Integrity of the Text

The last days have begun.  God, through his Son, has fully revealed his nature, and his purpose which stretches back through the prophets to creation. Hebrews 1:1-2 (Ellingworth translation)

Have begun – Read almost any standard translation of this verse.  None of them will be like Ellingworth’s translation.  The crucial differences are the rearrangement of the first idea (“last days” takes primary position) and the addition of several key words (like “fully,” “nature” and “creation”).  In fact, Ellingworth’s offering is almost a paraphrase rather than a translation.  Why should this matter to you?  It should matter because Ellingworth’s book is considered a significant work in the prestigious The New International Greek Testament Commentary series.  If scholars can get away with this, how are laymen supposed to know what is true?  Most of us cannot consult the Greek text for correction.  We have to trust the professionals.  But far too often, the professionals are driven by presupposition about theology rather than a straightforward rendering of the text.

Look what happens to the first thoughts in Hebrews when this rearrangement is allowed to stand.  The Greek text literally reads, “In many parts and in many ways of old, God spoke to the fathers by the prophets.”  Notice that Ellingworth’s translation obscures the entire idea of God speaking and the continuity with the voice of the prophets.  Suddenly the text is all about the full revelation in Christ.  Before we complete the first verse, we have already been told that the old is passing away.  The voice of God through the prophets no longer matters now that the full nature of God has been revealed in his Son.

There are more subtle additions here.  The Greek text speaks of “old” ways and parts.  The word is palai.  It means “long ago, past, or long before now.”  It does not mean “stretches back to creation.”  That idea is not present in the Greek text at all.  But introducing it into the translation shifts the focus from the God of the prophets to the God of creation, bypassing the significant place of Israel’s prophetic legacy.  Now all I need is Genesis 1 as my foundation.  I can skip everything else until I get to Matthew.  In fact, this is how most Christians understand the Old Testament.  God created.  Man fell.  Jesus was born.

Finally, when Ellingworth shifts the temporal location of the text to “the last days have begun,” he reorients the reader from a legacy connected to the history of Israel to a dispensation which no longer needs Israel.  The Greek text builds on continuity.  God spoke in the past through the prophets.  Now God speaks through the Son.  But that isn’t what Ellingworth suggests.  Instead of continuity, we get radical division.  Something new has begun.  The Greek text reads, “in these last days [God] spoke to us in the Son.”  These “last” days are simply an extension of the former days.  They are not radically different.  God is still speaking.  He is just using a new spokesperson.

How hard it is to sort out all the confusion when we don’t know the language of the manuscripts!  How much more diligent must we be!  Once again we find that even the best scholars are held captive by their paradigms.  Ellingworth writes in his introduction, “the writer [of Hebrews] hopes to encourage his readers to maintain their transition from Judaism . . . to Christianity.”[1]

What a sad state we are in when we can’t see the uniform voice of the Lord throughout all the Scriptures!  No wonder we feel separated from our own heritage.  Our faith has been compromised at its core without anyone telling us.  It’s time to become critical assessors of what we are taught.

Topical Index:  have begun, Ellingworth, Hebrews 1:1-2


[1] Paul Ellingworth, The Letter to the Hebrews, p. 69.

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Roderick Logan

Another great reason to live in community. Those who tend to be isolated from other believers, I believe, will also tend to be discouraged with they discover to what extent the biblical text has been redacted. Those studying and living in community tend to look to the community for definition and clarity. I’m grateful for the live and virtual communities I am a part of; and are a part of me.

David Salyer

I don’t agree with “replacement theology” nor the division between testaments. I see Yeshua as being the fulfillment, filling, fulcrum and focus of all that God intends to accomplish by means of His eternal gospel in His world (and as revealed to us from Genesis to Revelation). Therefore, I don’t have any problem reading Hebrews 1:1-2 as being a distinction not in substance (God speaks) but in form (God spoke in the past thru prophets but now His final and supreme revelation or “spokesperson” is through His Son). To me, the problem isn’t so much textual but rather our approach to Christ, which becomes textual but only if we distort or minimize who Yeshua really was…If we make Yeshua fit our “replacement” paradigm, then we are actually misinterpreting not just text but who Christ actually was as revealed in the continuity of both testaments.

SKip – what do you make of the obvious symbolism of the Transfiguration of Christ in Matt 17? There is this three-some revealed, i.e. on one side Elijah (clearly representing the prophets), on the other Moses (clearly representing the law) and in the middle Yeshua. Being a good Jew, Peter then figures he should set up 3 tents for worship – one for Elijah (prophets), one for Moses (law) and one for Yeshua. Even while Peter was uttering his plan for worship, a voice from heaven affirms that Yeshua is the one to be supremely worshiped and followed (“Listen to him”). Terrified at this voice, the disciples fall face down but Yeshua touches them and tells them to get up and to not be afraid. As they do so, both Elijah (prophets) and Moses (law) disappear….Seems to me like what these Jewish disciples did at the Transfiguration and what the Father did at the Transfiguration was to say, don’t worship and exalt the prophets and law on their own merit (singularly or as stand alones) but rather, worship Yeshua who is the fulfillment, filling, fulcrum and focus of all that God has always intended to do (through the prophets and fathers in the past) and what He now is and will do in the future (through Yeshua alone)….In essence, here is how I once spoke but Yeshua is my full and final word so listen (“shama”) to Him….

Brian

Shabbat Shalom David,

I am in no way trying to answer for Skip here, but I would like to recommend to you a book by Brad Young, “Jesus The Jewish Theologian.” Brad Young was a student of the late David Flusser, (may his memory be a blessing.) Chapter 19 is on The Transfiguration of Jesus, on page 208 he writes: Many scholars have theorized that Moses represents the Law and Elijah the Propherts. On the contrary, here it seems more likely that they both appear to fulfill their commission as prophets of salvation. In Judaism they are prominent characters both in traditional teachings and in popular folklore. In the Passover celebration, for example, Moses is the key actor in the bibical drama of redemption. He is the prophet who leads the people out of bondage. Elijah is also mentioned during the traditional meal of Passover. In Jewish thought Elijah is often associated with the future deliverance of God’s people.
He continues:
Perhaps the coming of Moses and Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration should be viewed as portraying the in-breaking of God’s redemptive activity. They are prophets who bring salvation to God’s people.

Then on page 209 he writes: Moses is the first of the prophets who brought deliverance from Egypt. Elijah is the last of the prophets who will be involved in the final redemptive act of God.
He continues:
In the Gospels these two prophets of redemption speak with Jesus concerning his death in Jerasalem. Their roles in God’s plan of final redemption has far-reaching ramifications for the transfiguration of Jesus. They are prophets who are telling him about what will happen to him in Jerusalem. The meaning of the transfiguration, therefore, ia focused upon Jesus and his higher mission as it is pronounced in the voice from heaven.

Hopefully this will whet your appetite. I have been highly blessed by the contents of this chapter. I would encourage you to obtain this book and read it. Again, not presupposing anything Skip might have to say on your questions and comments. In hope of living for the in-breaking of God’s redemptive activity. Brian

carl roberts

brother David, a “mega-hug” to you this morning. Yes, it is the LORD. It is ADONAI, our Savior, Redeemer,Brother,Father,Propitiating Sacrifice, Perfect Holy Lamb of G-d who needs to be our constant (as you put it) and I do love this0- “focus.” And oh how we need to “fix our focus.” -Amen.
Oh, how we (yes, that is you and I) have been distracted. Oh Father, please forgive me- I have placed my eyes elsewhere. Help me, Breath of the Living G-d, to see, to perceive, to understand, to know the ONE who gave His very life’s blood for me on the tslav of Calvary. Such love, such sacrificial love “demonstrated”- fully revealed on a hill far away. Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan. Oh- the grace that brought it down to man. Oh- the mighty gulf that G-d did span- at Calvary. My G-d and my King, you gave your life for me and then through the power of your resurrection and through the gift of the Ruach Hakodesh, your Holy Breath- you gave your life to me and to us and now live within all who are called by your name- Amein.
Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. It is done. It is finished. It is sealed by the blood covenant of our Passover Lamb, the LORD Jesus- (who is the) Christ. Who is worthy of our worship? Who is the worthy ONE? What is His name and what is His Son’s name? Here is the gospel, here is the good news- “Christ died for sinners of whom I am chief.” Move over Paul- I’ve taken your place. It is me, it is me- I am the guilty one. Forgive me Father, for I have sinned and am no longer worthy to be called your son. Amein. Oh, but my ABBA, you are Holy, Compassionate and Loving-Kindnesses abound through you. You have provided a Sacrifice, a Covering, a propitiating Covering for my sins and the sins of all mankind because You have So loved us from before the foundation of the world. Yes, You knew Adam would fall and fail, and Yes, you knew I would need a Savior, because I also, just as my ancestor Adam, have also failed to shema the instructions of my Creator and intimate Friend. Forgive me LORD G-d and cover me with the same sacrificial covering used to cover the the first Adam. Praises, honor and glory be to our Second Adam, who also took on flesh and lived among us, to fully demonstrate through the witness of His words and His daily attitudes and actions holiness, righteousness, wisdom and sanctification. I will listen and I will obey. I will follow my ADONAI, my Good Shepherd/King, my Savior and my G-d, the living, reigning King of kings and LORD of lords- Yeshua Hamashiach. Yes, Peter made three tabernacles,- Father forgive him, he did not know what he was doing for He did not know- the LORD, He is G-d, the great I AM. For LORD Yeshua you were and are, the ONE who was made like unto us, veiled in flesh- until the unveiling of the cross where your heart was pierced and blood and water were poured out. Cover me, cover me, that I may also “enter in” and worship the only ONE who is worthy. Amein.
Help us to see ADONAI- your will is perfect and progressive and that your will is revealed (not concealed) unto us through the power of your Word, “both” written and Living. No ADONAI, You are far from through with Israel the Revealer. There is much yet to be- but we are closer today than we ever have been to our final Redemption- the soon return of our Heavenly Bridegroom, coming to claim His chosen ones, His bride. Oh, what a day that will be- “come quickly,” LORD Jesus, our Heavenly Boaz, our Kinsman-Redeemer. Amein.

Robin Jeep

Interesting, David, I’ve never made that connection about Elijah-prophets and Moses-Torah. I’m interested to see Skip’s response to your post. Did someone teach you this or did you make that connection while studying?

David Salyer

Robin – self-study…no scholar mind you but just a person who holds to the centrality and Supremacy of Christ Yeshua, and therefore, the glory of God and then from there, just keep asking questions and living what I know to be obedience to my Master and Lord. Even Rabbi Paul (Shaul) said that it was his life goal to “know Christ” (Phil 3:10) so I figure that if it was his goal and aim, then it should be my goal and aim as well, as a Christ-follower. Of course, I am not so foolish as to not appreciate that anyone of us – myself included if not more so – could be “imaging” Christ and therefore, God, in ways that are not true of His character and being and so I press on to “know Christ” through His Word and as I act in obedience on the revelation of His will, through His Spirit, on and in my life.

Other passages that seem to also hold that our first emphasis should be to “know Christ” and therefore worship Him supremely as the filling, fulfillment, fulcrum and focus of the prophets and the law include:
Luke 24:44-45 and Matthew 22:40 where Jesus, in summarizing “the greatest commandment in the Law”, tells the “expert in the law” that “All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (My understanding is that the Greek word for “hang” is the same word used by Peter in his sermon in Acts where he says that “wicked men put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (hanged)(Acts 23). The picture here then is that the complete summation of the Law (Torah) – Love God, love your neighbor as yourself – was visibly embodied, filled, fulfilled and focused on Christ Yeshua “hanging” on a cross….So this is why I brought up the Transfiguration and the obvious focus on Yeshua rather than singularly on the embodiment and symbolism of the Law (Moses) and Prophets (Elijah) at the Transfiguration….So I remain one who wants to first “know Christ” (like Paul) and if to “know Christ” requires that I more fully “know” the Law (Torah) and the Prophets (having a more Hebraic view of God’s Word and world), then certainly I welcome that exploration and greater understanding so that it becomes a part of the fabric of how I live (faith) and how I love (obedience to my Lord) and for His glory (worship).

John Adam

“Once again we find that even the best scholars are held captive by their paradigms. ”

That also includes us, even if we’re not Biblical, Hebrew or Greek scholars!

Gayle Johnson

Very perceptive insight, David. I have never looked at it like that before.

Harry Mayers

Dear Oh Dear!!!! Thanks to you Skip for filling in the blanks.