PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

• Notice how there are six individual teachings that can be combined into three sets of two: Repentance from dead works – Faith toward God; Instruction about washings – Laying on of hands; Resurrection from the dead – Eternal Judgment

1.         What are they? 

• Repentance from dead works – What does this phrase, “dead works,” mean?    In support of defining dead works as the works of the Law of Moses is the fact that the words “dead works” is used only one other time in Hebrews, in 9:14.  However, it is possible that there the term “dead works” does not refer to O.T. sacrifices, as assumed, but rather to the sins needing the sacrifices.  In support of sinful works being the meaning is that in 6:1 “dead works” is connected to “repentance.” Also, that it is listed first among the “elementary teachings” would harmonize with the basic teaching of both Jesus and John the Baptist – “repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”  Another suggested possibility is that “dead works” refers to defiling deeds – something which only receives support from the fact that the recipients of this letter were Jewish believers.
• Faith toward God – Faith is a huge topic in Hebrews, which is uniquely and wonderfully expanded in chapter eleven.  Faith can be discussed from different view points:
• Instruction about washings/baptismos (909) – This Greek word is not used in reference to the baptism that accompanies faith.  However, it could be pluralized to differentiate between the new covenant washing and the washings of the Old covenant (10:22).
  • Only places used in NT: Mark 7:4; Hebrews 6:2; Hebrews 9:10;
  • Thayer’s Definition (a noun; plural of baptisma)
    • 1) a washing, purification effected by means of water
    • 1a) of washing prescribed by the Mosaic law (Hebrews 9:10) which seems to mean an exposition of the difference between the washings prescribed by the Mosaic law and Christian baptism
    • Only appears in the N.T. or in books associated to – not found in the LXX.
  • Trench’s Explanation:
    • “Baptismis is the act of baptism contemplated in the doing, a baptizing; baptismos the same act contemplated not only as doing, but as done, a baptism; while baptisma is not any more the act, but the abiding fact resulting therefore, baptism….(p.370)
    • Trench concludes that the plural is used to “teach the young convert the definitive abolition of the Jewish ceremonial lustrations, the merely preparatory and provisional character of the baptism of John, and the eternal validity of the baptism of Christ.”
  • If we are to include Jewish concepts to baptism, it would be that of allowing the subject to enter into the presence of God (10:19-22).  This is distinct from “salvation” but related.  Also, baptism to the Jew was applied to the Gentile in proselytizing.  Considering the overall theme of Hebrews, could there be a connection there also?
• Laying on of hands – In Jewish thought the laying on of hands had three significant meanings: transference of guilt; giving of a blessing; and a setting aside or appointment to a special work.  In the Christian religion, one blessing that was bestowed by the laying of hands of people was gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17; 19:6).
• The resurrection of the dead – “without the resurrection of the dead it becomes unclear how God is just (see the book of Job) and a believer’s life becomes pointless (1 Cor.15:18). The hope of eternal reward and the fear of eternal punishment are powerful motivators for believers to live holy lives and to work for the Kingdom of God.” David Stern, Jewish New Testament Commentary, p.677.
• Eternal judgment.

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    • “In Paul, faith is belief in Jesus Christ as a means of justification, involving a sharp opposition to the works of the law as meriting salvation.  In Hebrews, faith is trust in the divine promises as distinguished from seeing their realization, a phase of faith which appears rarely in Paul.  Both agree that faith is the only true medium of righteousness; but Hebrews sets forth two great factors of faith, namely, that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them which diligently seek him.” (Vincent, Word Studies, v.4, p.363ff.)

2.         Why are these particular doctrines the elementary principles?

3.         Are these all the elementary doctrines?

4.         Are these elementary doctrines specifically related to Jewish Christians and the Old Law?

• In support that these elementary principles are not in general related to Christianity as a whole, but rather in connection to Judaism is that fact that the whole letter is written to Jewish Christians.

5.         Is there a natural progression in the list?

• If there is, the first two – repentance and faith – is the same order found in Jesus’ words in Mark 1:15 – “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
• If there is a natural progression, then repenting of sins and believing in the gospel (remember, these were Jewish Christians and would not need to first be believe in order to know their sinfulness) would naturally lead to baptism, the giving of the Holy Spirit, the final resurrection and eternal judgment.

It might be fanciful on my part, but I see a slight comparison to the elementary teachings in vv.1-2 and the description of a believer and the warning against apostasy found in vv.4-6:

• Repentance from dead works (v.1) & Enlightened (v.4) [John 1:5; 3:19; Acts 26:19; Romans 13:12; 1 Cor.4:5]
• Faith toward God (v.1) & tasted the good word of God (v.5)
• Washings (v.2) & tasted the heavenly gift (v.4) (i.e., forgiveness)
• Laying on of hands (v.2) & partakers of the Holy Spirit (v.4)
• Resurrection of the dead (v.2) & fallen away, impossible to renew (v.6)
• Eternal judgment (v.2) & powers of the age to come (v.5)

I don’t know if the correlation is there or not, but I would not be surprised.  One of the less obvious correlations would be comparing the resurrection of the dead to fallen away, impossible to renew.  However, a word related to “renew” (340) has the following meaning:

anakainoō (341)

Thayer Definition:

1) to cause to grow up, new, to make new

1a) new strength and vigour is given to one

1b) to be changed into a new kind of life as opposed to the former corrupt state

Part of Speech: verb

A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G303 and a derivative of G2537

Citing in TDNT: 3:452, 388

Here is an interesting piece of history that might suggest there is a correlation between vv.1-2 and vv.4-6 – although the exact correlation is different than what I have proposed:

“So entwined with this idea (i.e., light, being enlighten, etc. – PDH) did Christianity become that enlightenment (photismos) became a synonym for baptism, and to be enlightened (photizesthai) became a synonym for to be baptized.” (Barclay, Hebrews, p.56)

All these questions of mine, I doubt needed to be asked by the recipients of this letter.  This is humbling for it cautions me to remember that while the N.T. letters are to be used by me, they were not directly written to me.  I must first interpret them as the original writer intended for the original readers to interpret.

Tags: Commentary, Lexicon

This entry was posted by PHall on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 11:45 pm and is filed under Mark, Acts, Romans, Hebrews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.