--------------------
Before we begin, let's quote a larger portion of the passage:
This usage of the same Greek word is the author's definition, 'one who testifies for one', Acts 1:8. We are noting this because of the prevalent misunderstanding surrounding the qualifications for an apostle. Many have asserted that this "witness" means an apostle must a be one who observed the resurrected Christ. But in actual fact, martus here means the new apostle has the duty of testifying.
If you can, imagine us walking through a great hall of statues of the giants of the faith. The ones mentioned in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” are: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab. Being in this imagined “hall of statues”, would equate being “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses”. Chapter 12, Verse 1 is a continuation of Chapter 11. The cloud of witnesses are the ones who stood in faith even though they never saw the promise fulfilled. (This is correct. The OT saints were commended for faith...)
Next, verse 1 says we are to lay aside every “encumbrance“. In this particular instance, Thr (sic) Hebrews author is speaking about the Jews holding onto the law, which was a burden they were no longer expected to carry. (Undocumented statement. While possibly true, there is nothing in the context to indicate this encumbrance is specifically or uniquely the Jewish law. In fact, the writer of Hebrews tells us to throw off everything that hinders [literal Greek: Having laid aside every weight]. "Every" is pas, which means "all" in the sense of "each (every) part that applies. It seems clear that this hinderance goes well beyond the Hebrew law.)
Are we hanging onto the burden of past sins that have already been forgiven? Or is it a propensity for a sin that keeps “entangling” you? Could it be a burden of suffering that we are refusing to let Him carry? Paul says we are to lay these things aside. In other words, don’t keep hanging onto the things that are slowing us down and maybe causing us to stumble. We are called to FINISH the race we are running, as did the witnesses who went before us.
Before we begin, let's quote a larger portion of the passage:
He. 11:38-12:1 ...the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.He. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
With the text before us, let's consider the author's presentation.
(...)
First, I had always considered the “great cloud of witnesses” to mean that the saints of the past were surrounding us and watching us as we “run the race”. (We actually would agree with the author on this.)
However, the word “witnesses”, doesn’t indicate that the people are “watchers” of our current Christian walk. But rather, “witnesses” in this context takes on the meaning of them being faithful witnesses for God. In a very literal sense, the Greek word “martus” is used, which is where we get our English word “martyr”. (The author is partly correct. But "witnesses" is translated according to context. In this particular context, "witnesses" [martus] is
in an historical sense: Acts 10:41; 1 Timothy 6:12; (2 Timothy 2:2); one who is a spectator of anything, e. g. of a contest, Hebrews 12:1...
Therefore, the people mentioned in chapter 11 are indeed part of a "great cloud" of spectators.
Interestingly, the author is correct about her definition of the word as it applies to Ac. 1:8, and Ac. 21-22:
8 ...and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth....
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.
So the author offers us the opportunity, through her misapplication of one of the definitions of martus, to point out she is right about the wrong verse.)
If you can, imagine us walking through a great hall of statues of the giants of the faith. The ones mentioned in the Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” are: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, and Rahab. Being in this imagined “hall of statues”, would equate being “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses”. Chapter 12, Verse 1 is a continuation of Chapter 11. The cloud of witnesses are the ones who stood in faith even though they never saw the promise fulfilled. (This is correct. The OT saints were commended for faith...)
We can also consider the New Testament martyrs, which would be all the disciples except for John. Anyone who has gone before us and proved faithful are a part of the “cloud of witnesses” that we can look to for inspiration, to spur us on in the race we are running. I don’t know about you, but it gives me encouragement to think of all those who have remained faithful, enduring suffering and pain. (...but the author pivots to their suffering. However, not all on the list suffered for their faith. The writer of Hebrews certainly does discuss those who suffered [verses 11:35-38], but again, the central theme is faith:
He. 11:39a These were all commended for their faith...Faith is the issue.
Now the writer of Hebrews proceeds to connect these OT saints to us. He tells us that none of them received what had been promised [verse 11:39b], and for us God had a better plan. The OT saints would be included with us in that [verse 11:40].
We then come to the word "therefore." He. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses... In other words, what was written before leads to a conclusion. This better plan, which includes us together with the OT saints, means the OT saints are very interested in us. They want us to take hold of what they did not receive, because they are included in what we receive.
This is not to say that if we fail to take hold of this that the OT saints will not receive. But rather, they ran their leg of the race as well as they could, and in a sense they pass the baton to us to run our leg of the race and partake in our victory. Since they are a part of the race, when we win they win.)
Next, verse 1 says we are to lay aside every “encumbrance“. In this particular instance, Thr (sic) Hebrews author is speaking about the Jews holding onto the law, which was a burden they were no longer expected to carry. (Undocumented statement. While possibly true, there is nothing in the context to indicate this encumbrance is specifically or uniquely the Jewish law. In fact, the writer of Hebrews tells us to throw off everything that hinders [literal Greek: Having laid aside every weight]. "Every" is pas, which means "all" in the sense of "each (every) part that applies. It seems clear that this hinderance goes well beyond the Hebrew law.)
However, today, what could a burden be that we are carrying in our race that is hindering our progress? In John Bunyan’s classic book “Pilgrim’s Progress”, the main character, Christian, is weighed down by a burden. His “encumbrance” is the weight of his own sin, guilt, and the dread of God’s condemnation. Even after Christ saves Christian, he continues to bear this burden unnecessarily. It is only when he accepts the fact that he is no longer responsible for this load he is carrying, that he finally relinquishes it at the foot of the cross. (Everything that hinders is distinct from the sin that so easily entangles. There are things that hinder us from running the race that aren't sin. Ms. Self wants it to be the sins we hang onto, but the verse contradicts her.)
Are we hanging onto the burden of past sins that have already been forgiven? Or is it a propensity for a sin that keeps “entangling” you? Could it be a burden of suffering that we are refusing to let Him carry? Paul says we are to lay these things aside. In other words, don’t keep hanging onto the things that are slowing us down and maybe causing us to stumble. We are called to FINISH the race we are running, as did the witnesses who went before us.
(...)
No comments:
Post a Comment