LESSON 1:
One of the most difficult Books of
Scripture to analyze is, at least in the opinion of many Bible
Teachers, the Epistle of Hebrews.
A couple of months ago Debbie and I
were in Birmingham, Alabama, involved in a week of Revival Services
of course. There we visited the Samford University Library,
where we
discovered a little volume discussing in its entirety the
"structure" of the Book of Hebrews.
That's the direction our next few lessons
will point us. These truths have opened up for me a whole new
way of looking at these thirteen little chapters of the New
Testament.
But for today let me say this.
Probably one of the most perfect introductions to any Book
anywhere, in all literature, exists in Hebrews 1:1-3.
They form the prelude to the whole
Body of the Book. They certainly introduce us to the Book's
Hero, its Main Focus! "God,
who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past
unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the worlds. Who being the brightness of his glory, and
the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the
word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."
God's Son!
The Heir of all things!
The Creator of the world!
Who is the Brightness of God's very
Glory!
Jesus, Who is the "Express Image" of
Almighty God Himself, the Greek term here being our word
"character!"
Jesus, Who "upholds" all things by
His Word and Power!
Who has washed away, Greek "made
clean," all our sins!
And Who has been exalted and made to
sit at the Right hand of God the Father in Heaven!
Wow!
After all that ... tell me more!
And for chapter after chapter
Hebrews does exactly that, exalts the Lord Jesus Christ!
Anyone ready to study?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 2, HEBREWS 1:5-13, THE BOOK'S FIRST INCLUSIO:
Let me show you today one of the
ways the human author, following the lead of God the Holy Spirit
Who inspired all Scripture, organized the Book of Hebrews.
Chapter one, its second paragraph, provides us a good
illustration. It employs a literary device known as "inclusio."
That's when a section of written
text both begins and ends with a similar or even
sometimes identical "marker" of some sort.
Watch our Text for today, Hebrews
1:5-13. I will clearly mark the "inclusio" indicators.
"For
unto which of the
angels said he at any time,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I
will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again,
when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith,
And let all the angels of God worship him. And of the angels he
saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame
of fire. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God,
is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is
the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and
hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath
anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. And,
Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the
earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. They shall
perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a
garment; and as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they
shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not
fail. But
to which of the
angels said he at any time,
Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?"
See what I mean? The first verse and
last verse of the unit uses identical wording!
The Lord Himself, the greatest
Writer of all, has just given us a big clue on where to begin
and end a section of his powerful Word!
He bracketed the verses with
little "bookends" it seems!
He marks the pericope with a verbal
set of parentheses!
So What or Who is the Subject of
Hebrews 1:5-13?
Answer: God's Son, Jesus!
And describe Jesus' Position in
relation to the angels, for example.
He is greater, better, far more
honored than they are!
So much so that verse six says all
the angels worship Jesus! Yes, Jesus is superior!
Because, our Text continues, the
angels are created beings, while Jesus is The Creator!
And lastly, though I have been
entirely too brief, only Jesus ... not the angels ... has been
invited to sit at the Father's Right Hand!
And Jesus some day will have all
creation bowing at his Feet!
Again not so of the angels!
Wow!
I've preached these verses a few
times lately ... always with God's Blessings being showered on
His Word.
And at least this much could be said
about those sermons, Brother Bagwell began and ended at the
right place. Based on the Holy Spirit's "inclusio" markers
anyway.
Lord willing, more tomorrow.
Meanwhile, pick one of the "Jesus is
greater" attributes mentioned in today's Bible paragraph and use
it as a means of adoring the Lord! Use it an as avenue of
praising His Name!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 3, THE BOOK'S SECOND INCLUSIO:
The second "inclusio" unit in
Hebrews, according to the experts anyway, linguists and grammar
teachers, is Hebrews 2:10-18.
"For
it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For
both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are
all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them
brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in
the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. And again,
I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children
which God hath given me. Forasmuch then as the children are
partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part
of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had
the power of death, that is, the devil. And deliver them who
through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of
angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore
in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his
brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest
in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for
the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered
being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."
Preachers, Sunday School Teachers,
Bible Students ... this Bible paragraph is a self-contained
Text!
Preach it!
Teach it!
Study it!
The Holy Spirit has skillfully
marked its beginning and ending four different ways to show us
exactly where to start and stop with our exposition!
And the "Him," the obvious Subject
of this nine-verse unit is Jesus, the Son of God! Of course He
is, being the very Center of all Hebrews!
The opening verse and the closing
words, the last two verses, share four traits with each other.
Four points of similarity that are too blatant to be accidental.
The beginning verse:
"For
it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom
are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make
the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
The concluding two verses:
"Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto
his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make
reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he
himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them
that are tempted."
Let's count them, the constituents
of our little "inclusio" pericope. Here we go, hoping not to be
too "teachy" this morning.
Both places show the necessity for
Jesus coming to earth, for His Mission. It "became" Him and it
"behooved" Him! To be obedient to his Father's Will Jesus was
constrained in Spirit! Jesus says in Luke 12:50,
"But
I have a baptism to be baptized with (the Cross); and how am I
straitened till it be accomplished!"
This feeling is extremely clear in
our Text.
Also both places show "development"
in Jesus' Mission to earth, His coming to die for our sins! He
is "made perfect!" This simply means that He worked daily on
accomplishing God's Will for His Life, to be our Saviour, to go
to Calvary! To live sinlessly! He "was made," King James "might
be," a merciful and faithful High Priest. Month by month Jesus
neared His Life Purpose, substitutionary Death for you and me!
Both verses 10 and 17-18 also reveal
those who are the recipients of Jesus' great Salvation! Early
on, many "sons" will be brought to Glory! In the end verses Paul
has it that Jesus is make like unto His "brethren!" He came to
be like us, in physical body, to die for us on the old rugged
Cross! The incarnation of course!
And lastly both start and finish of
the Hebrews 2:10-18 corpus emphasize the fact that Jesus will
"suffer" to accomplish our redemption!
Wow!
It's a case of "inclusio" all right!
The paragraph is also a gold-mine of
Truth about Jesus as the Captain of our Salvation! And as our
great High Priest! And as Victor over the devil! As the perfect
Son of God, successful in every way!
I challenge someone reading here
today, study this Text more carefully. I promise, it will yield
glorious fruit, amazing results, and probably a pretty good
Sermon or Lesson or Devotional!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 4, YET ANOTHER INCLUSIO:
Today we study a third "inclusio" in
the little New Testament Book of Hebrews. There are at least
eighteen of these little marked paragraphs, outlined by the Holy
Spirit Himself, the Real Author of all Scripture!
Hebrews 3:12-19 begins and ends with
a verb-noun combo that shows linkage or continuity for the whole
unit, the entire eight verse Text.
First the entire pericope:
"Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one
another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end. While it is said, To day if ye will hear
his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For
some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty
years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose
carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they
should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
Hebrews 3:12-19
The "inclusio" features are nearly
visible in English, but clearly so in Greek. Let me show you:
The first verse, verse 12:
"Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God."
Notice the "take heed" and
"unbelief" duo.
The last verse, verse 19:
"So
we see that they could not enter in because of
unbelief." Again here's a
"we see" and "unbelief" link.
In Greek the "take heed" and "we
see" verbs are identical, each being a form of "blepo."
And the "unbelief" nouns are the
same as well, "apistia." Meaning "no faith" literally!
So now we at least know where the
Author wants us to begin and end our discussion, at the "inclusio"
marks. Thus our Text is set. Now to its exposition.
"Take
heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of
unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one
another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made
partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence
stedfast unto the end. While it is said, To day if ye will hear
his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For
some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty
years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose
carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they
should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."
To saved people, his very "brethren"
in Christ, Paul introduces a startling thought. A saved man or
woman can on occasion have periods of "unbelief!" Not the loss
of salvation, mind you. But times of doubt and uncertainty, a
lack of trust in the ongoing promises of God!
How can such "backsliding" be
avoiding. And here's the strongest verse in the paragraph
I think. "Exhort
one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be
hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
If we will "encourage," in Greek the
verb "parakaleo," each other often, regularly, daily ... we will
not get sclerosis of the heart, spiritually! That's the
very Greek word for "hardness!" Oh, what a statement about the
wondrous value of preaching and teaching and Bible Study!
Now learn this. Hebrews emphasizes
again and again staying faithful to God, not lapsing into sin!
"For
we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our
confidence stedfast unto the end."
Then our Text quotes from the Old
Testament, an event in the life of Israel as she traveled from
Egypt to Canaan. Citing Psalm 95:7-11, which in turn was
illustrating with Exodus 17:1-7 and Numbers 20:1-13, Paul
"warns" us not to be "washed in the Blood of the Lamb" ... then
fail or disbelieve or come short of full-fledged Holy Spirit
fullness and victory as we live day by day!
Folks back then grumbled,
distrusted, complained ... and God disciplined them, even
including their great leader Moses!
"To day if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty
years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose
carcases fell in the wilderness?"
Saved, I believe, but not reaching
the potential God has for them!
Dying in the wilderness!
Never reaching the life of victory
and the land of milk and honey!
In other words, according to
Hebrews: failing to enter God's "rest!" Failing to live a Holy
Spirit controlled life! Failing to trust Jesus for every need
after salvation! Failing to trust the thousands and thousands of
promises God has given us to enjoy the victorious Christian
life! "And
to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but
to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter
in because of unbelief."
Wow!
Not reaching full potential ...
because of unbelief!
Many professing Christians, some of
whom are really born-again, live still in that wilderness!
But there is a rest for the people
of God who remain faithful and trusting!
More about that tomorrow!
Today's "inclusio," what a warning!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 5, HEBREWS CHAPTER 4, ANOTHER INCLUSIO:
I have never done anything exactly
like this on the Website, in ten years or so. We are looking at
paragraphs of Scripture this week, instead of just verses.
From the Book of Hebrews, we're
noticing its structure! How the Holy Spirit here seems to have
woven over a dozen "inclusio" units together. We're actually
watching how the Master Author has built His Epistle to a group
of Jewish Christians.
Today we go to Hebrews 4:3-11, the
next set of "bookends" in our little Epistle.
"For
we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have
sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although
the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he
spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise,
And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this
place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing
therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to
whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief.
Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after
so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice,
harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then
would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There
remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is
entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works,
as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of
unbelief."
The proof it's an "inclusio"
paragraph rests, of course, in its beginning and ending verses.
Verse 3: "For
we which have believed
do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my
wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were
finished from the foundation of the world."
Verse 11: "Let
us labour therefore
to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief."
Look at the phrase "enter into rest"
in both locations. These "markers" are what we might loosely
call "parentheses." Or as I said earlier, "bookends." They are
signs that the Skilled Writer, Paul the Apostle perhaps but I'm
really referring to the Holy Spirit, left us to identify the
proper "head" and "tail" for the Passage.
So at least now we know there is a
"rest" for the people of God, something more than just being
saved even! And something which some who have been washed in the
Blood have yet "missed" or "fallen short" of achieving.
After creating this world in six
literal days ... even God ceased from His Labors! To teach us
the principle of "rest" apparently!
Looks like a person who already is
following Jesus can somehow get frustrated, forget God's
numerous promises ... and fail to live a life of "rest" in God,
of "quiet trust" in Jesus as the Provider and Protector and
Lord" of all our being!
He or she is still saved of course,
but not "trusting" our Lord for every second of life. Not
leaning on Him as the Essence of life itself! Not committing to
Him as our Everything!
Trusting Jesus every second!
"There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God."
That's true rest!
Living that kind of life ...
completely letting Jesus be your all ... is entering into the
rest of which our Text speaks.
Anyone "resting" in Him today?
Or are you still carrying your own
burdens and problems and issues?
If you try to live the Christian
life alone ... you will fail. You will slip into some state of
laxity, in our Text called "unbelief." That merely means "not
trusting" Jesus like you should.
"Let us labour
therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the
same example of unbelief."
Wow!
What a warning, even if set apart by
inclusio!
Rest in our Lord today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 6, HEBREWS 5, ITS INCLUSIO:
A few days in Hebrews, one of the
New Testament's most beautiful Epistles. We've recently been
noticing the "structure" of the Book, even more than its
content.
If you know how a house is
build, its design, then you will also know how to reach
the kitchen or living room or main closet!
The author of Hebrews, Paul many of
us think, uses a group of "marked paragraphs" to teach us about
Jesus. Marked by his use of the "inclusio" literary technique.
Today we are in Hebrews chapter
five. It both begins and ends with references to the "high
priest" and his "call" from God into his office.
"For
every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in
things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts
and sacrifices for sins. Who can have compassion on the
ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he
himself also is compassed with infirmity. And by reason hereof
he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for
sins. And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is
called of God, as was Aaron. So also Christ glorified not
himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him,
Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee. As he saith also
in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after
the order of Melchisedec. Who in the days of his flesh, when he
had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and
tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was
heard in that he feared. Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made
perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them
that obey him; called of God an high priest after the order of
Melchisedec."
Hebrews 5:1-10
The human high priest in today's
opening verse, verse 1 of Hebrews 10, is both "taken" from among
men and "ordained" to his work, his ministry.
"For
every high priest
taken from among men is ordained for men in things
pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and
sacrifices for sins."
Then The Son of God, the Lord Jesus,
is the "High Priest" (same words, same vocabulary, same
definition as back in verse 1 however) of the final verse in
today's text, verse 10. And notice too that Jesus "is called" of
God to his Work as well! Paul writes:
"Jesus ... called
of God an high priest
after the order of Melchisedec."
It's just that Jesus' Work is far
greater than that of the Aaronic high priests, very much so!
And our text, now identified, says?
Those Old Testament human high
priests each had weaknesses and infirmities ... therefore
they should have been able to identify and have compassion on
those they were serving.
None of them sought the honor of the
priesthood for themselves either. God Alone is in charge of
calling His men!
Then our Paragraph compares these
men to Jesus!
God the Father also gave
Jesus His priesthood Ministry! Our Redeemer, Jesus, never sought
an ounce of honor for Himself!
Also Jesus, now unlike the others,
is the Perfect High Priest!
And Jesus, again in distinction to
the first group, Himself suffered to shed the Blood that
makes atonement and forgiveness possible! His Own Blood,
incorruptible and powerful and eternal!
It's no longer the blood of bulls
and goats!
It's the superior Blood of the Lamb
of God, the Saviour of the world, our dear Lord Jesus!
Thus Jesus is now ... the Author
of eternal salvation!
Unto those who believe anyway!
Who trust in Him!
Who then obey Him!
Jesus, our Great High Priest!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 7, HEBREWS' MOST SURPRISING
INCLUSIO:
Keep in mind that these Lessons on
the Epistle of Hebrews are not designed to be word by
word expositions. Rather they are observations about how the
Holy Spirit "built" this little Book! How He constructed its
paragraphs, using a literary device known as "inclusio." Which
means starting and ending a portion of text with similar or
identical verbal "markers."
I've just found a case where the
inclusio members are located in two different chapters!
Remember that the Bible was not yet divided that way in those
ancient days. And Paul certainly did not chop his material into
pieces! It was not until the early thirteenth century that the
chapter and verse designations, at least as we know them, were
instituted.
Here's today's text, Hebrews 5:11
through Hebrews 6:12. I will carefully mark the front and back
of our paragraph, making it easier to see the inclusio.
"Of
whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered,
seeing ye are dull of
hearing. 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. For every one that
useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for
he is a babe. 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. 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, of the doctrine of
baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God
permit. For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of
God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall
away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify
to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an
open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh
oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it
is dressed, receiveth blessing from God. But that which beareth
thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto
cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are
persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany
salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not
unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye
have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the
saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do
shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the
end: that ye be not
slothful, but followers of them who through faith and
patience inherit the promises."
The first verse: "Ye are dull of
hearing!" In the Greek Textus Receptus that's spelled "ginomai
nothros akoe"
The last verse: "That ye be not
slothful." In the Greek "hina me ginomai nothros."
See it, the similarity?
"Ginomai nothros"
is clearly mirrored in our Lesson!
Using the same clause, initially
it's "dullness!" At the end it's "slothfulness!" But in reality
Paul has used the very same expression in both places!
The Apostle is preaching a great
Sermon here, one about the dangers of spiritual "dullness!"
About how we must avoid "sloth" or "laziness" as we try to live
for Jesus!
Grow in Christ!
Leave the milk of the word. Develop
a taste for the meat of God's Book too!
That was the message for the Hebrew
people in the first century, shortly after Jesus' Resurrection.
And that's still the message for us today!
Living for Jesus ... serious
business!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 8, THE GREAT MELCHISEDEC INCLUSIO,
PART ONE:
Yes, it's another "inclusio" in
Hebrews. One that's visible not only in Greek, but English as
well. And this is the paragraph that arouses the most interest
too, about Melchisedec. I'll now be using the New Testament
spelling, rather than the Old Testament's "Melchizedek."
"For
this Melchisedec,
king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who
met
Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed
him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being
by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also
King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without father, without
mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor
end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest
continually. Now consider how great this man was, unto
whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the
office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of
the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren,
though they come out of the loins of Abraham. But he whose
descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and
blessed him that had the promises. And without all contradiction
the less is blessed of the better. And here men that die receive
tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is
witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say, Levi also, who
receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he was yet in the
loins of his father, when
Melchisedec met
him."
Hebrews 7:1-10
The inclusio members at the head and
tail of our Text of course must be identical. And they are.
Verse 7 tells us that "Melchisedec met
Abraham." That was about three thousand years ago! And
verse 10 tells us again that "Melchisedec
met Abraham." Clearly marking the head and tail of our
Passage, making study or preaching or teaching much easier! At
least we know the best place to begin and end our deliberation!
In Greek our pertinent words are:
"Melchisedec sunantao Abraam," and
"Melchisedec sunantao autos." The
"autos" is simply a pronoun, "him," meaning Abraham.
But now that Melchisedec has been
fully introduced, the whole lengthy paragraph is about him, who
is he? What is he teaching us?
He certainly pictures Jesus in some
way, or he would not even be mentioned in this Christ-centered
Book, in Hebrews.
What's a priest's job, anyway? The
Text regularly speaks of Aaron as a priest and then Melchisedec
as one too. The priest is a man who can somehow go into the
presence of God ... for sinful humanity.
Although Jesus is lacking in nothing
as far as being a High Priest in the sense of Aaron, Israel's
first hero to hold that office ... Jesus' priesthood must be
eternal, something human priests could not achieve. They
died off every generation!
Tomorrow we will study yet again
this man Melchisedec. This is the first time any Hebrews Lesson
has been extended like this. But so many questions are asked
about Melchisedec, we must consider him a bit.
Paul here is referring to two Old
Testament Passages. In fact there are only two that mention this
man. Genesis 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4, anything we're going to
learn about Melchisedec must be gleaned from these places.
But let me today show you something
anyway. Paul, led by the Holy Spirit, makes a fundamental
argument about Melchisedec from the "silence" of the
Scriptures! I have on occasion when preaching reminded the
people "Read the Bible for what it says and for what it does
not say too!"
No genealogy for Melchisedec is
listed in the Old Testament, only silence about the man's
parentage or offspring. He is thus
"without father, without mother, without descent." His
date of birth or death are not recorded either, yet he certainly
appears to be a man. So now Paul lists him
"having neither beginning of days, nor end of life."
Teaching vital truths ... about a
"key" type of Christ ... basing critical Bible doctrine on ...
the "silences" of the old Testament!
Wow!
I doubt many hermeneutics texts
include this principle of interpretation! But do remember Paul
is being directly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Lord willing, more tomorrow, about
Melchisedec.
Meanwhile keep in mind that Jesus
our great High Priest is serving, working this very hour ... to
aid us Believers in our Christian walk! He's praying for us.
He's defending us against the attacks of the devil. And He's
coming back to get us one of these days too!
Praise His Dear Name.
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 9, MELCHISEDEC, PART TWO:
Melchisedec was an actual person,
contemporary with Abraham. He is only mentioned in three
different places in the whole Bible, three different Books.
Those are Genesis, Psalms and Hebrews.
The meaning of his name is
significant. It blends the Hebrew nouns for "king" and
"righteousness." No wonder he is linked to Jesus, compared
favorably with our Lord, both by David and Paul.
One Biblical Scholar says that
Melchisedec is the "most characteristic" thought of the whole
Epistle of Hebrews. That's the place where the Holy Spirit most
meticulously applies this man's life to that of our Saviour's
current Ministry as our great High Priest!
Genesis 14:18-20 records the "first
mention" of the king/priest. Abraham is returning, victoriously,
from a battle. He had just defeated a four-king confederacy that
had kidnapped Lot. It's then that our mystery man appears.
"And
Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he
was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him,
and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,
possessor of heaven and earth. And blessed be the most high God,
which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave
him tithes of all."
He's a king.
He's a priest.
Those two offices could not be held
by the same person in ancient Israel. But Melchizedek did! By
the way, so does Jesus!
He served bread and wine.
That's what Jesus did in the past,
and will do again in the future ... in His Kingdom! What a
communion service that will be!
He received tithes of Abraham. Our
Lord also is worthy to receive our gifts and honor and worship
evermore!
Then Psalm 110:4 next tells us,
promising Jesus: "The
LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest
for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
Jesus as a Priest will not pattern
His work solely after that of Aaron, the initial High Priest of
Israel! Jesus' Priesthood will be like that of Melchizedek, Old
Testament spelling. And that's a promise from God the Father to
his only begotten Son!
But Hebrews chapter 7 is our main
seed-bed of information and application about Melchisedec, New
Testament spelling. "For
this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God,
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and
blessed him; to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all;
first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after
that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; without
father, without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son
of God; abideth a priest continually. Now consider how great
this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave
the tenth of the spoils. And verily they that are of the sons of
Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a
commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law,
that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of
Abraham. But he whose descent is not counted from them received
tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises. And
without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better. And
here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them,
of whom it is witnessed that he liveth. And as I may so say,
Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. For he
was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him. If
therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for under
it the people received the law, what further need was there
that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the
priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change
also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken
pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at
the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of
Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after
the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an
endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for
ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a
disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness
and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect,
but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we
draw nigh unto God. And inasmuch as not without an oath he
was made priest: for those priests were made without an
oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord
sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedec. By so much was Jesus made a
surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests,
because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an
unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them
to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever
liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest
became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate
from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. Who needeth not
daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for
his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once,
when he offered up himself. for the law maketh men high priests
which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since
the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for
evermore." Hebrews 7:1-28
Melchisedec is King of a place
called "Salem," meaning "peace" in Hebrew! So is Jesus King of
Heaven, the Place of Peace!
The man has no recorded
mother or father or no recorded beginning of days! These
facts about him are not entered into the Scriptural account!
Clearly hinting at the fact that Jesus is eternal!
Aaron's priesthood was required to give the names of both mother
and father and tribal affiliations too ... Jesus is the very Son
of God! And that's enough!
Melchisedec is not Jesus, but
is a human type of Jesus! I base that partly on verse 15 which
says that Jesus came "after the
similitude" of Melchisedec, "like" him!
Aaron was made priest by simple
ceremony, Jesus by a direct "oath" of Almighty God! Verse 21 is
specific here: "For
those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath
by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not
repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec."
The Aaronic system kept having to
change High Priests, due to the deaths of these good men. Jesus
is High Priest eternally! After His Resurrection, He is alive
forevermore! We will never be required to get another High
Priest! He is permanently so, our Lord Jesus!
And here's the best news of all
about our Champion: "Wherefore
Jesus is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto
God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for
them." Hebrews 7:25, amen!
And a short statement of our High
Priest's character: "For
such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens." Hebrews 7:26
Plus this, Aaron and his sons were
required by law not only to make sacrifice for the sins of the
people, but for their own sins too!
"Jesus
Who needeth
not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first
for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did
once, when he offered up himself." Hebrews 7:27
Wow!
Melchisedec, a picture or symbol or
type of our Lord Jesus Christ ... in His successful Ministry as
High Priest for His people!
Hebrews, the Epistle, is more
precious to me this morning than ever! Oh, how I want to preach
this little Book!
It's all about Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
Let's thank God all week-end for our
Lord and His three-fold Ministry as Prophet, King and High
Priest!
Aren't you glad you're saved?
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 10, THE HEBREWS 7:11-28 INCLUSIO:
The book of Hebrews has so very much
to say about the priesthood that one may safely assume
its critical priority in the ways of God.
The Epistle clearly recognizes the
Old Testament office of priest as fulfilled by Aaron, Brother of
Moses, and his sons. But then suddenly, another priest emerges
in Hebrews, one barely mentioned in the Old Testament. His name
is Melchisedec.
Much of Hebrews centers on these two
men, and the One they picture, the One they symbolize ... Jesus
our Lord, the Son of God.
In Hebrews 7:11-28 yet another "inclusio"
is introduced, still teaching us about the priests of ancient
Israel.
Since yesterday we discussed some of
the specifics about Aaron and Melchisedec, their relationship to
each other ... I will merely show you the inclusio that groups
another set of verses, "priest verses," together.
Hebrews 7:11 says:
"If
therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, for under
it the people received the law, what further need was there
that another priest should rise after the order of
Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?"
And Hebrews 7:28 correspondingly
echoes: "For
the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the
word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the
Son, who is consecrated for evermore."
Each member of this set of literary
bookends contains the words for "priesthood, priest and high
priests," all cognate terms, related.
Each also uses the Greek word for "law,"
which is "nomos."
And each also incorporates the "teleioo"
family of words. Meaning "perfection or consecration" in
our verses.
Three indicators!
Showing us that the Hebrews 7:11-28
paragraph is to begin and end just there. The Holy Spirit has
again given us the front and back doors to a unit of
God's Word!
And what do these verses say, all
eighteen of them?
That Aaron's priesthood, good as it
was, failed in many ways. But that the Melchisedec priesthood,
being superior, did not fail! With Jesus being declared by God
the Father as the Perfect, Supreme, Unique Head of that
Priesthood!
Not from the Tribe of Levi, either.
As was Aaron and his sons, by law. But Jesus is from Judah, the
Kingly Tribe, and blazes a new, God-approved, trail as our great
High Priest!
Aaron's priests all died, no matter
how long they served in the Tabernacle or Temple. But Jesus has
an endless Life, raised from the grave never to die again!
Aaron represents the Old Testament.
Jesus is the New Testament.
Jesus is better!
I've said enough today. We'll let
Hebrews 7, its final verses, tell us the rest. Concerning the
Excellency of our Lord Jesus, our great High Priest.
"Wherefore
He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God
by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. For
such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless,
undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens. Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer
up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's:
for this He did once, when He offered up himself. For the law
maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of
the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, Who is
consecrated for evermore."
Amen!
Jesus not only died for us.
He's living for us too!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 11, HEBREWS 8:7-13 INCLUSIO:
Today our Hebrews Text is found in
the eighth chapter of that great little Epistle.
"For
if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no
place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with
them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I
will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the
house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with
their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead
them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my
covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this
is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their
mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a
God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach
every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know
the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins
and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith,
A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that
which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away."
Hebrews 8:7-13
The paragraph both begins and ends
with the thought of a "first" covenant, or an "old" covenant.
Also the need for a "new" or a "second" covenant emerges. These
features "enclose" the whole text like "bookends" keep a shelf
of one's library in order.
Basically we are being told that the
Old Covenant was weak. It could not be obeyed by mankind, mostly
due to the fact of our old propensities to sin.
So our great God is providing a New
Covenant! Jesus is the Author of this Way to Heaven!
The Old Covenant merely covered
sin.
Jesus forgives sin!
The Old Covenant failed.
The New Covenant wonderfully
succeeds!
This particular Text paints a bright
future for Israel! She is going, some day, to be saved! To trust
Jesus!
By the way, the Greek noun
"covenant" is instructive here. "Diatheke" means an "agreement."
A valid "arrangement" ratified by both parties involved.
In New Testament terms, this sounds
like "salvation" to me!
God provided the Plan.
Through the Blood of the Lord Jesus.
And one day, being convicted by the
holy Spirit, I believed, accepted!
I was saved by the Grace of God!
Yes, Jesus is "better" than the Old
Covenant!
Here's proof, though the Verse
precedes our inclusio today, barely. "But
now hath he, Jesus, obtained a more excellent ministry, by how
much also He is the mediator of a
better covenant,
which was established upon better promises."
Hebrews 8:6
Amen!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 12, THE HEBREWS 9:1-10 INCLUSIO:
Hebrews chapter number nine is, to
me anyway, one of the GREAT Chapters of Scripture. One of my
favorite!
Lord willing, today and tomorrow we
shall survey that awesome block of the Word of God, twenty-eight
verses.
There is an "inclusio" device
marking the beginning and end of the first unit of chapter nine.
A very impressive "parenthesis" arrangement!
"Then
verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine
service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle
made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the
table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And
after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the
Holiest of all. Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the
covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the
golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the
tables of the covenant. And over it the cherubims of glory
shadowing the mercyseat; of which we cannot now speak
particularly. Now when these things were thus ordained, the
priests went always into the first tabernacle, accomplishing the
service of God. But into the second went the high
priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he
offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.
The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of
all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was
yet standing: which was a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that
could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining
to the conscience; which stood only in meats and drinks,
and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them
until the time of reformation."
Hebrews 9:1-10
The "mirror" words that outline the
perimeter of our Text are easily spotted. identical in fact!
Verse 1:
"Then
verily the first covenant had also
ordinances
of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary."
Verse 10:
"Which stood
only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal
ordinances,
imposed on them until the time of reformation."
The word "ordinances" as used twice
here is rare in the New Testament, this particular Greek word
anyway. "Dikaioma" most basically means a "custom" or "common
usage." That's the heart of the root word "dike."
The author of Hebrews is teaching us
about the Old Testament way, the ritual of the Tabernacle ...
and how those types and pictures merely "pointed" to Something
more substantial!
To the Real Thing, to Jesus!
Read this ten-verse pericope again,
Hebrews 9:1-10. Then thank God the time of "reformation" has
come! The last verse again,
"Which stood only in
meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances,
imposed on them until the time of reformation."
Not some historical reformation
dealing with Catholics and so-called Protestants ... but the
Days when Jesus walked this earth and shed His Blood that
sinners might be saved!
That word for "reformation" is "diorthosis,"
a time when Jesus would come and "make things straight!"
Praise the Lord!
That's what He did on the Cross!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 13, THE HEBREWS 9:11-28 INCLUSIO:
Hebrews 9 is marked with two
separate "inclusio" paragraphs. The second, the longest, speaks
beautifully of our Lord as our great High Priest.
Beginning at verse 11 and ending at
verse 28, this inspired Unit of Scripture magnificently exalts
our Lord.
The front door:
"But
Christ being come an high priest of good things to come,
by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands,
that is to say, not of this building."
The rear: "So
Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them
that look for him shall he appear the second time without
sin unto salvation."
The beginning Truth (verse 11) here
mentions Jesus in His First Coming!
The last Truth (verse 28) clearly
talks about Jesus in His Second Coming!
And what does this vast pericope,
this fundamental text, talk about in the middle? It teaches us
what Jesus is doing presently, between His two Comings!
"For
Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands,
which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself,
now to appear in the presence of God for us."
Verse 24
Wow!
This arrangement of Scripture is so
attractive ... makes me want to preach it soon!
What an Epistle, Hebrews.
What a Saviour, Jesus.
Bless His Name today!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 14, THE HEBREWS 10:1-14 INCLUSIO:
Hebrews chapter 10, its first half
anyway, presents to us one of the most dramatic "inclusio"
structures in the whole Book. The Holy Spirit clearly shows us
where one of His thought sequences begins and ends.
Here's Hebrews 10:1, word for word:
"For
the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not
the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices
which they offered year by year continually make the comers
thereunto perfect."
And here's the last verse of the
Text, verse 14 actually: "For
by one offering Jesus hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified."
Here the "key" word family is "perfect,"
that or one of its cognates. The Old Testament Law, the Law of
Moses, could never make its "comers" PERFECT! That's
where this magnificent thought starts.
But fourteen verses later ... we
have met Jesus! And His Offering, His Vicarious Death on the
Cross of Calvary, "hath
perfected" all those who have believed on Him!
Wow!
And that little Greek word for
"perfected" is "teleioo," simply meaning "made complete!" Or
"fully accomplished!"
Because of Jesus ... we are as saved
as God can make us! Nothing is lacking for our soul's
redemption!
Moses failed.
Sinful flesh came up short.
JESUS CAME.
He shed His Blood!
Salvation is now fully provided ...
to all who come to the Saviour, believing on Him for eternal
life.
That's the great Story of Hebrews
10:1-14, one of the greatest portions of Scripture in all the
Word of God!
Hallelujah!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 15, THE HEBREWS 11 INCLUSIO:
The Epistle of Hebrews even has an "inclusio"
structure marking its best-known chapter! That great treatise of
faith, Hebrews 11.
Let me show you, although preaching
that whole Text in one sitting would be quite a challenge!
Hebrews 11:1-2, the introduction:
"Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report."
Hebrews 11:39-40, the conclusion:
"And
these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise. God having provided some better thing
for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
The "good report" commonality is
obvious at both the head and tail of Hebrews 11. Also the
occurrence of the noun "faith." But there's more, especially
when noting the Greek text.
The Textus Receptus, the Greek
manuscript from which the King James translators worked, uses
three words that match the chapter's first and last verses. "Martureo"
(report, when a noun) and "pistis" (faith) and "blepo" (seeing
or providing) are those words. These words or forms of these
words were used by the holy Spirit to give Hebrews 11 a proper
introduction and conclusion.
A chapter that talks about the faith
of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph,
Moses, Joshua, Rahab and many others, unnamed and often
unidentifiable.
But more than these people, great as
they were, Hebrews 11 extols the virtue of faith itself
in the Christian life.
Verse 1 says that "faith" is the
very essence of Christianity, our resting on the Foundation of
Jesus Christ the Son of God. But that last verse, verse 39 is
perhaps the most astounding of the whole unit. It implies ... no
it really says directly ... that we who are saved by Grace in
this new Testament era, since Calvary, have "better"
things than the Old Testament believers ever did!
Wow!
"God having provided some better
thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect."
That "better thing" must be the
completed Word of God!
That "better thing" must also
include the indwelling Holy Spirit, Whom we can know in
delightful fullness!
That "better thing" is assuredly
Jesus sitting at God's Right Hand, serving as our great High
Priest this very second!
Let's think on these things today.
Gifts from our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Best of all!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 16, EXPOSITION AND EXHORTATION, A
PATTERN IN HEBREWS:
I have learned in this quick little
"trip" through Hebrews that the Book is much more "expositional"
than at first thought. This Epistle is almost a commentary
on the Old Testament, much of it anyway. It quotes then explains
block after block of the Hebrew Bible.
But, and this is significant,
Hebrews is not all exposition. It does more than just
teach God's Word, explaining its glorious concepts one after
another. The exposition is broken up by little interludes of "encouragement,"
often called "exhortation."
Here's what I'm saying. The Holy
Spirit in Hebrews "balances" teaching with application!
We learn something about Godly
living.
Then we are taught to go out and
practice that truth!
It's the old James 1:22 syndrome, be
not only "hearers" of the Word ... but "doers" as well.
Exposition ... hearing, learning,
studying intently!
Exhortation ... encouragement to
diligently obey what we have ingested from the Scriptures.
Let me give you a quick but accurate
example.
Hebrews chapter 1 is exposition,
teaching us all about Jesus. He is God's Son, Heir of all
things, Creator of the world, the Brightness of God's Glory and
the Express Image of God's Person! Furthermore Jesus is better
than all the angels. And our Lord is too a coming King, and
already a High Priest, sitting at the Father's Right Hand this
very second!
But now, after we have learned these
things ...
Hebrews chapter 2 is exhortation,
urging us to apply these facts to our daily living. Here's a
typical Hebraic exhortation: "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."
Hebrews 2:1, be
faithful! Don't quit! Then our verse is immediately followed by
three other verses of encouragement.
Learn ... then do!
The thrust of all God's Word!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
LESSON 17, CONCLUSION:
I still learn from the Bible every
week. What a Book it is! In reading a little textbook recently
about Hebrews, its author demonstrated how that sweet New
Testament Epistle is cleverly divided into grammatical "shifts"
... where one section differs from its predecessor or successor
in several different ways.
In fact, some of these "shifts"
differ in seven or eight aspects, again in reference to grammar.
Oh yes, Preachers need to be conscious not only that the Holy
Spirit is the Author of the Word of God, but also that He is a
great Composer, a great Teacher of the parts of speech and their
properties!
Can you imagine this? Two adjoining
paragraphs of the Bible differing in topic, actor, subject,
verb, tense, mood, person, number (singular or plural), and
other even more minute areas too!
Here's one location, one text
grouping, as an example for you to study. There is a shift
between Hebrews 2:18 and Hebrews 3:1, adjoining verses except
for the chapter division.
"For
in that He himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to
succour them that are tempted." Hebrews chapter 2, last
verse, number 18.
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of
the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus." Hebrews 3:1, the first
verse.
These two sentences differ in the
following ways, enough to make any Bible student pause and take
note!
The first is exposition. The second
is exhortation. See yesterday's Lesson for more
information about these terms.
Next, Hebrews 2:18 is third person,
talking about Jesus. Hebrews 3:1 is second person, talking to
the "holy brethren."
Also the first verse is aorist
(past) tense, Jesus suffered on the Cross two thousand years
ago. The last verse is present tense, at least in English,
teaching us to keep our minds of Jesus!
And the points of difference
continue for a while!
What I'm trying say today is this.
While none of us is a scholar in the classical academic sense,
we can all spot some of these differences in paragraphs
of the Bible. And when we do ... we can build our messages and
lessons and talks and devotionals around these units of
Scripture ... thus rightly dividing the Word of God!
Plus this, it's delightful looking
for the many various ways the Holy Spirit writes! He really is
the Perfect Author of Scripture!
Happy hunting!
--- Dr. Mike Bagwell
