Lesson 02 “The
Better Messenger: Superiority to the Prophets”
Hebrews 1:1-4
ID: Inductive Questions (Asking the text questions like
who, what, where, when, why, & how?”)
CR: Cross References (Comparing Scripture to Scripture,
understanding the vague by the clear.)
WS: Word
Study (Understanding definition, theological meaning, and usages in other
passages.)
The WORD: What does the Bible say?
1.
Read chapter one and then reread verses 1-4 several times (in a more dynamic version like the NIV9, NET Bible, or Living
and
in a more literal translation like the NASB9, NKJV,
or ESV9.). (Note that Hebrews 1:1-4 form one
skillfully composed sentence in Greek even though most English translations
break it up to make it more readable.)
2.
(CR) Some commentators see a reference to Psalm 110.1 in verse three. Since Hebrews 1:14 specifically refers to the same verse in Psalm 110, take a few minutes to
carefully read Psalm 110
and make special note of verse one.
3.
(WS) (1) Some
versions say God spoke in various “times”
and others translate polymerōs with words
like “portions”
or “parts.” Look up the Greek word and look at the
context. What do you think? Compare and contrast the God’s revelation
through the prophets with His revelation through a Son.
4.
(CR) (2) What is meant by the expression “in these
last days?” (Joel 2.28-29;
Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy3:1; 2 Peter 3:3)
5.
(ID) (2b-3) List
the things that these verses say about Christ.
Do you see any divisions or progression in the list (See page two of
this lesson for an example.)?
6.
(ID) (1-3) Indentify references to Christ’s role as
Prophet, Priest, and King in 1:1-4.
7.
(ID)
(4) Verse four is a transition verse. What is the main idea in verse four that
verses 5-15 develop and expand on?
The WALK: What should I do?
1.
If God has now
spoken to us by His Son, why should we
bother reading the Old Testament?
2.
How do these
statements about Christ (2b-3) relate to our lives today? How do they impact our
mindset and everyday decisions, words, and actions?
3.
The word
translated “image” or “representation” in verse 3 is the same Greek
word that is the root for our English word character. How well does your character represent Christ?
4.
Thomas
Constable writes that, “Some students of Hebrews have concluded that the
writer did not identify himself or his readers because he wanted to make Jesus Christ
primary in the readers’ thinking throughout this epistle.” What are distractions that keep the Lord
Jesus Christ
from being front and center in our lives and in our Christian testimony?
Going
Beyond with Scripture memory: Memorize the 7 truths about Christ
in verses 1:2b-3
-----------------------------Page Two--------------------------
chi·as·mus [kahy-az-muhs] [-mahy] noun, plural chi·as·mi
a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise
parallel phrases, as in “He went to the country, to the town went
she.” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/chiasmus
The
Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms by Chris Baldick provides a more complete description:
chiasmus [ky-AZ-mus] (plural -mi), a figure of speech by which
the order of the terms in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the
second. This may involve a repetition of the same words ("Pleasure's a
sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" —Byron) or just a reversed parallel
between two corresponding pairs of ideas … . The figure is especially common in
18th century English poetry, but is also found in prose of all periods. It is
named after the Greek letter chi (x), indicating a
"criss-cross" arrangement of terms. Adjective: chiastic.
An example is Matthew 23: 11-12.
A. "Whoever
exalts himself
B. will be humbled,
B'. and whoever humbles himself
B'. and whoever humbles himself
A'. will be exalted."
Another good example comes from Genesis 9:6:
A. Whoever sheds
B. the blood
C. of man
C'. by man shall
B'. his blood
A'. be shed
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chiasmus
in Hebrews 1:2b-3
George Guthrie, in The NIV
Application Commentary on Hebrew, points out an example of a chiasmus
in this week’s passage in Hebrews
1:2-3. It helps give order
and focus to a string of statement that, at first glance, can appear to be
somewhat random.
A Whom He has appointed heir of all things enthronement
B through Whom also He made
the worlds cosmic action
C being the brightness of His glory relation
to the Father
C’ the express image of His person relation
to the Father
B’ upholding all things by the word of His power cosmic action
(when He
had by Himself purged our sins) (descriptive
- incarnation)
A’ [He] sat down
at the right hand of the Majesty on
High enthronement
When you look at this
pattern and think about the arrangement, it not only makes it easier to
remember, but also helps add focus to the idea of who Christ is in relation to
the Father.
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