.
Heb 13:22 . . I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation,
for I have written to you briefly.
The epistle to Hebrews hardly seems "brief" but maybe in those days it
amounted to little more than a memo.
Christ's teachings as per the epistles are sometimes regarded as
recommendations; viz: as advice, rather than law. That's not the way his
thoughts are supposed to be taken; no, not at all. The writer of Hebrews
didn't say his word is a collection of suggestions, rather, as exhortation;
which Webster's defines as language intended to incite and encourage. In
other words: the teachings in Hebrews are meant to be taken seriously
rather than with a grain of salt; if you know what I mean.
Exhortation is taken from the Greek word paraklesis (par-ak'-lay-sis) which
is an ambiguous word that not only means exhortation, but also solace;
which Webster's defines as a source of relief and/or consolation; viz:
encouragement. In other words; the letter to Hebrews is for the reader's
own good; in more ways than just rules and laws.
It's interesting how various people perceive the Bible. Some see it as a
threat to human safety and dignity; while others see it as a source of
friendship and mentoring.
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being rescued
and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the
other, the fragrance of life." (2Cor 2:14-17)
The epistle of James is another like the epistle to Hebrews whose target
audience is the author's "brethren" viz: the twelve tribes of Israel; a.k.a. the
Diaspora (Jas 1:1). So then, the epistle is probably best interpreted from the
perspective of a Jewish Christian rather than that of a Gentile Christian.
_
Heb 13:22 . . I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation,
for I have written to you briefly.
The epistle to Hebrews hardly seems "brief" but maybe in those days it
amounted to little more than a memo.
Christ's teachings as per the epistles are sometimes regarded as
recommendations; viz: as advice, rather than law. That's not the way his
thoughts are supposed to be taken; no, not at all. The writer of Hebrews
didn't say his word is a collection of suggestions, rather, as exhortation;
which Webster's defines as language intended to incite and encourage. In
other words: the teachings in Hebrews are meant to be taken seriously
rather than with a grain of salt; if you know what I mean.
Exhortation is taken from the Greek word paraklesis (par-ak'-lay-sis) which
is an ambiguous word that not only means exhortation, but also solace;
which Webster's defines as a source of relief and/or consolation; viz:
encouragement. In other words; the letter to Hebrews is for the reader's
own good; in more ways than just rules and laws.
It's interesting how various people perceive the Bible. Some see it as a
threat to human safety and dignity; while others see it as a source of
friendship and mentoring.
"For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being rescued
and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the
other, the fragrance of life." (2Cor 2:14-17)
The epistle of James is another like the epistle to Hebrews whose target
audience is the author's "brethren" viz: the twelve tribes of Israel; a.k.a. the
Diaspora (Jas 1:1). So then, the epistle is probably best interpreted from the
perspective of a Jewish Christian rather than that of a Gentile Christian.
_