____________________________________________________ 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). ____________________________________________________ July 5, 1998 ____________________________________________________ Studies In Hebrews #2 by Alex D. Ogden The Old Avenue Of Revelation (1:1) The book of Hebrews begins by showing how God revealed Himself to men ``in time past'' -- to the fathers in the prophets. God dealt directly with the fathers of each household during the Patriarchal period [see Abraham Gen. 12; Isaac Gen. 26; Jacob Gen. 28]. However, during the Mosaical period God expressed His will to men through prophets such as Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, etc. But these revelations were in differing proportions and made in different ways. As the prophet Isaiah said, ``here a little, there a little'' (Isaiah 28:10-13). To say the least the revelations of God ``in time past'' were far from perfect. The New Avenue Of Revelation (1:2-14) In contrast to the revelations ``in time past'' which were not complete the Hebrew writer now shows how God, ``in these last days,'' speaks unto us by His Son Jesus Christ. In the transfiguration of Matt. 17 God said, ``This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him'' (v. 5). Jesus Himself affirmed He was God's spokesman in John 5:19 and 12:49. Since Jesus is now God's spokesman, we should listen and heed the message which He speaks. Seven facts about Jesus are presented to show He and His message are superior to the old spokesmen and the old message (vv. 2,3). (1) ``whom he hath appointed heir of all things.'' As an heir inherits things from the father, so has Christ inherited all things from the heavenly Father (Psa. 2:7,8; Jn. 17:15). (2) ``by whom also he made the worlds.'' The Son was present with the Father in the creation and the Son had an active part in that creation (Jn. 1:1-3,10,14; 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16,17). (3) ``who being the brightness of his glory.'' We see God the Father through the Son (Jn. 1:18; 14:9). (4) ``the express image of his person.'' Christ is the exact representation of the nature of God (Col. 1:15; 1 Tim. 3:16). (5) ``upholding all things by the word of his power.'' The very word of the Son is powerful (Matt. 8:26,27; 24:35; Rom. 1:16; Col. 1:17). (6) ``when he had by himself purged our sins.'' Christ made purification from sins possible by the sacrifice of Himself. (7) ``sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.'' Jesus is at the right hand of God reigning as King over God's kingdom (Eph. 1:20-22). Jesus is next shown to be superior to angels (vv. 4-14). Why does the Hebrew writer go to the trouble here to show superiority over angels? The word `angel' means messenger. Genesis 19:15; 22:11 and Exodus 3:2 show angels worked as messengers of God. In fact, according to Deut. 33:2; Acts 7:53; and Gal. 3:19, angels had some part in revealing the Mosaical Law. Hebrews 2:2 refers to this law as ``the word spoken through angels.'' So the function of angels is in the area of revelation. The Hebrew writer wants to show that Jesus, as God's messenger ``in these last days,'' is superior to the angels, who were His messengers with the Old Law. (1) Jesus has a more excellent name than the angels (vv. 4,5). They are mere servants while Jesus is God's SON. [See also v. 7; Eph. 1:21 and Phil. 2:9-11.] (2) The angels were instructed to worship Christ, not the other way around (v. 6). (3) Jesus is addressed as God and His kingdom is to be for ever and ever (vv. 8,9). Jesus is God and King, not the angels. (4) Jesus is eternal (vv. 10-12). He laid the foundations of the earth and although the earth will perish, He will continue the same. (5) No angel has ever been invited to sit at the right hand of God (v. 13). But Jesus as God's Son is now seated there (Eph. 1:20-23). (6) Angels are ministering spirits doing service for those that shall receive eternal salvation (v. 14). Jesus, however, is the one that has made such salvation possible. If Jesus is so superior to the fathers, prophets and angels, then surely His message is also superior to the message revealed ``in time past.'' ___________________________________________ It Was Worth It by Chuck Bartlett The story of Jacob and Rachel is a wonderful illustration of true love. When Laban asked Jacob what kind of wage he would like to receive for his labors, he said, ''I will serve you seven years for Rachel your younger daughter'' (Gen. 29:18). Laban agreed to this, but what is worth noticing is what we read in verse 20, ``So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed but a few days to him because of the love he had for her.'' Seven years might seem like a long time, but for Jacob it was like a few days. Why? It was due to his great love for her. When you value something so much, and you know you are going to get it when you are through, working for it isn't that hard. This reminds me of the Christian's goal of heaven. When worshiping God, and our private prayers and study habits lose their joy, it is a sure sign that our love for heaven is waning. Does worship seem to drag on and on? Do we become upset when a public prayer goes over 2 minutes? Are our Christian duties becoming a pain? If so, then we better wake up and see where we are heading. Being busy about our Father's business will consume time. Before we know it, our hair is turning gray; we can't get around like we used to, and we begin to wonder, ``Where has time gone?'' Someday, time will be no more. God's people are not afraid of that day. That would be like saying Jacob was dreading the last of his seventh year of work! The Lord's people look forward to judgment knowing that will be the day they begin to spend eternity with all the righteous (II Pet. 3:9-10). The question is, do we have our eyes on heaven (Heb. 12:28)? -- Via The Jordan Journal ___________________________________________ Are You Studying Or Just Reading? Bible Interpretation by Bob Buchanon A wise man has said that we should see life steadily and see it whole. He is right. And surely a person should come to see the Bible steadily and see it whole. But I venture to say that most people in our country (including most Christians) do not have a firm grasp of the Scriptures as a whole. The Bible is both the simplest and the most difficult of books. Some things are too clear for anyone to miss the import of what is said. But in other parts the message is more difficult. Readers at times may not even know what the writer is talking about. D. P. Brooks has written: ``Some readers of the Bible do not appear to read primarily for meaning. They approach the Bible almost as a book of magic. Reading the familiar language of the King James version, they drift off into a sort of spiritual feeling and have very little understanding of what they have read. Could it be because as young children they were required to listen to Bible reading without having any concept of what it meant? Perhaps they got the idea that there is something good in reading the Bible just because it is a sacred book--regardless of whether they grasp the meaning. ``While we recognize the legitimate role of devotional study of the Bible, we want to raise a serious question: Must we not seek to understand God's revelation? Paul spoke of those who read the Scriptures with a veil over their minds: `To this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds' (2 Cor. 3:15). Here were people who read the Bible diligently, but they read in vain. They were not open to God's living message to them. Readers in the twentieth century can fall into the same trap'' (The Bible--How To Understand And Teach It, Broadman Press, page 12). One of the most disturbing things about Bible interpretation is the fact that sincere people read the same passage and come up with entirely different and contradictory interpretations. The term ``hermeneutics'' designates both the science and art of interpretation. The need for interpretation is not limited to the Scriptures. Any document, ancient or modern, must be interpreted. The decisions of the Supreme court are actually interpretations of the Constitution of the United States. Whatever the documents, the interpreter must be careful not to distort the meaning. Such care is especially required in the interpretation of the Scriptures for they involve the message of God. God did not give us the Bible to confuse us by hiding Himself and His truth. Quite the contrary; the Bible is the source of light and truth. As the psalmist testified: ``The unfolding of thy words gives light'' (119:130). Any serious student can begin to loosen himself from the habit of reading into the Bible his own preconceived notions. Biblical interpretation is a science open to anyone who wishes to learn. In speaking to man God used human language, the language man uses in his everyday life. The Lord has employed all the types of language known to man--from commands to examples, from literal fact to figurative language, history to prophecy, prose to poetry, story to sermon. Each of these has its own nature, purpose, and method of understanding. It is nothing more than what we do each day. When did you last say, ``She laughed her head off,'' ``I told you a thousand times,'' ``He is a wolf,'' or ``I'm so tired, I'm dead''? These are nothing but figures of speech, coupled with literal facts, which express what we really mean. Many, many times the Lord wished simply to state facts, give the names of persons or places, relate incidents, make warnings, or draw conclusions. Such things should be taken literally, just as we do in our daily conversations. On other occasions, however, God uses a symbol, a story, a parable, or another more descriptive means that is figurative. How can these two main types of language be rightly divided? How can one determine whether a passage is literal or figurative? The same rules that apply to interpreting other literature are important in understanding the Bible. Literature is a medium through which the reader gets into contact with the mind of the writer. Every passage should be considered literal with the following exceptions: (1) When it involves an impossibility or an absurdity, (2) When it involves a contradiction or inconsistency, (3) When it involves an immoral conclusion, (4) When it is otherwise implied by the context of the passage, (5) When it is otherwise stated, and/or (6) When it is more apt to be figurative for the reason of sheer common sense. The real purpose of the figurative language is not to teach new truth, but to illustrate and graphically portray truth taught elsewhere in Scripture. It must then always be in harmony with the literal facts. A good example of figurative language is that command of Jesus to cut off one's hand or foot, or pluck out one's eyes (Matthew 18:8-9). God has always taught that it is a sin to mutilate the body. Jesus is saying that anything which helps to seduce us to sin must be cut out of our life--whether it be a habit which can destroy us, a pleasure which could cause our ruin, a job that could kill our spiritual appetite, or an association which can be the cause of sin. Would not a person be a sorry sight were he to amputate each member of his body the first time it caused him to sin? This is a figure of speech teaching a basic principle in regard to temptation. Too many people try to make literal some figurative passages and make figurative some literal passages. Let us rightly divide the Word. ___________________________________________ Write Today for a Free Bible Course. ________________________________________ 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 ________________________________________