MAIMONIDES THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES OF THE JEWISH FAITH
Maimonides is known as Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, or Rambam, complied and composed the thirteen principles of the Jewish faith. He is often compared in greatness to Moshe (Moses) and towers above his peers among Jewish thinkers until today.
These thirteen principles of faith are included in every Jewish prayer book and are recited as a liturgical hymn at the conclusion of Erev Shabbat or Feast services. This recitation is known as the Yigdal and embodies Judaism’s fundamental pillars of the faith, just as the Apostle’s Creed is for Christians.
These principles beautifully explain our faith as believers in Yeshua (Jesus) as well as any current creed or doctrine. My brief comments follow in BLUE.
1. I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the Creator and Guide for all created beings. He alone made, makes, and will make all that is created.
2. I believe by complete faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is a unity, and there is no union in any way like Him. He alone is our God, who was, who is, and who is to be. A unity! Yes He is a unity of one. Echad or One in Hebrew means a plural unity. Yeshua said, “He who sees me sees the Father. I and the Father are Echad/One.”
3. I believe by complete faith that the creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, is not affected by physical matter, and nothing whatsoever can compare to Him or be compared with Him. Yeshua said,”God is a spirit and those who worship Him will worship in spirit and in truth.”
4. I believe by complete faith that the creator, blessed be His Name, is the first and the last. “I am Aleph Tav, Alpha and Omega.”
5. I believe by complete faith that the creator, blessed be His Name, to Him alone it is fitting to make prayer—to another prayer shall not be made. “Thou shall have no other gods before ME.”
6. I believe by complete faith that all the words of the prophets are true.
7. I believe by complete faith that the prophecy of Moshe our teacher, may peace rest upon him, was true and that he was the father of all prophets that preceded him as well as that came after him. “There is the one who will come after me”, said Moshe, “Listen to Him.”
8. I believe by complete faith that the whole TORAH now found in our hands was the exact same on given to Moshe. Yeshua is the Living Word.
9. I believe by complete faith that this is the TORAH and it shall not be changed and it shall not be replaced with another from the Creator. Jesus Christ the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever. He is the Living Word.
10. I believe by complete faith that the Creator, knows every action done by each human being as well as all their thoughts, as it was said, “It is He that fashions their hearts together and He ponders all their deeds.” Ps 33.15
11. I believe by complete faith that the Creator rewards all who keep His Commandments and punishes those who transgress His Commands. The Great White Throne Judgment Revelation 20
12. I believe by complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he tarry in waiting, in spite of that, I will still wait expectantly for Him each day that HE WILL COME. “Next Year in Jerusalem!”
13. I believe by complete faith that there will be a resurrection of the dead at the time that will be pleasing before the Creator, and the remembrance of Him will be exalted forever and for all eternity. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
As we can see, our Hebrew Foundations are fundamental to what we confess and believe.