Thoughts on Hebrews Questions from 7/16
HEBREWS STUDY QUESTIONS
My Sunday School Life Group is studying Hebrews. Every Monday, I post questions that were discussed the day before in Sunday School. I encourage you to ponder/think about them and jot down your thoughts.
On Wednesdays, I post some of the ideas that came up in the Life Group's discussion for you to consider.
Make yourself comfortable, this is most likely going to be a year-long experience.
These questions were discussed in my Life Group yesterday. Take time to reflect on them. I'll post thoughts from the class discussion on Wednesday of this week.
Chapter 4
Vv 1-3
1. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2. For we also have had the good news [gospel] proclaimed to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not share the faith of those who obeyed. 3. Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
“So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world.
Hebrews 4:1-3
What is this rest? Why be careful?
Rest is 1) heaven; 2) the Promised Land; 3) The rest can be now. Peace now--heaven later; 4) To enter into God's best; 5) Harmonious involvement in God's activities.Be careful not to travel/move/run from God, lest you miss the rest or forget what's been done and what God is doing.
Why did the message lose its value? See verse 2 above.
Circumstances for the Hebrews in the desert were debilitating. We must keep our own faith regardless of what others do.
This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means the idea. The discussion has reference only to “the promise of rest,” and the assertion of the apostle is that this “good news” of a promise of rest is made to us as really as it was made to “them.” “Rest” was promised to them in the land of Canaan - an emblem of the eternal rest of the people of God. That was unquestioned, and Paul took it for granted. His object now is, to show that a promise of “rest” is as really made to us as it was to them, and that there is the same danger of failing to secure it as there was then. It was important for him to show that there was such a promise made to the people of God in his time, and as he was discoursing of those who were Hebrews, he of course made his appeal to the Old Testament. The literal translation would be, “For we are evangelized - ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι esmen euēngelismenoi- as well as they.” The word “evangelize” means to communicate good news, or glad tidings; and the idea here is, that the good news, or glad tidings of “rest” is announced to us as really as it was to them. This the apostle proves in the following verses.
This is very similar to commentary read in class from a study Bible. Probably the critical piece of the commentary is that "good news" [gospel] does not mean Christ's message in this passage.
This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means the idea. The discussion has reference only to “the promise of rest,” and the assertion of the apostle is that this “good news” of a promise of rest is made to us as really as it was made to “them.” “Rest” was promised to them in the land of Canaan - an emblem of the eternal rest of the people of God. That was unquestioned, and Paul took it for granted. His object now is, to show that a promise of “rest” is as really made to us as it was to them, and that there is the same danger of failing to secure it as there was then. It was important for him to show that there was such a promise made to the people of God in his time, and as he was discoursing of those who were Hebrews, he of course made his appeal to the Old Testament. The literal translation would be, “For we are evangelized - ἐσμεν εὐηγγελισμένοι esmen euēngelismenoi- as well as they.” The word “evangelize” means to communicate good news, or glad tidings; and the idea here is, that the good news, or glad tidings of “rest” is announced to us as really as it was to them. This the apostle proves in the following verses.
This is very similar to commentary read in class from a study Bible. Probably the critical piece of the commentary is that "good news" [gospel] does not mean Christ's message in this passage.
It takes faith to trust "the message." Jews wandering in the desert for 40 years is an example of disobedience and consequences.
What does it take to enter the rest?
Verse 3. God is not as concerned about bad deeds as He is with unbelief. We limit God with our unbelief.
Verse 3. God is not as concerned about bad deeds as He is with unbelief. We limit God with our unbelief.
If you'd like a PDF of the pages of questions in table form with room for you to write answers, email me at chuckdowning4@gmail.com/
I'd appreciate your feedback as a comment on Blogger!
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