Hebrews 11:30-40, Our Trials Have Purpose

The Bible makes clear that God is sovereign over all created things, including time. As we close the Hall of Faith chapter, we will see a summary of the trials that befell ancient saints. Each trial, each set-back was part of God’s decree to provide a savior. We are to learn from this historical account how to see such trials in our own lives; never to think of them as “chance” or “bad luck” – all is from the hand of God, including the throw of the dice - The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the Lord (Prov. 16:33). We may not see the results determined by God, but we need to be confident that our trust is in Him and not in the circumstance we face. 

 

Tradition! - Little Children and Baptism

Traditions seemingly based on Scripture but not taught therein occupy and often dominate Christian thought and practice. A previous book written by this editor[1] examined many of these traditions; there are more that have entangled many over the years.

New book looks at the Vanity of Childish Baptism, Christ's "Little Ones," Are Infants Innocent?, and Rethinking Baptism.

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[1] Tradition! When Men Make Rules. 

Hebrews 11:17-29; The Testing of our Faith

Here's the message from Hebrews 11:17-29, the Testing of our Faith. May the Lord be glorified and His saints equipped. Forget the one speaking; focus on the One who is faithful. 

Hebrews 11:1-16; Lively Faith

This chapter is encouragement to the saints to live like we believe what the Bible says; opening with a description of faith. Biblical faith is key to our world-view and contrasts strikingly with walking by sight. But it’s important to reflect on the foundation which was laid in the preceding chapter – see verses 22-25. That passage exhorts us to faith, hope, and love which are part and parcel of our walk with the Lord. Chapter 11 develops faith, chapter 12 hope, and chapter 13 love. The suffering and perseverance of the saints summarized in chapter 10 are expounded with biblical examples in this chapter.

Confessions, Covenants, and Law

Confessions, Covenants, and Law

Latest publication from Brogden's Books! Four authors on four related topics. 

Daniel Chamberlin on Confessions and Confessionalism.

Isaac Backus on covenants, from Galatians 4.

William Huntington on the rule of life for the saints.

Stuart L. Brogden on The Children of Abraham.

Comprehending the covenants in Scripture lays the foundation for structuring confessions of faith and rightly understanding how the various laws in the Bible relate to the covenant in which they were given and to people who were or are not in that given covenant.

Hebrews 10:26-39; Warning and Encouragement

This section represents a change in direction for this letter – a hinge-point, moving from theological truth to how that impacts our lives. It’s not an absolute change in direction, as all of Scripture has something for us in both of these arenas. We have read of intense teaching of how Christ is better and greater than all and has brought His people into a better and greater covenant and state of being, coupled with warnings about drifting away and false belief. This section repeats the warning and ends with encouragement to the saints to live like we believe; opening the way to chapter 11 and following, where the focus is on living worthy of our call. 

 

Did Jesus Have Long Hair?

Did Jesus Have Long Hair?

A man under a Nazarite vow was not permitted to cut his hair; he was to let it grow long. Number 6:5 You must not cut his hair throughout the time of his vow of consecration. He must be holy until the time is completed during which he consecrates himself to the LORD; he is to let the hair of his head grow long. This requirement makes no sense unless the normal Jewish man had short hair.

This normal condition is revealed by nature, as Paul pointed out: “Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a disgrace to him.” (1 Cor. 11:14). That would seem to shut the door on long-haired Jesus portrayals. Paul was very well educated on Mosaic Law and Jewish customs.

Historians have determined that ancient Jewish men did not wear their hair long; they mocked men with long hair, which was somewhat common among Roman and Greek philosophers, emperors, and pagan gods.[1] Archeologists found, for the first time, hair from a Jewish man, in a site south a Jerusalem, in the year 2000. Hair from Jewish women was common in excavations, but not hair from men. Until recently.

One of the more fascinating finds in this tomb, one that has not received much attention, was the preservation of a sample of Jewish male hair. The hair was lice-free, and was trimmed or cut evenly, probably indicating that the family buried in this tomb practiced good hygiene and grooming. The length of the hair was medium to short, averaging 3-4 inches. The color was reddish.[2]

Why have we settled on portrayals of Jesus with long hair? The biblical record, historical records, and archeological research all agree: other than men under a Nazarite Vow, Jewish men had short hair. There is nothing in the Bible suggesting Jesus was under a Nazarite vow. He had short hair.

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[1] https://relevantmagazine.com/current/buzzworthy/if-jewish-law-says-men-had-to-have-short-hair-why-does-jesus-have-long-hair-in-every-movie/

[2] https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-israel/the-only-ancient-jewish-hair-ever-found/