1. Hebrews 13:8-9 The Twin Bastards of the Bible

2. Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.

3. Twin ‘Bastards’ of the Bible:

4. A Community of Truth “But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ…” Ephes. 4:15 “You are of your father the devil…he does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies.” John 8:44

5. Seminarian’s Belief in the Inerrancy of Scripture Do you agree that: “Scriptures are the inspired and inerrant Word of God not only in matters of faith but also in historical, geographical, and other secular matters” Source: God's Inerrant Word: An International Symposium of the Trustworthiness of Scripture. Edited by John Warwick Montgomery. Minneapolis: Bethany Fellowship, 1974., p. 22

6. Objections To Biblical Authority: It’s full of errors and contradictions! You can make it say whatever you want it to say…! –Christians have always agreed on the main message(s) of the Bible where the Bible is the central authority. It was written in another language…! Nobody knows what the original writings said…!

7. God Can Communicate With Man! A Loving God? An All-Powerful God? To assert that the Bible can’t be understood is a faith position. God used: clear language, repetition, the Holy Spirit.

8. Safeguarding against “Varied and Strange Teachings”

10. Interpreting Literally Means: Not Literalistically! –Interpret the spirit of the passage, not the letter. (Jn10:9) –General maxims, symbolism, similes, etc. Take the normal, everyday meaning of words unless it is impossible to do so. –Communication, language is a reality.

11. Interpreting Critically Means: Your interpretation must make sense. Interpret within context. Interpret the meaning out of the passage; don't put meaning into the passage (Eph.5:18). Harmonize with the rest of scripture. Interpret unclear in light of the clear. –Ie, Emphasize what the Bible emphasizes…

12. Interpreting Historically Means: Interpret Within “Progressive Revelation” –Ie, does it apply to us? –Truth was revealed gradually through time Heb. 1:1,2. Heb. 1:1,2 –Examples: Theocracy, Polygamy, Food, etc. –Especially the nature of the Law: Gal.6:2; Jn.13:34 The 10 Commandments No Longer Apply! (See Heb. 7:12)

13. The Greatest Interpretive Error: Distorting the Grace of the New Testament –“Strange and Varied Teachings” Hebrews 13:9 “…for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were thus occupied were not benefited.”

14. Our Greatest Strengths: Holding fast to the scriptures: –Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful…” Emphasizing Grace –Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”

15. Announcements? Questions? Issues? Songs? Please stay for our pot-luck and a brief but important “Body Meeting”.

16. Hebrews 1:1-2 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, [2] in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

17. “Varied and Strange Teachings”