[Ben]

REPLY TO ONYEMACHIKA
Absolutely, as you have listed, those things happened to man and that led man into depravity. To add more to what you have said:
– The fall brought about Sin
– The fall brought about the break from fellowship between God and man.
– The fall brought about spiritual death and physical death.

1. The introduction of sin. The fall of man brought about sin which is a deviation from God. The appearance of sin, automatically meant that a different reign had been set up and that was the reign of sin and death. Man eventually lost his place with God and his place of dominion over the earth realm. The enemy gained that lost dominion over the earth through the presence of sin. That was the implication of what God told man- that in eating the forbidden fruit, he would die. As part of that death which is Spiritual death, man lost the nature of God and took on a new nature; the nature of sin. His life got corrupted and hence could do evil. Man became alive to sin and dead to God. Hence, he became a sinner.

2. Spiritual death and physical death. Still as a result of sin, man died spiritually which meant that he got disconnected from God- his source. When man was connected to God, his life was an offshoot of God’s life, filled with goodness. But upon losing that connection, he became susceptible to all that thrived in the kingdom of Satan (John 10:10…Satan who is a thief on a mission to steal, kill and destroy). Sickness, poverty, shame, fear, disease and failure could now affect man. Hence, the possibility of decay, break down of his systems and eventual death physically. As well as eternal death.

3. Man lost fellowship with God. Fellowship implies partnership, communication, communion, oneness, a sharing together and a rubbing of minds. Fellowship is possible where there’s an equal relationship. A slave can not have fellowship with his master. Neither can there be fellowship where there is inferiority or superiority complex. There must be an equal ground for fellowship to be. Man had sinned and lost connection with God and his original nature. Now he felt inferiority and unholy before God. Hence this separation and “unequal” ground prevented man from accessing God or God from accessing man.

[Ben]

The classification of the Epistle of Hebrews is a bit controversial as many believe the author is anonymous. Hence, neither a classification under the Pauline Epistles or the general Epistles. However, few comparisons to the Pauline Epistles could be found in the Epistles of Paul to which I would classify it as one of Paul’s letters. Such comparisons or similarities are as follows:

1. Similarly of Phraseology.
The style is notably different from the rest of Paul’s epistles, a characteristic noted by Clement of Alexandria (c. 210), who argued, according to Eusebius, that the original letter had a Hebrew audience and so was written in Hebrew and later translated into Greek, “some say the evangelist Luke, others had written the letter to the Hebrews but the thoughts were that of Paul [by Clement of Rome]. Reason being that, in view of the similarity of phraseology shown throughout the Epistle to the Hebrews, and in absence of any great difference between the work in the underlying thought.” He concluded that “as a result of this translation, the same complexion of style is found in this Epistle and in the Acts: but that the [words] ‘Paul an apostle’ were naturally not prefixed. For, he says, ‘in writing to Hebrews who had conceived a prejudice against him and were suspicious of him, he very wisely did not repel them at the beginning by putting his name.” So possibly, Luke the writer of Acts must have written the letter but conveying the thoughts of the Apostle Paul. Other points following, will indicate more why the thoughts of the Epistle was of Paul.

2. The mention of Timothy as a companion and the location Italy.
Some theologians and groups, who continue to maintain Pauline authorship, repeat the opinion of Eusebius that Paul omitted his name because he, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was writing to the Jews. They conjecture that Jews would have likely dismissed the letter if they had known Paul to be the source. They theorize that the stylistic differences from Paul’s other letters are attributed to his writing in Hebrew to the Hebrews, and that the letter was translated into Greek by Luke.

Now, in the 13th chapter of Hebrews, Timothy is referred to as a companion of the writer or person whose thoughts were being communicated. Timothy was Paul’s missionary companion in the same way Jesus sent disciples out in pairs. He was also a loyal son of Paul, 1 Timothy 1:2, ” To Timothy, my loyal child in the faith…”

Also, the writer states that he wrote the letter from “Italy”, which also at the time fits Paul, Hebrews 13:24, “…they of Italy salute you”. The difference in style is explained as simply an adjustment to a more specific audience, to the Jewish Christians who were being persecuted and pressured to go back to old Judaism.

3.Stylistic similarities to Paul’s greetings.
The epistle contains Paul’s classic closing greeting, “Grace… be with you…” as he stated explicitly in 2 Thessalonians 3:17–18, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the mark in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.” And as implied in 1 Corinthians 16:21–23, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” and Colossians 4:18, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

This closing greeting is included at the end of each of Paul’s letters. And the same we see in Hebrews 13:25, “Grace be with you all. Amen.”

Although the writing style varies from Paul in a number of ways, some similarities in wordings to some of the Pauline epistles have been noted. In antiquity, some began to ascribe it to Paul in an attempt to provide the anonymous work an explicit apostolic pedigree.

[Ben]

Yes, to add to John’s declaration of Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), to show his deity. It is clear that Jesus is God because no ordinary man, born through the natural birth could take away the sins of the world. Hence, the saviour of the world must be a man who would pay with his blood(life) by the justice of God(the soul that sins shall die and the wages of sin is death).

Now, the lamb of God was one without sin and Jesus could only fit in as that lamp because his life was incorruptible- the life of God which became seed in Mary through the power of the Holy Ghost. Bringing God in flesh. Hence, the claim of Jesus as the lamb of God declares Jesus as one with God because only God could save the world.

John 3:16, reveals that Jesus- the Son of God is equal with God the Father. For it tells us that those who believe in Jesus, will have their human life supplanted by the divine life- eternal life; life as God has it. Such depth! Jesus was the only one in possession of that life and is the only one who can “rebirth” men, bring them into a changed and new root. To the same roots with the living God. So even though we as believers and as sons of God can give life to men, it is based only on the revelation of the Lord Jesus. Hence, we point men to Him till date. Like it is said, “you can’t give what you don’t have”…we have today because He gave us that life. He has it because it is His life and that life is the very life of God. Jesus is God. The Son of God who reveals God and His life to all men.

[Ben]

Five people in the old testament who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and what they achieved are as follows:
1. Bezalel
2. Gideon
3. Daniel
4. Samson
5. Saul

1. Bezalel- Exodus 31:3(NASB), ” I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship “. Bezalel was inspired by the Spirit of God to carryout several kinds of crafts. He was filled with wisdom and was enabled to be a skilled craftsman for the tabernacle.

2. Gideon- Judges 6:34, “But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.” The Spirit of the Lord inspired Gideon into battle. Through the Spirit, he gained courage and strength from where he was (a place of weakness and fear). He was strategic in battle and could triumph over the Medianites by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

3. Daniel- Daniel 5:11, ” There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the time of your father he was found to have insight and intelligence and wisdom like that of the gods…” Daniel was inspired by the Holy Spirit to possess and display uncommon/supernatural intelligence, wisdom and insight in all his dealings and he ended up being recognized by king Nebuchadnezzar to whom he interpreted mysteries. Hence, he was made an overseer by the king.

4. Samson- Judges 15:14, ” And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bonds loosed from off his hands.” Samson was enabled by the Holy Spirit to defeat his enemies and the enemies of Isreal. Through the Spirit, he was full of strength and power.

5. Saul- 1 Samuel 19:23, “So Saul went to Naoith at Ramah. But the Spirit of God came even on him, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth.” The Spirit of God came upon Saul and by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Saul was given utterance to speak. This he did all that day and all that night. So much that people asked if he was among the Prophets.”

[Ben]

1. John 1:18. This tells that Jesus proceeds from the Father. Implying closest intimacy and his origin.
2. John 1:34. At the baptism of Jesus, God gave John a sign to identify the Son of God and John bore witness to that. Jesus was confirmed by God through the Holy Spirit as his Son- being equal with him.
3. John 5:19. This describes the oneness between the Father and the Son. Like Father, like Son.

[Ben]

1. Romans 5:12. The fall of man brought about the reign of sin and death. Man became a slave to sin and death.
2. Romans 8:20-21. The fall of man brought about the corruption of the world and creation in essence. There became a deviation from the goodness God made.
3. The fall of man brought about the displacement of man from the realm he was to exert authority over. Man ended up becoming a slave to Satan. John 12:31, Hebrews 2:14-15.

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