| Author | Message | ||
| Lynn W |
Back to the study of the Sabbath. Here's a study I wrote up for your critique/comments. 2 Cor 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament [Paul makes it clear that there is a "new testament" or "new covenant" - the word for testament and covenant is the same in the Greek]; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life [Paul is comparing the results of following each of the 2 covenants]. 7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones [what was written on stones, but the 10 commandments - Deut 4:13; i.e. the ministration of death = the 10 commandments. But if the ministration of death, (the 10 commandments)], was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away [the glory of Moses' face was to be done away, this glory is an allegory for another glory which was also to be done away. If we remove all the parenthetical phrases regarding Moses (who is used as allegory), we are left with: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones,...was to be done away. i.e. if the 10 commandments was to be done away]: 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit [the ministration of the spirit is contrasted to the ministration of death. Hebrews 8:13 makes it even clearer.] be rather glorious? [the ministration of the spirit is more glorious than the ministration of death] 9 For if the ministration of condemnation [Paul is still referring to ministrations - condemnation brings death; so ministration of condemnation = ministration of death = 10 commandments.] be glory [Paul is again saying that the 10 commandments are glorious], much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 10 For even that which was made glorious [verses 7 & 9 tell us that the 10 commandments were glorious] had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth [For even the 10 commandments had no glory...by reason of the glory that excells. (there is a glory that excels the glory of the 10 commandments)]. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious [verses 7 & 9 tell us that the 10 commandments were glorious; so that which is done away = the 10 commandments (the 10 commandments were glorious, but they were done away)], much more that which remaineth is glorious [there is something more glorious which remains]. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: [it's very plain except to a certain group of people described in verse 14) 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: [another allogory of that which is abolished or "done away" - the 10 commandments - see verse 7 & Hebrews 8:13.) 14 But their minds were blinded [whose minds were blinded? the children of Israel - verse 13]: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament [another allegory: those who dwell on the old testament and receive their doctrine from it have the "same vail untaken away" so that their minds are blinded to the truth]; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. [Too much focus on Moses & the law leaves the vail on the heart and mind which blinds people to the truth. The phrase to read "Moses" was and still is synonymous with reading "the law." Luke 24:44] 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. [It shall all be made clear. Compare with v. 14] 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (KJV) Compare verses 7 & 9: But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious/For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. This is another comparison of ministrations - one which is glorious; another which is more glorious. i.e. if the [10 commandments] be glory, much more doth "the ministration of righteousness" exceed in glory. This is probably the most detrimental passage to the law-keepers. Right here, in black and white, is the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones! this is the same ministration of death which Adventist authors have labeled the law of love. The Bible never refers to the ten commandments as the law of love. To take something the Bible calls the ministration of death and the ministration of condemnation and change it to the the law of love is no less than an insult to Christs true law of love (Lev. 19:18; Matt 19:19; 22:39; Mark 12:31, 33; Luke 10:27; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:14) also known as the Royal Law according to James 2:8. Look at it more closely: What was done away with? that which is done away was glorious What was glorious? the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones was glorious What was written and engraven in stones? ...even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. Deut 4:13 And what remains? much more that which remaineth is glorious What is more glorious? shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? Paul uses the glow of Moses face as an allegory to the glory of the ten commandments which he had just brought down from Sinai. Both the Decalogue and Moses had glory because they had both just come from God. But, just as the glory of Moses gace was to be done away, so was the glory of the ten commandments when something more glorious came along. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. Here is a point often missed: Moses put a veil over his face, not to hide the glory, but to hide the fact that the glory was fading. The veil is a metaphore to the veil over the minds of those who still adhere to the laws, which were written in Moses (The Pentateuch). This veil keeps them from understanding the liberty that the Spirit of the Lord brought. But, when they turn to the Lord, the veil is taken away. | ||
| Bruce H |
DID CHRIST FULFIL THE LAW MATT 5:17-18 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets : I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. SO THE WHOLE LAW, ALL, {NOT ONE JOT OR TITTLE} ALL 613 COMMANDMENTS EXIST, OR CHRIST FULFILLED THEM AT THE CROSS, {DEUTERONOMY 12:32. 32 "Everything that I command you you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to it or take from it. (THIS IS COMMANDMENT #454, #455 IN BOOK OF LAW) WEBSTERS NEW WORLD DICTIONARY. FULFILL, FULFIL. 1. TO CARRY OUT, CAUSE TO HAPPEN. 2. TO DO OBEY. 3. TO FILL THE REQUIREMENTS OF; SATISFY OR ANSWER. 4. TO BRING TO AN END; COMPLETE. STRONGS COMPLETE DICTIONARY GREEK WORD PLEROO (4137) 1. SATISFY, 2. EXECUTE, 3. FINISH, 4. VERIFY, 5. ACCOMPLISH 6. COMPLETE, 7. END, EXPIRE. FULFILLED JOHN 19:28-30 (NKJV) 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be (FULFILLED), said, "I thirst!" 29 Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. 30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. TO CARRY OUT, CAUSE TO HAPPEN MATT. 26:53-54 (NKJV) 53 "Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me (JESUS) with more than twelve legions of angels? 54 "How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must (HAPPEN) thus?" TO FILL THE REQUIREMENTS COL 2:14 (NKJV) 14 having wiped out the handwriting of (REQUIREMENTS) that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He {JESUS} has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. SATISFY OR ANSWER 1 PETER 3:21 (NKJV) 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the (ANSWER) of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, TO BRING TO AN END ROM 10:4 4 For Christ is the (END) of the law ROM 4:14 15 because the law brings about wrath; for where there is (NO LAW) there is no transgression. ROM 5:13 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is (NO LAW). GAL 3:24-25 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are (no longer under a tutor). GAL 5:18 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are (NOT UNDER THE LAW). EPH 2:15 15 having (ABOLISHED) in His flesh the enmity, that is, the (LAW OF COMMANDMENTS) contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ROM 7:6 6 But now we have been (released from the law). EXECUTE ROM. 9:28 (ASV) 28 for the Lord will (EXECUTE) his word upon the earth, finishing it and cutting it short. FINISH JOHN 5:36 (NKJV) 36 "But I (JESUS) have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to (FINISH)--the very works that I do--bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. ACCOMPLISH JOHN 19:28 (NKJV) 28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now (ACCOMPLISH), that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" (THEN HE DIED FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS) Know did he fulfil or not. Bruce H | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
You're right, Bruce. -Jude | ||
| Colleentinker |
I love the title of this thread: Tablets of Stone. (Thanks, Lynn!) The Ten Commandments (Old Covenant) were hard, unyielding, rigid, and merciless. They could only condemn. The Holy Spirit (New Covenant) is on fleshy table of the heart; It is fluid, loving, merciful, and individual. That love can change us; that "individualness" can inform us moment by moment. The Stone Sabbath could only represent an idea of the real, living one. I can't imagine why we should cling to the external, stone Sabbath when the real, loving, living Sabbath has come to live inside us! In Hebrews it says, "Where there is a change in the priesthood, there is a change in the law." | ||
| Cas |
Lynn, I was wondering if you recall where Ellen White says that Jesus came to be our example, to show us how to keep the law? It is probably in DOA or GC? I could probably find it but, since you have done quite a bit of study on her thought you might know offhand. Thanks. God Bless. Cas | ||
| Darrell |
Bruce, I discovered recently in my study that the word translated "fulfill" in Mat 5:17 is different from the word in verse 18. In verse 17 it is the same word that Matthew uses over and over to say something like "This happened to FULFILL what was spoken through the prophet . . . ", while the word Jesus spoke in verse 18 includes the meanings "to accomplish" or "to complete". Why do you think Matthew changed words here? (Jesus probably originally spoke this in Aramaic, so we cannot know exactly what words He used.) Lynn, Why did you chose to use the KJV? I had become familiar with the "fading away" translation usually used now (NIV, NASB, RSV, etc.) and had forgotten that the KJV says "done away". I don't have a lexicon handy, but I assume that "fading away" is more accurate to the original language. | ||
| Lynn W |
I started using KJV 20 years ago to memorize from & just never switched. Now that I know just enough Hebrew to be annoying, I can say for sure that I'm not impressed with the NIV for accuracy. On the NASB, it's more a matter of taste. I don't like the style. According to my old-fashioned concordance, "done away" in the Greek is (2673) "to be (render) entirely idle (useless) - abolish, cease, destroy, do away, vanish, make void, etc. There's no fading away in there. Even if it were, would it change the meaning? Cas, I haven't forgotten you. I'll look it up tonight. |
