Our reading challenge for the day is Hebrews 11-13. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
Hebrews 11 - We receive life from God by faith, just like those of old did. This chapter is sometimes called the “Hall of Faith” like a “Hall of Fame.” All these lived and died in faith. They did not receive the promise.
Hebrews 12 - We also live by faith, looking to Jesus who has overcome sin and is seated at God’s right hand. We live by faith in righteousness even receiving chastisement and discipline so we can grow in grace. Again we are warned not to depart from faith in Jesus.
Hebrews 13 - Because Jesus has redeemed us we live a life which reflects his perfection. All we do is motivated by Jesus and his forgiving love for us.
Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrews. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 35 Day 5
Our reading challenge for the day is Hebrews 6-10. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
Hebrews 6 - We leave ‘elementary doctrine” and push on. The author observes that it is horrible to consider those who know the Gospel and fall away. We do want to read verses 4-6 in light of Jesus’ frequent calls to all who would hear that they should turn to him. This maturity we seek is life in the promises of God.
Hebrews 7 - Jesus is himself the priest like Melchizedek, the one greater than Abraham, the king of peace and righteousness forever. Jesus is the one who makes us able to approach God.
Hebrews 8 - Jesus is our priest, at the right hand of God. He is the one who makes the faultless new covenant with Israel, putting God’s law into their hearts.
Hebrews 9 - The old Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple was replaced by Jesus, the new Holy Place, able to enter by his own blood and purify sins eternally. All the worship prior to Jesus was symbolic of him, pointing to Jesus’ full and final redemption for mankind.
Hebrews 10 - The Law cannot make permanent forgiveness. If it could we would not have made offerings after offerings. Jesus gave himself once for all, permanently. This gives us confidence that we have complete forgiveness. As a result, we strive to avoid sin. After all, forgiven people should walk in that forgiveness.
Hebrews 6 - We leave ‘elementary doctrine” and push on. The author observes that it is horrible to consider those who know the Gospel and fall away. We do want to read verses 4-6 in light of Jesus’ frequent calls to all who would hear that they should turn to him. This maturity we seek is life in the promises of God.
Hebrews 7 - Jesus is himself the priest like Melchizedek, the one greater than Abraham, the king of peace and righteousness forever. Jesus is the one who makes us able to approach God.
Hebrews 8 - Jesus is our priest, at the right hand of God. He is the one who makes the faultless new covenant with Israel, putting God’s law into their hearts.
Hebrews 9 - The old Holy Place in the tabernacle and temple was replaced by Jesus, the new Holy Place, able to enter by his own blood and purify sins eternally. All the worship prior to Jesus was symbolic of him, pointing to Jesus’ full and final redemption for mankind.
Hebrews 10 - The Law cannot make permanent forgiveness. If it could we would not have made offerings after offerings. Jesus gave himself once for all, permanently. This gives us confidence that we have complete forgiveness. As a result, we strive to avoid sin. After all, forgiven people should walk in that forgiveness.
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Bible Reading Challenge Week 35 Day 4
Our reading challenge for the day is Hebrews 1-5. I’ll hit a few highlights. You make comments too and fill in the gaps. What strikes you as specially significant?
Hebrews is an interesting book, in part because the authorship is so obscure. It’s always been a matter of speculation. The theology is very much like Paul, but the vocabulary and style are unlike anything else in the New Testament. There is no statement of authorship as we find in Paul’s letters.
The text concerns Hebrew Christians who are enduring suffering and are tempted to deny Christ and find solace in the Law.
Hebrews 1 - Jesus is the exalted Son of God, greater than the angels.
Hebrews 2 - Salvation in Jesus must not be neglected. Jesus is the one who is worthy of all honor and glory. He brings us to glory as he perfects us to be his brothers.
Hebrews 3 - Jesus is the prophet who comes after Moses, the one who is a son in God’s house, while Moses was a faithful servant.
Hebrews 4 - Jesus is the great high priest today and forever, the one who gives us grace. We are to make sure we don’t depart from his saving and cleansing love.
Hebrews 5 - Jesus is both priest and sacrifice. We who should know this need to cultivate ourselves to grasp how much Jesus has done for us.
Hebrews is an interesting book, in part because the authorship is so obscure. It’s always been a matter of speculation. The theology is very much like Paul, but the vocabulary and style are unlike anything else in the New Testament. There is no statement of authorship as we find in Paul’s letters.
The text concerns Hebrew Christians who are enduring suffering and are tempted to deny Christ and find solace in the Law.
Hebrews 1 - Jesus is the exalted Son of God, greater than the angels.
Hebrews 2 - Salvation in Jesus must not be neglected. Jesus is the one who is worthy of all honor and glory. He brings us to glory as he perfects us to be his brothers.
Hebrews 3 - Jesus is the prophet who comes after Moses, the one who is a son in God’s house, while Moses was a faithful servant.
Hebrews 4 - Jesus is the great high priest today and forever, the one who gives us grace. We are to make sure we don’t depart from his saving and cleansing love.
Hebrews 5 - Jesus is both priest and sacrifice. We who should know this need to cultivate ourselves to grasp how much Jesus has done for us.
Friday, March 9, 2012
“Hebrews” Carson & Moo pp. 596-618
Hebrews, though on the surface it might appear to be a rather general epistle, seems directed to specific readers dealing with specific problems. The absence of a typical salutation and writer’s name draws attention to the anonymity, yet the familiarity of address suggests that the specific audience who received the letter knew the author. The richness of rhetorical devices has led many to believe the letter is a homily which was adapted into a letter. The theme? Jesus, God’s Son, the supreme master of all. The earliest Christian tradition, particularly in the East, held to Pauline authorship, and the West generally embraced that tradition in the fourth century. However, Hebrews has many features which suggest an author other than Paul. In the time of the Reformation scholars started focusing on those factors and suggesting other authors. Carson and Moo weigh some of the suggestions and finally assert that we do not know who wrote the book.
In the absence of an author, the date, provenance, and destination are difficult to assess. The author does confirm not being an eyewitness of Jesus, which suggests a second generation. The author also writes as if the ceremonies around the temple in Jerusalem are perfectly operational, which suggests a date before about 66. We have no significant information about where the letter was written. While people have suggested numerous destinations, all we really know is that it was addressed to a place where there were many Jewish converts to Christ. Carson and Moo suggest Rome as a likely destination. Yet there are many unknowns.
The text of Hebrews is well established. It seems to be accepted as canonical earlier in the East than in the West, where it was not recognized as part of the canon until at least near the end of the second century.
Major topics of study in Hebrews recently have been the high Christology, the way the author uses the Old Testament, the treatment of the sabbath, and the nature of a covenant. Hebrews also sheds light on the way first century Christians interpreted Scripture. This all combines to make the letter a very fruitful ground for study.
In the absence of an author, the date, provenance, and destination are difficult to assess. The author does confirm not being an eyewitness of Jesus, which suggests a second generation. The author also writes as if the ceremonies around the temple in Jerusalem are perfectly operational, which suggests a date before about 66. We have no significant information about where the letter was written. While people have suggested numerous destinations, all we really know is that it was addressed to a place where there were many Jewish converts to Christ. Carson and Moo suggest Rome as a likely destination. Yet there are many unknowns.
The text of Hebrews is well established. It seems to be accepted as canonical earlier in the East than in the West, where it was not recognized as part of the canon until at least near the end of the second century.
Major topics of study in Hebrews recently have been the high Christology, the way the author uses the Old Testament, the treatment of the sabbath, and the nature of a covenant. Hebrews also sheds light on the way first century Christians interpreted Scripture. This all combines to make the letter a very fruitful ground for study.
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