The American Wisdom Series

Presents
Pamphlet 1923 Hebrews kc 1-1

Book of Hebrews is a truly remarkable "transition" book "crossing over" from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

We begin our study of the incredible and most fascinating Book of Hebrews in the context of having completed an in-depth study of the 12 books of the Minor Prophets. This is significant in that the Book of Hebrews is a truly remarkable "transition" book "crossing over" from the Old Testament to the New Testament as we shall even see evidenced by the first two verses. To that end, the very title "Hebrews" comes from the word "eber" which is from the root word "abar" meaning "transition" or to "cross over". The "ebers", or "Hebrews", were the people, the descendants of Noah and Abraham, who "crossed over" the Euphrates river.

eber =  øá–òÅ€eòberay'-ber Strong's #H5676
From H5674; properly a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the Jordan; usually meaning the east):— X against, beyond, by, X from, over, passage, quarter, (other, this) side, straight.
abar = øá—òÈ€aòbaraw-bar' Strong's #H5674
A primitive root; to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literally or figuratively; transitively, intransitively, intensively or causatively)...
It should be pointed out in our introductory that there is disagreement among some scholars as to the Pauline authorship of the Book of Hebrews, not so much because of content but mostly because the scholarly "style" of that which is written differs from that of Paul's other works. However, let there be no doubt whatsoever that it was written by the apostle Paul. First of all, Paul whose name was Saul before God transitioned his name, was an Hebrew scholar who studied under and was tutored by the renown Hebrew scholar, doctor of the law, and member of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel**.

**FYI: It is interesting to note that "Gamaliel taught against persecuting the apostles on the ground that if their work was of men it would eventually fail; but if it was of God then opposition to it was wicked and vain." (See Davis Dictionary of the Bible, Baker Pub., pg. 247.)

We also find in Acts chapter 9 that Paul, who was himself an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin (Rom. 11:1)... not a Jew, i.e. not of Judah, had a threefold commission from God and therefore taught on three different levels.

Here is his commission:

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Furthermore, Paul not only taught on three levels but it is written that he taught people from different "perspectives" as well. In other words, Paul communicated with people on their level that he might be able to more effectively bring them to Christ and to the knowledge of His Word.

Here is your documentation:

1 Cor. 9:19
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
Paul sought to "gain the more" for Christ, not for himself.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

[21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

It makes sense too that one would communicate differently to someone who has never read the law (the word of God) than you would to someone who knows the scriptures, doesn't it?
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
Paul's wisdom** and gift of communication skills coupled with the fact that he was a well educated Hellenist who spoke many different "tongues" (1 Cor. 14:18), meaning he spoke many different languages and dialects, declares it to be congruent rather than remarkable that Paul would speak or write to one group in a manner different from another.  Therefore the argument as to a different style, especially from one so gifted in knowledge, the different languages, and the law and prophets, is totally without foundation, even going contrary to Paul's own admissions written in the scriptures. To wit, the Book of Hebrews is not written to a specific person or church, but to a people, to those Israelites who had (and have) "crossed over" from where Paul was even to the west and the isles of the west (see note below), even to the time of the final generation. In other words, the Book of Hebrews is written to the dispersed House of Israel in these last days. That would be you, my Christian friend!

With that background in mind, it should also be easy to understand that the Book of Hebrews is written to those who might gain by the way he communicates in his writing of Hebrews, which we find to be filled with many references and quotes from the law and prophets, i.e. the Old Testament! That in itself ought to let one know that those without the knowledge of that which has been written and spoken to our forefathers in the OT will not gain as much as those who have studied His Word. Paul even wrote in 1 Cor. 10:11-12 that those things which happened unto them, i.e. unto our forefathers, happened as ensamples for us upon whom the ends of this world (age) are come! Therefore you better "take heed", Paul said, to what was written to them if you want to "stand" in these last days... lest ye fall!


Note: The knowledge concerning the whereabouts of the so-called 10 lost tribes of the House of Israel is a prerequisite to being able to mature in one's understanding of the Word of God, even the Book of Hebrews which contains an entire chapter one could call the "Acts of the Patriarchs" (Ch. 11). To that end, if you are in need of or would like some basic information about the migrations of the tribes of Israel and where their sons and daughters reside in this final generation, log unto the pamphlets below.

Does it make sense to you that the United States of America, the greatest superpower in the history of the world, would be left out of endtime Biblical prophecy? Of course not! If you would like to learn more about where the 10 "lost" tribes of the House of Israel reside today go to Pamphlet #1064 or Pamphlet #1020 under Table of Contents "Wisdom" on the this American Wisdom Series site.

** The apostle Peter spoke of the "wisdom" Paul had in communicating with people.

2 Peter 3:15-16
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Peter also documents that those who are unlearned and unstable (without foundation in the Word) will "wrest" (twist and misconstrue) what is said to their own downfall.
[16] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Let's jump ahead a little in this our introductory, to Hebrews chapter 5 and "see" the skilful manner in which Paul communicated this of which Peter speaks. Paul had been teaching Christ and had just made reference to His being called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec (Hebrews 5:10).

Here is what he had to say next:

Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
Paul was saying that he could not effectively "relate" (i.e. it was hard to "utter" and have a discourse about) Christ to Melchisedec in his teaching because it falls on deaf ears. In other words, the people are not familiar with that which is written even after many, many years of being Christians, by which time they should be knowledgeable of the scriptures. But you see, because of their "dullness" they are still Biblically illiterate. Here is the definition of "dull" from Strong's #3576: nothros (no-thros') From a derivative of G3541; sluggish, that is, (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid:—dull, slothful.

Paul continues:

[12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Paul makes the simple analogy that babies who have not grown up can only handle milk and are not able to eat and digest steak dinners. Of course it is ok to be a babe in Christ, for we all start out that way. However, after 20 or 30 years of going to church one should be able to eat some meat from the Word of God instead of saying "Melchisedec who?"
[13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Characteristically in a spiritual sense, it seems rather fitting that those of this final generation of the fig tree (which began May 15, 1948) are called "Baby Boomers"! Nevertheless, Paul said that if you are still on the milk of His Word and are "unskilful" (Strong's #552: apeiros; From G1 (as a negative particle) and G3984; inexperienced, that is, ignorant:—unskilful.) then you've got trouble with discernment indeed! And it is evident that the majority of our Christian brothers and sisters fall into this category, else how is it that a predominantly Christian nation with the power to vote can allow such liberalism and "evil ways" to flow through our house? It is because they cannot discern between "good" and "evil" (which is so often disguised as "feel good"). Therefore, grow up and mature in His Word and become STRONG in Christ and learn to kick some dragon!
[14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Again, the reality is that babies are unskillful (unknowledgeable) and cannot relate to the deeper truths and ensamples of God's Word and since they have immature minds they therefore cannot "discern" between good and evil.

Let us now begin our study of the great "transition" book, the Book of Hebrews

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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