Makna Teologis Kata Perhentian dalam Ibrani 4:1-14 (Analisis Tekstual, Stuktural, Kontekstual dan Intertekstual)

There is a tendency for many commentator of the New Testament to interpret the text with a topical approach. This approach is relevant for research in the field of Christian theology. The problem is, the topical approach has a tendency to ignore the unity of the elements of the book. Therefore, we need a model of topical interpretation that is perfected with the unity of the theology of the book. The topic of the theological meaning of the word "rest" has attracted the attention of interpreters recently. These topics are the small sections that make up the theology of the book of Hebrews as a whole. This article presents three analyzes (textual, contextual and intertextual) as an approach to finding the theological meaning of the word "rest" in Hebrews 4:1-14. The author considers the book of Hebrews as the final form to find the meaning of the word "rest" in the theological context of the book of Hebrews. The author tries to synchronize the three approaches in finding the progressive meaning of the word "cessation" in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. The results of research through these three approaches have shown an increase in the meaning of the word "rest" from the context of the Old and New Testaments. Finally, this article can support the theory of progressive revelation that dispensational evangelicals have long believed.Ada kecenderungan penafsir kitab Perjanjian Baru menafsirkan teks dengan pendekatan topikal. Pendekatan ini relevan bagi penelitian pada bidang teologi Kristen. Masalahnya, pendekatan topikal memiliki kecenderungan mengabaikan kesatuan unsur-unsur kitab. Oleh karena itu, diperlukan suatu model penafsiran topikal yang disempurnakan dengan kesatuan teologi kitab. Topik tentang makna teologi kata “perhentian” menarik perhatian para penafsir pada akhir-akhir ini. Topik tersebut merupakan bagian kecil yang membangun teologi kitab Ibrani secara keseluruhan. Artikel ini memaparkan tiga analisa (tekstual, kontekstual dan intertekstual) sebagai pendekatan untuk menemukan makna teologi kata “Perhentian” dalam kitab Ibrani 4:1-14. Penulis mempertimbangkan kitab Ibrani sebagai bentuk akhir untuk menemukan makna kata “perhentian” dalam konteks teologi kitab Ibrani. Penulis berusaha melakukan sinkronisasi tiga pendekatan tersebut dalam menemukan progresifitas makna kata “Perhentian” baik dalam kitab Perjanjian Lama maupun kitab Perjanjian Baru. Hasil penelitian melalui tiga pendekatan tersebut telah menampilkan adanya peningkatan makna kata “Perhentian” dari konteks Perjanjian Lama dan Perjanjian Baru. Akhirnya, artikel ini dapat mendukung teori pewahyuan progresif yang selama ini diyakini oleh kaum injili dispensasi.

Atonement impasse: The perennial problem of communicating Christ’s atonement to Muslims

For 1400 years, Muslims and Christians in interfaith dialogue have encountered a perennial impasse surrounding the historical account of Jesus’ death. For most Muslims who hold a traditional interpretation of the Qur’an, Jesus did not die on the cross, but was assumed to heaven and another was crucified in his place. For Christians, however, the cross and subsequent resurrection are the center of gospel faith. This article recognizes the impasse over the crucifixion, but proposes that the conceptual distance surrounding the concept of atonement is a prior concern that needs to be addressed before one overcomes the historical question. In order to consider the barriers to communication and mutual understanding surrounding Jesus’ cross, we must first recognize that the qur’anic understanding of atonement presents linguistic, ritual, narrative, and worldview barriers to a biblical understanding of atonement. As such, before one answers the question, “Did Jesus die on the cross?” it is imperative to ask, “Why would Jesus’ death on the cross matter?” This article seeks to explain the distinct understanding of atonement represented in the Qur’an and to propose that the Book of Hebrews is uniquely suited to present a biblical understanding of atonement to one who is influenced by the Qur’an.

A more comprehensive comprehension and appropriate application: An answer to dwindling faith commitment from the book of Hebrews

Closely linked to the phenomenon of the decline in church member numbers in the Western church, is the phenomenon of dwindling their faith commitment. This is the phenomenon in which church members do not show the same vitality and zeal as before and are in danger of abandoning their faith. The current article contributed to the arsenal of studies, aimed at addressing the phenomenon by presenting the solutions deduced from a single biblical book, namely the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is arguably one of the most fitting biblical books to shed light on how the phenomenon can be addressed, as Hebrews was written to a church that experienced a decline in faith commitment. The primary aim of the article was to determine what solutions the writer of Hebrews proposes for addressing his addressees’ dwindling in their faith commitment, while the secondary aim was to reflect on how the writer’s solutions can be applied in the 21st century church. In order to achieve these aims, reconstruction by means of exegesis and a detailed literature study is used in the article. It begins with the reconstruction of the context of the addressees, specifically to determine the reason(s) why they dwindled in their faith commitment. This was followed by reconstructing the writer’s solution for his addressees’ dwindling faith commitment. Next, the writer’s solution was fleshed out in the light of the whole of Hebrews by tracing the major themes and broad lines found in the book. It is noted that the writer addresses the issue by guiding and exhorting his addressees to come to a more comprehensive comprehension and appropriate application of their confessed faith. This he does by shaming, frightening, reminding, guiding and assuring them. By means of reflection, it is suggested in the conclusion that the same strategy can be applied in the church today to address the phenomenon of dwindling faith commitment.Contribution: The article indicated the relevancy of the book of Hebrews for the church in the 21st century, especially in terms of addressing the issue of dwindling faith commitment. As such, the article gives practical suggestions on how the issue can be addressed from the book of Hebrews by pastors, ministers, pastoral counsellors, Bible students, and church members.

The book of Hebrews and the Reformed view of Scripture: Hebrews echoed in Belgic Confession Articles 2–7

This article argues that the view of Scripture found in the book of Hebrews is echoed in Belgic Confession (BC) Articles 2–7. The article endeavours to prove this hypothesis by indicating how Hebrews and BC Article 2–7 overlap. Articles 2–7 of the BC are discussed successively by summarising what each article says, investigating the conviction of the writer of Hebrews concerning the specific topic and comparing the two. The article finds that the view of Scripture found in BC Articles 2–7 can indeed be traced to the book of Hebrews. The article concludes by drawing some implications from this comparison for the (reformed) church today.

Greek Periods in the Book of Hebrews

It is typical for students of the book of Hebrews to comment on its long, complex sentences or “periods” as evidence of the author’s literary and rhetorical skills. This essay surveys ancient and modern views on the Greek period and finds that they are typically shorter, antithetical or “rounded” statements which may or may not coincide with a grammatical sentence. Example periods in Hebrews are then discussed along with observations on other, supporting literary features of the epistle in those places where the author occasionally employs a periodic style.

‘By his word’? Creation, preservation and consummation in the book of Hebrews

God’s speech is a prominent theme in the book of Hebrews. A fascinating phenomenon regarding God’s speech, and one that has in my opinion not been adequately explored, is that the writer possibly implies that God created by his word (Heb 11:3), preserves creation by his word (Heb 1:3) and will consummate creation by his word (Heb 12:26). This article examines whether the writer indeed had the conviction that God did, does and will do this by his word. This is done by doing grammatico-historical exegesis of Hebrews 11:3, 1:3 and 12:26 and integrating the findings. In so doing, this article contributes to the study of Hebrews’ theology of God’s word.

THE MACCABEAN LITERATURE AND HEBREWS: SOME INTERTEXTUAL OBSERVATIONS

Several common motifs and linguistic similarities between the books of the Maccabees and the book of Hebrews were noted in the past by scholars in random remarks and ad hoc statements. These relations and similarities deserve further investigation. It is therefore the intention of this paper to compare the Maccabean literature and Hebrews with each other in order to present a brief synopsis of a few selected motifs. Some prominent common motifs that will receive attention include the Abrahamic promise and the Aqedah, priests with royal functions, faith heroes and endurance, instruction of the Scriptures, and the Canticum Mosis. It is hoped that this comparison of common motifs will result in first a closer understanding of whether the unknown author of Hebrews was familiar with the books of the Maccabees, and secondly a better understanding of the provenance of Hebrews in particular

Nilai Kesempurnaan Kristen dalam Kitab Ibrani

Christian perfection is not just an expression that contains expectations for Christians, but rather a standard of living that is commanded and required for every Christian. The book of Hebrews teaches that the values ​​of Christian Perfection are closely related to holiness, with Perfection being the nature of God and the result of his work. Christian perfection is perfection that originates from Holiness of life, of love and of motivation , from and understanding and recognition that Christ’s saving work completely resolves the problem of sin, and is valid for ever. Perfection is seen and birthedin the figure of Jesus Christ our High Priestas well as the perfect sin offering, who completed his work of attonement in the more perfect heavenly Tablernacl, not made by human hands.Christian perfection is inseparable from the meaning of Holiness, demanded of all Christians.

The importance of the Dead Sea Scrolls for the study of the explicit quotations in Ad Hebraeos

The important contribution that the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) hold for New Testament studies is probably most evident in Ad Hebraeos. This contribution seeks to present an overview of relevant extant DSS fragments available for an investigation of the Old Testament explicit quotations and motifs in the book of Hebrews. A large number of the explicit quotations in Hebrews were already alluded to, or even quoted, in some of the DSS. The DSS are of great importance for the study of the explicit quotations in Ad Hebraeos in at least four areas, namely in terms of its text-critical value, the hermeneutical methods employed in both the DSS and Hebrews, theological themes and motifs that surface in both works, and the socio-religious background in which these quotations are embedded. After these four areas are briefly explored, this contribution concludes, among others, that one can cautiously imagine a similar Jewish sectarian matrix from which certain Christian converts might have come – such as the author of Hebrews himself.