Who wrote Hebrews? In thirteen New Testament letters, or epistles, Paul introduces himself as the writer. However, the writer of Hebrews is anonymous. Hebrews was accepted as an epistle of Paul by early writers, and throughout most of Christian history, the apostle Paul was viewed as the writer of Hebrews. However, in the last couple of hundred years, this view has been dismissed by many of the “experts.” What are the facts? Who wrote Hebrews?
Regardless of who who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews, the important thing to remember is that this writing, like the Old Testament before it, is what “the holy Spirit says” (Hebrews 3:7NAB). The fact that the writer does not identify himself by name in the letter does not prove that Paul isn’t the writer. Many Old Testament Bible books don’t name the writer, and neither do the Gospels and Acts in the New Testament.read more
In Paul’s final canonical letter, and now facing certain execution at the hands of the Romans, we would expect Paul to at least make some mention of the doctrine of Trinity, if it is true, since it is purportedly the “primary doctrine of Christianity”. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:1 NIV). “Christ Jesus” and “God” are introduced here in the opening line of Paul’s letter to Timothy. There is no mention in this opening greeting of the holy Spirit, or a Trinity. Why not, if the holy Spirit is a person, and the Trinity is true doctrine. God, not Jesus, obviously is the one who is supreme, since Paul is “an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God“. There is no mention, nor is there any evidence of, any personhood of holy Spirit, or of any “equality” between God and Jesus, or the existence of a Trinity “Godhead”.read more
Jehovah’s Witnesses – “The Last of the Last Days”?
In recent times, the expression, “The Last of the Last Days,” has been used by a certain group. This can be seen from their website, www.jw.org. Since such an expression id not used in the Bible, where does it come from?
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words”(Proverbs 10:19 NIV)
“At the beginning their words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness—and fools multiply words” (Ecclesiastes 10:13,14 NIV)
Back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Jehovah’s Witnesses were predicting that the year 1914 would be the end of the world, in direct contradiction to Jesus warning that no one knows the date of the end of the world (Matthew 24;36). Rather than repent of their false prophesy, they changed their story. However, “God’s firm foundation stands” (2 Timothy 2:19 ESV).read more
“Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ” (1 John 4:1 NIV) Is the Trinity in James?
Is the Trinity in James? James’ short general letter to early Christians doesn’t have a plethora of references to God, Jesus, and the holy Spirit, but what it does have is more than enough to figure out whether the Trinity doctrine is in the book of James. First of all, notice who James is a servant of:
“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James 1:1 NIV). We immediately notice that “God” is identified as being someone other than “the Lord Jesus Christ”. James identifies himself as serving two distinct personages, namely Almighty God and Jesus Christ. These two are not mysteriously merged together, as Trinitarians assert. Their distinctive separateness is maintained. Notable by absence are references to the Trinity and the holy Spirit. If these are real, why isn’t James serving them?—Perhaps because the Trinity is fictional. He’s not serving the holy Spirit because it is not a person, even though it is real. “The holy Spirit” is called “it” at John 1:32 (ESV); 14:17 (NAB, REB), Acts 2:33; 8:16; 11:15 NAB, and Romans 8:16,26,27 (NAB; REB). Persons are not called “it”. The holy Spirit is God’s “power” (Acts 1:8), not a person.read more
Is the Trinity doctrine in the book of Colossians? Let’s examine all the verses in this Bible book where God and Jesus are mentioned in relation to each other. Also. let’s look for any references to the holy Spirit, which is said to be the third person of the Trinity. Then, let’s see whether what Bible says agrees with Trinitarianism, or proves it to be false. Notice all the references in this letter to the superior position of Almighty God toward his Son, Jesus Christ, and the subordinate position of Jesus Christ in relation to his heavenly Father.read more
2 Peter—Is Jesus Christ Almighty God, or Part of a Trinity?
Trinitarian bias has influenced translators to render the first verse of the letter of 2 Peter in a way that makes it appear as though Jesus is Almighty God. For example,
“by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1ESV). read more
Should we get baptized in behalf of dead loved ones?
“Otherwise, what will they do who are being baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”—- 1 Corinthians 15:29 NKJV
Based on the scripture above, Mormonism, the LDS Church, teaches that its members have an obligation to research their genealogy and get baptized for any of their deceased relatives who were never baptized in the Mormon Church. The problem with this multifold, primarily:
(1) The scripture is not translated accurately above. It should be translated as: “However, people are baptized because the dead will come back to life. What will they do? If the dead can’t come back to life, why do people get baptized as if they can come back to life” (1 Corinthians 15:29 GWT). This verse makes the point that getting baptized makes no sense if there is no resurrection.read more
The genealogies leading to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, are vitally important as supportive proofs of his being qualified as God’s Messiah (Matthew 1:1-16; Luke 3:23-38). So we definitely do need them, and should pay attention to them.
Other Biblical genealogies are important for Biblical historical purposes, and we should be aware of them, but, these are not of great importance for Christians.
While there is nothing wrong with searching for one’s own family genealogy, there is also no requirement for a Christian to do so. This is one of those areas that is up to one’s own personal choice.
WARNINGS ABOUT GENEALOGIES
Beyond what is mentioned above, Christians are warned:
“Stop teaching false doctrine and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than focusing on God’s plan, which centers in faith” (1 Timothy 1:3-4 GWT).
“Avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless” (Titus 3:9 NIV).read more
Differences in Hebrew & Greek Genealogies of Genesis 5 & 11
There are some significant differences between the Hebrew and Greek genealogies of Genesis 5 and 11. Do these differences really matter?
“I want you understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return”—Philippians 1:9 NLTread more
Some people today, including some who claim to be Christians, such as the Mormons, place much importance on genealogies. The Hebrew people recorded public genealogical records that document history, establish identity, and/or legitimate office. Family tradition, marriage, links to the past, inheritance and property rights were all important to them, as they are to people today (Deuteronomy 25:5-10; 1 Chronicles 1-9; Ezra 10:18-43). The key to legitimacy and identity is a direct irrefutable familial tie with the past. Bible and other genealogies may go backward in time from the present (1 Chronicles 6:31-33; Ezra 7:1-5; Luke 3:23-38), or forward in time from a certain point in the past (Genesis 5:1-32; 11:10-32; Ruth 4:18-23; Matthew 1:1-17). These two types of genealogies can be combined, as they are in Matthew 1:1-17. Additionally, genealogical rolls may either contain a simple succession of names or may be supplemented with expansive content pertaining to the activities of certain prominent individuals on the list.
Genealogies are prominent in both the early and late history of the Hebrews, and others. In the book of Genesis there are ten primary genealogical lists. One important thing is that these document the line leading to the Messiah, although Genesis itself does not tip the reader off to this purpose. For historical purposes, the lineagies of non-Yahweh worshippers, such as Cain (Genesis 4:17-26), Ishmael (Genesis 25:12-18), and Esau (Genesis 36) are also documented.
Genealogies were very important credentials to the Hebrew people. Abraham’s descendants through Isaac and Jacob were promised special blessings from Almighty God, which were guaranteed if they obeyed the conditions of God’s covenant with them (Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:3-8; Deuteronomy 11:22-28). However, if they could not prove they had descended from Abraham, they were not considered true Jews and were excluded from full participation in Jewish community life. So, a lost genealogy put one’s status as a Jew at risk. In addition, some privileges were restricted to members of certain tribes. For example, only descendents of Levi (Abraham’s great-grandson) could serve at the Temple. All this is well illustrated in the case of some returnees from the Babylonian exile, who could not prove their descent, “they searched for their names in the genealogical records, but they were not found, so [the result was that] they were disqualified” (Ezra 2:59-63 NLT).
Do we today need to be concerned about our genealogy? No! However, if someone wants to check their (or someone else’s) genealogical ancestry, there is nothing wrong with that. But being obsessed with it, making it a matter of faith, or spending excessive time with it, goes against Biblical counsel. Notice:
“Command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work — which is by faith”—1 =&0=&
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, read more
In recent times, the expression, “The Last of the Last Days,” has been used by a certain group. This can be seen from their website, www.jw.org. Since such an expression id not used in the Bible, where does it come from?
There are some significant differences between the Hebrew and Greek genealogies of