In the past God spoke to His people through prophets and other ways, but in our times, He has spoken to us through His Son whom He appointed as the heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. The Son radiates God’s glory, represents God’s being, and sustains all things by His word. Jesus purified our sins and now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven.
Jesus is superior to the angels because God called him his son; God said he is the Father to Jesus; Let all God’s angels worship him; God makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.
God has set Jesus above your companions by anointing him with the oil of joy. His throne will last forever and righteousness shall be his scepter.
God will always remain, unchanging, as the Creator of heavens and the earth.
Jesus sits at God’s right hand; no angel does.
Angels are ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 2: Hebrews 1
3) Part personal Question. My answer: Jesus is superior to the angels because God called him his son; God said he is the Father to Jesus; Let all God’s angels worship him; God makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire. God has set Jesus above your companions by anointing him with the oil of joy. His throne will last forever and righteousness shall be his scepter. Jesus sits at God’s right hand. Jesus is King.
4) Part personal Question. My answer: Jesus is superior to the angels because God called him his son; God said he is the Father to Jesus; Let all God’s angels worship him; God makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire. God has set Jesus above your companions by anointing him with the oil of joy. His throne will last forever and righteousness shall be his scepter. God will always remain, unchanging, as the Creator of heavens and the earth. Jesus sits at God’s right hand; no angel does. Angels are ministering spirits, sent to serve those who will inherit salvation. I learn that God and Jesus are above all else.
5) Part personal Question. My answer: God’s plan has been unfolding since the beginning of time, and His plan has culminated with Jesus coming to us here on earth. Utmost confidence.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 2: Hebrews 1
We spent 3 days on Hebrews 1 in 2012.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 2: Hebrews 1
In ancient times, people freely accepted the existence of angels and honored and respected them. Stories of how angels had helped Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Balaam, and Daniel were frequently told by the Jewish people. Several New Testament letters warn against the practice of worshipping angels. Here, the author of Hebrews is showing how Jesus is superior to angels by showing how angels served Jesus.
Fun Fact: Hebrews has 29 quotations and 53 allusions to the Old Testament, for a total of 82 references.
Great Video on Hebrews!
The Book of Hebrews
The structure of the Book of Hebrews is different from other New Testament books. It begins like an essay, continues as a sermon, and ends like a letter.
Hebrews is a book to help discouraged Christians continue on strong with Jesus in light of the complete superiority of who He is and what He did for us.
The book of Hebrews is the God the Father telling us what God the Son is all about.
Jesus is the message from God to us.
Seven Reasons for Jesus as the Son
Heir of all things
He made the worlds and the ages
He is God’s brightness
Jesus represents God
The power of his words
He forgives us of our sins
He sits at God’s right hand
For all these reasons, Jesus is superior to angels.
There was a dangerous tendency to worship angels developing in the early Church (Colossians 2:18, Galatians 1:8), and Hebrews shows that Jesus is high above any angel. The Jews venerated angels because of their place in the giving of the Law (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19).
There was the heretical idea that Jesus Himself was an angel, a concept that degrades His glory and majesty.
Reasons Jesus is Superior to Angels
Jesus is the Son of God Psalm 2:7; 2 Samuel 7:14
Angels worship and serve Jesus in Deuteronomy 32:43; Psalm 104:4
God calls Jesus God and Lord (Yahweh) in Psalm 45:6-7; 102:25-27
Jesus sat down, having completed his work, while the angels continue on in Psalm 110:1. Angels stand before God; Jesus sits.
Angels are commanded to serve God, but He sends them to minister to us as well. How great is our God!
The writer of Hebrews quotes Psalm seven times to prove Jesus’s superiority to angels. Are you convinced?
We must pay more careful attention to God’s gift of Salvation and the Holy Spirit lest we drift away.
While Jesus was a little lower than angels for a time, mankind was crowned with glory and honor and everything was put under his feet, making everything subject to him. After Jesus’ death, this changed. Now, Jesus is crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death for everyone through the grace of God.
Jesus was made perfect through suffering, which brought man salvation. Jesus and us (mankind) are now of the same family, called brothers.
Since Jesus was flesh and blood, his death destroyed the power of death (the Devil) and freed us from the fear of death. Jesus had to become our brother (like us in every way) to make atonement for our sins. Jesus suffered while tempted so he helps mankind who suffers when they are tempted.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 3: Hebrews 2
6) Part Personal Question. My answer: He died for all of us so that we may live forever. His death destroyed the devil by dying for our sins and atoning for them. Jesus is full of grace to die for us.
7) We must pay more careful attention to God’s word, God’s gift of Salvation, and the Holy Spirit lest we drift away.
8 ) Personal Question. My answer: I struggle with the temptation to sin every day. Knowing I’m forgiven makes my sins and mistakes a bit easier to bear.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 3: Hebrews 2
We spent 2 days on Hebrews 2 in 2012.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 3: Hebrews 2
Why Did Jesus Have to Become Human?
By dying, Jesus freed us from the power of death and won for us eternal life free of our problems
Jesus can understand our temptations since he himself was tempted
Jesus freed us from the slavery of sin and from the constant fear of death.
We must pay attention lest we drift (like a boat that is not anchored in God’s word). Most people slowly drift from God. Christ must be our anchor to prevent this.
Hebrews was written not primarily as evangelism, but as an encouragement and warning to discouraged Christians. It was written to those who neglected an abiding walk with Jesus.
God does confirm His word with various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
We know Jesus is human because God put the world subject to man, not angels (Psalm 8:4-6).
In Hebrews 1, the writer of Hebrews brilliantly demonstrated from the Scriptures the deity of Jesus and His superiority over all angels. Now he demonstrates the humanity of Jesus from the Scriptures and applies the implications of Jesus’ humanity.
It is Biblically wrong to think of Jesus as merely God or merely man. It is wrong to think of Him as half God and half man (or any other percentage split). It is wrong to think of Him as “man on the outside” and “God on the inside.” The Bible teaches Jesus is fully God and fully man, that a human nature was added to His divine nature, and both natures existed in one Person, Jesus Christ.
The first false teaching about Jesus in the days of the early church did not deny that He was God, but it denied that He was really human and said He only seemed to be human. The heresy was called Docetism, coming from the ancient Greek word “to seem,” and was taught by Cerinthus, who opposed the apostle John in the city of Ephesus and whose teaching is probably the focus of 1 John 4:2 and 1 John 5:6.
God put all things (not some things) under subjection to human beings. This shows that Jesus must be human, because God gave this dominion to humans and Jesus exercises this authority.
Jesus is the Answer
The answers to life’s most perplexing questions are not found in asking “Why?” The greatest answer is a Who – Jesus Christ.
“Faith is the eye of the soul. It is the act of looking unto Jesus.” (Spurgeon)
God gave man dominion over the earth, but man forfeited his power (not his right or authority) to take that dominion through sin, and the principle of death took away the power to rule. But Jesus came and through His humility and suffering He defeated the power of death and made possible the fulfillment of God’s promise that humans will have dominion over the earth – fulfilled both through Jesus’ own dominion, and the rule of believers with Him (Revelation 20:4).
By Jesus suffering for us, we see that real love, real giving, involves sacrifice.
Many translations say captain of their salvation, instead of author. A captain connotates authority, leadership, commands, encourages, rewards, and sacrifices. It’s a much stronger and a more accurate translation here.
Jesus took away Satan’s “right” to rule by allowing Satan to “unlawfully” take Jesus’ life on the cross, and Satan’s “unlawful” action against Jesus forfeited his right to rule over man. In this thinking, the end result is that the devil has no right over those who come to God through Jesus’ work on the cross.
Seed of Abraham is used here in the sense of those who are Abraham’s children inwardly, not ethnically (Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 3:7).
Jesus is Our High Priest
The High Priest wore a breastplate with stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel on both his chest and his shoulders. The High Priest was therefore in constant sympathy with the people of God, carrying them on his heart and on his shoulders.
Because Jesus added humanity to His deity and experienced human suffering, He is able to help us in temptation. He knows what we are going through.
We see Jesus’ example of being tempted.
We have his assistance when we are tempted, providing strength and a way of escape.
With these we can find victory in the midst of temptation and come out better from being tempted.
Jesus did not lose anything from being tempted – He only gained in glory and sympathy and ability to help His people. In the same way, we do not have to lose anything when we are tempted.
God promises we will enter His rest if we have faith. God rested from all His work on the seventh day so there remains a Sabbath-rest for God’s people. Just as God rested from His work so can we. Let everyone make every effort to enter this rest.
God’s word is living and active; it penetrates us to our soul; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing is hidden from God’s sight, and we must give account to Him for everything.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 5: Hebrews 4:1-13
12a) The promise God gives us of rest through faith (a spiritual rest) and the Sabbath-rest is rest from works as a basis for righteousness. Jesus’ death made us righteous with God. We not loner need to work to achieve it.
b) Part personal question. My answer: By faith in God repeatedly. We must continually rely on God and trust in Him in order to continue to have rest in Him. Otherwise we may fall just as the Israelites did. I would like to think so. As I get older, I get more and more grounded in my faith. I know in my heart I have faith in God and completely trust in Him; yet, at times I do get overwhelmed by circumstances and outwardly it can appear not so. But inwardly in my times of prayer, God knows even if I don’t. And that’s all that matters.
13) Personal Question. My answer: God’s word can give me rest. I should turn to it more when my mind is a tumultuous mess.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 5: Hebrews 4:1-13
I like the faith aspect of the last two days. Yesterday pointed out how unbelief yields to punishment. Today pointed out how continual faith results in God’s gift of rest to us–the rewards of belief if you will. Great juxtaposition of consequences versus rewards.
Again, a reminder of what Jesus’ death did for us: made us righteous with God so we could rest without having to work for it.
Another great part of this lesson was verses 12 and 13 that BSF did not touch on, which emphasized the power of God’s word and His omniscience. Even when we are so low we can’t hear anything, God’s word is always with us to remind us of His greatness until we are ready again to hear Him. For God knows our hearts and what we are going through and is there even when we don’t see.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 13, Day 5: Hebrews 4:1-13
It all comes down to belief. When you believe, you have rest; when you don’t believe, you don’t rest.
What is Rest?
The old Puritan commentator John Owen described five features of this rest for the believer:
Rest is peace with God.
Rest is freedom from sin.
Rest is God’s rest.
Rest is freedom from Mosaic law.
Rest is freedom of worship.
The mention of Joshua reminds us that the name “Jesus” is the same as “Joshua.” The second Joshua will finish what the first Joshua left unfinished.
The idea is that there is no longer any place for works as a basis for our own righteousness.
God’s original Sabbath of Genesis 2:2 signified the work was finished. We cease from self-justifying works because Jesus finished the work on the cross.
Let us therefore: This phrase, or this idea, appears repeatedly in the Book of Hebrews. A doctrinal truth is presented – in this case, the truth of a remaining rest available by faith – then the truth is applied.
The rest is there, but God does not force it upon us. We must enter that rest. Clearly, the rest is entered by faith; but it takes diligent faith.
God’s Word Is:
God’s word brings true health, fruitfulness, prosperity and success to what we do. (Psalm 1:3)
God’s word is a source of illumination and guidance. When God’s word comes in, light comes in. It makes the simple wise and understanding. (Psalm 119:105, Psalm 119:130)
God’s word gives peace to those who love it. They are secure, standing in a safe place. (Psalm 119:165)
When the word of God is heard and understood, it bears fruit. (Matthew 13:23)
The word of God has inherent power and authority against demonic powers. (Luke 4:36)
Jesus Himself – His eternal person – is described as the Word. When we are into the word of God, we are into Jesus. (John 1:1)
Hearing God’s Word is essential to eternal life. One cannot pass from death into life unless they hear the word of God. (John 5:24, James 1:21, 1 Peter 1:23)
Abiding – living in – God’s word is evidence of true discipleship. (John 8:31)
God’s word is the means to sanctification. (John 17:17)
The Holy Spirit can work with great power as the word of God is preached. (Acts 10:44)
Holding fast to the word of God gives assurance of salvation. (1 Corinthians 15:2)
The faithful handling of the word of God gives the ministers of the word a clear conscience. They know that they did all they could before God. (2 Corinthians 4:2, Philippians 2:16)
The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. It is equipment for spiritual battle, especially in the idea of an offensive weapon. (Ephesians 6:17)
The word of God comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, with “much assurance.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
The word of God sanctifies the very food we eat! (1 Timothy 4:5)
The word of God is not dead; it is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword. The word of God can probe us like a surgeon’s expert scalpel, cutting away what needs to be cut and keeping what needs to be kept. (Hebrews 4:12)
The Bible is alive, and God’s word reaches us with surprising precision, and the Holy Spirit empowers the ministry of the word to work deeply in our hearts.
“There is not a superfluous verse in the Bible, nor a chapter which is useless.” (Spurgeon)
Soul Versus Spirit
The Bible means different things with the terms soul and spirit. The Bible tells us that people have an “inner” and an “outer” nature (Genesis 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:16). The inner man is described by both the terms spirit (Acts 7:59, Matthew 26:41, John 4:23-24) and soul (1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 10:39). These two terms are often used the same way, as a general reference to the inner man. But this is not always the case. Sometimes a distinction is made between soul and spirit. We can say that soul seems to focus more on individuality regarding the inner life (often defined as the mind, the will, and the emotions). The spirit seems to focus more on supernatural contact and power in the inner life.
There is some distinction between soul and spirit is obvious in passages like this (Hebrews 4:12) and 1 Thessalonians 5:23. Passages like Job 7:11 and Isaiah 26:9 show that the terms are sometimes both used to generally refer to the inner man.
Naked reminds us of the way God saw through Adam’s feeble hiding. God sees through our hiding the same way.
Open translates the ancient Greek word trachelizo, used only here in the New Testament. It was used of wrestlers who had a hold that involved gripping the neck and was so powerful that it brought victory. So the word can mean “to prostrate” or “to overthrow;” but many scholars do adopt the simply meaning of “open” – in the sense of laying an opponent open and overcome.
The word of God discovers and exposes our condition.
We have a great high priest (Jesus Christ) who has gone through the heavens and who has been tempted in every way, just as we have–but remained without sin. He can sympathize with out weaknesses.
4:14-5:10: Jesus is our great high priest who has gone through the heavens who can sympathize with our weaknesses for he has been tempted in every way just as we are–and remain without sin. Let us hold firmly to our faith, approach God with confidence so we may receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
Every high priest is selected among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for our sins. He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and going astray and offer sacrifices for our sins.
Priests must be called by God. Jesus was called to be a High Priest by God in the order of Melchizedek. Jesus prayed to God and he was heard because of his submission. He was obedient and made perfect for our eternal salvation for all who obey him.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 2: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
3a) Can sympathize with our weaknesses, who has been tempted in every way, he has to be able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray so he has to offer sacrifices for his own sin and for the people’s. And he must be called by God.
b) He was sinless, perfect, and became the source of our eternal salvation for all who obey him, and he was designated by God to be the high priest in the order of Melchizedek. He was great, he passed through the heavens, and he is the Son of God.
4a) Jesus used scripture to fight the devil. He knows how we feel, how weak we can become, how helpless we feel. He helps us because he himself has been through it.
b) Personal Question. My answer: Every day sins, sinning when others aren’t around, indulging in sin when I know it’s wrong at times, fighting the devil at times. To know Jesus faced our same sins and overcame. So, too, can I.
5) Part Personal Question. My answer: Obedience. To obey as well to be like Jesus.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 2: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
We studied this same passage in the study of Genesis as well!
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 2: Hebrews 4:14-5:10
The idea that Jesus is our High Priest was mentioned before (Hebrews 2:17 and Hebrews 3:1). But now the idea will be developed more extensively.
Seeing then: The writer to the Hebrews calls attention to the specific, unique character of Jesus as our High Priest:
No other High Priest was called great.
No other High Priest passed through the heavens.
No other High Priest is the Son of God.
Thus far the writer to the Hebrews was careful to document both the deity of Jesus (Hebrews 1:4-14), while careful to also remember His compassionate humanity (Hebrews 2:5-18). It means that Jesus, God the Son, enthroned in heaven, our High Priest, can sympathize with our weaknesses.
To the ancient Greeks, the primary attribute of God was apatheia, the essential inability to feel anything at all. Jesus knows and He feels what we go through. The ancient Greek word translated sympathize literally means “to suffer along with.”
Jesus added humanity to His deity, and lived among us. You can’t truly understand a pain unless you have been there.
Jesus faced temptation much more severely than we ever have or ever will. The Sinless One knows temptation in ways we don’t, because only the one who never gives into temptation knows the full strength of temptation.
Jesus can sympathize with our weakness and our temptation, but He cannot sympathize with our sin.
Boldly means: without pride, constantly, without reservation, without fancy words, with confidence, and with persistence.
The throne of God is a throne of grace. When we come, we may obtain mercy (this is not getting what we deserve) and find grace (this is getting what we don’t deserve) in our time of need.
Ancient Jewish Rabbis taught that God had two thrones, one of mercy and one of judgment. They said this because they knew that God was both merciful and just, but they could not reconcile these two attributes of God. They thought that perhaps God had two thrones to display the two aspects of His character. On one throne He showed judgment and on the other throne mercy. But here, in light of the finished work of Jesus, we see mercy and judgment reconciled into one throne of grace.
Thankfully, God provides help in our time of need. No request is too small, because He wants us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Hebrews 5
God established both the priesthood and the office of high priest in the days of Moses, as described in Exodus 28 and following. The writer to the Hebrews summarizes the work of the high priest, in saying “that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins.” The primary job of the high priest was to officiate, either directly or indirectly through lower-ranking priests, sacrifices unto the Lord.
The phrase “gifts and sacrifices for sins” reminds us that not every sacrifice offered a blood atonement for sin. Many of the ritual sacrifices were intended as simple gifts to God, expressing thanks and desiring fellowship.
History of the High Priest in Ancient Israel
On the Day of Atonement, the high priest had to sacrifice for himself first, to remind he and the nation that he had sin to atone for, just like the rest of the people of Israel (Leviticus 16:1-6).
He was appointed by God for His people. The principle is that no man takes this honor to himself. It was given by right of birth, and therefore chosen by God. It was an honor no man could take to himself.
The true priesthood and high priest came from a specific line of descent. Every priest came from Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, whose name was changed to Israel. Every priest came from Levi, one of Israel’s twelve sons. God set the tribe of Levi apart as a tribe to serve Him and represent Him to the whole nation of Israel (Exodus 13:2 and Numbers 3:40-41). Levi had three sons: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. Each of these family lines had their own duties. The family of Gershon had care of the tabernacle’s screen (veil), fence, and curtains (Numbers 3:25-26). The family of Kohath had care of the tabernacle’s furnishings, such as the lampstand, altar of incense, and the ark of the covenant (Numbers 3:31-32). The family of Merari had care of the boards and pillars of the tabernacle and the fence (Numbers 3:36-37). These families were not properly priests, though they were Levites.
The priesthood itself came through Aaron, the brother of Moses, of the family of Kohath. Aaron’s family and their descendants made up the priests and the high priest, those able to serve in the tabernacle itself and to offer sacrifice to God. The high priest was generally the eldest son of Aaron, except if they disqualified themselves by sin (as Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10:1-3) or according to the regulations of Leviticus 21. In this sense, the priesthood was not popularly elected but chosen by God. Man did not appoint the high priest.
In Jesus’ day, the priesthood became a corrupt institution. The office was gained through intrigue and politicking among corrupt leaders.
Jesus As High Priest
Jesus’ resurrection demonstrated that He was not a priest like Aaron, who had to atone for his own sin first. The resurrection vindicated Jesus as the Father’s Holy One (Acts 2:24 and Acts 2:27), who bore the wrath sinners deserved without becoming a sinner Himself.
Jesus’ priesthood (like Melchizedek’s) is unending, but no High Priest descended from Aaron ever had a forever priesthood.
Hebrews 7 will more fully develop the theme of Jesus as a High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
The ancient Greek word for supplications is hiketeria. This word means “an olive branch wrapped in wool” (Clarke) because that is what the ancient Greek worshipper held and waved to express their desperate prayer and desire. Significantly, this supplication of Jesus took place in a garden of olives – and He supplied the “wool,” being the Lamb of God.
Jesus asked that the cup be taken away from Him (Luke 22:42), yet the cup was not taken away. Nevertheless, His prayer was heard because His prayer was not to escape His Father’s will, but to accept it.
Though Jesus was God and is God, yet He learned obedience. God, enthroned in heaven’s glory, can only experience obedience by casting off the glory of the throne and humbling Himself as Jesus did. Jesus learned the experience of obedience, and He part of that learning was enduring suffering.
Suffering was used to teach Jesus. If suffering was good enough to teach the Son of God, we must never despise it as a tool of instruction in our life.
You (the people who are doubting whether to choose Christianity or Judaism) are slow to learn and need to be taught the elementary truths of God’s word again. You live on milk and thus are not acquainted with righteousness. Those on solid food are able to distinguish good from evil.
Let us go on to maturity in Christ’s teachings and truly understand the foundations of repentance from acts that lead to death, faith in God, baptisms, the laying of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 3: Hebrews 5:11-6:3
6) Repentance and faith go together. Baptisms and laying on of hands go together. Resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment are paired together. When you have faith, you repent because you have a sense of guilt and wrong-doing. Baptism is an outward sign that you accept Jesus as your Savior. You will be judged eternally, and believers will be resurrected.
The point of this list is that these are elementary understandings of Christ. Having faith, confessing sins, going to heaven, etc. The writer wants us to go deeper than this.
7) By constantly studying God’s word and using it in life. By deeply desiring to know God and not being superficial in your prayer life, God life, Bible study, etc.
8 ) Personal Question. My answer: Sin, indifference, apathy, temptuous thoughts.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 3: Hebrews 5:11-6:3
This was a difficult passage for me to understand and put into practice. We need to fight every day to learn more about God, and not be complacent in our learnings.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 3: Hebrews 5:11-6:3
The writer of Hebrews feared the discussion of Aaron and Melchizedek and Jesus would sound too academic and theoretical to his readers. At the same time, he recognized this said more about his dull hearers than it did about the message. It wasn’t that the message was too complicated; it was that the hearers were dull of hearing.
Hebrews is a book filled with warnings, and here we see the warning of the consequences of departing from Jesus.
Being dull of hearing is not a problem with the ears, but a problem with the heart. The hearer isn’t really interested in what God has to say.
Every Christian must be a teacher because we can all help disciple others. We really only master something after we have effectively taught it to someone else. Teaching is the final step of learning.
Milk corresponds to the first principles of Hebrews 6:12. Solid food is the “meatier” material such as understanding the connection between Jesus and Melchizedek. It isn’t that milk is bad; but these Christians should have added solid food to their diet. Peter reminds us all as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).
There is nothing more irritating and depressing than someone who should be mature but who has become a babe.
Elementary principles: This has the idea of “rudiments” or “ABCs.” They are basic building blocks that are necessary, but must be built upon – otherwise has only a foundation and no structure.
The specific ancient Greek word here translated baptisms (baptismos) is not the word regularly used in the New Testament to describe Christian baptism (baptizo). Baptismos is the word used on three other specific instances to refer to Jewish ceremonial washings (Hebrews 9:10, Mark 7:4, and Mark 7:8).
“Part of the problem facing the Hebrews was the superficial similarity between the elementary tenets of Christianity and those of Judaism, which made it possible for Christian Jews to think they could hold on to both.” (Guthrie)
“If God permits” expresses the believers’ complete dependence on God. If we do press on to maturity, we realize that it only happens at God’s pleasure.
The Hebrews writer says it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, and tasted the goodness of God’s word and powers to be brought back to repentance if they fall away. Land that drinks in the rain and produces a crop is blessed. Land that produces thorns is worthless and cursed.
Things that accompany salvation is God’s love and mercy as you work to love his people to the end with faith and patience. God kept His promise to Abraham and swore by himself to make the unchanging nature of what he promised very clear to Abraham’s heirs. This shows it is impossible for God to lie and should offer us hope and encouragement. This hope is the anchor for our soul, allowing us access to the inner sanctuary (God) because Jesus went before us.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 4: Hebrews 6:4-20
9a) People who don’t believe in “eternal security” think the passage refers to Christians who fall away from the faith. Others, such as John Calvin, insist that the author of Hebrews must be referring to people who never fully became Christians, because other verses seem ot teach the eternal security of those in Christ (John 5:24; 6:37; Romans 8:1; Hebrews 8;12). The point is that if such a falling away ever did occur, it woudl be impossible to rescue such people again.
b) “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
10a) Personal Question. My answer: God keeps His promises, and what He says is not a lie and the truth. Thus, we can trust all that He promises in the Bible to us.
b) Personal Question. My answer: Sometimes I think He has not anchored me; that I’m a willow in the wind that sway at the will of others. Others days, I believe I do stand firm. Life for me is having more days where I feel like I’m firm than when I’m swaying in the wind.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 4: Hebrews 6:4-20
Great passage to study. Much can be learned here.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 4: Hebrews 6:4-20
It is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats can take away sin (Hebrews 10:4).
It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6).
The big debate is whether this is the experience of salvation or the experience of something short of salvation.
Tasted: The idea of “tasting” may mean to “test” something. But other uses of this word indicate a full, real experience as in how Jesus tasted death in Hebrews 2:9. The heavenly gift is probably salvation (as in Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8).
Partakers of the Holy Spirit: This is an unique term in the New Testament. Since it means “sharing” the Holy Spirit, it has to do with receiving and having fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
The question is simple: Are these people with these impressive spiritual experiences in fact Christians?
We can see clearly that someone can have great spiritual experiences and still not be saved (Matthew 7:21-23). One can even do many religious things and still not be saved. The Pharisees of New Testament times are a good example of this principle. These men did many religious things but were not saved or submitted to God.
Yet, from a human perspective, it is doubtful that anyone who seemed to have the credentials mentioned in Hebrews 6:4-5 would not be regarded a true Christian. God knows their ultimate destiny and hopefully the individual does also – yet from all outward appearance, such Christian experience might qualify a man to be an elder in many churches.
Therefore, eternal standing of those written of in Hebrews 6:4-6 is a question with two answers. We may safely say that from a human perspective, they had all appearance of salvation. Nevertheless, from the perspective of God’s perfect wisdom it is impossible to say on this side of eternity.
If these are genuine Christians who “lost their salvation,” the terrible fact is that they can never regain it. In the early church some groups (such as the Montanists and the Novatianists) used this passage to teach there was no possibility of restoration if someone sinned significantly after their baptism.
Others explain it by saying that this is all merely a hypothetical warning (in light of the statement in Hebrews 6:9). In this thinking, the writer to the Hebrews never intended to say that his readers were really in danger of damnation. He only used a hypothetical danger to motivate them. However, one must say that there is questionable value in warning someone against something that can’t happen.
Still others think that this penalty deals only with reward, not with salvation itself. They stress the idea that it says repentance is impossible, not salvation. Therefore these are Christians of low commitment and experience who risk a loss of all heavenly reward, saved only “by the skin of their teeth.”
This difficult passage is best understood in the context of Hebrews 6:1-2. The writer to the Hebrews means that if they retreat back to Judaism, all the religious “repentance” in the world will do them no good. Retreating from distinctive Christianity into the “safe” ideas and customs of their former religious experience is to forsake Jesus, and to essentially crucify Him again. This is especially true for these ancient Christians from a Jewish background, since the religious customs they took up again likely included animal sacrifice for atonement, denying the total work of Jesus for them on the cross.
There is a necessary distinction between falling and falling away. Falling away is more than falling into sin; it is actually departing from Jesus Himself
The idea is not that “if you fall away, you can’t ever come back to Jesus.” Instead, the idea is “if you turn your back on Jesus, don’t expect to find salvation anywhere else, especially in the practice of religion apart from the fullness of Jesus.”
This refuge of hope are like the cities of refuge commanded by the Law of Moses, as described in Numbers 35.
Discouragement
If anything, verse nine shows how badly these struggling Christians needed encouragement. Their spiritual danger was not so much out of a calculated rebellion, but more because of a depressing discouragement
When we are discouraged, we sometimes think God forgets us and all we have done for Him and for His people. But God would deny His own nature if He forgot such things (He would be unjust). God sees and remembers.
The anchor was a common figure for hope in the ancient world. Here the idea is that we are anchored to something firm but unseen (which enters the Presence behind the veil).
A forerunner (the ancient Greek word prodromos) was a military reconnaissance man. A forerunner goes forward, knowing that others will follow behind him.
Jesus as our High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (in Hebrews 5:6-10) continues into the next chapter.
Melchizedek, King of Salem (or Jerusalem) and priest of God Most High met Abraham and blessed him. Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything. King of Salem means king of righteousness and king of peace. Melchizedek has no mother nor father but he remains a priest forever (this is saying Melchizedek’s genealogy is not recorded).
Now, this is what this means: the patriarch Abraham gave this guy a tenth of the plunder! Now the law requires the descendants of Levi (the priests) to collect a tenth from the people (all related). Yet Melchizedek did not have the lineage to collect the tenth nor bless Abraham. Since the lesser person is blessed by the greater person, this means Melchizedek is the greater over Abraham.
When Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi hadn’t been born yet so Abraham had no need to pay the tenth. But he did anyways.
So why was there a need for someone to come in the order of Melchizedek if perfection could be attained through the Levites (or the order of Aaron)? Verse 18 provides the answer: This regulation was set aside because perfection could not be attained in this way so a better hope was introduced so we could draw near to (be with) God.
God made Jesus a priest forever with an oath! This oath has made Jesus the guarantee of a better covenant. Since Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lives forever. Therefore, Jesus can save completely those who come through him to God.
Thus, such a high priest (Jesus) meets our needs: he is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens, does not need to offer sacrifices; He is perfect. Forever.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 5: Hebrews 7
11a) To teach the people all of the decrees the Lord has given Moses. To atone for the people’s sins. To care for God’s tabernacle.
b) Melchizedek and Christ’s similiarities: 1) Both were kings 2) Both were priests 3) Both received a tenth of everything 4) Both names mean king of peace 5) Both are priests forever 6) Both live forever (without beginning of days or end of life)
One difference: Only Jesus was the Son of God
c) “You are a priest forever.’” Verse 21
Because Jesus lives forever he has a permanent priesthood Verse 24
He sacrificed for our sins once and for all … and has been made perfect forever Verses 27-28
12) It’s means no matter what sins you commit,you are forgiven. Forever. Jesus atoned for our sins, and we no longer must offer sacrifices. And we have a permanent home in heaven All we must do is pray for forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 5: Hebrews 7
The writer of Hebrews is just trying to prove that Jesus is our priest forever. So accept Him now, and save yourselves a lot of trouble.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 14, Day 5: Hebrews 7
The writer to the Hebrews now explains a theme that he introduced back in Hebrews 2:17: Jesus as our High Priest. He began to discuss the issue in Hebrews 5:10, but had to spend some time warning these discouraged Christians about the danger of not continuing and progressing in their Christian life.
These Christians from a Jewish background were interested in Jesus as their High Priest, but had a significant intellectual objection to the idea. This is because Jesus did not come from the priestly tribe (the tribe of Levi) or the priestly family in that tribe (the family of Aaron).
This chapter is also important because it shows us how we should think of the Old Testament institutions of the priesthood and the Law.
The Mysterious Melchizedek
After Abraham defeated the confederation of kings who took his nephew Lot captive, he met with a mysterious priest named Melchizedek, who was also king over the city of Salem (an ancient name for the city of Jerusalem).
Melchizedek blessed Abraham, and Abraham gave Melchizedek a tithe, which is a tenth part of all (all the spoils of battle, as mentioned in Genesis 14:20).
Melchizedek is greater than Abraham because Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek, and because Melchizedek blessed Abraham.
The priesthood of Levi received tithes from Israel as a commandment. Abraham voluntarily gave tithes to Melchizedek. This makes Abraham’s giving to Melchizedek greater than Israel’s payment of tithes to the priesthood instituted by Moses.
A New Priesthood Needed
The Levitical priesthood never made anything perfect.
The simple fact that God describes a priest according to the order of Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4 shows there is something lacking in the priesthood according to the order of Aaron. God would never establish an unnecessary priesthood.
The term Levitical priesthood simply describes the Jewish priesthood of the Old Testament. It is called Levitical because most of the instructions for the Old Testament priesthood are found in the Book of Leviticus.
Jesus could not be a priest according to the Mosaic Law because He is from the wrong tribe.
Because we have a better priesthood and a better High Priest, we also have a better hope and draw near to God. Our hope is in Jesus, not in the Law of Moses or our ability to keep it.
Jesus was made High Priest by the direct oath of God. Psalm 110:4: The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.”
An unchanging priesthood means a lasting salvation.
The priesthood under the Law of Moses constantly changed, and so was better or worse through the years depending on the character of the priest.
It strengthens us to know that Jesus prays for us, and that He ever lives to pray for us. This is tremendous encouragement to anyone who feels like giving up.
Jesus is holy, harmless (without guile or deception), undefiled, separate from sinners (in the sense of not sharing in their sin). Jesus is far superior in His personal character than any earthly priest.
Our high priest sat down at the right hand of the throne of Majesty in heaven and serves in the sanctuary set up by the Lord. Earthly priests serve a a sanctuary here on earth that is an exact copy of that one in Heaven. But Jesus’ ministry is superior and founded on better promises.
God has said He would make a new covenant with the people unlike the covenant He made with our forefathers. God will put His laws in the minds and hearts of the people and the people will all know Him. He will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more. God had made the first covenant obsolete by calling this one “new”.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 2: Hebrews 8
3) According to Webster’s Dictionary, a covenant is “a usually formal, solid, and binding agreement usually written under seal between two or more parties for the performance of some action.” My Bible Dictionary lists one whole page on the different covenants but suffice it to say it’s an agreement between two or more parties.
The new covenant lives in the minds and hearts of all people when they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and the Holy Spirit dwells within. God will be our God, no longer separated from us by men. He will forgive all our sins.
The old covenant had an intermediary (blood of the old covenant–a sacrificial animal as described in Exodus) between us and God whereby it had to be offered every time in order to be forgiven. Jesus’ blood forever sealed God’s covenant with us, allowing God to immediately forgive us our transgressions and remember them no more.
4) The new covenant allows all to know God and to come before Him without the need for an earthly mediator (except for Jesus). We can all be with God etnerally now and forever.
5) Personal Question. My answer: It gives me hope because I know that no matter my earthly failings, I am saved by the blood of Jesus.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 2: Hebrews 8
Almost repeats Acts from 2012 verbatim.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 2: Hebrews 8
Hebrews 8 is largely a repeat of Hebrews 7, summarizing the point that Jesus is our High Priest who is seated next to God in heaven as a signal that his work is finished.
Jesus’ sacrifice is complete.
Jesus’ sacrifice is superior.
Jesus is our mediator.
Exodus 25:40 tells us that Moses’ tabernacle built on earth was built after a pattern that existed in heaven. This was the pattern which was shown to you [Moses] on the mountain (Exodus 25:40).
First century Jews took tremendous pride in the temple and did so for good reason: it was a spectacular architectural achievement. However glorious the Jerusalem temple was, it was of man. Therefore it was nothing compared to the glory of the heavenly temple that Jesus served in.
The covenant of Jesus fulfills the other covenants described in the Bible.
God’s redemptive plan was continued through the covenant He made with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).
The Mosaic covenant was another step in God’s redemptive plan (Exodus 24:3-8).
The Davidic covenant was yet another step in God’s redemptive plan (2 Samuel 7:1-16).
The redemptive plan of God was fulfilled in the New Covenant (Luke 22:14-20).
Jesus promises to see us through the most desperate and dark times.
The Jeremiah Passage
In this passage from Jeremiah 31, God shows that something was lacking in the Old Covenant – because a New Covenant was promised. In the days of Jeremiah, the New Covenant was still in the future, because he wrote “Behold the days are coming.”
There are two ancient Greek words that describe the concept of “new.” Neos described newness in regard to time. Something may be a copy of something old but if it recently made, it can be called neos. The ancient Greek word kainos (the word used here) described something that is not only new in reference to time, but is truly new in its quality. It isn’t simply a new reproduction of something old.
The New Covenant definitely began with Israel, but it was never intended to end with Israel (Matthew 15:24 and Acts 1:8).
The weakness of the Old Covenant was in the weakness and inability of man.
The New Covenant features transformation from within, not regulation through external law.
The system of sacrifice under the Law of Moses soon did vanish away with the coming destruction of the Temple and the Roman destruction of Jerusalem.
The Differences Between the Old and New Covenant
Old Covenant offered bondage; New Covanant offered liberty.
Old Covenant was temporary; New Covenant is forever.
Old Covenant covered sin; New Covenant frees us from sin.
Old Covenant has Moses as mediator; New Covenant has Jesus as mediator.
Old Covenant demanded works; New Covenant fulfills works through Jesus.
Old Covenant uses blood of animals; New Covenant uses Jesus’s blood.
The first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. In this tabernacle was a Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, which held the altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. This ark held the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff, and the stone tablets of the covenant (the ten commandment tablets).
Only the high priest could enter into the inner room and only once a year and never without blood, which he offered for the sins of the people. This showed that the way into the Most High Place (where God himself dwelled) had not yet been disclosed. Therefore, the sacrifices were not able to clear the conscious of the worshiper. They were only external regulations applying until the new order arrived (Jesus).
When Christ came as high priest he did not enter the Most Holy Place by means of blood of goats and calves but he entered once and for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of Christ who was unblemished cleansed our consciences from acts that lead to death so that we may serve the living God. The blood of goats sprinkled on people only cleansed them outwardly.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 3: Hebrews 9:1-14
6) The Old Covenant was not complete. Humans perpetually had to offer sacrifices to be cleansed from sin. With Jesus, we are cleansed forever when we first accept him as our Savior. One time versus multiple times.
7) Our eternal salvation. Because it determines if we go to heaven or not.
8 ) It means that once we accept Jesus, we are forgiven and get to spend eternity with God and Jesus without the daily rituals required of the Old Testament. If God forgives you, you need to forgive yourself.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 3: Hebrews 9:1-14
Hebrews stresses the advantages of living now, rather than in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant. Because of Christ, sacrifices are no longer necessary (Hebrews 10:11-12), and God’s laws are now written in our minds and on our hearts, not in a formal code (Hebrews 8:10). “It is finished,” Jesus cried (John 19:30).
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 3: Hebrews 9:1-14
This chapter of Hebrews begins with a description of the Old Covenant and of the tabernacle. The important things here are:
The manna reminded Israel of God’s provision and their ungratefulness.
Aaron’s rod reminded Israel of their rebellion against God’s authority.
The tablets of the covenant reminded Israel of their failure to keep the Ten Commandments and rest of the law.
The mercy seat confuses a lot of people. This was the ornate “lid” for the ark of the covenant, made with the designs of cherubim upon it. The blood of sacrifice was sprinkled upon it for the forgiveness of Israel’s sin on the Day of Atonement (Exodus 25:17-22). When God looked down into the ark, He saw the symbols of Israel’s sin, rebellion and failure. But when the blood of sacrifice was applied to the mercy seat, the blood of sacrifice covered His sight of the sin of Israel.
The “holy of holies” – was entered only once a year by the high priest alone, on the Day of Atonement. The atoning blood was first for the priest’s own sins and then for the sins of his people.
Access into the Holiest of All was thus severely restricted. Even when someone could enter, it wasn’t for real fellowship with God.
Sins of ignorance were the specific aim of the Day of Atonement. It was assumed that known sin would be taken care of through the regular sin offerings and the daily sacrifices.
Jesus’ work is far greater than the work done on the Day of Atonement. Jesus’ work on the cross is sufficient to atone for both the sins we do in ignorance and sins that we know.
The weakness of the priestly service under the Old Covenant was its inability to address the need for inner transformation in man.
The New Covenant
Jesus, as our High Priest, ministers in a superior sanctuary – the very throne room of God.
Jesus’ sacrifice gives us eternal salvation.
Jesus’ sacrifice gives us access to God.
Jesus’ sacrifice is perfect.
Our conscience is a wonderful tool from God. But it isn’t perfect. Our conscience can be seared (1 Timothy 4:2). Our conscience can be defiled (Titus 1:15). Our conscience can be evil (Hebrews 10:22).
The idea behind the acts that led to death is probably of sin in general, in the sense of “works that bring death.”
Christ is the mediator of the new covenant. Something had to die (shed blood) to be put into effect under the Old Covenant. The law required that everything be cleaned with the blood and without blood there was no forgiveness.
Christ entered Heaven itself (as opposed to priests who could only enter the Most High Place once a year in a man-made temple) once and make one sacrifice (himself) to do away with sin forever. He will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 4: Hebrews 9:15-28
9) Eternal life and forgiveness of sins forever. Gratefully.
10) To cover our sins. Ultimately, God is God, and He can require blood for the cleansing of sins if he wants. There has to be death to set us free.
11) Personal Question. My answer: Praying, trying to walk in God’s ways, do what He wants in my life. Anyone can come to Jesus with a simple faith in his cleansing blood.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 4: Hebrews 9:15-28
Jesus died once and for all for our sins to cleanse us to stand in God’s presence. Faith is all you need. End of story.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 4: Hebrews 9:15-28
Therefore Jesus had to die for the testament – the covenant – to take effect.
But there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood, and there is no perfect forgiveness without a perfect sacrifice.
The shedding of Jesus’ blood is God’s answer to man’s problem of sin.
If the sacrifice of Jesus were not perfect, then it would have to be continual and constant.
This principle of sacrifice explains why the suffering of hell must be eternal for those who reject the atoning work of Jesus. They are in hell to pay the penalty of their sin, but as imperfect beings they are unable to make a perfect payment. If the payment is not perfect, then it has to be continual and constant – indeed, for all eternity. A soul could be released from hell the moment its debt of sin was completely paid – which is another way of saying never.
The focus of Jesus’ first coming was to deal with the sin problem through His atoning sacrifice. But now, having dealt with the sin problem perfectly, He comes again apart from sin – for the salvation (in the sense of rescue) of His people.
The old law is merely a foreshadow of what is to come. It can never make perfect those who draw near to the Lord. Yet, at the time, that was all the people had so they yearly repeated the sacrifices as a reminder that man is not perfect and needs forgiveness.
Sacrifices never pleased the Lord although he required them. What God was after was the heart of man. And the Old Covenant did not allow for that. So God sent Jesus to die by His will.
Day after day the priest would offer the same sacrifices that never could take away sins. But when Jesus offered his one sacrifice for all time he sat down (something the priests never did) at the right hand of God to indicate it is finished. He made perfect forever those who are being made holy and he awaits his enemies to be his footstool.
God will put the laws in our hearts and minds as the New Covenant; their sins will no longer be remembered; they will be forgiven; no longer a sacrifice required.
Since Jesus has opened the path for us to God let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in faith with cleansed consciences and bodies. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful. Let us spur one another one toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together and encouraging one another–and all the more as our time draws near.
If we reject Jesus, no sacrifice is left; only judgment and a raging fire to consume God’s enemies. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died; so how much more do you think the punishment would be to reject the Son of God? The Lord, our living God, will judge.
Remember the times you stood your ground in the face of adversity. Do not throw away that former confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so when you have done the will of God you will receive His promises. For soon, Jesus will come again and we are the ones who believe and are saved.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 5: Hebrews 10
12) Jesus made one sacrifice of his blood to cleanse us for good. Priests had to sacrifice animals many, many times, and humans were never cleansed of sins for good. Animal sacrifice can cover sin, but it could never take away sin.
13) Jesus’s sacrifice is perfect. By his one sacrifice, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy (verse 14). All of us and forever after merely must have faith in Jesus and accept his sacrifice and we shall be made holy forever. We will receive the Holy Spirit with the laws written on our hearts and minds forever. Our sins shall be remembered no more–always forgiven.
14) “Let us hold unswerving to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” I cannot give in to my melancholy. I can strive every day to do His will for my life. I can believe God only desires to prosper me and not to harm me. He is at my back, pushing me up when all I want to do is lie down. I can remember this as best I can every moment of every day.
15) Personal Question. My answer: “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 5: Hebrews 10
Good repetition of Jesus dying once and for all for us, and of encouraging us to hold onto him. Ultimately, he is all we have.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 15, Day 5: Hebrews 10
Shadow means that the law communicated the outline and the figure of the fulfillment to come in Jesus,
If animal sacrifices had solved the sin problem, then they could have ceased to be offered.
Here we have the Septuagint version of Psalm 40:6-8 (the Septuagint is the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament that was the most commonly used Bible in the first century). It shows that prophetically Jesus declared the insufficient character of Old Covenant sacrifice and declared His willingness to offer a perfect sacrifice under the New Covenant.
The sacrifice of Jesus was determined before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8). Yet it was still an act of His will to submit.
WHY JESUS’S SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE REPEATED
Our sanctification – our being set apart to God – is founded on the will of Jesus, not our own will. It is founded on the offering of Jesus, not on our own offering or sacrifices for God.
The priests could never sit down! In contrast, Jesus sat down at the right hand of God, having finished His work of sacrificing for sin.
The work of Jesus is capable of saving every human being, but it is only effective in saving those who are being sanctified (set apart to God).
Baptism is the outward sign of an inward cleansing, and it was the latter that was the more important.
Our Perfect High Priest
The problem of access to God has been settled. The problem of a perfect High Priest has been settled. The problem of moral and spiritual pollution has been settled.
The encouragement to draw near wouldn’t be given unless it was necessary. These discouraged Christians had a problem in drawing near. They lost their intimate relationship with Jesus, and nothing else is going right.
They may have thought that they had many, many problems – persecution, difficult relationships, hard times with culture or economy. But the real problem was their relationship with God wasn’t on track. They didn’t draw near to God on the basis of what Jesus had done.
When we are in tough times, we should remember that many people have gone through worse times and have had a better attitude, and more joy, than you do now. What is the difference? They knew how to draw near.
Fun Fact: “The is the only place where the author uses the expression ‘one another’ (allelous), though it is frequently found in the NT.
But our motivation for fellowship must be to obey God and to give to others. We can and should gather with believers to encourage someone who needs to stand strong against a tide of discouragement.
Endurance Through Persecution
Their persecution was a struggle that came in many different ways. They were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations. They were companions of those who were so treated – including the writer to the Hebrews himself (you had compassion on me in chains). They also had faced economic persecution (the plundering of your goods). But the point is that they had faced these things, and had endured them. They could take a look at their past endurance, and be encouraged to keep standing strong in the future.
The toughest and most discouraging trials are when we are called to obey God’s will when the fulfillment of His promise seems so far away.
This endurance is built through trials, the testing of our faith (James 1:2-4).
Every word in Habakkuk 2:4 is important, and the Lord quotes it three times in the New Testament just to bring out the fullness of the meaning.
In Romans 1:17 Paul quotes this same passage from Habakkuk 2:4 with the emphasis on faith: “The just shall live by faith.”
In Galatians 3:11 Paul quotes this passage from Habakkuk 2:4 with the emphasis on just: “The just shall live by faith.”
Here in Hebrews 10:38 the emphasis is on live: “The just shall live by faith.”
BSF International will now be on break so that we can enjoy the holidays with our families.
I just want to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to express my sincere gratitude to you all who visit and are a part of my life in some small way. It definitely makes me a better person. Thank you all who have donated and who continue to do so. It definitely helps.
I pray that you all are blessed in the upcoming new year and enjoy this time for your family.
Logistics
Now that we all have access to the BSF questions and notes online, some of you have asked if I could post over the holiday break because you want to stay in the Word and work ahead. If this is something you are interested in, please leave me a comment. If enough of you request this, I would begin posting on December 30th instead of January 6th when BSF begins again. So this would be one week ahead of schedule.
Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don’t see. The ancients were commended for this. We believe God formed the universe by command. Abel offered a better sacrifice than his brother Cain by faith, which God accepted and through this example Abel still speaks.
Enoch was taken by God without dying due to his faith (Genesis 5:24). It is impossible to please God without faith; you must believe in Him and how he rewards the faithful.
By faith Noah built the ark when warned the world would be destroyed. Abraham left his home of Haran by faith when God called him to the promised land even though he lived as a foreigner. Isaac and Jacob were heirs to this land.
Abraham and Sarah became parents due to faith in God’s promises and in turn fathered a nation.
All of these people lived by faith even though they did not receive the things promised. While living on the earth they lived as strangers, continually longing for a heavenly country, a city God has prepared for them.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 2: Hebrews 11:1-16
3a) Part personal question. My answer: “Being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” The writer of Hebrews uses great pillars of the Bible (Enoch, Abel, Noah, and Abraham) to show how great things can come of faith. People today think of faith as having faith that something good will happen. It’s more of the results, rather than who is doing the results.
b) True faith as a Christian is believing in the saving blood of Christ that will rescue you from sin. True faith is the belief that God is in ultimate control and that He will keep His promises — either in this life or another.
4) Part personal Question. My answer:
Abel–offered God the fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock while Cain only brought some of the fruits of the soil (Genesis 4)
Enoch–walked with God and was therefore taken by God without dying (Genesis 5:24)
Noah–built an ark on God’s command despite being mocked by the people. Gathered two of every animal and followed God’s directions to the letter–all on faith
Abraham–followed God out of Haran and left for the promised land despite the hardships
Isaac and Jacob–the beneficiaries of Abraham’s covenant with God. Both however did follow God on their own accord and obeyed his wishes for them.
Sarah–after laughing at God’s prophecy, she did have faith and did bear a son
It shows that faith can bring great things to your life.
5) Personal Question. My answer: God works in His own ways and own time. When we become impatient, we must wait on Him and have faith He is with us and will answer us in time.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 2: Hebrews 11:1-16
One of the most important chapters of Hebrews, this passage is very important in showing how faith works in your life and mine.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 2: Hebrews 11:1-16
Faith is a belief beyond reason, but not in contradiction to or against reason. It’s a willingness to trust.
These pillars of faith are meant to encourage the Jewish Christians that the writer of Hebrews is writing about.
We have faith that God created the world, although no one saw it.
Abel sacrificed by faith and was rewarded in heaven, not on earth.
Enoch (who has a grand total of four Bible verses dedicated to him in Genesis 5:21-24) pleased God by faith.
Noah did what God commanded, which real faith always does something.
Abraham moved where God told him to by faith.
Sarah had faith she’d have a baby, even after laughing at God for saying so.
Sarah and Abraham died without having received the fulfillment of God’s promise. Yet it was fulfilled, and Sarah and Abraham still reaped the rewards in heaven.
God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeyed out of faith, believing God would raise Isaac from the dead if He so chose. Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons. Joseph predicted the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions where to bury him.
Moses’ parents hid him from the Egyptians, knowing Moses was no ordinary child. Moses chose to be mistreated with his people, the Israelites, rather than live in the luxury of his adopted mother’s palace. He was looking forward to his future reward. He left Egypt by faith and persevered as he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood to save his people’s firstborn.
The people crossed the Red Sea by faith and the walls of Jericho fell by faith. The prostitute Rahab was faithful by protecting the spies.
And the Hebrews writer says the examples of faithfulness goes on and on. Kingdoms were conquered, enemies routed, lions’ mouths shut, and justice prevailed. Others chose torture, flogging, chains, prison, stoned, sawed in half, and destitution for the promise of God. Little did they know (as we do and the people the writer is speaking to) God had something much greater in store for them–His son, Jesus–that would in the end make us complete.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 3: Hebrews 11:17-40
6) Personal Question. My answer: Rahab because she was not Jewish so she had to have supreme faith in a God not her own. And Abraham because he was willing to sacrifice his only son when God asked him to, believing that God would raise him from the dead if he so chose. Unsure if I could do this one.
7) Personal Question. My answer: Oftentimes, you will not reap the rewards of your faith in this life. In fact, you shouldn’t expect to. Yet, what’s the alternative? To not believe and lead a miserable life.
8 ) Personal Question. My answer: My faith is being tested in my roles in life. A lifetime, to us, seems like a really long time. Committing to life for something is extremely difficult. God is helping me avoid sin as much as possible.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 3: Hebrews 11:17-40
We can draw faith from others who have gone before us, and hearing stories of faith only serves to strengthen us. We have Jesus to hold onto, which is so much more than the early prophets, although some had God themselves in their lives. We need to be grateful every day for this.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 3: Hebrews 11:17-40
Abraham obeyed the command and let God take care of the rest.
With Isaac, we see that God’s plan wins out after all when he accidentally blessed Jacob instead of Esau, when God wanted Jacob to have the blessing.
Jacob blessed his sons.
Joseph went through so many trials unwavering in faith. He is a great example for all of us.
Moses’s parents trusted God to take care of their baby when they put him in the Nile River.
Moses chose suffering and God’s way rather than the easy life Pharaoh offered.
Israel crossed a parted sea when probably none of them could swim, entrusting their life to God. That’s faith.
Israel circled Jericho, making themselves look like fools, at God’s command.
Rahab had faith in a God she barely knew.
Gideon (Judges 6-7), Barak (Judges 4), Samson (Judges 13-16) , Jephthah (Judges 11), and David all followed God, but all sinned and did not live up their potential that God had for them. However, the writer of Hebrews includes them here because weak faith is better than no faith at all.
Victorious Over Circumstances
Most of these below the Jewish Christians would have known who the writer of Hebrews was referring to.
Subdued kingdoms: Some of these were David, Joshua, King Asa, Jehoshaphat, King Hezekiah, and King Josiah.
Worked righteousness: Some of these were Elijah, Elisha, and the other prophets in general; King Josiah also.
Obtained promises: Among these we could include Caleb, Gideon, and Barak.
Stopped the mouths of lions: These include Daniel, David, and Benaiah (one of David’s mighty men).
Quenched the violence of fire: Among these are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Escaped the edge of the sword: David escaped the sword of Goliath and the sword of Saul, Moses escaped the sword of Pharaoh, and Elijah escaped the sword of Jezebel.
Out of weakness were made strong: Among these are Sarah, Gideon, Abraham, Esther, and King Hezekiah.
Became valiant in battle: Some of the many in this description are David, King Asa, and Jehoshaphat.
Women who received their dead raised to life again: The Old Testament mentions at least two who fit this description, the widow of Zarepheth and the Shunamite woman.
Victorious Under Circumstances
Tortured is a brutal word in the ancient Greek language. It carries the idea “to beat with a stick or a baton.”
Trial of mockings: Isaac endured the cruel mocking of Ishmael, and Samson was mocked at the feast of the Philistines.
Chains and imprisonments: Joseph was cast into prison for his faith, and the evil King Ahab imprisoned the prophet Micaiah.
They were stoned: Zechariah was stoned to death between the altar and the temple and Naboth was stoned to death by Jezebel’s henchmen.
Sawn in two: According to tradition, Isaiah was sawn in two and killed.
Were tempted: Some think the text was corrupted here and the writer to the Hebrews originally wrote, “branded,” “burnt alive,” “mutilated,” or “strangled.” But for those who know the pain of temptation, it is not unreasonable to think that the writer regarded overcoming temptation as a true triumph of faith.
Were slain with the sword: Eighty-five priests were murdered by Doeg, or the prophets murdered in Elijah’s day.
Wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins: Elijah, who wore this kind humble clothing and did not mind the humility or the discomfort.
In dens and caves of the earth: David, Elijah, and other prophets under the leadership of Obadiah were all forced to flee and hide in caves.
We Have Jesus
Since we have Jesus, we have more reason to be faithful than the ancients mentioned above. Thus, if they could have faith, so can we.
Fun fact: Clement of Rome, the earliest Christian writer outside of the Bible, was the first the see a symbol of the blood of Jesus in the scarlet cord that Rahab set outside her window (Joshua 2:18).
Since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (the faithful mentioned in Chapter 11) let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who endured the cross and its shame so that we may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle, you have forgotten the encouraging words that the Lord disciplines those He loves and accepts as children. We must endure hardship since God is treating us as His children just like we were disciplined by our parents. For God disciplines us for our good that we may share in His holiness. Albeit discipline is painful, it will produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who endure.
Make every effort to live in peace with all men and be holy for without holiness we cannot see God. Make sure no one misses the grace of God and no bitter root grows. Make sure no one is sexually immoral or godless.
You have no come to the mountain that is burning with fire, darkness and gloom or heard a voice that was so great it begged no further words be spoken. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion to the living God, the judge of all men and to Jesus whose blood provided us salvation.
Do not refuse God who is granting us a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Instead, be grateful and worshipful of the Lord.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 4: Hebrews 12
9) Personal Question. My answer: This world is about making it to the next world with Jesus, and if Jesus, who was entirely perfect, could endure pain and suffering, why can’t we, who entirely deserves it?
10a) “God disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Discipline shows we are true children of God, and like a parent, God disciplines out of love. Hardship is discipline as well. We should respect God for loving us enough to discipline us because he wants us to walk in his ways, for our good, and so that we can share in his holiness.
Discipline, albeit unpleasant at the time, produces righteousness and peace.
b) Personal Question. My answer: I have to be disciplined enough to obey and not disobey as Satan is calling me to do.
11) Part personal question. My answer: Jesus, who had perfect faith, suffered, and so should we, who have an imperfect faith and deserve suffering. We have come to God through Jesus, our mediator, so we must not refuse him. We are receiving an eternal kingdom so we must be thankful and worship God with reverence and awe. My response is I need to be more grateful, more dutiful, and obey more. Suffering is part of life, and instead of bemoaning it, I should grow from it as God wants me to do.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 4: Hebrews 12
Such a classic passage in Hebrews that I never tire of reading. Running the race of faith that God has set before us is a daily challenge for most of us. But as your faith grows, the race gets easier and you are freer. We endure because Jesus endures, and that is worth anything this world throws at us.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 16, Day 4: Hebrews 12
Running Life’s Race
The analogy of a race is something many of us can relate to. There are great prizes for those who persevere in the race, and merely living by faith builds strong character. No one loses this race; all you have to do is finish to be rewarded. Jesus is the ultimate standard of our faith; fix your eyes on him when you need faith.
The champions of faith from Hebrews 11 are watching us and cheering us on in our walk. We are also under angelic observation (Ephesians 3:10-11), and the world watches our faith and conduct. Sin and other hindrances in our lives hold us back. What are your hindrances?
The words “easily ensnares” translates the ancient Greek word (euperistaton) four ways: “easily avoided,” “admired,” “ensnaring,” or “dangerous.”
Endurance
We must run the race (what other choice do you have?), and you must be steady in running. In Acts 20:24 Paul pictured himself as a runner who had a race to finish with joy.
The Greek word for ‘looking’ is a much fuller word than we can find in the English language. Look into Jesus and nothing else.
Daniel 12:2 says that shame will be an aspect of the terrors of hell: And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Jesus bore this hellish shame to accomplish our redemption.
As Paul wrote, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:17)
Knowing that Jesus doesn’t ask more of us than what He has Himself experienced, and that He knows exactly what we are going through keeps us from becoming weary and discouraged in your souls.
These Jewish Christians were so discouraged because they started to experience significant social and economic persecution (though not yet the shedding of blood).
Difficult Times
In times of trial or stress, many Christians forget some of the basics. They seriously wonder if God is still in control or if He still loves them. We must admit that God does allow everything that happens; so He must at least passively approve of it, because He certainly has the power to stop bad things that happen.
God can never be the author of evil. But He does allow others to choose evil, and He can use the evil choice another makes to work out His ultimately good purpose, even if only to demonstrate His justice and righteousness in contrast to evil.
Discipline is His loving tool of correction, and we should receive it gratefully. This is the training we need to run the race we must run with endurance (Hebrews 12:1-2).
God allows difficult times so that we can, at a later time, comfort someone else with the same comfort God shows towards us in our crisis (2 Corinthians 1:3-7).
God is to His people as a loving, good father is to a son or daughter. The all-knowing God can chasten us perfectly, with better and more lasting results, than even the best earthly father.
Purpose of Discipline is to Bear Fruit
The reason why many experience one crisis after another in life is because they are either blind to God’s chastening or they resist it. They are not trained by it and therefore the peaceable fruit of righteousness is not evident.
“Trained” in the ancient Greek language is a word from the world of athletics. The training of an athlete is marked by some agony and so is our training as God’s “spiritual athletes.”
God has a purpose for training you. David faced a lion, so he then could face Goliath.
Note that in this section on discipline the author never pointed to Jesus as an example. This is because Jesus never needed to be corrected by His Father. Jesus suffered, but not for the sake of correction.
We must walk right with both men and God, even when we don’t feel like it.
Spurgeon described four types of people who try to get on without holiness:
The Pharisee: Confident in outward ceremonies instead of true holiness.
The moralist: Feels no need for holiness because his life is so good.
The experimentalist: Their entire Christian life is lived inward, never looking to outward conduct but only to feelings.
The opinionist: Their Christian life is all about believing the right doctrines and is unconcerned about the way one lives.
Many Christians today sell a birthright of intimacy with God as cheaply as Esau sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34 and 27:30-40).
Coming to Mt. Sinai was terrifying. Exodus 19:10-25 explains what it was like when Israel came to Mount Sinai.
If you trespassed on the mountain, you died.
There was no sex and you had to bathe.
There was thunder, lightning, and a strange cloud.
There was the sound of the trumpet.
There was smoke and earthquakes
We have no reason to fear. We come to God’s other mountain: Zion, the name of the hill upon which Jerusalem sits. The law came to Sinai; the cross was on Zion. Zion has Jesus who gave his life for us all.
Mount Zion is completely different than Mount Sinai:
Mount Sinai was marked by fear and terror – Mount Zion is a place of love and forgiveness.
Mount Sinai is in the desert – Mount Zion is the city of the Living God.
Mount Sinai spoke of earthly things – Mount Zion speaks of heavenly things.
At Mount Sinai, only Moses was allowed to draw near to God – at Mount Zion, all can draw near.
Mount Sinai was characterized by guilty men in fear – Mount Zion features just men made perfect.
At Mount Sinai, Moses was the mediator – at Mount Zion, Jesus is the mediator.
Mount Sinai brought an Old Covenant, which was ratified by the blood of animals – Mount Zion brought a New Covenant, which is ratified by the blood of God’s precious Son.
Mount Sinai was all about exclusion – Mount Zion is all about invitation.
Mount Sinai is all about Law – Mount Zion is all about grace.
Consequences for rejecting Jesus are profound and eternal. God shakes things to remove our materialism and to test us. However, with Jesus, you cannot be shaken.
Silas was a prominent member of the Jerusalem church and was with Paul on most of his second missionary journey. We first meet Silas when he accompanied Paul and Barnabas to Antioch with the letter announcing the council’s decision (Acts 15:22-23). He replaced John Mark (Acts 15:36-40) as Paul’s companion. He shows up again when he was beaten and imprisioned along with Paul at Philippi (Acts 16:12-40). Silas was left with Timothy when Paul fled to Athens to escape the riots (Acts 17:1-15). He joins Paul again in Corinth (Acts 18:5). This is the last mention of Silas in the Bible. He is a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in Easterh Orthodox followings.
Silas (also called Silvanus in several passages) became an important part of Paul’s team in doing the work of the ministry.
Silas was recognized as one of the leading men among the brethren (Acts 15:22).
Paul wanted Barnabas and him to go back and visit all the brothers he had preached the word of the Lord to on his first missionary journey. Barnabas wanted to take John (Mark) along but Paul refused, citing his desertion the first time around as his reason. They fought over it, resulting in Barnabas going with Mark to Cyprus and Paul taking Silas through Syria and Cilicia.
Paul met Timothy in Lystra and wanted to take him along with him. Timothy (who was half-Jew and half-Greek) was circumcised because of all the Jews around them. They delivered the decisions reached by the elders in Jerusalem and the church grew.
They headed out through Phrygia and Galatia, avoiding Asia and Bithynia because the Holy Spirit told them no. They headed to Troas and then to Macedonia after Paul had a vision he should preach there.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 2: Acts 15:36-16:10
3) Part personal Question. My answer: The Holy Spirit guided them (verses 6, 7, and 9). Paul’s goal is to hit the major cities, but he remains open to divine guidance as this passage indicates and goes where God leads him to accomplish his mission. They parted company, which in a way, spread the gospel even more. God had a plan in this disagreement. I learned God will guide you if you listen. God teaches what is best for us and directs us if we only would pay attention to His commands. We’d have peace and righteousness.
4) As a compromise to appease the Jews of the day. Since Timothy was going to begin preaching the Good News, he made this showing so he would have credibility amongst the Jewish people.
5) Personal Question. My answer: Supporting them with tithes, volunteering, bringing more people to church, praying, and having a heart for God wherever I go.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 2: Acts 15:36-16:10
So we’re back now with Paul on his missionary journeys. Here are two maps that shows Pau’s progress. He is in Antioch where we left him in Acts 15:35, goes through Syria and Cilicia, picks up Timothy in Derbe, go through Phrygia and Galatia, passed by Mysia, went to Troas, and headed for Macedonia according to Paul’s vision.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 2: Acts 15:36-16:10
Paul knew the importance of strengthening and encouraging those who were already Christians. That was the initial motivation for this second missionary venture.
Barnabas and Paul Split
John Mark had previously left the missionary party under what seemed to be less than honorable circumstances (Acts 13:13). This probably made Paul unwilling to trust him on future endeavors.
Luke did not give us a clue as to who was right and who was wrong in the dispute between Paul and Barnabas. But personal disputes are never a good thing. Probably both were wrong on some level.
There were signs of trouble between both Paul and Barnabas earlier when Barnabas sided with the Judaizers in Antioch when Peter came to visit (Galatians 2:13).
Since Barnabas was John Mark’s cousin (Colossians 4:10), and because Barnabas had such an encouraging, accepting character (Acts 4:36, 9:26-27), Barnabas left with John Mark. and Paul and Silas went their own way.
It is hard to know if their personal relationship was strained for a prolonged period. As Christians, we are commanded to resolve relationship problems with others before we present ministry to God (Matthew 5:23-24). God did use this division, as He uses everything in our lives.
And So Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Begins…
Paul began this missionary journey having come from Antioch. First, he did the work of strengthening the churches through the regions of Syria and Cilicia (Acts 15:40-41).
ii. According to the estimate of William Barclay, the first missionary journey finished about five years before the events of this chapter. Paul was anxious to see for himself how the work of the Lord continued among these churches he founded five years before.
The last time Paul was in Lystra, they first worshipped him as a god and then tried to kill him by stoning (Acts 14:11-20). Paul’s courage and wisdom in the face of these obstacles built a great legacy in people like Timothy.
Why Timothy Was Circumcised
In Acts 15, Paul argued strongly that it was not necessary for Gentile converts to come under the Law of Moses for salvation (Acts 15:2 and 15:12). At the time Paul met Timothy, he was delivering the news of this decree that came out of the Acts 15 council.
Yet, Paul did not contradict his belief or the findings of the council when he had Timothy circumcised. Paul did this not for Timothy’s salvation or right standing with God, but so that Timothy’s status as a non-circumcised man from a Jewish mother would not hinder their work among the Jews and in synagogues. Paul did things for the sake of love that he would not do for the sake of trying to please God through legalism. Paul insisted that Titus, a Gentile co-worker, did not have to be circumcised (Galatians 2:3-5).
“By Jewish law Timothy was a Jew, because he was the son of Jewish mother, but because he was uncircumcised he was technically an apostate Jew. If Paul wished to maintain his links with the synagogue, he could not be seen to countenance apostasy.” (Bruce)
We are commanded to do nothing to hinder God’s people and His word. Hence, the circumcision had to take place.
Forbidden by the Holy Spirit
We aren’t told how the Holy Spirit said no; it may have been through a word of prophecy, by an inward speaking of the Holy Spirit, or by circumstances. Ephesus would come later, not now.
Asia in the Bible does not refer to the Far East as we know it today. It refers to the Roman Province of Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey.
After the attempt to go to Asia, Paul sought to go north into Bithynia, but was again prevented by the Holy Spirit. So, they came down to Troas.
The Holy Spirit often guides as much by the closing of doors as He does by the opening of doors.
In a vision, Paul was invited to the region of Macedonia, westward across the Aegean Sea.
This moved Paul and his missionary team from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe; this was the first missionary endeavor to Europe.
The wisdom and greatness of God’s plan was beginning to unfold. In Paul’s mind, he wanted to reach a few cities in his region. But God wanted to give Paul a continent to win for Jesus Christ. God’s plans for us are greater than we can ever imagine.
The greatest help we can bring anyone is the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.
The shift from they (they came down to Troas, Acts 16:8) to we in this verse probably means that Luke joined the band of missionaries in Troas.
Fun Fact: Luke uses “we” in Acts 16, 21, and 28.
What God Knew and Paul Didn’t
God wanted Paul and his team to go to Troas and pick up a doctor named Luke. Because God said “no” to Paul these two times, we have a gospel and a Book of Acts written by Luke
Paul probably had no idea of the greatness of God’s purpose. God wanted to give him a continent for Jesus, to give him a personal doctor, and to give all of us the man whom God would use to write more of the New Testament than anyone else did. God knows what He is doing when he says, “No.” Do you trust Him when He says no to you?
In Philippi, a Roman colony in Greece, Paul and the gang met with a group of women on the Sabbath outside the city (this tells us there was not a synagogue there at this time). Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, was converted and baptized along with others and invited them to stay at her home.
A demon-possessed slave girl began to follow the group around until Paul was so troubled he commanded the spirit out of her. The girl’s owners who no longer could make money off of her, seized Paul and Silas and dragged them to the magistrates, accusing them of violating Roman customs. They were stripped, beaten, and thrown in jail.
In jail, whilst singing, an earthquake happened that threw open the prison doors. The jailer was distraught; but seeing the miracle he and his family became converts and were baptized.
Paul and Silas were then released. However, Paul announced his Roman citizenship, striking fear in the magistrates, who then tried to appease them. The group said good-bye to Lydia and the other converts, offering encouragement, and left.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 3: Acts 16:11-40
6) We aren’t told in general how Paul and the others were received. We are told of a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, who worshipped God and invited them to stay with her and we’re told of a slave girl who was possessed and Paul told the demon to come out. When he did this, the slave girl’s owners became mad and Paul and Silas were thrown in prison.
7) Personal Question. My answer: You don’t know who God will save through you, so you have to shine the light of Christ everywhere you go like Paul and Silas did in prison and saved the jailer.
8a) Paul and Silas were dragged before the magistrates for admonishing an evil spirit, and they were accused of advocating unlawful practices for Romans. They were stripped, beaten, and thrown into jail.
Paul and Silas began singing prayers and an earthquake threw the doors of the prison open. The jailer and his family was then converted, baptized, and saved by Paul and Silas, and they were eventually set free.
The jailer and his family were saved for eternity. Lydia and the other women were saved as well. Lydia was the first European convert to Christianity so the seed was planted which would spread to convert thousands more.
b) Personal Question. My answer: You must persevere through opposition and run the race that God has set before you despite those who would oppose you. The end goal is souls saved.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 3: Acts 16:11-40
I love how women are featured prominently in this section of the Bible. Lydia must have been rich if she dealt in purple cloth, which was reserved for only royalty at the time, and she was a merchant. Yet, she was unafraid of being a Christian. The slave girl caused Paul and Silas to go to prison where the jailer was saved. Every circumstance in our lives has a purpose. We must remember that.
This link is a cool interactive map of Paul’s Second Missionary Journey HERE
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 3: Acts 16:11-40
Paul and his missionary team (now including Luke) had to sail across the Aegean Sea, from the continent of Asia to the continent of Europe.
“That they ‘sailed straight for Samothrace’ is quite revealing, because this is a nautical expression that means the wind was at their backs. So perfect were the winds that they sailed 156 miles in just two days, whereas returning the other way at a later time (Acts 20:6) it took five days.” (Hughes)
The fact that the Jews of Philippi had no synagogue and met by the river means that there were not many Jewish men in Philippi.
The dyes used for making purple were expensive and highly regarded. This woman was the first convert in Europe.
Thyatira was well known as a center for this purple dye and fabric made from it. Later, there was a church in Thyatira also, and it was one of the seven churches addressed in Revelation (Revelation 2:18-29).
The Demon-Possessed Slave Girl
This girl, though demon possessed, was a source of money for her owners as a fortune teller, as the demons gave her supernatural insight into the lives of others.
“It actually says, ‘She had a spirit of Pythona.’ ‘Pythona’ was a certain kind of snake – a python. It is used here because the python was associated with the god Apollo…not far from Philippi, in this very area of Europe, there was a shrine to the Pythian Apollo.” (Boice)
Jesus cast out demons with His own authority. Paul was careful to speak to demons only in the authority of Jesus Christ, and he spoke beyond the afflicted girl to the demon itself with this authority of Jesus.
Why Arrest Paul and Silas?
Paul and Silas were singled out not only because there were the leaders of the evangelistic group, but also, by their appearance, they were the most obviously Jewish. This is indicated by how they began their accusation: “These men, being Jews.”
Luke was a Gentile, and Timothy was only half Jewish. Paul and Silas looked Jewish,
In the Roman Empire there were two very different laws: one for citizens of the Roman Empire, and one for those who were not citizens. Roman citizens had specific, zealously guarded civil rights. Non-citizens had no civil rights, and were subject to the whims of both the multitude and the magistrates.
Since they assumed Paul and Barnabas were not Roman citizens, they were offended that these obviously Jewish men harassed Roman citizens with their strange religion of a crucified Savior.
Jewish legal tradition gave a maximum number of blows that could be delivered when beating a person, but the Romans had no such limit. We simply know Paul and Silas were severely beaten. Paul later wrote of his life: In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. (2 Corinthians 11:23)
Joy in Prison
Though they were arrested, beaten, and imprisoned for doing good, Paul and Silas were filled with joy, and sang praises to God.
The Roman Law
Under Roman law and custom, guards who allowed their prisoners to escape received the penalty of their escaped prisoners. Knowing this, Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” He assured the jailer that no one had escaped.
It would have been easy for Paul and Silas to escape, thinking God provided another miraculous jailbreak. But to them, the lives of others were more important than their own personal freedom and comfort.
The circumstances said, “escape.” But love said, “Stay for the sake of this one soul.” They were not guided merely by circumstances, but by what love compelled.
This is how God wants our lives to be: Natural magnets drawing people to Him. Our Christianity should make others want what we have with God.
The same jailer who had punished them now cared for Paul and Silas, caring for their wounds and he set food before them. This shows how repentant he was and how he followed the example of love shown by Paul and Silas.
Paul and Silas returned to the prison willingly to spare the jailer certain death.
The Purpose of the Earthquake
The earthquake was clearly supernatural because of its timing, location, and in the way all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
The earthquake had absolutely nothing to do with freeing Paul and Silas from prison. But it had everything to do with the salvation of a certain prison guard and his household.
God’s Will Over Our Will
Why didn’t Paul and Silas reveal their Roman citizenship earlier? It is possible that they didn’t have the opportunity, but it is more likely that the Holy Spirit directed them to not reveal it until a certain time.
It was a grave offense to treat Roman citizens as Paul and Silas had been treated.
Our rights are not as important as our obedience to the will of God. God may ask us to lay down our rights for the good of another (in this case, for the good of the Philippian jailer).
In Philippi, Paul and Silas left behind two notable converts: Lydia and the prison guard. Each of these two had their lives touched by Jesus in very different ways.
The use of “they” here suggests that Luke stayed behind in Philippi for at least a while, perhaps to care for this new congregation.
Paul next went to Thessalonica where as was his custom he preached in the Jewish synagogue, explaining and proving Jesus Christ using the scriptures. Some were persuaded and joined him, as well as some Greeks. But the Jews were jealous, so they rounded up some ruffians and started a riot in the city. They went to Jason’s house where Paul and Silas were staying, and not finding them there, arrested Jason and some others instead.
That night, Paul and Silas left and went to Berea where they preached in the Jewish synagogue as well. The Bereans were of more noble character and compared what Paul was saying with the scriptures. They were eager to know God more so and many were converted as well. But the angry Jews from Thessalonica trailed Paul and stirred up trouble in Berea as well. So the brothers sent Paul away to Athens.
In Athens, Paul was met with idols everywhere and met harsh resistance with the intellectual culture of the Athenians as he preached in the synagogue and the market places. He got into a dispute with a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers and was dragged off to the Areopagus (council) to make his case.
Paul told them about what they referred to as “the unknown god” who was the One, True God. God who made everything in the world, who does not need anything from mankind, who controls nations and time, who is near to us, who commands people everywhere to repent for one day they will be judged, and who had given proof by raising Jesus from the dead.
Upon hearing the raising from the dead (something the Greeks balked at: they were big on the spirit living on but believed the body to be merely a physical medium), Paul was cut off but invited to speak again. Only a few were converted.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 4: Acts 17
9) Personal Question. My answer: How some people were eager to learn about God and others could care less. Sometimes it’s just our stubborn mindset that is hindering us.
10) Personal Question. My answer: I like how Pauls points out that they are worshipping an unknown god, that is probably the One, True God. Deep in all of us is a desire to know God, yet some are lost and don’t know what that urging is. There is hope for these people, searching for a god. Paul lays out the facts about God; that’s all we have to do. God does the rest.
11) Personal Question. My answer: If you love people and shine God’s light, as well as give credit to God and live as God calls us to live, these people in our lives will hopefully want what you have and convert.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 4: Acts 17
This whole day is a personal day. I think it’s been a while since we’ve had this. This lesson so far, when I compare it to last time (and, yes, I’m going to keep comparing it because I’m insanely curious how BSF has changed in less than a decade), the questions were all about the passage.
I joined BSF because I was tired of attending women’s bible studies where all the women did was bemoan their lives, talk bad about their husbands, and ignore the passage entirely. In my group this year, it has digressed to this often. The questions here are so general that I think a new believer wouldn’t learn anything. The beauty of BSF in the past was that it guided us to learn what God was trying to teach us by telling us what was happening in the passage. Here, the word “you” is used six times. I’m tired of everything in this world being about me. I don’t like the “me” culture we live in. Anyone else?
Please do read my End Notes for a thorough discussion of the passage, and not of my thoughts on the matter.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 4: Acts 17
Thessalonica
Thessalonica was an important port city, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) and a three-day walk from Philippi. Modern Thessalonika is still a large, thriving city.
Paul uses the Scriptures, explains them, demonstrates how Christ died for us, and talks about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Some believed.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, he received financial support from the Christians in Philippi (Philippians 4:15-16).
As happened at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:45, 50), at Iconium (Acts 14:2, 5), and at Lystra (Acts 14:19) on the first missionary journey, here also Paul was opposed by a mob incited by jealous Jews.
Jason was a Christian in Thessalonica whose house seems to have been a center for the church.
Other versions say “men who have turned the world upside-down” instead of caused trouble. This more effectively reflects what Christ had done and continues to do for those who know him.
No one wanted to defy Caesar and bring Rome’s wrath upon them. This further stirred up people since no one wanted Roman soldiers to come and restore order. So Jason had to post the bond even though he did not start the riot.
Paul and Silas left Thessalonica quickly, not wanting to bring more persecution on the Christians there or to jeopardize Jason’s security deposit.
Paul only spent a few weeks in Thessalonica (Acts 17:2) and it seems he wished he could have taught them more. He decided to teach them more in a written letter, and many believe that 1 Thessalonians was his first letter written to a congregation.
Berea
Here, the people were ready to receive God and had open hearts. The Bereans heard the teaching of the most famous apostle and theologian of the early church, and the human author of at least 13 New Testament books. Yet, they searched the Scriptures when Paul taught, to see if his teaching was truly Biblical. They would not accept Paul’s teaching without checking for themselves, so they could know if these things were so. So must we.
The same had happened at Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13:45, 50), at Iconium (Acts 14:2, 5), at Lystra (Acts 14:19) and at Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-8) This was the fifth city Paul was run out of by an angry mob, stirred up by envious Jewish leaders.
Silas and Timothy remained there, because Paul wanted to leave them behind to teach and take care of the new Christians in Berea.
Athens
The sense is that Paul would have preferred to wait until Timothy and Silas came from Berea before he began ministry in Athens. But when he saw that the city was given over to idols, he was compelled to preach the gospel immediately.
Athens was one of the most glorious and important cities in the world. But when Paul toured Athens, he was only depressed by the magnitude of the idolatry he saw all around.
The idea behind given over to idols (kateidolos) is really under idols, or swamped by idols. Paul saw the beauty of Athens, having the best that Greek sculptors and architects could offer; but all that beauty did not honor God, so it did not impress him at all.
Paul faced a challenging audience in Athens. It was a cultured, educated city that was proud of its history. It was an intellectual center, much like Oxford or Cambridge. Paul spoke to a city perhaps different than any other city he had preached in. It was the intellectual and religious capital of Greece.
The Epicureans pursued pleasure as the chief purpose in life, and valued most of all the pleasure of a peaceful life, free from pain, disturbing passions and superstitious fears (including the fear of death). They did not deny the existence of gods, but believed that they had nothing to do with man. Based upon the teachings of Epicurus in 307 BC.
The Stoics were pantheists who put great emphasis on moral sincerity and a high sense of duty. They cultivated a spirit of proud dignity, and believed that suicide was better than a life lived with less dignity.
The Stoics believed that everything was god, and god was in everything. So they believed that all things, good or evil, were from “god,” and so nothing should be resisted, and they believed there was no particular direction or destiny for mankind. Based on the teachings of Zeno of Citium in the early third-century BC.
It was the novelty of Paul’s message that earned him the invitation to the Areopagus. These ancient Greeks loved a constant and always changing stream of news and information.
The Areopagus means “the Rock of Ares” in Greek and is also known as Mars’ Hill. It was originally a court of appeal for criminal and civil cases in the times of the Greeks. It was also where the council of elders met, similar to the Roman Senate. Later, in Roman times, it was a philosophical council that oversaw religion and morals.
The Unknown God of the Romans covered any god that may have been neglected. Paul wanted to reveal the identity of the Unknown God as the One, True God.
In explaining God to them, Paul started at the beginning. This is a good lesson for us when we are explaining who God is to people.
The two quotations Paul used from Greek poets are attributed respectively to Epimenides the Cretan [600 B.C.] (who Paul quotes again in Titus 1:12) and Aratus [310 B.C.]. Paul quoted them because these specific words reflected a Biblical truth, and by using them he could build a bridge to his pagan audience.
Paul went from knowing who God is (our Creator), to who we are (His offspring), to our responsibility before Him (to understand Him and worship Him in truth), to our accountability if we dishonor Him (judgment).
Paul boldly confronted the wrong ideas the Athenians had about God, and confronted them with the reality of coming judgment.
His first mention of Jesus presented Jesus as a righteous judge.none of the Christian life made sense without the triumph of Jesus’ resurrection.
The Greeks were fond of the idea of the immortality of the soul, but not of the idea of the resurrection of the body. Paul converted some. That was all that mattered.
Paul next journeyed to Corinth where he met a tentmaker named Aquila and his wife, Priscilla, whom he stayed with and helped for a time. He preached every Sabbath in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks to accept Jesus. Having little luck after months of preaching, Paul one day announces he is giving up, telling the Jews it will be on their heads they haven’t accepted Jesus and he will turn to the Gentiles now.
Paul did have some success, converting Titius Justus and Crispus.
The Lord then encouraged Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you.” Paul stayed for another year and a half.
The Jews tried to attack Paul by bringing charges against him in Achaia in front of Gallio. Gallio dismissed the complaint, telling them to work out their squabbles on their own since the matter was within their (Jewish) own law. Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, was beaten because of it.
BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 5: Acts 18:1-22
12) Paul was very discouraged, having just come from Athens where only a few converted, and the fact that he had been run out of town several times before this. Paul preached every day in the synagogue, but the Jews became abusive as well, and Paul got fed up and said it was on them whether they converted or not. He did have success at the house of Titius Justus. Paul was encouraged to keep going by God in a vision.
13) God spoke to Paul in a vision, “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” It would be nice if God spoke to all of us and encouraged us in our dark days. However, through prayer and supplication, I am encouraged daily in my walk with Him. The promise of a better life is also encouraging.
14) Part personal question. My answer: Other believers know what we are going through and can offer words of advice to help us when we are struggling on this side of heaven. My family is who I depend on for support, encouragement, and community.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 5: Acts 18:1-22
Now, this lesson is BSF at its finest. It has the perfect amount of examination of the Bible, coupled with how to apply God’s teaching to your life. Putting together a year-long Bible study is no walk in the park, and I love BSF for doing so. I think they, too, are still trying to find the perfect blend of Biblical study and personal application that many are seeking in this world in 2020.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Acts Lesson 17, Day 5: Acts 18:1-22
Corinth
Many scholars believe that when Paul reached Corinth, he was shaken and discouraged because of the little success he was having and of his fanatical opponents. They believe he resolved to make Christ the sole subject of his teaching and preaching while there.
Corinth was a major city of the Roman Empire, at an important crossroads of trade and travel. It was also a city notorious for its hedonism and immorality.
In Paul’s day, Corinth was already an ancient city. It was a commercial center with two harbors and had long been a rival to its northern neighbor, Athens. Corinth was a city with a remarkable reputation for loose living and especially sexual immorality. In classical Greek, to act like a Corinthian meant to practice fornication, and a Corinthian companion meant a prostitute. This sexual immorality was permitted under the widely popular worship of Aphrodite (also known as Venus, the goddess of fertility and sexuality). In 146 B.C. Corinth rebelled against Rome and was brutally destroyed by Roman armies. It lay in ruins for a century, until Julius Caesar rebuilt the city. It quickly re-established its former position as a center for both trade and immorality of every sort.
This is one of the important friendships of the New Testament – Paul and Aquila and his wife, Priscilla. Paul called them his fellow workers who had risked their own necks for my life (Romans 16:3-4).
“Priscilla is a diminutive form of Prisca, which is one of the great families of Rome. She was probably related to this family in some way.” (Hughes) In half the mentions of this New Testament married couple, Priscilla’s name is written first – which is said to be unusual.
Paul’s tentmaking was an important part of his ministry. Though he recognized his right to be supported by those he ministered to (1 Corinthians 9:7-14), he voluntarily supported himself in his missionary and preaching work so that no one could accuse him of seeking converts for the sake of enriching himself (1 Corinthians 9:15-18).
Fun Fact: In the modern missions movement, people call any work that a missionary does to support himself on the mission field tentmaking.
The Roman historian Suetonius wrote that Claudius banished Jews from Rome around 49 AD because they were “indulging in constant riots at the instigation of Chrestus.”
Paul was effective as he reasoned (discussed, debated) among the Jews and Greeks. The Greeks present in the synagogue were Gentiles interested in and sympathetic with Judaism.
Paul later described the character of his bold preaching in Corinth in: For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:1-16).
When Timothy came, he brought news about how the Christians in Thessalonica were remaining steadfast in the faith (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10). This brought Paul great joy, spurring him on in ministry (Paul was compelled by the Spirit). He answered back by writing 1 Thessalonians from Corinth.
According to 2 Corinthians 11:8-9, while Paul was in Corinth, financial support arrived from the Christians in Philippi, and he was able to put aside tentmaking for a while and concentrate more fully on the task of building the church in Corinth.
Paul strongly sensed his responsibility to preach to the Jews first (Romans 1:16), but when his message was rejected, he wasted no time in going to the Gentiles.
Paul shook out his clothes so that not a speck of dust from the synagogue would remain on them, much less his sandals. This was a dramatic way of expressing his rejection of their rejection.
Crispus was one of the few in Corinth whom Paul personally baptized (1 Corinthians 1:14).
Paul was afraid, fearing that here in Corinth his work would be cut short by either opposing Jews (as in Thessalonica and Berea) or by the highly-charged worldliness around him.
It could also be don’t be afraid of God, since many in the Old Testament feared God when He spoke to them.
I Am With You
Gallio
In approaching Gallio, the Jews of Corinth tried to stop Paul’s preaching work in the entire province. He correctly saw that the government has no role in attempting to decide religious matters
Gallio looked the other way when angry Gentiles beat Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue.
Apparently, when Crispus trusted in Jesus, he was replaced as ruler of the synagogue (Acts 18:8) by Sosthenes – who later himself seems to have become a Christian (1 Corinthians 1:1).
Unlike previous cities, Paul wasn’t forced out of Corinth. He stayed there a good while, fulfilling the promise Jesus made to him in Acts 18:9-10.
Paul developed such a deep friendship and partnership with this married couple that they decided to go with him as decided to head east back to Jerusalem and then Antioch.
Vow of Nazirite
The vow was almost certainly the vow of a Nazirite (Numbers 6). Usually this vow was taken for a certain period of time and when completed, the hair (which had been allowed to freely grow) was cut off and offered to the Lord at a special ceremony at the temple in Jerusalem.
The purpose of the vow of a Nazirite was to express a unique consecration to God, promising to abstain from all products from the grapevine, to not cut one’s hair, and to never come near a dead body.
Paul’s performance of this vow shows that Jewish opposition to his preaching had not made him anti-Jewish. He never forgot that he was Jewish, His Messiah was Jewish, that Christianity is Jewish, and that Old Testament forms and rituals might still be used to good purpose. Apparently, though Paul was adamant that Jewish ceremonies and rituals must not be required of Gentiles, he saw nothing wrong with Jewish believers who wished to observe such ceremonies, presumably if their fulfillment in Jesus was also recognized.
William Barclay suggests that Paul’s motive was gratitude. “No doubt Paul was thinking of all God’s goodness to him in Corinth and took this vow to show his gratitude.” But the purpose of a Nazirite vow seems to be more of consecration than thanksgiving. Perhaps the intense worldliness of Corinth made Paul want to express his dedication and separation unto the Lord more than ever.
By tradition, a Nazirite vow could only be fulfilled in Judea. Paul began this vow at Cenchrea, not in Judea. Paul’s adoption of the vow out of the bounds dictated by Jewish tradition could indicate a desire to practice a more purely Biblical observance of Jewish rituals.
Paul wanted to preach in Ephesus some two years earlier, but was prevented by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:6). Now, the Holy Spirit gave him the liberty to preach in this important city, and great results were seen.
God’s Timing
God has a special timing for everything in our lives. If Paul could have discerned it, the Holy Spirit was really saying, “wait” when he wanted to go to Ephesus, instead of “no.” Sometimes God says, “wait” and He always knows what He’s doing when He says it.
Aquila and Priscilla stayed at Ephesus, seemingly at Paul’s request. Something good started at Ephesus, and Paul wanted the work to continue with his trusted friends.
When it says that Paul had gone up and greeted the church, it means he went up to Jerusalem and fulfilled his Nazirite vow in the temple.
Leaving Jerusalem, Paul returned to his home church in Syrian Antioch. They must have been pleased to have Paul return and tell of all his work over the previous three years or so.
When Paul was in Thessalonica, he received financial support from the Christians in Philippi (
