Hebrews
Apologetics
I want to dive into scripture, but I also want to learn about how the Bible came together and all of the historical facts that confirm that it and the stories within it are truth.
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DeleteFinally! Got it to work in safari. Don’t know why it won’t work in Chrome but oh well!
DeleteWoohoo! Thanks for trying brother. I'm really looking forward to this. I appreciate you doing this with me.
DeleteMe too brother! Thanks for setting this up!
DeleteOk...so just listened to Hebrews 1, and there is SO much in there. My first question that I want to dive into is "why was he writing this, and to whom?" It sounds like he was trying to distinguish Jesus from the angels. Did the early Christiand start believing that Jesus was just an angel? I honestly think that this chapter says more about His deity than anything I've read. If He isn't God, then why would God call Him "My God"? So much in here!
ReplyDeleteSo amazing man! my study bible states that it was written to the Jewish Christians from someone before AD 70 when the temple was destroyed as it mentions the temple still standing in chapter 10 and 13. I believe it was Paul writing it but there's debate on that. I haven't really heard much from people who don't believe it was Paul so I'm curious to hear what people think who don't think it was Paul and why.
DeleteHebrews is a beautiful book. I listened to the whole thing today. I'm going to be going back chapter by chapter to dig in. Main themes...Jesus is God, Jesus is the High Priest, and He came so that we can be free once and for all!
ReplyDeleteI agree brother! I only made it to Hebrews 1:1-3 because I was looking at my study bible overview of Hebrews, the outline of the book, and the word Majesty in verse 3 was captivating to me! The best purchase I have made inroads ecent years man has been my study bible. I highly recommend the Spirit Filled Life bible where Jack Hayford is the executive editor (a general in the faith). It has SO MUCH great commentary and foot notes and is the most balanced bible I have ever read. They have people from all streams of the body that contributed and I've gleaned so much from the Lord and these details. I highly recommend that you get one brother!
DeleteSoo I got a TON out of my time in Hebrews today. Again, I didn't make a lot of progress distance wise but I wanted to really understand the phrase "The express image of His person" better and here is what I wrote in my study time. I hope it blesses you brother! I was blown away haha
ReplyDeleteHebrews Chapter 1
Outline Overview: (Source: New Spirit Filled NKJV Bible: Jack Hayford Editor)
I. The surperiority of Christ Jesus’ Person - 1:1 - 4:13
A. Jesus better than the prophets - 1:1-3
B. Jesus better than the angels - 1:4 - 2:18
(First warning: against neglect 2:2-4)
Who is the Majesty on high in 1:3? God the Father. God Himself.
Strong number for “Majesty” in 1:3
G3172
μεγαλωσύνη
megalōsunē
meg-al-o-soo'-nay
From G3173; greatness, that is, (figuratively) divinity (often God himself): - majesty.
Vine’s NT Definition of Majesty
1. megaleiotes (G3168): see MAGNIFICENCE.
2. megalosune (G3172), from megas, "great," denotes "greatness, majesty"; it is used of God the Father, signifying His greatness and dignity, in Heb 1:3, "the Majesty (on high)," and Heb 8:1, "the Majesty (in the Heavens)"; and in an ascription of praise acknowledging the attributes of God in Jud 1:25.
I wanted to know more about Jesus being the “express image of His person” in 1:3. WOW! Diving into it, the Holy Spirit showed me so much! First, “express image” in strongs and thayer’s concordenence says this
G5481
χαρακτήρ
charaktēr <—— (I love how this is our “character” or atleast that’s what it seems to me)
khar-ak-tar'
From the same as G5482; a graver (the tool or the person), that is, (by implication) engraving ([“character”], the figure stamped, that is, an exact copy or [figuratively] representation): - express image.
Thayer Definition:
1) the instrument used for engraving or carving. (Jesus was and still is God’s instrument of salvation!)
2) the mark stamped upon that instrument or wrought out on it (We were bought at a price! We are forever marked by the blood of the Lamb)
2a) a mark or figure burned in (Lev 13:28) or stamped on, an impression
2b) the exact expression (the image) of any person or thing, marked likeness, precise reproduction in every respect, i.e facsimile (the word that got me was precise… He was precisely the reproduction of God in every respect.)
The next word I looked into was “of His”. Okay the “express image” means a “precise reproduction” or “exact copy”…but who was Jesus an exact copy of? Again… WOW! The greek word for “ of his” is below:
G848
αὑτοῦ
hautou
how-too'
Contraction for G1438; self (in some oblique case or reflexive relation): - her (own), (of) him (-self), his (own), of it, thee, their (own), them (-selves), they.
Notice how it is defined as both a singular person (Him, His, Thee) and also in a plural form (their, them, and they) which makes me immediately think about the Trinity. God is our Triune God, “Let US make man…”.. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is one..singular, yet 3 persons….plural.
This leads me to see that Jesus is the exact copy of our triune God, being the the Son in that Trinity. In His time on earth in the flesh, He represented God as whole… perfectly.
The next and final word I studied today is “person”. Here is the Thayer Concordenence:
G5287
ὑπόστασις
hupostasis
Thayer Definition:
1) a setting or placing under
1a) thing put under, substructure, foundation
2) that which has foundation, is firm
2a) that which has actual existence
2a1) a substance, real being
2b) the substantial quality, nature, of a person or thing
2c) the steadfastness of mind, firmness, courage, resolution
2c1) confidence, firm trust, assurance
Part of Speech: noun feminine
This was powerful to me because it said “that which has actual existence” and “real being” or a “substructure, foundation”. God’s own likeness is real, it’s a foundation, and it makes me think that this ties into the words later in this verse 1:3 when it talks about Jesus “upholding all things by the word of His power.” More to come!
This is great stuff brother! Thanks for sharing. I'll look into the Spirit Filled Life Bible. Sounds amazing.
DeleteThis verse stood out to me today.
DeleteHebrews 2:10 NLT
[10] God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.2.10.NLT
The fact that Jesus made us right and has led us through His suffering is what gave me pause. Jesus is a servant leader. Suffering, sacrificing, putting ourselves second or even last is what makes us good leaders. Thank you Jesus for doing that for us....we truly don't deserve it, but we are grateful.
This passage stood out to me. I think it is easy to remain in the safe zone of our society so that we do not have to sacrifice our comfort....but God calls us for more. Also interesting that this says that Moses put his faith Christ and not God. Either a nod to the trinity or something else.
ReplyDeleteHebrews 11:23-26 NLT
[23] It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. [24] It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. [25] He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.11.23-26.NLT