes to Christ by way of His appointed [[priests|priest]], who has [[Vow of poverty|no personal estate]], like the [[Levites]] and the [[early Church]], then as those [[Priests]] gathered in a network of [[Priests]], each one becomes a [[Joint heirs|joint heir]] of what they all receive. This is important because when such [[minister]]s or priests die or step away from their official mission, the funds and resources that they hold for religious purposes, e.g. ''sacred'' treasures, pass to the next individual to hold that office of Christ's Priesthood or to the other [[joint heirs]] to be used for their intended purpose.

The words ''[[joint heirs]]'' is from ''sugkleronomos''<Ref> 4789 ~συγκληρονόμος~ sugkleronomos \@soong-klay-ron-om’-os\@ from 4862; and 2818;  n m AV-fellow heir 1, joint heir 1, heir together 1, heir with 1; 4 
: 1) a fellow heir, a joint heir
: 2) one who obtains something assigned to himself with others,  a joint participant</Ref> which is seen in [[Romans 8]]:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."

The Greek word ''sugkleronomos'' is also seen in several other verses.<Ref>: [[Romans 8]]:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs <4789> with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
: [[Ephesians 3]]:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs <4789>, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
: [[Hebrews 11]]:9  By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him <4789> of the same promise:
: [[1 Peter 3]]:7  Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together <4789> of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.</Ref> 

Again understand that [[Religion]] is a system of [[welfare]]; whether set up in the Character of God and Christ or in the Character of [[Cain]], [[Nimrod]] and [[Benefactors]] of the [[World|world]] who exercise authority one over the other. Seeking the [[Kingdom of God]] includes seeking [[Pure Religion]] so that your [[Welfare|welfare]] is not dependent on nor ''spotted by the [[World|world]]''.

Jesus uses "archon" when He [[appoint]]s the kingdom to the apostles.<Ref>: [[Matthew 20]]:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the '''princes''' of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
: [[Mark 10]]:42  But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to '''rule''' over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
: [[Luke 22]]:25  And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called [[benefactors]].</Ref>

The [[apostles]] were rulers and princes, but not over the people, like the governments of the gentiles. They ruled over that which was freely given to them. There is no taxation in the Kingdom of God.  If they did not do well with what was given to them for the purposes of Christ, the people could choose to give no more. Any government where the rulers can force the contributions of the people is not following [[The Way|the ways]] of Christ, nor are the people free or at liberty.

The Latin word from which we get the word ''religion'' can mean "rebinding".

There is a reason for this binding, which is to fulfill your ''natural duty to your fellow man''. When you live by [[faith]] you are bound by [[hope]]. When you lie by [[charity]] you are bound by [[love]].

There have always been two religions, ''in the [[World|world]]'' and ''of the [[World|world]]''.  

One frees the people through the [[perfect law of liberty]] and the other binds the people because it allows the people to [[Biting one another|bite one another]]. 

This is their choice.

Abel and Seth were shepherds. Shepherds lead people to green pastures...

But then there was [[Cain]] and [[Nimrod]] who plowed mankind and created "civil" powers. They bound man civilly for their own purpose. The way of [[Cain]] and [[Nimrod]] lead to Babylon. The other way of Christ leads to liberty under the God of Nature.

Abel, Seth, [[Moses]] and [[Jesus]] came to "set the captive free". What they were doing has been kept from the people.

They did not force the contribution of the people, but they did bind the stuff freely given by the people, for the people and of the people to serve, not rule.

[[Cain]], [[Nimrod]], [[Pharaoh]], [[Caesar]], etc bind the people and force them to contribute in a welfare system that weakens the people. This binding is done by offering them entitlements.