Inoh Choe / Vertical / Saturday, April 21, 2012 Segment 6

Warning against apostasy 5:11 principles- milk : solid mature

Hebrew 5:11-6:13

A) For though by this time you ought to be A) Antithetic parallelism teachers, you need someone to teach you Be Teacher > need to teachWriter scolds B) Analogy. again the basic principles of the oracles of God. the believers for their lack of understanding of Babies are helpless. They need guidance. Babies even the elements. This implies that people cannot chew food, but they need nourishment. The B) You need milk, not solid food, for everyone would not turn away if they truly understood baby has to have milk to sustain its life physically, who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of the principles of God. and the believer needs to have the word of God to righteousness, since he is a child. sustain his life spiritually. C) Food Metaphor of intangible substances This metaphor shows the readers that they have directly encountered the reality of Jesus not in a superficial or vague way. The food, which the reader know is good, also alludes to a banquet or feast a master might holdto fall away is to reject an invitation from the masterthe ultimate insult. E) Personification The believers represent the landwill they produce useful fruit, that is, the fruit of faith and good works? F) Analogy People toil for the purpose of eating or bartering their harvest. Farming is for the peoples own interest, but also to the landlords who own it and share a portion of it to their harvesters. Everyones survival depends on a good crop. Farming then, is not optional, but a necessary part of ones survival. This verse compares how faith in God is necessary for survival. 6:1 impossible: enlightened, fallen, restore C)For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God D) Graphical depiction and the powers of the age to come, Falling away from Gods son is a serious rejection. Use of emotions keep the D) then have fallen away, to restore them conversation at a personal levelcompares it againsince they are crucifying once to the soldiers and leaders who also jeered and againholding him up to contempt mocked Jesus in contempt. Crucifixion is a E) For land that has drunk the rain that often public, shameful display. To put anyone, let alone Jesus, again on the cross is unthinkable, falls on it, and produces a crop and makes the reader think twice about willful apostasy. F) useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, G) Imagery / Symbol The versed makes use of strong imagery that G) receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to the reader can relate to. The thorns and thistles represent a sinful, faithless life that being cursed, and its end is to be burned. produces worthless thingsthe imagery reminds the reader of the consequences 6:9 imitator faith; inherit promises H) Contrast Earthly rewards/ the present day worries are nothing compared to the heavenly glories.

I) Understatement H) we feel sure of better thingsthings that Emphasizes that God, who we know is righteous and belong to salvation. just, will reward the faithful since it is part of his nature. I)For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name J) Acknowledgement The writer connects Gods justice, and the believers J) in serving the saints, as you still do. good works, to the present dy. It is an encouragement for them to continue their work and K) show the same earnestness to have the full love they have shown. assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, L) Allusion to the OT, Analogy L) but imitators of those who through faith and Like Abrahams faith, and by ones conduct, do we patience inherit the promises. become children of God and inherit his promises

K) Analogy Sluggish alludes to the race analogy mentioned in Ch. 12finish the race strong or we may lose the raceand your salvation

N) Juxtaposition He validates the promise, by emphasizing Gods immutable character and power. By juxtaposing the nature of an oath with Gods character as the one same thing, the writer establishes a reality for the readers to have complete trust in. This entire passage is not built on who Jesus is (as some believers may not have a strong understanding of Christianity), but on an almighty God that the Jews would be familiar with.

6:13 God oath - unchangeable : anchor M) Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. oath is final for confirmation. N) the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie,

M )Allusions to the past. Repetition. Parallel structureto remind reader of the familiar The author reminds the reader of faithful OT heroes who have placed their trust in God.

O)Metaphor. O) We have this as a sure and steadfast Ship cannot drift away (from the Christian faith) when anchor of the soul, it is grounded by an immovable object (God). P) Allegory / synecdoche P) a hope that enters into the inner place behind Our salvation (hope) depends on our covenant the curtain, relationship with God. The curtain represents the tabernacle/tent where priests sacrifice on the peoples behalf. The writer emphasizes the old Q) a high priest forever after the order of practices that the Jews would be familiar and connect Melchizedek. it to new promise, in effect, carrying the same awe of reverence reserved for holy traditions.

O) Human agency / Alliteration Steadfast is rarely used to describe an object but lends a human, caring element to the passage. The alliteration of Sure, Steadfast and Soul (yes, I know it might be different in Hebrew or Greek), creates a rhythm and image of a strong, resolute Being, personally invested in the people.

Q) Symbol Alludes to the powerful king priestbut on an eternal scale that elevates Jesus to an incomparable, awe inspiring status.

Summary: Jesus sacrifice is superior to all the old sacrifices; his sacrifice is once and everlasting, and as the High Priest of the order of Melchizedek, he has replaced all of the old priests. All can enter through the new sanctuary for Jesus is the perfect mediator between man and God. The faithful must not drift away despite the trials, nor should they neglect the fellowship of their church. It is important to focus on Jesus, take comfort in the community of believers, and strive to mature in our understanding of God. Sin no more, grow in love, and do good for His Kingdom to come. Timeless Truth: Steadfast faith in Jesus, the eternal High Priest who sanctified us with his blood, will help us endure difficult trials Key Verse: Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)