Month: February 2022

February 28, 2022

God guaranteed his promise (Heb 6:17)

“In a more abundant way,

When God

Desired to show

To the heirs

Of the promise

His unchangeable purpose,

He guaranteed it

By an oath.”

ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον βουλόμενος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιδεῖξαι τοῖς κληρονόμοις τῆς ἐπαγγελίας τὸ ἀμετάθετον τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ ἐμεσίτευσεν ὅρκῳ, ·

This author said, “In a more abundant way (ἐν ᾧ περισσότερον), when God (ὁ Θεὸς) desired (βουλόμενος) to show (ἐπιδεῖξαι) to the heirs (κληρονόμοις) of the promise (τῆς ἐπαγγελίας) his unchangeable (τὸ ἀμετάθετον) purpose (τῆς βουλῆς αὐτοῦ), he guaranteed (ἐμεσίτευσεν) it by an oath (ὅρκῳ).”  This word ἀμετάθετον only appears in this canonical Greek NT writing here, that means immutable, unchangeable, or unchanged, and the word ἐμεσίτευσεν, that means to interpose, mediate or give bail.  This author explained that God wanted to make it clear, or show in a more abundant way to the heirs of the promise, his unchangeable promised.  Thus, he guaranteed it by an oath.  The heirs of the promise are not only the Israelites but the Christians also.  God had given this oath to Abraham in Genesis, chapter 22:16-18, after he had saved his son Isaac.  This author was very familiar with Hebrew scripture.  Do you feel that you are an heir to the promise of God?

February 28, 2022

Humans swearing (Heb 6:16)

“Of course,

Human beings

Swear

By someone

Greater than themselves.

An oath

Given as confirmation

Puts an end

To all these disputes.”

ἄνθρωποι γὰρ κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος ὀμνύουσιν, καὶ πάσης αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας πέρας εἰς βεβαίωσιν ὁ ὅρκος·

This author said, “Of course, human beings (ἄνθρωποι γὰρ) swear (ὀμνύουσιν) by someone greater (κατὰ τοῦ μείζονος) than themselves.  An oath (ὁ ὅρκος) given as confirmation (εἰς βεβαίωσιν) puts an end (πέρας) to all (καὶ πάσης) these disputes (αὐτοῖς ἀντιλογίας).”  This word ἀντιλογίας only appears in this canonical Greek NT writing here, that means gainsaying, contradiction, contention, or rebellion.  This author emphasized the importance of oath swearing.  Humans swear by someone greater than themselves, God.  Thus, we say that we swear to God that something is true, or “so help me God”.  This swearing by God puts an end to all disputes on contentions.  Calling on God to confirm that you are telling the truth is a way to indicate that you are telling the truth.  Once God’s name comes in, there cannot be any contradictions.  Do you accept sworn testimony?

February 28, 2022

The promise to Abraham (Heb 6:15)

“Thus,

Abraham,

Having patiently endured,

Obtained

The promise.”

καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας ἐπέτυχεν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας.

This author said, “Thus, Abraham, having patiently endured (καὶ οὕτως μακροθυμήσας), obtained (ἐπέτυχεν) the promise (τῆς ἐπαγγελίας).”  This author indicated that Abraham waited patiently or endured.  Thus, he was able to obtain the promise given to him by God.  He had to wait until he was over 100 years old before he was able to get a promised son, Isaac.  Do you have a son?

February 28, 2022

I will bless you (Heb 6:14)

“God said.

‘I will surely bless you

And multiply you.’”

λέγων Εἰ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε·

This author said, “God said (λέγων).  ‘I will surely bless you (Εἰ μὴν εὐλογῶν εὐλογήσω σε) and multiply you (καὶ πληθύνων πληθυνῶ σε).’”  If fact, the words are emphatic.  This author said that God would bless Abraham with a blessing and multiply his descendants as in Genesis, chapters 12, 15, and 17.  That was the two big things for the Israelites, God’s blessing of the land and their descendants.  This was the basis of the covenant between God and Abraham.  Abraham would have land and many children.  Do you have a large family?

February 28, 2022

God swore to Abraham (Heb 6:13)

“When God

Made a promise

To Abraham,

Because he had

No one greater

To swear to,

He swore by himself.”

Τῷ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ Θεός, ἐπεὶ κατ’ οὐδενὸς εἶχεν μείζονος ὀμόσαι, ὤμοσεν καθ’ ἑαυτοῦ,

This author said, “When God (ὁ Θεός,) made a promise (ἐπαγγειλάμενος) to Abraham (Τῷ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ), because (ἐπεὶ) he had no one (κατ’ οὐδενὸς) greater (μείζονος) to swear to (ὀμόσαι), he swore (ὤμοσεν) by himself (καθ’ ἑαυτοῦ).”  This author noted that God made a promise to Abraham that the Jewish Christians were aware of.  However, this author noted that God swore by himself because there is no greater authority than God himself.  He could not swear by anything else.  Have you ever given a sworn statement?

February 27, 2022

Do not be sluggish! (Heb 6:12)

“Thus,

You may not become

Sluggish,

But imitators

Of those who

Through faith

And patience

Inherit

The promises.”

ἵνα μὴ νωθροὶ γένησθε, μιμηταὶ δὲ τῶν διὰ πίστεως καὶ μακροθυμίας κληρονομούντων τὰς ἐπαγγελίας.

This author said, “Thus, you may not (ἵνα μὴ) become (γένησθε) sluggish (νωθροὶ), but imitators (μιμηταὶ) of those who through faith (δὲ τῶν διὰ πίστεως) and patience (καὶ μακροθυμίας) inherit (κληρονομούντων) the promises (τὰς ἐπαγγελίας).”  This word νωθροὶ only appears in this canonical Greek NT writing here, that means sluggish, slothful, blunt, dull, or slack.  This author did not want the readers to be sluggish or dull.  They should be enthusiastic imitators of those who have faith and patience.  Thus, they would inherit the promises of Jesus Christ.  Do you expect to inherit the promises of Jesus Christ?

February 27, 2022

Diligent hope (Heb 6:11)

“We want each one of you

To show

The same diligence,

To realize

The full assurance

Of hope

To the very end.”

ἐπιθυμοῦμεν δὲ ἕκαστον ὑμῶν τὴν αὐτὴν ἐνδείκνυσθαι σπουδὴν πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν τῆς ἐλπίδος ἄχρι τέλους,

This author said, “We want (ἐπιθυμοῦμεν) each one of you (δὲ ἕκαστον ὑμῶν) to show (ἐνδείκνυσθαι) the same (τὴν αὐτὴν) diligence (σπουδὴν), to realize the full assurance (πρὸς τὴν πληροφορίαν) of hope (τῆς ἐλπίδος) to the very end (ἄχρι τέλους).”  This author wanted all of the readers to show diligence in their hope for the future.  He wanted them to persist in their belief in Jesus Christ until the end of their lives.  He wanted them to keep hope alive.  Are you a hopeful person?

February 27, 2022

You serve the saints (Heb 6:10)

“God

Is not unjust.

He will not overlook

Your work

And the love

That you showed

For his name

In serving

The saints,

As you still do.”

οὐ γὰρ ἄδικος ὁ Θεὸς ἐπιλαθέσθαι τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, διακονήσαντες τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ διακονοῦντες

This author said, “God (ὁ Θεὸς) is not (οὐ) unjust (γὰρ ἄδικος).  He will not overlook (ἐπιλαθέσθαι) your work (τοῦ ἔργου ὑμῶν) and the love (καὶ τῆς ἀγάπης) that you showed (ἧς ἐνεδείξασθε) for his name (εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ) in serving (διακονήσαντες) the saints (τοῖς ἁγίοις), as you still do (καὶ διακονοῦντες).”  This author said that God was not unjust.  He would not forget the work of the Jewish Christians and their love that they had manifested for the name of God and Jesus.  They had served the saints or the other followers of Jesus Christ and still continued to do so.  A just God would take care of them because of their love and service to those who believed in Jesus Christ.  Do you believe in Jesus Christ?

February 27, 2022

We are confident of better things (Heb 6:9)

“Beloved!

Even though

We speak

In this way,

We are confident

Of better things

In your case,

Things that belong

To salvation.”

Πεπείσμεθα δὲ περὶ ὑμῶν, ἀγαπητοί, τὰ κρείσσονα καὶ ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας, εἰ καὶ οὕτως λαλοῦμεν.

This author said, “Beloved (ἀγαπητοί)!  Even though (εἰ) we speak (λαλοῦμεν) in this way (καὶ οὕτως), we are confident (Πεπείσμεθα) of better things (τὰ κρείσσονα) in your case (δὲ περὶ ὑμῶν), things that belong to salvation (καὶ ἐχόμενα σωτηρίας).”  This author turned to his Jewish Christian readers.  He called them beloved, the first personal reference in this letter or document.  He was confident of better things for them.  They were in a better situation as regards salvation than others.  He was going to talk about their salvation.  Do you believe that you are saved?

February 27, 2022

Worthless cursed ground (Heb 6:8)

“But if the land

Produces

Thorns

And thistles,

It is worthless.

It is on the verge

Of being cursed.

Its end is

To be burned over.”

ἐκφέρουσα δὲ ἀκάνθας καὶ τριβόλους ἀδόκιμος καὶ κατάρας ἐγγύς, ἧς τὸ τέλος εἰς καῦσιν. 

This author said, “But if the land produces (ἐκφέρουσα δὲ) thorns (ἀκάνθας) and thistles (καὶ τριβόλους), it is worthless (ἀδόκιμος).  It is on the verge (ἐγγύς) of being cursed (καὶ κατάρας).  Its end is to be (ἧς τὸ τέλος) burned over (εἰς καῦσιν).”  This word καῦσιν, only appears in this canonical Greek NT writing here, that means burning, burning up, or being burned.  This author remined his readers that if that ground that drank up all that rain water produced thorns and thistles, it was useless, unlike the productive crop of the blessed land.  Thus, this useless land was on the verge of being cursed.  This worthless land would end up being burned.  Would you burn up useless land?