Pastor Buddy’s Blog

An introduction to Hebraics…

Filed in Devotions & Studies, General |

Journal,

It is said when a Jewish person reads the New Testament that they begin to hear a Jewish voice.  There is a reason for this. It is because the New Testament is written in Hebrew thought form.

Not all Christians are aware that the Bible we love so much, from Genesis to Revelation, is actually a Hebraic document. And to gain a deeper understanding of the Scriptures it helps to be able to read the Bible in the thought form in which it was written. I’m not speaking of learning to read Hebrew. Rather it has to do with understanding Hebrew idioms, metaphors, symbols, parables, and such like.

And this is why I instituted a unique email study group in June, 2000, called Hebraic Foundations.

Hebraic-Foundations is a Christian forum. Its purpose is to provide Bible studies from a Hebraic perspective that encourages open discussion on what the early Christians actually taught and believed. The studies have a special view to the Old Testament foundation of our Christian faith.

One problem we have today is that many Christians have lost out on their Hebrew heritage. A Jewish writer said that Christianity is the most Jewish of the non-Jewish religions.  Rabbi Steward Rosenberg, who after having observed Christians for years, made this statement; “The stronger a person’s Christian faith, the more Jewish will he regard himself.”

The Christian theologian Carl Barth also said, “The Bible is a Jewish book. It cannot be read, understood and expounded unless we are prepared to become Jews with the Jews.”

It is not that what these men say is entirely correct. But why would two learned men of different religious traditions reach such a similar conclusion? The answer is because Christianity finds its roots in ancient Judaism. As another writer said, “Christians are spiritual Semites.”

The Lord Himself said that salvation is from the Jews. The apostle adds, “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” [Cf. Gal. 3:29]

So once again, this is why I instituted a unique email study group in June, 2000, called Hebraic Foundations. Hebraic-Foundations is solely a Christian forum. Its purpose is to provide Bible studies from a Hebraic perspective that encourages open discussion on what the early Christians taught and believed. The studies have a special view to the Old Testament foundation of our Christian faith.

With this in mind I want to invite my readers to subscribe to this unique Bible study group that I serve as the host on. To subscribe to the study group, go to this site:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Hebraic-Foundations/

Since this is a restricted forum, be sure to complete the questionnaire.

Things you will gain insight into on Hebraic Foundations… 

Here are some instances where understanding things Hebraically can cause the Scriptures to take on added meaning.

(1) What did Paul mean when he said, “Therefore a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.” (1Co11:10.)

(2) What did Jesus mean when he stopped the procession, and completed His remarks, by saying, “From [your] innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:39)

(3) Where did Paul get his teaching that we have already been seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus? (Eph2:6)

(4) What did Paul mean by the statement that he was a “Hebrew of Hebrews?”  (Phil3:5)

(5) Why is there such a stress on the name of Jesus in the apostolic writings? (Acts 4:12)

(6) What is the one doctrine taught in the new covenant that has many branches of study, yet it is simply called ‘the rule!’ (Gal6:14-16)

(7) How did the ancient Church view the Messiah? (John 20:28)

(8) What did Paul mean when he said that in Christ there is neither male nor female? (Gal3:26-29)

(9) What does the terms Abba! Father! really refer to? (Rom8:15)

(10) What was Jesus speaking of when He quoted the Scripture, “You are Gods,” to the Jewish leadership? (John 10:34)

(11) Why did Paul tell us we must learn to “never exceed what is written?” (1Co4:6)

(12) What did the writer mean when he said, “Christ was faithful as a Son over His house.”? (Heb3:6)

(13) What does the term, “kingdom of His beloved Son mean.”? (Col1:13)

(14) What did Jesus mean, when He prayed, “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them.”? (John17:22)

(15) What did Paul mean when he said the Christ “existed in the form of God.”? (Phil2:6)

(16) What did Paul mean when he said that God had “bestowed on [Christ] the name which is above every name.”? (Phil2:9)

All the afore mention areas are samples of things that can be covered in our studies. However, they are also things that can only be understood properly from a Hebraic perspective.

Early church theology was simple. Everything they taught and believed was based on the prophets. For the earliest Jewish Christians, what we call the Old Testament was actually the New Testament to them. There were as yet no apostolic writings.

Well, that’s it for now. Just something to think about.

Much love coming your way.

Buddy