Abide in the doctrine of Christ...
Abide in the doctrine of Christ...
Jerry –
Thank you for your reply. Your preconceived ideas in reading scripture are exceeded only by the condescending attitude they generate for you.
Now that you are back from your travel, it is time for me to catch up on correcting many of your errant dispy notions.
From Jerry-
"Because of this,having left the discourse of the beginning of Christ,let us be borne on to full growth,not laying down again a foundation of repentance from dead works,and upon faith upon God,of (the) baptisms,of doctrine,and of laying on of hands"(
Hebrews 6:1, Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, "Literal Translation", Green). <End.>
(“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God…
ASV)
Jerry’s spin on this passage is one that would conjure up the possibility of -2- gospels: that at one time there was a “doctrine” (ei. a gospel) for the Jews, but then the Jews were to forget all of that stuff (that “gospel”) and believe something else (another “gospel”). This is creative but errant. So we now consider…
Does the context have Paul telling the readers to forget/forsake the things mentioned by John the baptizer and Jesus at the “beginning” of their ministries as Jerry suggests?
-OR-
Is Paul telling the readers that they are to go on to perfection/maturity/full growth in the doctrine of Christ, growing past/going beyond (leaving behind) the first/basic principles of His doctrine which they should not be in a position of having to learn again?
The CONTEXT will answer for us what Paul is talking about.
“Because of this” in the first part of
Hebrews 6:1 refers us back to what was said in Chapter 5. These words let us know that Paul makes a point at the start of Hb 6:1 based upon what he said in chapter 5.
In Chapter 5:11 Paul states that some things
in reference to Christ would be hard to explain to them/things would be hard for them to understand, because they had become “dull of hearing”.
In Chapter 5:12f Paul tells us that some of his readers by that time should have been teachers of God’s word instead of having to review/relearn the basic principles (“milk”) of it again – these should have more readily understood what Paul wanted to tell them in reference to Christ. Paul says (verse 13) these were “unskillful” with the “word of righteousness” – these were “babes” (infant/child/childish).
Paul finishes his thought in verse 14 by telling us that “solid food” (which is a reference back to things about Christ that are “hard to explain” in 5:11) is for those who have used/“exercised” themselves in God’s word.
“Because of this”… The only logical conclusion
based on the context is that the writer is speaking about the basic/primary teachings that are given/taught CONCERNING Christ at the onset of first learning God’s word. The writer is NOT speaking about the first/original words OF Christ when He began His ministry –
there is NOTHING in the context to suggest this thought.
In 6:1b and 2 the writer lists
repentance, faith, baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment as
basic principles of the doctrine of Christ. Almost all today recognize these topics as the basic core of information for a Christian today. Yet Jerry would have us believe these are things that Paul was telling the Jews to “leave” (ei. forsake) altogether! We “leave” these topics only after they have been adequately learned and we should then press on to “full growth”.
Jerry tried hard to apply the “leaving” only to “baptisms” and the “laying on of hands”. But what is to be applied to ONE of these topics is true of all SIX topics. Can anyone believe that the Hebrew writer was telling the Jews to forget about “faith toward God” and “eternal judgment”. Such thinking just doesn’t pass the “smell test” and shows how foolish “theologies” can make one think foolish things !
To conclude this segment, allow me to use the words of Mr. Thayer in reference to this passage, both at chapter 5:12 and at 6:1, in reference to the “first principles” mentioned here.
THAYER – “… the instruction concerning Christ such as it was at the very onset.” This is about the instruction the Jews had been given about Christ – it was not the instruction of (given by) Christ at the beginning of His ministry!
There is only ONE gospel from which we are to learn the “basic principles”, and to then proceed to “full growth”. (And all of this out of the mouth of a “babe”…)
<<<*>>>
Previously, Apollos said –
"
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."(1Cor.15:3,4).
This passage says the DBR of Christ was “according to the scriptures”… and that -
Christ died for our sins “
according to the scriptures”. <End Apollos>
(To his credit, Jerry at least did not try again to say that these “scriptures” were ones written by Paul.) Jerry did say:
Yes,these things were revealed in "types".There is no Scriptual evidence that anyone living in the OT times understood the meaning of those types.
We had been discussing whether or not “Paul’s gospel” (as you believe it to be) had been prophesied about in OT scripture – NOT whether anyone understood the prophecies or the types.
If the gospel Paul was preaching was prophecied about in the OT, then the gospel Paul preached was the SAME gospel everyone else was preaching!!!
Why? Because only ONE gospel is prophecied about in the OT ! Romans 16:25-26 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 tie this altogether to show that your "bi-gospelism" is wrong. Now it is time for you to accept the truth !
It was my understanding that YOU did not believe it had been prophesied about. It appears my exegesis on Romans 16:25-26 and 1 Peter 1:10-12 changed your mind.
I had several questions in my last post about “scripture” as mentioned in
Romans 16:25-26 that you, how shall we say, did not get to. Perhaps you will yet answer them…
<<<*>>>
I care not to debate the attributes of Chirst’s kingdom in this thread – I came to discuss the thought of “Just one gospel”. But I must remark, as you did, to one passage –
John 18:36 –
“
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
Jerry replied – “This is fairly typical of those who deny an earthly kingdom:”… placing his emphasis on the “but now” in the latter part of the passage.
To focus on the latter part of the passage allowed Jerry to sweep past what Jesus specifically said about the kingdom =
“My kingdom is not of this world…” IF it were, His servants would be fighting to save Him.
The second part of the passage must agree with the former part –
His kingdom is NOT of this world.
To make a short word study shorter, consult the NASB that renders this passage correctly – “as it is…” and compare this to what Mr. Thayer says about the Greek word
nun which can be found under part 2. of his definition for John 18:36.
“Now” you know His kingdom is not of this world.
Second, I will ask why “earthly kingdom” promoters never deal with
Mark 9:1 –
“
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There are some here of them that stand [by], who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.” ?
This is very typical of physical kingdom promoters.
And as I told John W., those that say this kingdom that was “AT HAND” did not come are those who make Jesus out to be a liar and the Holy Spirit a buffoon – whose words cannot be trusted - ever !
You have de-throned the Christ and He is King of… NOTHING !!!
ALL the passages about His “kingdom” must harmonize ! Jerry, you cannot do this !
<<<*>>>
I will have a few more comments in my next post about miscellaneous remarks, and then I hope to return to thoughts about the ONE true gospel that God has always had in mind for all men.