A Seminarian's View of Hebrews

Some of you may have found this month's introduction to Hebrews especially interesting, and may want to know more. If so, consider the iTunes U free course on the Theology of Hebrews which offers a Seminary-level overview of the course.

It is offered free of charge by Westminster Theological Seminary. Check it out!

PHOTO: Bible as Sculpture?

Congrats, Jessica!

One more congratulations is due to former quizzer and current graduate, Jessica, on her completion of the high school experience. May your future be blessed and happy, and may you live a life of constant learning and accomplishment!

There's such a thing as being TOO literal

HUMOR: The Landlord

Not mine. From here.

A big, burly man visited the pastor's home and asked to see the minister's wife, a woman well known for her charitable impulses.

"Madam," he said in a broken voice, "I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to $400."

"How terrible!" exclaimed the preacher's wife.

"May I ask who you are?"

The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes. "I'm the landlord," he sobbed.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Flood

To each their own

The Theology of the Book of Hebrews

As we study the book of Hebrews, it will be helpful to understand the grand story that the write is trying to tell. What is the theology of the book of Hebrews? What point is he trying to make?

The theological epicenter of the Epistle to the Hebrews may be summed up in one word: Christology. No biblical document outside of the four Gospels focuses as totally and forcefully on the person and redemptive achievement of Jesus. Likely this factor more than any other secured its prominent place in the early church's canon of Scripture in spite of doubts concerning its apostolic origin in the West (Carthage and Rome) prior to the fourth century. Eastern Christendom appears to have regarded it as Pauline from the beginning.

PHOTO: Biblical Origami

HUMOR: Millions

Not mine. From here.

Two friends greeted each other while waiting their turn at the bank window.

"This reminds me of Finnegan," remarked one.

"What about Finnegan?" inquired the other.

"There's a story that Finnegan died, and when he greeted the Apostle Peter, he said: 'It's a fine job you've had here for a long time.'
'Well, Finnegan,' said Peter, 'Here we count a million years as a minute and a million dollars as a cent.'
'Ah!' said Finnegan, 'I'm needing cash. Lend me a cent.'
'Sure,' said Peter, 'just wait a minute.'"

Congratulations, P-Dawg!

Congratulations today go out to P-Dawg on his graduation from high school! Well-done on so many years of hard work, and our prayers that from here on out is a future of joy and of opportunity!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Fathers Day to all of the Quiz Team Dads. Thanks for encouraging us, keeping us honest, protecting us, and supporting us every day, every week, every month, every year.

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Before There Was Time

The liveliest catch?

Outline of the Book of Hebrews

One of the most useful methods for studying and understanding a book is to produce an outline which shows its basic structure. Bible.Org has a great outline of Hebrews which is worth bookmarking as you work thru your studying.

I. The Theological Basis for Christ’s Superiority (1:1–10:18)

A. Christ is Superior to the Prophets (1:1-4)
B. Christ is Superior to the Angels (1:5–2:18)
C. Christ is Superior to Moses (3:1–4:13)
D. Christ is Superior to Aaron (4:14–7:28)
E. Christ’s Ministry is Superior to the Old Covenant Ministry (8:1–10:18)


II. The Practical Outworking of Christ’s Superiority (10:19–13:17)

A. Exhortation to Enter the New Sanctuary (10:19-31)
B. Exhortation to Endure Persecution (10:32-39)
C. Examples of Faith (11:1-40)
D. Exhortation to Endure Chastening (12:1-29)
E. Exhortation for Christian Living (13:1-17)


III. Concluding Instructions (13:18-25)

A. Request for Prayer (13:18-19)
B. Prayer for Readers (13:20-21)
C. Final Exhortation (13:22)
D. Timothy’s Release (13:23)
E. Final Greetings and Benediction (13:24-25)

PHOTO: Ancient Ethiopian Bible

No that's NOT in the Bible!

One the advantages of being a Bible Quizzer is learning what really is in the Bible. As our culture becomes more secular, this requires more and more work, because biblical quotes and ideas can't be picked up everywhere. But sometimes culture is wrong as it attributes quotes to the Bible that simply are not there. Indeed, there are many, many quotes that are attributed to scripture but are actually from men and women.

Some of the most popular faux verses are pithy paraphrases of biblical concepts or bits of folk wisdom.

Consider these two:

“God works in mysterious ways.”

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

Both sound as if they are taken from the Bible, but they’re not. The first is a paraphrase of a 19th century hymn by the English poet William Cowper (“God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform).

The “cleanliness” passage was coined by John Wesley, the 18th century evangelist who founded Methodism, says Thomas Kidd, a history professor at Baylor University in Texas.

“No matter if John Wesley or someone else came up with a wise saying - if it sounds proverbish, people figure it must come from the Bible,” Kidd says.

HUMOR: Analogies

Not mine. From here.

Pastor's prayer: "May the members of my congregation be as free with their money as they are with their advice, and may their minds be open as their mouths".

Today is Pentecost Sunday!

Today is the traditional celebration of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the Apostles.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Acts 2:1-13

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: In the Light

By their fruits...

Who wrote the book of Hebrews?

Most books of the Bible have come down to us with authorship well-established. The first four books of the New Testament are titled by the names of their authors (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). And most of the letters from Paul actually state internally that they came from the great Apostle. But Hebrews is different. It starts right out into logical argument, and never identifies the author.

There are many theories as to the writer, which are worth checking out. The majority views tend to be either Paul, Barnabus, Silas, or some other student of Paul transcribing the apostle's thoughts into his/her own words.

Is it important who the author is? Yes and no. It is good to know the authorship to understand the writer's motivations, background, and context. But it is not necessary as the early church applied strict rules to which books made it into the scriptural canon, and can be trusted to have made sure this letter - like the others in the Bible - came from someone who knew Jesus and was a true Christian.

PHOTO: Picture Bible - The Tower of Babel

MUSICAL INTERLUDE: Faceless

HUMOR: Whale of a Question

Not mine. From here.

A little girl spoke to her teacher about whales.

The teacher said it was physically impossible for a whale to swallow a human because even though it is a very large mammal, its throat is very small.

The little girl said, "But how can that be? Jonah was swallowed by a whale."

Irritated, the teacher reiterated that a whale could not swallow a human. "It is physically impossible!" she said.

Undaunted, the little girl said, "Well, when I get to heaven I will ask Jonah."

To this, the teacher said, "What if Jonah went to hell?"

"Then you can ask him."

Congratulations, Brain!

Congratulations to former quizzer Brain on her graduation from high school today! We wish you all the best, and are praying the days to come are full of joy and accomplishment.

Happy Ascension Day!

While most protestants do not celebrate it, today is Ascension Day, the day when the christian church has historically celebrated Jesus's ascent into Heaven after his resurrection!

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Luke 24:50-53

Congratulations, Darth Nader!

Congratulations go out today to Darth Nader on his graduation from high school! A hearty well-done for the work behind you, and our prayers for a blessed and happy life ahead of you.

Control-Z

INTRODUCTION: The Book of Hebrews

John McArthur has produced an excellent introduction to Hebrews which outlines many of the basics of this fascinating and challenging book. Click on over!

When the various NT books were formally brought together into one collection shortly after A.D. 100, the titles were added for convenience. This epistle’s title bears the traditional Greek title, “To the Hebrews,” which was attested by at least the second century A.D. Within the epistle itself, however, there is no identification of the recipients as either Hebrews (Jews) or Gentiles. Since the epistle is filled with references to Hebrew history and religion and does not address any particular Gentile or pagan practice, the traditional title has been maintained.

PHOTO: Illuminated Manuscript (Bible)