____________________________________________________
THE GOSPEL OBSERVER
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20).
____________________________________________________
June 28, 1998
____________________________________________________
Studies In Hebrews #1
by Alex D. Ogden
With this issue we begin a series of studies through
the New Testament book of Hebrews. A study of Hebrews is
rich and rewarding. The book is unlike other New Testament
books, especially in the unique picture which is presented
of Jesus.
Introductory Material
One of the perplexing things about the book of
Hebrews is that the author does not identify himself.
Several have been suggested as the author such as Paul,
Barnabas, Luke, Priscilla & Aquila and Apollos. Since the
author does not identify himself in the book, all such
conclusions are guesswork. We must conclude as Origen did,
``God alone knows.'' It is best for us to call him ``the
writer of Hebrews'' or ``the Hebrew writer.''
Even though we do not know by name the writer of
Hebrews, we do know a few things about him. He was well
acquainted with his readers' spiritual condition (5:11-14).
He was well aware of their past (6:10; 10:32-34). He was
certain they could do better spiritually than they were
doing (6:9). When you read the book it is clear he had a
thorough understanding of the Old Testament, thus showing
he had Jewish influences upon him.
Another question we need to answer about the book
is, ``Who were the recipients of the book?'' Most of our
Bibles have ``The Epistle to the Hebrews'' at the beginning
of the book. This title would indicate the book was written
to Hebrews, or Jews. But this title to the book was added
later. For us to learn who the book was written to we need
to look inside the book itself.
Some ``scholars'' have put forth the idea that the
book was written to Gentiles [Moffatt & Windisch]. Their
position is based on Hebrews 3:12. They feel that if Jewish
Christians are being addressed, their relapse into Judaism
would not involve ``falling away from the living God''
because they would still be worshiping the God of Israel.
Therefore, at least in their mind, the book had to be written
to Gentiles.
There is plenty of proof from the book itself to show
the book was written to Jews who had become Christians.
(1) Hebrews 6:1 says, ``not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works.'' The ``dead works'' would seem
to refer to the Jewish rites and ceremonies that were mere
works void of any spiritual cleansing for the soul (see
9:9-14). (2) The continual appeal to the Old Testament
scriptures by the author shows the author was confident
his readers were well acquainted with those scriptures.
Jews, not Gentiles, were taught the scriptures daily. (3) The
recipients seem to accept the Levitical priesthood. In 7:11
the writer says, ``Now if there was perfection through the
Levitical priesthood...'' If it were written to Gentiles, they
would naturally answer the author, ``we never thought there
was!'' The Jews, not the Gentiles, would relate to the things
said by the writer in the book about the priesthood. (4)
Hebrews 10:32-34 speaks of the recipients as having been
persecuted by others. When the Jews obeyed the gospel
they were persecuted by unconverted Jews (Acts 8:1).
Generally speaking, Gentiles who obeyed the gospel were
NOT persecuted as the Jews were. Therefore, the recipients
of the book would have been Jews. From these and other
pieces of evidence we can conclude the book was written to
Jewish Christians -- people who were born to Jewish
parents and perhaps raised as Jews but who had obeyed
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
From where was the book written? This question
seems to be answered in 13:24 when the writer says, ``They
of Italy salute you.'' The book seems to have been written
from Italy. From which city in Italy is not stated but it may
have been Rome, since Rome played such an important role
in early church history.
What was the destination of the book? Some have
suggested places such as Alexandria in Egypt, Syrian
Antioch, Colossae, Ephesus, Cyprus or even Rome itself. It
seems apparent to me, however, that it was sent to Jewish
Christians living in the region of Palestine. If the
persecutions of 10:32-34 are those referred to in Acts 8:1,
which seems to be an acceptable conclusion, then it is clear
the book was sent to Jewish Christians living in Palestine.
We would conclude this because those living outside of
Palestine suffered relatively little from the Jews for their
conversion to Christ. From 8:4 it seems there were those
who still offered sacrifices according to the Law. At the time
the book was written this was done very little outside of
Palestine. Whether or not our conclusions are correct about
the book's destination, always remember they were Jewish
Christians.
It is clear from the book that it was written prior to
70 A.D. This is seen from the fact the Temple in Jerusalem
was still standing (see 8:4; 9:8; 10:1ff). An exact date is
really not important. Just remember it was BEFORE 70 A.D.
The purpose of the book is stated in 13:22 when the
writer describes his work as a ``word of exhortation.''
These Jewish Christians had been faithful and zealous at
one point (10:32-34), but at the time the book was written
they were immature (5:11-14), weak (12:12,13) and perhaps at
the very point of falling away (2:1; 3:12). Because of the
possibility of their returning back to the Jewish religion
and turning their back on the Lord, the Hebrew writer sent
this letter in hopes it will cause them to realize the
superiority of the Law of Christ to the Law of Moses and
thus be sufficiently encouraged to remain in faithful service
to the Lord.
___________________________________________
THE LORD'S CHURCH...
MEANS OR RESULT OF SALVATION?
by Robert F. Turner
When followers of Christ are likened unto a physical
body, Christ is the head and the saints are the members of
that body, the church (Eph. 1:22-23). All who are in Christ
are, by this figure, considered members of His body. We
ignore priorities if we say one becomes a saint by becoming
a member of His body. The body figure describes certain
characteristics of Christ's followers--it does not tell us how
to become followers, nor does it provide the means of
becoming such.
The church is not the means of our redemption from
sin, it is the result. The church does not save, it is the
saved. The Christian life is lived in faithfulness to the LORD
(Acts 11:20-23), not to the ``church.'' When we say one can
not be saved without being in the church we mean that all
we are saved become, by the same process, members of His
universal body.
What was God's ``eternal purpose which he purposed
in Christ Jesus''? Paul says it was ``that the Gentiles
should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers
of his promise in Christ by the gospel'' (Eph. 3:3-6,8-11).
Salvation from sin, in Christ, for whosoever will; that was
God's eternal purpose. The wisdom (and love, and mercy) of
God is ``made known'' (demonstrated) by the product: Jews
and Gentiles serving God together in the church.
What was to be established ``in the last days''
according to Isa. 2, Dan. 2, Mic. 4, Joel 2? The ``mountain
of Jehovah'' was to be established--the rule or government
of God in Christ. ``Kingdom'' (basileia) always refers to rule;
then by extension to citizens, etc. ``Out of Zion shall go
forth the law (instruction), and the word of Jehovah from
Jerusalem.'' Those who came to the mountain, who followed
the instructions of the King, were the fruit or result of the
means of salvation, Jesus Christ. Thus, the church was
established in Jerusalem.
The church is called the temple of God (1 Cor.
3:16-17), the bride of Christ (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-32),
and other like terms which stress various characteristics of
God's people. It is the people who are under consideration,
not some institutional concept of ``church'' apart from
saints. Perhaps there is a sense in which God instituted
church as He did marriage: by sanctioning and giving rules
and regulations for all who enter this relationship, but
neither marriage nor church exist apart from or before
people so related.
We therefore reject the Catholic institutional concept
of ``church'' as a ``society'' which is the means of
redemption. They think of the New Testament as the product
of the church; we think of the church as the product of the
New Testament. Catholic Encyclopedia (V. III, p. 752) says
``only by entering the Church can we participate in the
redemption wrought for us by Christ.'' We say, only by
participating in the redemption wrought for us by Christ
can we enter the church. They say ``Incorporation with the
Church can alone unite us to the family of the second
Adam.'' We say we are born of water and spirit into the
family, which is the church (Jn. 3:5; 1 Cor. 12:13; Eph. 2:19;
Heb. 12:22-23).
The Catholic concept of ``church''---sometimes called
``historical'' or ``institutional'' concept---puts a society
between Christ and His people. Study this statement from
Catholic Encyclopedia, V. III, p. 752: ``It is to the Church
that Christ has committed those means of grace through
which the gifts He earned for men are communicated to
them. The Church alone dispenses the sacraments. It alone
makes known the light of revealed truth. Outside the
Church these gifts cannot be obtained.'' This gives ``the
Church'' sole right to teach truth, to baptize, and hence to
establish new congregations. It explains why ``historic''
churches claim succession from the Roman or other ``mother''
churches. It denies the ``restoration'' concept, whereby an
individual may learn truth from the written Word, obey,
upon no authority save that inherent in the Word, and thus
become a child of God.
The ``Bible alone'' was accepted in pioneer days; but
as ``the church'' grew this product took on new status.
``We'' alone can scripturally baptize, ``we'' must send
(authorize) preachers, ``we'' must validate the Lord's
Supper. Unintentionally, and without realizing logical
implications of our statements, many have accepted the
Catholic, institutional concept. We have been slow to face
this problem, thinking we might minimize ``the importance of
the church for which Christ died.'' But Christ did not die
for a society or institution; He died for Sam, Ann, Ike, Ned,
Tom, and Sue--and that spells SAINTS. Ironically, our
reluctance to fight the basic institutional concept is due to
our own institutional concept.
Should today's conservative churches all ``go liberal''
to the extent of complete apostasy, would an individual have
the right to study the Bible for himself? Learning what he
must do to be saved, could he obey without resorting to the
apostate church? Teaching others, could he baptize them?
Could they form themselves into a local church, partake of
the Lord's Supper, etc.? Does the ``authority for'' or
validation of any divinely decreed service hinge upon
approval of any man or group of men? I believe an
individual could learn truth, obey, and serve God
acceptably; for I believe succession is in the seed, not in
the sower (Lu. 8:11-15).
This does not reject the N.T. concept of
``church''--for the obedient individual is a member of
Christ's church; and his kind, the world over, make up the
universal church on earth. This does not reject the local
church as an organized entity, for faithful followers of
Christ must and will associate themselves with other saints
as opportunity permits, to worship together and promote the
cause of the Lord collectively as well as individually. To
this end the scriptures authorize local church oversight,
treasury, and function. But the authority for divine things
comes from divinity, not from man. We reject the idea that
God has given into man's hands (elders or ``church'') either
legislative, executive, or judicial authority. Christ is
absolute monarch, ruling directly through His Spirit-filled
Word. We are individually and directly responsible to our
King, to serve Him in all good conscience. We pray for God's
help in doing this.
-- Via Plain Talk, vol. 13, no. 3, May, 1976
___________________________________________
NEWS & NOTES
Greetings to each of you who are visiting with us for
today. So far, not counting today, we have had 19 different
visitors during June.
I also noticed recently that since we started meeting
in our new location (February 25, 1998), we have had 40
different visitors; and because some of these had come more
than once, the total number of visitors who make up our
attendance-number since February 25 has been 53.
Free Bible courses are available upon request. Why
not ask for yours today?
________________________________________
Tri-State
CHURCH OF CHRIST
1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101
Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class
10:50 A.M. Worship
6:30 P.M. Worship
Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study
evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742
e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net
Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go
________________________________________