Hebrews 3 & 4 inform that TODAY is the time to listen to Genesis 1:26-28

 Hebrews Chapters 3 and 4 with notes

Guide: CJB emphasis in bold (CJB online), mine in green with footnotes replaced in blue; NIV in magenta ; Nomads* discussion in yellow; and my comments in gray.   

*Participative Sunday-school-class at UBC led by Kenneth Tipton. My continually improved statement about Genesis 1:26-28 is at the end of this. Also, this issue introduces the question: Why did The Church canonize this particular literature? (To be answered in future.)

Phil’s heartfelt concerns from the scripture, Chapters 3 and 4.

1.       Ken’s message this morning emphasized today is the time to hear The God. My work today recognizes the importance of Genesis 1:26-28 more than ever. I review it at the end of this report.

2.       The writer uses colloquial visions, yet seems to expand from Israel to humankind.

a.       I address intentional omissions rather than primitive innocence.

b.       Nomads class persists to discover the good, regardless of appearances.

3.       V 1 interprets NIV’s “apostle” as emissary. Today, Nomads thought of Gospel representative and advocate.

4.       V 2-4 seems to juxtapose “all God’s house” versus “everything” or Israel vs humankind.

5.       V 5-6 seems to defend failed Moses yet compare Yeshua as ADONAI’s or The Trinity’s reliable representative.

a.       However, the writer attempts imposition: “provided we hold . . . what we hoped for.”

b.       V 7 the writer accuses the Holy Spirit of anger.

6.       V8-11 From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua, “[identifies] Jesus as a better Joshua, as Joshua led Israel into the rest of Canaan, but Jesus leads the people of God into "God's rest". Among the early Church Fathers, Joshua is considered a type of Jesus Christ.” Added on 3/28/2025.

7.       V 12 “hardened by the deceit of sin” seems to invoke habitual erroneous choices.

a.       The Israelites never trusted ADONAI.

b.       Christians don’t juxtapose ADONAI as The Trinity.

c.       Should warriors in Palestine consider this passage?

d.       Is sin prevented by not repeating human error? (James v Paul debate)

8.       V 14-15 “Messiah” refers to anointed one to unite Israel rather than Paul’s savior of souls.

a.       A human-unity goal is consistent with Genesis 1:26-28.

b.       The Messiah would correct Moses’s error of drawing attention to himself rather than to ADONAI.

c.       The writer interjects The Trinity, citing God, the son, and the Holy Spirit.

9.       Sin and disobedience prevent rest. (In the story, entering the Promised Land.)

10.   V 4:3-7 Trust is essential to “rest”.

a.       Goodness was at the beginning of the universe.

b.       The Sabbath renews rest.

c.       V 7 don’t repeat error (pursue perfection).

11.   V 8-13 Joshua entered the Promised Land but did not invoke rest.

a.       Beware disobedience.

b.       “Before God, nothing created is hidden.”

12.   V 14-16 hold firmly to Yeshua, because

a.       Passed through heaven

b.       Son of God (not ADONAI)

c.       Weak to temptation like us

                                                               i.      Yet did not sin.

d.       Confidently approach humility.

                                                               i.      In order to accept mercy.

Yale Video; Hebrews → Moses and the Promised Rest – Video - Yale Bible Study

1.       Ch. 3 compares Moses and Yeshua, I think not representing the literature.

a.       Moses failed ADONAI: Yeshua does not fail.

b.       Today is the day we hear this sermon. Hear The God every moment.

c.       Compares the desert generation’s trials and hopes.

d.       Sabbath rest and promised land. Psalm 95.

2.       “Rest” in Psalm 95 and in Genesis 1 and 2. Ch 4 V 4.

a.       Carrot and stick story: don’t disobey like the desert generation did.

b.       Hardening of hearts; hard, soft, tablets.

c.       The homilist is brilliant.

3.       A Greek, hearing Y’hoshua in V 3:8 would know it did not refer to Yeshua in V 3:1.

a.       Better Yeshua gets us into the Promised Land.

b.       Word of God sharper than 2-edged sword. We hear today: will we obey?

                                                               i.      Recalls John 1.

4.       Don’t hear about high priesthood. Check V 3:1, “apostle and high priest”.

I don’t trust the professors -- think sometimes they express memory rather than the text.

Yale Study Guide, Session 2, covering Hebrews 3 and 4:

1.       Motifs:

a.       Priesthood

b.       Today: Psalm 95, call to Israel, all humankind

c.       Rest: the Sabbath in Genesis, Israel into promised land, all listeners to The God.

2.       Strategies

a.       Jewish listener knows the background

                                                               i.      Moses prefigures Yeshua

                                                             ii.      Abraham prefigures Christ.

b.       Yeshua’s contemporaries comprehend the story.

3.       Similarities

a.       Joseph in Genesis and Yosef who marries pregnant Miryam

b.       Moses to Jesus in Matthew 5 and Moses to Jesus in Hebrews 3:3-6

c.       Joshua who led Israel into promised land and Jesus who is pioneer and high priest

d.       Contrast Adam to Jesus in Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15

e.       Disobedient Israel and listeners who disbelieve the homilist

f.        “Therefore” signals a new section that applies the previous sub-homily

4.       Moses served Israel in the desert: Yeshua serves humankind.1.        

2.       The people of Exodus disobeyed with bad consequences: people of today are warned.

a.       Numbers 14:18-19. “’Adonai is slow to anger, rich in grace, forgiving offenses and crimes; yet not exonerating the guilty, but causing the negative effects of the parents’ offenses to be experienced by their children and even by the third and fourth generations.’ Please! Forgive the offense of this people according to the greatness of your grace, just as you have borne with this people from Egypt until now.”

b.       Partnering with Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

For, brothers, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea, and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moshe, also they all ate the same food from the Spirit, and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit — for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert. Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, warning us not to set our hearts on evil things as they did. Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were — as the Tanakh puts it, “The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry.” And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day.  And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. And don’t grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel. These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the acharit-hayamim. Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to fall!  No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.

     and 1 Corinthians 12, about using your unique talents to follow Yeshua-Jesus.

c.       Look to Yeshua and to each other.

d.       Obedience a double edged sword. [Civic integrity is mutually rewarding to practitioners.]

Yale Q & A

1.       Does the image of Moses depicted at the beginning of chapter 3 resonate with you or does it strike you as somewhat off? [I think ancient divinity school depicted ADONAI jealous of Moses seeming to produce water from a rock. I think it’s unlikely and would be concerned for my welfare if I wrote such an idea.]

2.       The homilist makes a great effort to let Scripture speak to the “today” of his addressees. Do you think he is effective? Does his method work in a twenty-first century context? [I think I got the message, so others do, too.]

3.       Does the example of the Exodus generation resonate with a contemporary audience? [I don’t feel antinomian and like that I do not feel “chosen”. With the power of the Internet, we can be released from the impositions of divinity schools, so I feel more independence than I think they could feel.] How might the warning against disobedience be understood helpfully in our time? [I think societies are still in the grips of divinity schools – so much so that they can’t imagine humility to The God, whatever it is, and that the Bible’s ineluctable truth begins with Genesis 1:26-28: you may and can constrain chaos in the way you choose to live.]

I appreciate the writer of Hebrews and Nomads class for helping me earn these opinions.

The scripture, CJB:

^3:1 Therefore, brothers whom God has set apart, who share in the call from heaven, think carefully about Yeshua [When this person spoke in Aramaic, his mom and dad called him “Yeshua”; see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeshua.], whom we acknowledge publicly as God’s emissary and as cohen gadol [our apostle and high priest; head of the Israelite priesthood]. ² He was faithful to God, who appointed him; just as

“Moshe was faithful in all God’s house.” ^{Numbers 12:7, “But it isn’t that way with my servant Moshe. He is the only one who is faithful in my entire household.”}

³ But Yeshua deserves more honor than Moshe, just as the builder of the house deserves more honor than the house. ⁴ For every house is built by someone, but the one who built everything is God. [Moses, receiving the 10 commandments, then built Israel. It seems The God built humankind.]

⁵ Also, Moshe was faithful in all God’s house, as a servant giving witness to things God would divulge later. ⁶ But the Messiah, as Son, was faithful over God’s house. And we are that house of his, provided we hold firmly to the courage and confidence inspired by what we hope for [This feels like divinity-school coercion if not Pauline imposition on human being (verb).].

⁷ Therefore, as the Ruach HaKodesh [Holy Spirit] says,

“Today, if you hear God’s voice,
⁸ don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Bitter Quarrel
on that day in the Wilderness when you put God to the test.
⁹ Yes, your fathers put me to the test;
they challenged me, and they saw my work for forty years!
¹⁰ Therefore, I was disgusted with that generation —
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
they have not understood how I do things’;
¹¹ in my anger, I swore
that they would not enter my rest.” ^{Psalm 95:7-11 Note: NIV differs and so does CJB.}

[“Rest” refers to entering the Promised Land, which the Israelites refused out of fear of the Canaanites. At least two generations cover 40 years. This passage reminds me of Jesus’s 40 days’ fast in the desert.]

¹² Watch out, brothers, so that there will not be in any one of you an evil heart lacking trust, which could lead you to apostatize [renounce] from the living God! [What if Today’s Palestine warriors need to consider this message? Is there any other way to eradicate jihadists?] ¹³ Instead, keep exhorting each other every day, as long as it is called Today [Even though their ancestors had faltered, the present generation was forgiven and could take rest.], so that none of you will become hardened by the deceit of sin. [That is, habituated error. The book of James gave me the impression that “sin” is repetition of human error. See 1:12-14, “How blessed is the man who perseveres through temptation! For . . . he will receive . . . the Life which God has promised to those who love him. [E]ach person is being tempted whenever he is . . . enticed by the bait of his own desire.  Also, see 2:9-10, “if you show favoritism, your actions constitute sin, since you are convicted under the Torah as transgressors. For a person who keeps the whole Torah, yet stumbles at one point, has become guilty of breaking them all.] ¹⁴ For we have become sharers in the Messiah [the Messiah is the anointed descendent of David, who would unite the 12 tribes of Israel], provided, however, that we hold firmly to the conviction we began with, right through until the goal is reached. [Genesis 1:26-28 informs that the goal is humankind ruling (to the good). Yeshua affirms this goal in Matthew 5:48 (be perfect), 18:18 (heaven won’t change human consequences), and elsewhere.]

¹⁵ Now where it says,

“Today, if you hear God’s voice,
don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Bitter Quarrel,” ^{Psalm 95:7-8}

[After Moses struck a rock and produced water instead of leaving that miracle to Adonai: Numbers 20:12-13, ^“But Adonai said to Moshe and Aharon, “Because you did not trust in me, so as to cause me to be regarded as holy by the people of Isra’el, you will not bring this community into the land I have given them.” ¹³ This is M’rivah Spring [Disputation Spring], where the people of Isra’el disputed with Adonai, and he was caused to be regarded as holy by them.”]

¹⁶ who were the people who, after they heard, quarreled so bitterly? All those whom Moshe brought out of Egypt. ¹⁷ And with whom was God disgusted for forty years? Those who sinned — yes, they fell dead in the Wilderness! ¹⁸ And to whom was it that he swore that they would not enter his rest? Those who were disobedient. ¹⁹ So we see that they were unable to enter because of lack of trust [unbelief]. [I prefer trust-in and commitment-to rather than either belief or faith.]

^4:1 Therefore, let us be terrified [careful] of the possibility that, even though the promise of entering his rest remains, any one of you might be judged to have fallen short of it; ² for Good News has also been proclaimed to us, just as it was to them. But the message they heard didn’t do them any good, because those who heard it did not combine it with trust. ³ For it is we who have trusted who enter the rest.

It is just as he said,

“And in my anger, I swore
that they would not enter my rest.” ^{Psalm 95:11}

He swore this even though his works have been in existence since the founding of the universe. ⁴ For there is a place where it is said, concerning the seventh day,

“And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” ^{Genesis 2:2}

⁵ And once more, our present text says,

“They will not enter my rest.” ^{Psalm 95:11}

⁶ Therefore, since it still remains for some to enter it, and those who received the Good News earlier did not enter, ⁷ he again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David, so long afterwards, in the text already given,

“Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts.” ^{Psalm 95:7-8}

⁸ For if Y’hoshua [must be Joshua, since Yeshua is cited above.] had given them rest, God would not have spoken later of another “day.”

⁹ So there remains a Shabbat-keeping for God’s people. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered God’s rest has also rested from his own works, as God did from his. ¹¹ Therefore, let us do our best to enter that rest; so that no one will fall short because of the same kind of disobedience.

¹² See, the Word of God is alive! It is at work and is sharper than any double-edged sword — it cuts right through to where soul meets spirit and joints meet marrow, and it is quick to judge the inner reflections and attitudes of the heart. [What is this word and who delivered it. Perhaps it is Yeshua, in Matthew 5:48, informing us that if we intend to, we can live the image of goodness – affirming Genesis 1:26-28 NIV.] ¹³ Before God, nothing created is hidden, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account.

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great cohen gadol who has passed through to the highest heaven, Yeshua, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we acknowledge as true. ¹⁵ For we do not have a cohen gadol unable to empathize with our weaknesses; since in every respect he was tempted just as we are, the only difference being that he did not sin. ¹⁶ Therefore, let us confidently approach the throne from which God gives grace [humility], so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need. [Yeshua informs us in Matthew 5:48 that we can be perfect. Also, sin is repetition of error. To be sinless we can constrain ourselves so as not to repeat an error, even 1 that invokes all the rest. I doubt this practice can be real if we do not accept Genesis 1:26-28 as the personal intentions.]

[Genesis 1:26-28:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.

This, the conclusion of the first chapter of the Holy Bible informs Today that humankind may and can rule on earth. The rest of the Bible demonstrates the chaos that ensues if most individuals do not constrain chaos in their personal way of living. Yeshua affirmed the above passage. Today there are more than 8,000 religions and 45,000 Christian sects on earth. Today is time to accept the power, the authority, and the responsibility to practice civic integrity.]

Hebrews 1 and 2: ignoring Genesis 1's power, authority, and responsibility to humankind

Guide: CJB emphasis in bold (online), mine in green with footnotes replaced in blue; NIV in magenta ; Nomads* discussion in yellow; and my comments in gray.   

*Participative Sunday-school-class at UBC led by Kenneth Tipton. My continually improved statement about Genesis 1:26-28 is at the end of this. Also, this issue introduces the question: Why did The Church canonize this particular literature?

My major concerns from Chapters 1 and 2.

1.       The writer establishes in Chapter 1 my accusations: failure to integrity.

a.       I address intentional omissions rather than ignorance.

b.       It prompts the question:  Why did The Church canonize Hebrews?

2.       The age of prophets gave way to messianic times; according to the writer, Yeshua’s time.

a.       Some Jews attempted to segue from Yeshua to Jesus by shaping OT writings to justify a wonder-worker for civil benefits more than political philosopher to the good.

b.       The writer does not accept the Genesis 1:26-28 mandate: humankind is intended to rule on earth.

                                                               i.      Neither does the writer accept Yeshua’s affirmation in Matthew 18:18: “the heavens” will not change humankind’s choices and consequences.

c.       Paul extended his reasoning from wonder-worker to Christ, the savior of soul mysteries.

3.       “Through whom he created the universe” recalls John 1, and “word” does, too.

4.        “This Son” (V. 3) and “his Firstborn” (V. 6) beg explanation.

5.       It seems angles are spirits and higher than human beings, excepting Yeshua.

6.       V. 11, Yeshua “sets people apart for God”. (I agree and call them “civic citizens”.)

7.       V. 12, the writer uses David’s praise to Adonai to fake Yeshua/Jesus’ speech.

a.       The footnote ought to include Psalm 22:24, King David praising Adonai, rather than Yeshua declaring fidelity to the Trinity.

b.       NT writers could praise The Trinity rather than Adonai.

8.       The series of quotations confuse addressing the king (V.8) with appealing to Adonai (Verses 10, 13, 2:6, and 2:12). The writer is so conflicted that he deletes “you had him rule” from quotation of Psalm 8:5-7, perhaps to deny Genesis 1:26-28: humankind may rule on earth in the creator’s image (the good).

9.       The conflict cited in Item 5 seems to set up Yeshua as competition with the God; from “expression of God’s essence” in V.3 to V.14, wherein Yeshua’s death frees humans from responsibility to the good – I think, a fallacy.

a.       V. 14 calls into question Genesis 2 creation of Eve from Adam vs Genesis 1 creation of humankind: male and female.

10.   Yeshua’s death is no substitute for each individual person’s opportunity to perfect themselves during their lifetime.

a.       There’s no way I would choose another person’s death or God’s death as surrogate for my opportunity to pursue the perfection of my person.

b.       I accept that I may be wrong: I do not know the ineluctable truth.

c.       “Atonement” is not expressive to me as “sacrifice”, so I prefer CJB to NIV.

Yale course, Session 1, covering Hebrews 1 and 2:

Hebrews → The Exalted and Incarnate Son – Video - Yale Bible Study

1.       Addressing a conflict within a Pauline congregation. Author (unknown, church unknown).

a.       Written in 96 CE? By a Timothy? A second generation of believers. After Paul’s death.

b.       If for Gentiles, why so much Old Testament reference?

                                                               i.      Why no attention to Genesis 1:26-28, the grounding of humankind’s quest?

c.       Very midrashic, so the audience is probably Jewish, but the Gentiles learning.

d.       Call this a homily.

e.       Starts with rhetorical preaching. Verse 2 sets the focus: Yeshua. Wants to build on wide-spread belief. Not missionary text. Telling believers more.

f.        Looking for someone to fulfill OT text. E.g., Psalm 110, Christ foretold.

2.       Chapter 1 jumps right into OT prediction of Christ.

a.       Son reflection of God’s glory. From Wisdom Solomon. Divine wisdom existed from the beginning.

b.       Priestly actions of Christ. A repeated theme, like in a symphony with motifs coming in and out. Very carefully woven together images.

c.       Angles use seems a rhetorical tool more than belief.

                                                               i.      Compare angles, Moses, Melchesidek, leading to the son.

3.       Chapter 2 refers to another Psalm, 8.

a.       Caution about honor to humans. Brought in KJV for “Son of Man”.

b.       About the incarnation in flesh and blood vs image in Chapter 1.

c.       Brings in the voice of Yeshua/Jesus in OT terms.

d.       Jesus the model for life in faith.

e.       2:10 Yeshua/Jesus the pioneer. Recall Joshua.

f.        Family life through inheritance.

g.       Sacrifice of atonement. Death of “Christ”. Romans 3 reference.

[I found the Yale talk cursory – not much detail.]

Hebrews 1 and 2, CJB with notes upgraded and some edited, in blue

^1:1 In days gone by, God spoke in many and varied ways to the Fathers through the prophets. ² But now, in the acharit-hayamim [Messianic age?], he has spoken to us through his Son, to whom he has given ownership of everything and through whom he created the universe. ³ This Son [who are the others?] is the radiance of the Sh’khinah [divine glory], the very expression of God’s essence, upholding all that exists by his powerful word; and after he had, through himself, made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of HaG’dulah BaM’romim [Greatness in High]. ^{Psalm 110:1}

⁴ So he has become much better than angels [https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2021/12/angels-in-heaven-frequently-asked-questions/], and the name God has given him is superior to theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? ^{Psalm 2:7}

Also, God never said of any angel,

“I will be his Father, and he will be my Son.” ^{2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13}

⁶ And again, when God brings his Firstborn [are there others?] into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.” ^{Psalm 97:7}

⁷ Indeed, when speaking of angels, he says,

“. . . who makes his angels winds and his servants fiery flames”; ^{Psalm 104:4}

⁸ but to the Son, he says, [to the king, not to Adonai]

“Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your Kingdom with a scepter of equity; [The writer has claimed that the God made the son a king who rules with justice. I do not trust the author of Hebrews, because I do not think Yeshua claimed he was king. See John 19:36-38 CJB, wherein Yeshua decries worldly order (such as thrones). Also, see the “O God” bemusement below.]
⁹ you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. [This recalls the Genesis 1:26-28 demand that humankind rule on earth. To rule in the God’s image, humankind must choose to facilitate the good, constrain the bad, and annihilate evil.]
Therefore, O God, your God has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions [These words suggest a competitive messiah.]” [V 8-9 recalls Plato in “Euthyphro” having Socrates ask, in paraphrase:  Is the good appreciated by the God because it is good, or is it good because it is appreciated by the God?]; ^{Psalm 45:7–8: “Your throne, God, will last forever and ever; you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy in preference to your companions.”}  [Notice that: “O God” and “O God, your God” do not appear in Psalm 45:7-8 CJB, which has “God” and “God, your God”. I’d like to question CJB on that point, but may not bother. Also, NIV, Hebrews 1:8-9, has “O God” then “God, your God”, with the footnote, “Here the king is addressed as God’s representative”; plausible reasoning. It’s not a stretch to think the king assumed he was the God. The consequence to his subjects is psychological chaos, since they live only if he has mercy.]

¹⁰ and,

“In the beginning, Lord, [Adonai] you laid the foundations of the earth;
heaven is the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will vanish, but you will remain;
like clothing, they will all grow old;
¹² and you will fold them up like a coat.
Yes, they will be changed like clothing,
but you remain the same,
your years will never end.” ^{Psalm 102:25–27}

¹³ Moreover, to which of the angels has he ever said, [Adonai says to my Lord [the Psalmist’s king],]

“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”? ^{Psalm 110:1}

¹⁴ Aren’t they all merely spirits who serve, sent out to help those whom God will deliver?

[So far, I cannot trust the author of Hebrews, because in the above footnotes he equivocated Psalms addressed to the king with Psalms to Adonai and made Adonai the creator. To understand my concern, fellow readers may and can establish their comments on the creation of male and female to rule the earth in the creator’s image, in Genesis 1, vs Adonai creating Adam then opining that Adam needed a helper, in Genesis 2. That is, what came first: creation of male and female to rule in the God’s image, or creation of Adam then his helper, Eve?]

^2:1 Therefore, we must pay much more careful heed to the things we have heard, so that we will not drift away. ² For if the word God spoke through angels became binding, so that every violation and act of disobedience received its just deserts in full measure, ³ then how will we escape if we ignore such a great deliverance? This deliverance, which was first declared by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him; ⁴ while God also bore witness to it with various signs, wonders and miracles, and with gifts of the Ruach HaKodesh [Holy Spirit] which he distributed as he chose.

⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the ‘olam haba [World to Come] — which is what we are talking about. ⁶ And there is a place where someone has given this solemn testimony:

“What is mere man, that you concern yourself with him?
or the son of man, that you watch over him with such care?
⁷ You made him a little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor,
⁸ you put everything in subjection under his feet.” ^{Psalm 8:5–7 CJB,  “what are mere mortals, that you concern yourself with them; humans, that you watch over them with such care? You made him but little lower than the angels,
you crowned him with glory and honor, you had him rule what your hands made, you put everything under his feet”. [By omitting “had him rule . . .” the writer disclosed disaffection for Genesis 1:26-28 and Matthew 18:18. Other citizens may, but I do not dismiss deceit as error. Yet if I discover the deceit, I count it a gain to my civic integrity -- persistence. If I effectually report the discovery, I follow the instruction in Matthew 18:15-17.]}

 

In subjecting everything to him, he left nothing unsubjected to him. However, at present, we don’t see everything subjected to him — at least, not yet. ⁹ But we do see Yeshua — who indeed was made for a little while lower than the angels — now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by God’s grace he might taste death for all humanity. [The writer is taking license to construct mysterious-soul salvation “for all humanity” rather than witness to the ineluctable truth. Genesis 1:26-28 invites the reader to accept the power, the authority, and the responsibility to rule on earth in the image of the creator, whatever “the creator” is. Furthermore, Chapter 1 is denying Yeshua’s many affirmations of Genesis 1:26-28, such as Matthew 5:48 and Matthew 19:3-8. We may imagine it will come later, but some details would need to be taken back.] ¹⁰ For in bringing many sons to glory, it was only fitting that God, the Creator and Preserver of everything [even badness and evil?], should bring the Initiator of their deliverance to the goal through sufferings. ¹¹ For both Yeshua, who sets people apart for God, and the ones being set apart have a common origin — this is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers ¹² when he says,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” ^{Psalm 22:23 I will proclaim your name to my kinsmen; right there in the assembly I will praise you. And V. 24, “You who fear Adonai, praise him! All descendants of Ya‘akov, glorify him! All descendants of Isra’el, stand in awe of him!” [I do not trust the writer. He is using V. 23 to assert Yeshua/Jesus’s speech but is quoting David praising Adonai!]}

¹³ Also,

“I will put my trust in him, . . .” ^{Isaiah 8:17, “I will wait for Adonai, who is hiding his face
from the house of Ya‘akov; yes, I will look for him.}

and then it goes on,

“Here I am, along with the children God has given me.” ^{Isaiah 8:18, “Meanwhile, I and the children whom Adonai has given me will become for Isra’el signs and wonders from Adonai-Tzva’ot living on Mount Tziyon.”}

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share a common physical nature as human beings, he became like them and shared that same human nature; so that by his death he might render ineffective the one who had power over death (that is, the Adversary) ¹⁵ and thus set free those who had been in bondage all their lives because of their fear of death. [Does the logic of salvation of soul relieve fear of death? Not for me. Acceptance of death to come is my relief.]

¹⁶ Indeed, it is obvious that he does not take hold of angels to help them; on the contrary,

“He takes hold of the seed of Avraham.” ^{Isaiah 41:8–9, “But you, Isra’el, my servant;
Ya‘akov, whom I have chosen, descendants of Avraham my friend, I have taken you from the ends of the earth, summoned you from its most distant parts and said to you, ‘You are my servant’ — I have chosen you, not rejected you.”}

¹⁷ This is why he had to become like his brothers in every respect — so that he might become a merciful and faithful cohen gadol [High Priest] in the service of God, making a kapparah [sacrifice] atonement for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ For since he himself suffered death when he was put to the test, he is able to help those who are being tested now.

[I read to apply perhaps 5500 year old Sumerian political philosophy. It’s primitively expressed by Semite scholars of 3900 years ago in Genesis 1:26-28; in my paraphrase:  Female-and-male-human-being may and can choose to independently and together constrain political democracy on earth: on earth, humankind has the power, authority, and responsibility to pursue the good and constrain the bad. Civic citizens may use the rule of law to develop statutory justice. Yeshua* affirmed these ideas in each Matthew 18:18 (only physics overrules humankind), Matthew 19:3-8 (civic loyalty), Matthew 5:48 (perfection), and in other direct dialogue.
The next Bible canon could and should include the law codes of Sumer and competing civilizations. Resulting insights would take the heat off Judeo-Christianity, a Christ vs Messiah** vs the God competition*** that represses Yeshua’s civic influence. Both personal and institutional competition egregiously delude Yeshua’s civic influence to the good. The collaborative view could accelerate mutual pursuit of human being (verb) and lessen habitual baby killings, like those happening in Israel, in Ukraine, and in the U.S. as I write.

*In 4 BC, Yosef and Myriam of Nazareth begot Yeshua. And 250 years beforehand, Greek translation of the Torah provided Ἰησοῦς and χριστός, both of which competed with “Yeshua”, the former during Yeshua’s life and the latter in the afterdeath. By the 16^th century CE, Christianity used “Jesus Christ” to repress Yeshua’s civic influence. 

The person, Yeshua, said, in my paraphrase: if people don’t speak my name they can neither consider my civic influence nor share my open-heartedness. Competitive monotheism hides Yeshua’s civic influence. Churches hide Yeshua. Churches claim the Holy Bible is the word of the God [some attempting to impose The Trinity] yet do everything they can to negate Genesis 1:26-28: humankind is responsible to rule to the good on earth.

The God is a constructed mystery. However, civic citizens may, can, and do discern Yeshua’s civic influence. Accepting Genesis 1:26-28 helps yet does not exclude the open-minded and open-hearted fellow citizen who has not discovered Yeshua.

**Cyrus, 600 BC, is called a messiah in Isaiah 45:1.

***Competitive monotheism survives and thrives on war.]

 

Jesus rather than Christ, ova legislation, and semitism, February 2024

Feb 4, 2024 It’s a mystery: Each week, Ken Tipton chooses scripture that thrills me. With Nomads’ amazing scholarship and consideration, Exodus 3 became vital for understanding: Elijah unintentionally broke the chain of kingly and priestly hereditary-leadership. My comments are attached and posted on my blog understandtheknowledge.blogspot.com. Topics in the sharing below include: the year 2024’s unfathomable threats, John 9’s sight metaphor, Jesus versus Christ, Jesus’ civic influence, Paul vs James turned to Paul vs Jesus pointing to Semitism vs anti-Semitism, U.S. states’ rights to prevent illegal entry informed me about Acts 15:19-20, Nomads’ exciting opportunities, and taming the abortion issue. UBC worship service was especially meaningful, because Pastor Eric Fulcher, under sermon title “Things You Can’t Unsee”, expressed a flip side of epiphany: once you perceive actual reality, you cannot go back to false senses. Eric shared a nature metaphor to help us consider church. Topics in the writing below include: the year 2024’s unfathomable threats, John 9’s sight metaphor, Jesus versus Christ, Jesus’ civic influence, Paul vs James turned to Paul vs Jesus pointing to Semitism vs anti-Semitism, U.S. states’ rights to prevent illegal entry, and Nomads’ exciting opportunities. Eric listed some of the “million” threats we share in 2024, then spoke of tradition that needs to be relinquished, change we’d rather not make, and better future we’d like to pursue, if not achieve. I relate to Eric’s concerns. A key verse in the sight metaphor is John 9:22, complete Jewish Bible, “. . . they were afraid of the Judeans, for the Judeans had already agreed that anyone who acknowledged Yeshua as the Messiah would be banned from the synagogue. “ Jesus’ civic influence is obscured first by the Judeo-Christian debate: Messiah or Christ? I have no stake in that debate. My world changed when, at age 6, Mom and Dad bought my first pair of glasses. Somehow, they perceived I did not see what they saw and did something about it. So I related to Eric’s video with hearty man who received color-blind-corrective glasses from 30 friends. Similarly, I acquired precious doubt when I read the threats in Revelations 22:18-19. TheGod does not feel so weak as to question my humility to the entity, whatever it is. I am committed to Jesus’ civic influence, which can be seen in the faces of people who image him, whether aware or not. Some of you know the recent story of Rev. Keith Holmes awakening me to the fact that my Dad taught me Jesus, and therefore, I never shared Christ with anyone. I shared with Keith my epiphany then that teaching Christ unfortunately lessens Jesus’ civic influence. Mary VanRheenen, Keith’s wife, suggested that people are different and Christ appeals to some. How does Jesus respond to that idea? Billy King said he could understand my preference for Jesus yet considers Christ and Jesus the same. That’s OK to me for Billy and others who choose equivocation, but I could not, would not, witness to that acceptance before Jesus. Jesus is ever present to the good in my life, and that epiphany brought me back to UBC after 27 years withdrawn to private study. I think the salt of the earth pervades UBC. Nomads class educated me to James’ advocacy to Jesus 15 years after Jesus died versus Paul’s advocacy to the Gentile church, starting 30 years later. Last week, in studying Rob Natelson’s opinion about states’ right to stop illegal entry, I discovered Acts 15:12-17, which suggests that James was a Semite and Paul an anti-Semite. I Googled “Bible: Paul’s salvation versus James’ salvation” and skimming lots of apologetics, I eventually discovered “Jesus v Paul” at https://doctrine.org/jesus-vs-paul. It asserts that Paul opposed Jesus but under the Lord God’s control. The author seems to use “Jesus” and “Christ” indiscriminately yet argues that Jesus was for the Jews and Christ is for receivers of grace, then concludes that Jesus Christ is the Lord God’s intention: “The Lord Jesus Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, Israel and Church. God is sovereign over both His earthly people, Israel, and over His heavenly people, the Church, the body of Christ.” A more balanced review that nonetheless suggests Christianity is anti-Semitic is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antisemitism_and_the_New_Testament. Online literature is available to everyone. My epiphany may reflect my gullibility. That is to say, I may be stupid to think people haven’t considered the issue, chosen Jesus rather than Christ, and decided to not reform the church. That’s what’s been happening throughout history: people are reluctant to practice Jesus’ process for forgiveness (Matthew 18:15-17), which is a process for reliable responsibility. I think the tradition of not reforming the church is the cause of chaos so evident in the year 2024. UBC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the U.S., and the earth need Jesus’ civic influence. I think Nomads class inspires necessary reform. I wrote my sixth letter to Speaker Mike Johnson since Thanksgiving. In the 6th I suggested lessening the abortion debate by legislating protection to ova – to encourage and facilitate physical and psychological wellness to women and commit to protect ova to men. The authentic person is dedicated to ova for their brief opportunity and to fetuses, newborns, and children for life. Some people think I should not try to aid Johnson. I think the civic Jesus influences me to aid any political leader who might listen. I hope to see you next Sunday, Feb 11, 2024 Hello, Nomads, Happy Mardi Gras. Today's sermon on applying the light was good. Sam will receive medical attention next week. In David's class, we pondered Jesus's unimaginable experiences at the cross -- at once divinely forgiving and humanly suffering, then asking, why am I forsaken? David shared Aaron and Kim's remarkable understanding that Mother Teresa, struggling with the mystery of theGod (a singularity I hope humbly expressing whatever constrains the consequences of human choice), found comfort in Jesus. I want to understand, because that is how I feel about my life, except that I express it as Jesus' civic influence, which I see in your faces and hear in your voices.. I finished my study of Semitism and think Paul was an antagonist. The study is attached (semitim vs anti-semitism) and posted on my oldest, best blog, https://promotethepreamble.blogspot.com/. I hope you'll comment. i hope to see you next Sunday, Phil

the civic Jesus and Courage Class April 2023

 Sunday Morning Greetings 3/29/23

 

 

Good evening, Nomads,

     I forgot today was Missions Sunday, could not risk the cold-wind, so returned home.

     My pursuit of the-civic-Jesus, springing from Genesis 1:26-28 NIV, continues to unfold with wonderful input from fellow-citizens. Kenneth's weekly choices seem to dovetail with other developments to me.

     John 9, today, prompted my thought of the authentic Jesus recovering from Christ. My concern about Christ-bemusement occurred during Keith Holmes recent visit and increased.
     During the last couple weeks, Barry Baker, of Courage Class, informed of 1998 Frontline scholarship, "From Jesus to Christ". The counterpoint is "from anointed one to Christ", which makes Jesus-slight more obvious.

     It follows that for me, 2023 is the year the-civic-Jesus has risen from Judeo-Christian debate. Of course, this is a shocking thought. However, psychological movement that increases humility to Jesus seems good to me. I look forward to your consideration and comments.

      My consideration of John 9 is attached, including URLs to the Frontline scholarship. It's also on my blog.

Have a good week,

 

Phil