An Atheistic Bible Study – Hebrews Chapter 1
@arthurchappell (44941)
Preston, England
October 21, 2015 7:05pm CST
Despite its title the Book Of Hebrews addresses early Christians, not the Jews.
Attributed to St. Paul, the book describes Jesus as dying in controlled self-sacrifice to save us all from our sins, but crucially it makes a point ignored by most of the Christian Church in virtually all of its denominations. The forgiveness only applies to sins committed up to the time the non-Christian converts to Christianity. It wipes the slate clean of sins committed only up to that time. Sins committed after the conversion are not forgiven because Christians are expected to commit to a life of virtue. The idea of sinning and then getting forgiven again just for confessing is not a part of the doctrine Paul promotes.
Jesus is described as superior to any angels, who are expected to worship and obey him just as they obey God. The basis of a hierarchy is spelt out here. Humanity is obviously much further down the pecking order still.
Arthur Chappell
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3 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Oct 15
Actually, we are equal to Jesus in that hierarchy of which you speak. Your understanding of forgiveness from this section is not true, but I'd have to know what verses specifically you are referring to in order to be more specific myself. Hebrews is written to the Jewish people still following the law even after the day of Pentecost.
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
22 Oct 15
I focussed on Chapter one specifically with a summary of the overall theme too. I am drawing on study of Cambridge University theologians here too obviously h work is open to multiple interpretations - that itself fuels scepticism with scripture
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
29 Oct 15
@arthurchappell Just because people and even theologians think it's open to several interpretations, that doesn't mean that's what God intended when he had the book written. You may be surprised at what I disagree with that many believe it shows when in fact it really doesn't. But, I don't intend to get into that here.
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@HebrewGreekStudies (1646)
• Canada
14 Nov 15
You are correct, in the Epistle to Hebrews the concept of willful sin after conversion is seen in serious manner. Things tend to historically go through a kind of theological cycle, and hence are kind of reactionary process. It happens with people who are being more strict with others, sometimes re. serious issues to be fair "people are being corrupt, and they need to change!"...and some saying "hey the Text wasn't talking about that and you're being too strict with people, these aren't the people the Text was talking about so ease up", to that statement becoming "eh it's not a big deal"...it's one reason why I think, in regards to faith, the Bible, issues in question need to be read for what they are reallying saying and regarding to who in context and why they were saying it...otherwise, things kinda become clouded...like, some ppl who see me would call me a Liberal...and some who see me would say, he's a Conservative...depending where they were...and, oddly enough, I think that is true of the Bible...those of us who believe, even though we believe, we tend to read things into it, depending on where we sometimes are sitting...and sometimes, those things, are...wrong, even if our intentions are good.
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@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
17 Nov 15
yes @HebrewGreekStudies virtually any chapter or verse of scripture can become a bone of contention, which is why literal fundamentalist interpretations can be dangerous. I've no doubt my own biography could be read different ways let alone a Biblical verse - context and background knowledge and continuing discourse on such topics is always essential with religious texts
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