Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
NASB | Hebrews 1:1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 1:1 God, having spoken to the fathers long ago in [the voices and writings of] the prophets in many separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the truth], and in many ways, |
Bible Question:
Greetings Doc, Thanks for the reply. I'm struggling heavily with this issue, the more and more I read, the more I kinda understand that: (1) God treated Adam differently than anyone else ever. (2) God treated Noah thru Gideon differently by appearing directly to them. (3) After Samuel and to the cross He mainly talked through certain prophets and not directly to the leaders. (4) After the Jesus died on the cross, He considers us (the last 2000 years) a bit differently by saving us thru Grace. (5) After Jesus comes back, then there will be still another way in which we are treated in heaven when we have no sin (compared to this age). Covenant theory does indicate at least two dispensations anyway. My 'Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commenaries' along with my 'Barnes Notes on the Bible' tend to lean towards (and use the word dispensations) in their commentaries. I know, I hear people say that it's a "new" teaching that only appeared on the scene in the 19th Century. But, how long did we go before Luther pinned his 95 on the door of the church? Some 1500(plus) years, right! Then Calvin was along, these reforms, aren't exactly old compared to the church. We're discovering something new about the way that God reveals his word that has been there all along, were we were just too blind to see? Russ |
Bible Answer: Dear Russ, God's revelation of truth is complete with the closing of the canon. These three theological camps are simply efforts to understand the issues of the law, gospel, and God's redemptive relationship with mankind. No one would be so presumptuous as to claim that any of these views is conclusively and exhaustively true. The fact of the matter is that God does provide us with conclusive and exhaustive information revelation on these things. (Please note that what God does provide is a standard of knowledge that is entirely necessary, sufficient, certain, and infallible for faith and obedience. Another way of saying this is that everything in the Bible is true, but the Bible does not contain all truth.) Consequently, I'd suggest that you just keep your mind open on the subject, and continue your study of the Word. Remember, truth is not simple, shallow, or trite; it is deep and rich. Now, it troubles me when proponents of any of these views push them way beyond the limits of their usefulness. This is particularly common in the area of apocalyptic interpretation. All those novels may earn people lots of money, but they certainly aren't sound theology! My two mites, anyway. :-) In Him, Doc "The declaration that 'our times are in the Lord's hand,' implies that the future of our history is impenetrably and mysteriously veiled from our sight. We live in a world of mysteries. They meet our eye, awaken our inquiry, and baffle our investigation at every step. Nature is a vast arcade of mysteries. Science is a mystery, truth is a mystery, religion is a mystery, our existence is a mystery, the future of our being is a mystery. And God, who alone can explain all mysteries, is the greatest mystery of all. How little do we understand of the inexplicable wonders of a wonder-working God, 'Whose thoughts are a great deep,' and 'Whose ways are past finding out.' "To God nothing is mysterious. In purpose, nothing is unfixed; in forethought, nothing is unknown; in providence, nothing is contingent. His glance pierces the future as vividly as it beholds the past. 'He knows the end, from the beginning.' All His doings are parts of a divine, eternal, and harmonious plan. He may make 'darkness His secret place; His pavilion round about Him dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies,' and to human vision His dispensations may appear gloomy, discrepant, and confused; yet is He, 'working all things after the counsel of His own will,' and 'at the brightness that is before Him, His thick clouds pass.' and all is transparent and harmonious to His eye." --Octavius Winslow (1808-1878) |