Study: Hebrews 1

Status
Not open for further replies.

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
:)
Hi,
just wanted to give you the basic outline of how this interactive study will go.

directions:
1. Pray to the Lord , for understanding.
2. read the text ( in this case hebrews chapter 1)
3. answer any questions you can or wish to
4. type a question for the rest of us to answer, concerning the chapter we have read.

I hope this is helpful, chalenging and fun.
I look forward to peoples responses.

we'll look at chapter 2 in a week.

Thank You ,
for being a part of this study :)
 

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
:scratch:

here are my first questions:

1. heb 1:2 "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, who he appointed heir to all things, and through whom he made the universe" How has God spoken to you through his Son?

2. In this chapter the writer, using Old Testament scrpiture explains why Christ is superior to angels. Why do you think this comparison was nessicary? Is it still a problem today?


I'll eagerly wait for your answers and new questions

Thanks :)
 
Upvote 0
BigEd

>In this chapter the writer, using Old Testament scrpiture explains why Christ is superior to angels. Why do you think this comparison was nessicary?<

It wasn't a hypothetical statement, it was a conclusion taken from the sentence before it:

'After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.' Heb 1:3

The argument is developed afterwards also:

'For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"? Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son"? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy."' Heb 1:5-9 (NIV)

It is hating wickedness and loving righteousness that makes Jesus greater than the angels.

Stephen
 
Upvote 0

parousia70

Livin' in yesterday's tomorrow
Supporter
Feb 24, 2002
15,533
4,826
57
Oregon
✟793,718.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Hi.

Here's a question,

Heb 1:2 "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, who he appointed heir to all things, and through whom he made the universe"

What was the writer of Hebrews claiming he was living in the "last days" of?

Judiasm?
Christianity?
The world?
The universe?

Bonus question:
How many "last days" time periods are there and how long do the "last days" last?

Thanks,
P70
 
Upvote 0

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
thanks for your question, parousia


He. 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the
prophets at many times and in various ways,
He. 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom
he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made
the universe.

Taking a look at that verse prior to verse 2, It seems to be a start of a comparison between the old covenant and the new covenant. "these last days" being
the new covenant.

the term "last days" is used many times throughout the new testament. I always try to keep in mind what peter wrote:

2Pe. 3:8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord
a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
 
Upvote 0

parousia70

Livin' in yesterday's tomorrow
Supporter
Feb 24, 2002
15,533
4,826
57
Oregon
✟793,718.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Taking a look at that verse prior to verse 2, It seems to be a start of a comparison between the old covenant and the new covenant. "these last days" being
the new covenant.

I understand how you could see it that way BigEd, but, (I know I'm jumping ahead in the book) In Hebrews 8:13, the writer indicates that the Old Covenant had yet to vanish at the time Hebrews was written:


In that He says, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.


So it appears that at the time Hebrews was written,(about 65AD) they were still in the OC "age" for it was still in the process of growing old, and had yet to "vanish away", but it was indeed at that time "ready" to vanish, and I bleieve the scripture indicates that the writer is proclaiming that he is writing in the "last days" of that Old Covenant age.

Even if we propose that the New Covenant began at the Cross, the text says Jesus spoke to them (referring to His earthly ministry) in "these last days" placing His ministry before the cross, and consequently the "last days" squarely in the OC age, and the writer of Hebrews indicates that the "last days" before the cross were the same last days after the cross.

Also, the New Covenant is everlasting. It has no "use by" or "expiration date", so, how could something that is eternal be considered the "last days" of anything?

YBIC,
P70
 
Upvote 0

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
a summary of the questions asked:

Big Ed asked:
1. heb 1:2 "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, who he appointed heir to all things, and through whom he made the universe" How has God spoken to you through his Son?

2. In this chapter the writer, using Old Testament scrpiture explains why Christ is superior to angels. Why do you think this comparison was nessicary? Is it still a problem today?

parousia 70 asked:
Heb 1:2 "but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, who he appointed heir to all things, and through whom he made the universe"

What was the writer of Hebrews claiming he was living in the "last days" of?

Judiasm?
Christianity?
The world?
The universe?


please feel free to answer any questions you like then add any questions of your own.

so far I haven't much response to this.
I hope some people in the forum would like to participate. :sigh:
 
Upvote 0

cougan

Senior Member
Apr 21, 2002
766
7
51
Visit site
✟8,856.00
Faith
Christian
DEFINE "THESE LAST DAYS" (KJV), "THE END OF THESE DAYS" (ASV) AS TO BEGINNING AND DURATION (Heb. 1:2)

Jesus set the tone for this great text when he took his disciples upon the mount of transfiguration (Matt. 17; Mark 9; Luke 9). There, with Moses and Elijah, the great law-giver and the loyal prophet in company with them, the voice of Jehovah declared, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him" (Matt. 17:5). In the past, God had directed man through the law and the prophets and by direct means, but now we are directed to give our attention to Jesus -- to God's final revelation through his Son.

F. F. Bruce comments:

"The earlier stage of revelation was given in a variety of ways: He spoke in storm and thunder to Moses, in a still small voice to Elijah. To those who would not heed the gently flowing stream of Shiloah (Isa. 8:6ff), He spoke by means of the Euphratean flood. Priest and prophet, sage and singer, were in their several ways His spokesmen; yet all the successive acts and varying modes of revelation in the ages before Christ came did not add up to the fulness of what God had to say. His word was not complete until Christ came; but when Christ came, the word spoken in him was indeed God's final word.<9>

For those with some dispensational doctrine to defend, this passage, along with Acts 2:16-17 and others, becomes difficult. Premillennialists have taken a perfectly good, Biblical term and given to it an entirely unbiblical application. Just like their abuse of other words, such as tribulation and rapture, the world has become accustomed to thinking of some period just prior to, or just after, Jesus' second coming when they hear the term "last days." Fifty years ago, upon hearing words like "pot," "gay" and "bread," we would have been thinking of "cast-iron," "happy" and "Mrs. Baird's bread". Today these words are used to speak of marijuana, homosexuality, and money. A similar distortion is now seen even in Bible words and phrases.

There are at least two things we must not do:

(1) We must not let false teachers make their own rules. We must teach, both positively and negatively, correcting false doctrines even when we ourselves are weary of giving such warnings. We must "read in the book of the law of God distinctly, giving the sense, and causing them to understand the reading" (Neh. 8:8).

(2) We must make sure that we do not fall victim to the same deception, by misusing passages just because they have the catch phrases that sound as if they either strengthen or weaken the dispensational view. Misusing a passage is inexcusable regardless of the person who does it or the purpose for which it is done.

In using the phrase "these last days" (or "the end of these days," ASV), the emphasis is on contrasting the revelation of "old time" or "time past" with the new and final revelation of God through Jesus.

"The last days are in contrast to the days of old. The Old Testament often speaks of "the last days" (Gen: 49:1; Num. 24:14; Isa. 2:2; Hos. 3:5), by which is meant the future in general or the Messianic age in particular, the time when when prophecy would find its fulfillments. ... These last days denotes the final phase of history, brought on by the entry of the Son into the world and continuing until the consummation of all things."<10>

The Jews never attempted to carefully delineate the exact beginning of this period, but by letting the inspired New Testament writers do so, we can come to a rather strong conclusion. The Old Testament prophets had said that some things would happens in the last days:

First, God would pour out his Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28). In describing the events of the day of Pentecost, Peter was inspired to say "this is that" (Acts 2:14-17). This writer submits that it is somewhat presumptuous for man to say "this is not that."

Second, the last days were to be characterized by the Lord's House being established, which would bring an era of genuine peace to the world, and for the law of God to proceed from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2-3; Mic. 4:1-3). This peace came to be enjoyed by those who knew how to behave themselves "in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth": (1 Tim. 3:15). In Acts 2, with "men out of every nation", (Acts 2:5) present, the law of the Lord did proceed from "Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Third, God promised to "make a new covenant" (Jer. 31:31-34) with his people, and that not only the Jews but the Gentiles would be "called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name" (Isa. 62:2). In Antioch, under this new covenant and with Jews and Gentiles now called by the name "Christian" (Acts 11:26), God's people enjoyed the blessings promised for those in the last days. Since the law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), this would establish the beginning and project the duration of this prophetic era, "the last days."

Note carefully the additional New Testament usage of this and similar terms:

First, 1 Tim. 4:1 -- "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith ..." The actions described and the doctrines mentioned were prevalent in the first century as well as today. As Wallace says, "the `latter times' did not mean that a general departure from the faith, or a mass apostasy, portends the end of time."<11> It meant the last age -- the Christian age.

Second, 2 Tim. 3:1 -- "In the last days perilous times shall come." That these days were to be in Timothy's lifetime is obvious since Paul then warns Timothy that he must "turn away" from those who possessed these wicked qualities. See also Jude 1:18 for a similar warning.

Third, 2 Pet. 3:3-4 -- "There shall come in the last days scoffers ... saying, Where is the promise of his coming?" These scoffers are then described as being "willingly ignorant" (present tense) of the facts, and Timothy is warned to not be ignorant. This spoke of a problem current to Paul's and Timothy's work, not some fanciful age thousands of years in the future. See also 1 John 2:18.

Let it be noted that Christ is now in the kingdom, and that we look forward to a rest at God's side, not on his footstool.
 
Upvote 0
The writer of Hebrew simply states, that Jesus has spoken unto us in these last days, refering to his words before the cross and His words spoken after the cross.

The last days of what?

The last days of the old covenant; the religious leaders no doubt sowed the veil, that was rent in half when Jesus died on the cross. Showing that they knew nothing of a New Covenant; while believers worshipped under a New and better Covenant.

History tells us the nation continued another 35-37 years, no doubt worshipping under the sacrificial worship system started by Moses.

Did the writer beleive it was litteraly the last days, Maybe.

For Christians who were being persecuted unto death by the Romans and the Jewsish zealots, one can understand how he might feel they were in the last days.

Nevertheless, THE POINT here ends in verse 3 below.

In the light of Heb 2:
1 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. 2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;
3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;


JESUS spoke to us THE WRITER IS SAYING, because He was that prophet spoken of in

Deut 18:
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

What I believe the writer of Hebrews is teaching here is that, the end is all thats left, because this prophet has come and gone, he has given us Gods WORDS, and He (God) will require an answer from every man, on the LAST DAY.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THE WORDS I COMMANDED HIM TO SPEAK TO YOU?

The rest of Chap 1, simply compares Jesus with the Angles and finds HIM above the angels, who were created, seeing he has a more perfect NAME than they.

It is easy sometimes to read other peoples comemntaries, but they never can replace the pure WORD itself.


Good study, I love this book.





Blessings



Richard
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
You made some great points Lion heart.

I have often wondered if the anticpation of "these last days" is something that the holy spirit has put in the hearts of all beleivers throughout christian history, for us to be ready and not complancent? I have no scripture that tells me that, but it is something I 've always wondered about.
 
Upvote 0

BigEd

an adopted child of God
Feb 15, 2002
1,090
4
58
connecticut
✟9,726.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
In this first chapter the author is setting the groundwork for expalining the superiority of the new convenant , but also to make clear Christ's authority, in terms of the old convennant.
By addressing the issue of Christ's superiority over angels, this introduce a problem that exsisted then and exsists now. I think we can see a bit of this in the angel crazy, with angel books, angel stores, while forgeting they are servants to the Lord. That the true object of our veneration and devotion is the LORD.
 
Upvote 0

parousia70

Livin' in yesterday's tomorrow
Supporter
Feb 24, 2002
15,533
4,826
57
Oregon
✟793,718.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Others
Originally posted by BigEd
You made some great points Lion heart.

I have often wondered if the anticpation of &quot;these last days&quot; is something that the holy spirit has put in the hearts of all beleivers throughout christian history, for us to be ready and not complancent? I have no scripture that tells me that, but it is something I 've always wondered about.

You are right.
There is no scripture that would indicate any such notion.

In fact, scripture actually refutes such a claim.

The Holy Spirit Leads the disciple of Jesus into "all truth", which would be polar opposite to the idea that the HS causes all generations to believe the lie that they are the "Last Days" generation, just to keep them / us in line.

There is no truth in deceiving 2000 years of Christian generations into believing that they alone are the "last days" generation, for history proves that claim to be false.

There can be only one "Last Days" Generation.

As far as the "last days" being the entire New Covenant age, Scripture refutes that claim as well:

The New covenant Gospel age is "everlasting". That means it has no "use by" or "expiration" date, it is "eternal".

Revelation 14:6
Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people--


Scripture indicates that the sole purpose of the Gospel is to be preached to those that dwell on the earth, and there is "no end" to that purpose.

Therefore, how can The "New Covenant Gospel age" that by definition is eternal and everlatsing, be considered the "last days" of anything, by any serious Bible student?

YBIC,
P70
 
Upvote 0
Status
Not open for further replies.