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NASB | Hebrews 11:40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 11:40 because God had us in mind and had something better for us, so that they [these men and women of authentic faith] would not be made perfect [that is, completed in Him] apart from us. |
Subject: Superior Hope |
Bible Note: Good observations, Country Girl! Clearly you are searching the Word of God. You have some very interesting ideas here that are worthy of further exploration. You are right that the word "dispensation" does appear in scripture (1 Corinthians 9:17, Ephesians 1:10, 3:2, and Colossians 1:25; the same word is translated "stewardship" in Luke 16:2-4). This is the root Greek word from which we get the English word "economy." The word covenant is in the Bible too (Genesis 6:18; 9:9-17; 15:18; 17:2, 4, 7, 9-11, 13-14, 19, 21; 21:27, 32; 26:28; 31:44; Exodus 2:24; 6:4, 5; 19:5; 23:32; 24:7-8; 31:16; 34:10, 12, 15, 27-28; Leviticus 2:13; 24:8; 26:9, 15, 25, 42, 44-45; Numbers 10:33; 14:44; 18:19; 25:12-13; Deuteronomy 4:13, 23, 31; 5:2-3; 7:2, 9, 12; 8:18; 9:9, 11, 15; 10:8; 17:2; 29:1, 9, 12, 14, 21, 25; 31:9, 16, 20, 25, 26; 33:9; Joshua 3:3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17; 4:7, 9, 18; 6:6, 8; 7:11, 15; 8:33; 23:16; 24:25; Judges 2:1, 20; 20:27; 1 Samuel 4:3-5; 11:1, 2; 18:3; 20:8, 16; 23:18; 2 Samuel 15:24; 23:5; 1 Kings 3:15; 6:19; 8:1, 6, 9, 21, 23; 11:11; 19:10, 14; 20:34; 2 Kings 11:4, 17; 13:23; 17:15, 35, 38; 18:12; 23:2, 3, 21; 1 Chronicles 11:3; 15:25-26, 28, 29; 16:6, 15-17, 37; 17:1; 22:19; 28:2, 18; 2 Chronicles 5:2, 7, 10; 6:11, 14; 7:18; 13:5; 15:12; 21:7; 23:1, 3, 16; 29:10; 34:30, 31, 32; Ezra 10:3; Nehemiah 1:5; 9:8, 32, 38; 13:29; Job 31:1; 41:4; Psalms 25:10, 14; 44:17; 50:5, 16; 55:20; 74:20; 78:10, 37; 89:3, 28, 34, 39; 103:18; 105:8, 9, 10; 106:45; 111:5, 9; 132:12; Proverbs 2:17; Isaiah 24:5; 28:15, 18; 33:8; 42:6; 49:8; 54:10; 55:3; 56:4, 6; 57:8; 59:21; 61:8; Jeremiah 3:16; 11:2, 3, 6, 8, 10; 14:21; 22:9; 31:31, 32, 33; 32:40; 33:20-21, 25; 34:8, 10, 13, 15, 18; 50:5; Ezekiel 16:8, 59, 60, 61, 62; 17:13-16, 18-19; 20:37; 34:25; 37:26; 44:7; Daniel 9:4, 27; 11:22, 28, 30, 32; Hosea 2:18; 6:7; 8:1; 10:4; 12:1; Amos 1:9; Haggai 2:5; Zechariah 9:11; 11:10; Malachi 2:4-5, 8, 10, 14; 3:1; Matthew 26:15; Luke 1:72; 22:5; Acts 3:25; 7:8; Romans 1:31; 9:4; 11:27; Galatians 3:15, 17; 4:24; Ephesians 2:12; Hebrews 8:6-10, 13; 9:1, 4; 10:16, 29; 12:24; 13:20.) If you choose to use a word in a theological sense then you have two choices (1) Define it for purposes of discussion (the word is then extra Biblical) or (2) define it in a strictly Biblical sense. If you choose to do the latter, you only derive a definition of the word from the specific places that it is used; i.e., the specific passages of the Bible in which the word or term is used. You can also go on searching the Bible in other locations if the text itself makes your word synonymous with another word. (For example, in our discussion of "the kingdom of heaven" versus "the kingdom of God.") Your statement that "I think it's a mistake for them to introduce concept completely new and independent of the Bible" may be misplaced in this instance. Both concepts are Biblical concepts as evidenced by the terminology. I do have a position on this, but I can sincerely say that the scholars on both side of the issue didn't pull this stuff out of a hat. They were -- the ones alive are still -- sincere students of the scripture. The beauty of orthodox Christian theology is that we can't pull things out of a hat; whatever we say must be based on scripture alone, otherwise it is only opinion. We could discuss the relative merits of Biblical scholarship, but I think that might be out of scope in this thread. I hope you see that I'm not trying to persuade you to abandon dispensationalism for covenantalism, or vice versa. I encourage you to continue your study. To remain consistent with your hermeneutic I further encourage two things: 1. Check all of the scriptures mentioned above to become familiar with what the scripture says about the subjects. 2. Refrain from labeling things (in this case epochs) without the explicit permission of scripture. I don't mean to scold, dear sister. I'm just encouraging you on how to "be very cautious ... if its outside the parameters as set by the Bible." Be sure to question your assumptions just as vigorously as you question other people's assumptions. I can tell that you want to be solidly grounded in the Word! This is a very noble and blessed effort. God bless you as you continue to pursue. |