[Soton Iselobhor]

I am inclined to take the position that the book of Hebrews falls under the General Epistles rather than the Pauline Epistles for a few reasons, three of which are hereunder considered.
1. Authorship:
In the words of Paul Enns in his book, The Moody Handbook of Theology, “The Authorship of Hebrews has posed a problem throughout the history of the church and has been vigorously debated without resolve. The author nowhere identifies himself in the book, yet it seems he was known to the readers…”
The authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews is unknown. While some early Christian writers attributed it to the apostle Paul, this claim is disputed. The Pauline Epistles, on the other hand, are explicitly attributed to Paul as their author. The absence of a clear attribution to Paul in the book of Hebrews is one of the main reasons it is categorized as a General Epistle. Although the highly scholarly and excellent vocabulary seems to support an argument for Apostle Paul, in the face of several other arguments, it is safe to classify the book of Hebrews under the general epistles. As concluded by D.A Carson and Johnson J. Moo in the book, An Introduction to the New Testament
“It is far better to admit our ignorance. We do not know who wrote it; almost certainly, the first readers did”
2. Unspecific Audience:
The intended audience of Hebrews is not specified within the book itself, except that the title states “To the Hebrews” which suggests that it was likely written to Jewish Christians or Jewish converts to Christianity. The Pauline Epistles, on the other hand, were generally addressed to specific churches or individuals, such as the Corinthians, the Galatians, or Timothy. The lack of a specific recipient designation aligns with the style of General Epistles.
3. Distinct Theological Differences
The Epistle to the Hebrews exhibits several emphases on themes like the Christology and High priesthood of Jesus Christ, the superiority of Christ and the New Covenant over the Old Covenant and the Mosaic Law, eschatological themes and emphasis on the age to come. On the other hand, Pauline Epistles, focus more on themes like justification by faith, reconciliation, the role of Christ as the head of the Church.
It is important to note that while there are differences in emphases, there are also significant theological similarities between Hebrews and the Pauline Epistles, such as the themes of faith, the role of Christ’s death and resurrection, and the call to persevere in the Christian life.
Further Reference:
Metzger, B. M., & Ehrman, B. D. (2005). The Text of the New Testament: Its Transmission, Corruption, and Restoration. Oxford University Press

[Soton Iselobhor]

It is understood that the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament was transitory in His direct dealings with man. Therefore, those on whom he was manifested, did not have him permanently. One sure thing, however, was that each time the Spirit manifested, the recipients would immediately go on to complete a mighty act requiring power or wisdom, or to speak a prophetic word. Some of these Old Testament recipients of the Holy Spirit namely: Othniel, Jephthah, David, Samson and Bezalel are considered below.
1. Othniel – Judges 3:7-11
Othniel was Caleb’s younger brother, the son of Kenaz. Scriptures record that at the time, the children of Israel were held captive as slaves serving under the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. This state of captivity was occasioned by the fact that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and worshipped the Baals and Asherahs. This captivity continued for eight years until the children of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. In response to their cry, the Lord answered by raising the man called Othniel to be their deliverer. In order to fully equip Othniel for the task, the Holy Spirit had to come upon him, empowering with wisdom and might. The work of the Holy Spirit was evident, in that He was able to judge Israel rightly, went to war and defeated Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia thereby delivering the children of Israel from slavery. The Bible also records that the land had peace for forty years after the mighty deliverance by Othniel, equipped by the Holy Spirit.
2. Jephthah: Judges 11
Jephthah was the son of Gilead who was rejected by his brethren as having no inheritance because he was born of a harlot. The Bible records that Jephthah fled from his people and dwelt the land of Tob with worthless men. “Fortunately,” the people of Ammon made war against Israel, and this caused the elders to seek Jephthah’s help. (At this point, I could not help but imagine how disappointed the elders would have been if their decision to seek out Jephthah (son of a harlot & rejected) turned out to be futile). Jephthah came on the scene and began to engage the king of Ammon; I believe he was attempting to resolve issues by dialogue. Verse 28 of Judges 11, records that the king of Ammon did not heed the words which Jephthah sent. At this point, Jephthah having tried dialogue and failed, the strategy had to change, and God stepped in. Verse 29 says: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah”. The Holy Spirit apparently infused Jephthah with enough courage to go to war with the people of Ammon and he came out victorious. Here, we see the Holy Spirit empowering a man who was rejected by his people, to become an agent of victory for his people.
3. David- 1 Samuel 16:13
David was one man who enjoyed the guidance of the Holy Spirit so much that he had a personal revelation of Him. In the scripture above the bible records that the Spirit of God came upon David when he was anointed by Prophet Samuel. He became a mighty warrior, defeating Goliath and leading the Israelite armies to many victories. In 1 Chronicles 18 the bible records that the Lord helped David to win all the battles that he fought. David was also a poet and musician, who composed numerous Psalms under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. David understood the advantage of the presence of the Holy Spirit with Him thus he prayed to God in Psalm 51: 11 not to take the Holy Spirit from him.
4. Samson – Judges 13:25
The Bible records in Judges 13:25 above, that the Spirit of the LORD began to move upon Samson. Samson’s incredible strength was greater than even the strongest of men in his time. The Spirit of the LORD” gave him supernatural strength to achieve great feats from time to time.
In Judges 14:6, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon Samson, and he tore a lion apart as one would have torn apart a young goat, though he had nothing in his hand. In Judges 14:19, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men on his own. In Judges 15:14-16, The Spirit of the Lord came upon him; and the ropes that were on his arms became like flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds broke loose from his hands, after which, he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and killed a thousand men with it.
5. Bezalel – Ex 31:1-5
The scripture above refers to one Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, of whom God Himself said “…I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.” Through this enabling work of the Holy Spirit, God Himself raised Bezalel, amongst others to perform the task of building the tabernacle with excellence and precision.
These individuals were among the many in the Old Testament who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and accomplished great things under His guidance.

[Soton Iselobhor]

Your referring to the fact that God’s desire is fellowship with man has really caught my attention and caused further meditation. The beautiful thing about the truth of God’s dynamism which makes Him relatable to His children at whatever level they may be at, should provoke a deep sense of gratitude in us.
Our God is King over everything, just, holy and righteous. All-knowing and all-powerful and ever present. This God has chosen to be a friend to us all who receive His dear Son as Lord and saviour.

He becomes anything He needs to be at any given time. Serving milk to some and meat to others. Speaking directly to some and having vessels reach some others who haven’t exercised themselves in hearing him directly. Having discipline as one of His love languages.
What a wise and perfect God He is, making all things beautiful in his time. Ecclesiastics 3:11
It is comforting to know that in the midst of the ever-changing world we live in, and in spite of our frailty and susceptibility to change, our God does not change in His perfection, His promises to us and His ultimate purpose for our lives. Isaiah 40:8.
It is even more comforting to know that if and when we His children change, whether for better or worse, He is his infinite wisdom, changes his dealings with us, tweaks the plots here and there with the sole purpose of rerouting us to His ultimate purpose.
Even when we cannot seem to comprehend or appreciate God’s dealings with us, our confidence must be in the fact that the goal post has not moved, and God is ALWAYS GOOD. Psalm 145:9

[Soton Iselobhor]

The Bible records, certain instances where it appears that God changed His mind or changed His course of action based on certain circumstances, actions of men, or events. While these facts suggest a change in God’s actions or decisions, they are hereunder reconciled with the immutability or unchanging nature of God.
Some examples are found in the following scriptures:
a. 2 Samuel 24:16 – God relented from the calamity that was to befall Jerusalem and instructed the angel to “relax his hand”.
b. Jeremiah 18: 10 – God stating that He will change His mind about the good and blessings on Israel if they do evil in His sight.
c. Exodus 32:10-14 – God changed his mind about destroying the Israelites after Moses interceded.
d. Jonah 3:10- God relented from the disaster that He had said He will bring upon the people of Niniveh.
Amongst others.
From the examples above, one common fact is the changes and dynamics of human behaviours and intent of heart which in turn necessitates certain consequences. We have a situation where one Supreme and Immutable God with unchanging perfections, purposes and promises, rules and reigns in the affairs of the entire mankind consisting of the “bad the good and the ugly” all susceptible to varying kinds of changes at any and every time.
While God remains unchanging, Henry C. Theisson states that His immutability should not be confused for immobility. He is an active and dynamic God, and of necessity, He changes in His dealings with changing men in order to remain unchangeable in His character and purposes. I’ll briefly consider this discuss under three ambits of God’s immutability.
1. God’s Immutable Character or Perfection: While it may seem that God’s actions changed, His character and nature remain constant. The Bible describes God as Love and as being merciful but also as a just God. These attributes remain constant through all the occasions where it appeared that God changed His mind. A very good example is in His dealings with the children of Israel on their journey to the promise land. The “changes” always reflected God’s response to changing human conditions and His desire to bring about a greater purpose while remaining consistent with His character. Another example is in the story of Jonah, God initially planned to destroy Nineveh due to its wickedness, but when the people repented, God relented from His judgment. This demonstrates God’s responsiveness to the choices and actions of His creation without compromising His nature.
2. God’s Immutable Promises: The example of the Israelites’ journey to the promised land also features here. In spite of everything that happened, actions, consequences and the length years, God’s promise was unchangeable and unbreakable. It came to pass in the most just and righteous manner thus preserving the character of God as well as His revealed promise. God is not man. He watches over His Word to perform it. Numbers 23:19. In Jeremiah 18: 5-10, God Himself made promises and gave all the conditions and variables associated which would depend on whether the people shun evil or not. In Malachi 3:7 God says to the descendants of Jacob, “Return to me and I will return to you”.
3. God’s Immutable Purpose: Flowing from the last example above in Jeremiah 18, one thing is evident. God’s purpose, intent and desire for His people was righteousness and holiness. While God’s actions may appear to change, His ultimate purpose remains consistent throughout Scripture. In spite of all that happened in the Old Testament, how God made a covenant with the Israelites, but due to their disobedience, they had to face consequences, His ultimate plan of redemption and reconciliation was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, demonstrating His unchanging commitment to the salvation, righteousness and holiness of His church.
Conclusively, God made us and therefore knows all the intricacies of our dynamic lives and free choices. God’s character, purpose, love, justice, mercy and His Word have remained and will remain constant and consistent for all time.

[Soton Iselobhor]

The Fall of man, on account of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden, brought about several significant effects on the world and humanity. These effects have profoundly impacted humanity’s relationship with God, with the natural world, and within themselves. This discussion explores three major effects of the Fall of man namely: Separation from God, Decline in man’s relationship with nature, and the Introduction of sin and its consequences.

1. The Fall of man resulted in a separation from God. Before their disobedience, Adam and Eve enjoyed a close and intimate relationship with their Creator. They walked and talked with God in the Garden, experiencing His presence and enjoying a harmonious fellowship. However, their act of disobedience severed this relationship- Gen 3:8 and introduced a barrier between humanity and God- Gen 3: 22- 24. The consequence of sin, which entered the world through their disobedience, created a separation that would persist throughout human history. This separation from God engendered a sense of spiritual void and longing within humanity, leading to various religious and philosophical pursuits in an attempt to bridge this gap and restore communion with God. Today, even though God has made a way by sending us His Son who provided an opportunity to reconcile man back to God, many people are still stuck in religions that inhibit their relationship with God.

2. Secondly, the Fall of man resulted in a decline in man’s relationship with nature. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve who represented the entire human race, lived in perfect harmony with the environment.- Gen 2 18-20. There was no disease, no toiling and no death. However, as a consequence of Adam and Eve’s disobedience, the natural world became subject to corruption. The harmony that once existed was disrupted, and the world became characterized by pain, disease, and the struggle for survival. The once-perfect relationship between humanity and nature became strained, and humans were subjected to the toil and hardships of labour to sustain themselves. This disharmony with nature has manifested in various ways throughout history, including the impossibility of a relationship between man and certain animals, especially snakes.

3. Lastly, the Fall of man introduced sin, the sin nature and its consequences into the human experience. Sin entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. This introduced a moral and ethical dimension to human existence, as humanity became prone to evil thoughts and actions. Thus, we find according to scripture that all men are born with a sinful nature. Romans 3:23. The consequences or as scripture puts it, the wages of sin which is death, was also introduced to the human race. Sin consciousness, which is closely related, was also introduced to the human race. Gen 3:10. The recognition of sin and its consequences has prompted various religious and ethical systems throughout history, seeking to address and rectify these moral failings.

[Soton Iselobhor]

Interesting thoughts on the fact that although John the Baptist was older than Jesus Christ by 6 months according to the flesh, he had a revelation of who Jesus truly was and giving witness to that revelation was what his ministry all about. He was the man sent from God to give witness to the Man who “was” God- John 1:6. Such a huge responsibility it was to give witness to the deity of the famous “son of a carpenter.”

The foregoing notwithstanding, an argument might arise as to the John’s reaction and obvious doubt when he sent a message to Jesus asking, “Are you the Coming One or do we look for another?” In other words, in the face of hardship, John, the man sent from God, doubted the deity of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, even if he had heard of all the miracles that Jesus had performed. Luke 7:17-20.

I am poised to conclude and rightly so, that the deity of Jesus as all other supernatural truths can only be spiritually discerned as the natural man lacks the ability to comprehend the things of the Spirit of God.- 1 Cor 2:14. The non theanthropic attribute of the nature of our Lord Jesus Christ as fully Man and fully God is unique to Him alone. There is no natural way of explaining it.
I am grateful to God that we have the mind of Christ and we are able to comprehend this great truth -1 Cor 2:16.

[Soton Iselobhor]

John 1:10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him”.
John, having established that Jesus existed at the beginning as the Word, and was God, further presents Jesus here as the Creator who had come into the world He created. The Creator of anything must necessarily exist before the creation thus pointing to the divine nature or deity of Jesus.
Secondly, the world did not recognize or better still, could not comprehend all that He was. His divinity which includes His role as Creator, can only be comprehended supernaturally- 1 Corinthians 2:14
John 6:33 – “For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Jesus presents Himself here as the Bread from heaven which gives life to world, thus revealing three things that point to His deity namely:
Identity as “Bread”; giving nourishment.
Originating from Heaven; of a divine Nature
Ability as the Giver of divine life.
John 17:24 – “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
In this beautiful scripture, while Jesus was praying for the saints, He revealed his deity as the first begotten Son of God. He called God “Father” at a time when the Fatherhood of God was not known to man. He prayed for others to become sons as He is, to be able to behold His glory. He went further to proclaim that the Father loved Him before the foundation of the World, which buttresses the fact of His existence in the Trinity, before time began – John 8:58
John 10:18 – “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
Jesus speaks of His ability to lay His Life down and take it again. This brings resurrection power to mind. It is interesting that while we have the picture of God the Father being the one who raised His Son, the Son Jesus here, states that He possesses that same resurrection power. This goes to show that God the Father and God the Son are one indeed having the same powers and abilities.

[Author]

Posts