New Testament Survey from Generation Word Bible School

generationword.com home page
Bible School Home Page

Lesson 37 of 50 - New Testament (part five of eight)
Real Player Audio	Quick Time Audio	i-tunes
Written Notes	Review Points & Questions	Supplementary Material & Books

New Testament (part five): Titus; Philemon; Hebrews

TITUS	64 AD
“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” 1:17
Author: Paul Written From: Corinth Sent To: Titus who was working in the church on the isle of Crete
Purpose: Instruct Titus concerning issues and organization of the church in Crete
Theme: The grace of God that brings us salvation also teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness (2:11)
Basic Outline: Chapter One, Paul’s reason for leaving Titus at Crete: Appoint elders and stop false teachers Chapter Two, Teaching sound doctrine and application to different groups in the church Chapter Three, Teach believers to do good and be good citizens; Sound doctrine
Memorable Verses: “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town.” 1:5 “There are many rebellious people mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced.” 1:10, 11 “Rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.” 1:13 “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” 2:1 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.” 2:12 “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.” 3:1 “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit.” 3:5 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” 3:10, 11 “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives.” 3:14
Greek Words: ‘eklektoV – eklektos – elect, choosen, 1:1, fanerow – phaneroo – appear, manifestly declare, manifest, 1:3. marturia – marturia – testimony, witness, record, report, 1:13. loutpon – loutron – washing, bath, 3:5. paliggenesia – paliggenesia – regeneration, a birth again, new birth. Used by Stoics to refer to the seasonal restoration of nature. Jews used it to refer to the renewal of all things when Messiah came, 3:5. ‘anakaigwsiV – anakainosis – renewing, making new, 3:5
Healthy Doctrine: Holy Spirit’s work in regeneration and renewing Importance of sound doctrine Church discipline

In chapter one Paul explains to Titus why he was left on the isle of Crete. One of the main goals was to appoint elders in every town on the island. Paul repeats a modified version of the requirements for an elder that he had also given to Timothy in Ephesus. As always there were those who were distracting the church with false teaching. Titus was instructed to silence them.

Chapter two instructs Titus to teach sound doctrine and behavior that matches it. Issues and attitudes for men, women, young women, young men and slaves are addressed. One of the key concepts of the book is found in verse 11 where we are told that the grace of God that brings salvation also teaches us to say “no” to worldly passions.

Chapter three focuses on the ethical and moral goal of the church and Christians. We are to live as good citizens of the earth in our local and national governments. The believer should be devoted to doing good, providing for their daily needs and lead a productive life.

PHILEMON	62 AD
“I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.” 10
Author: Paul Written From: Rome, in prison Sent To: Philemon, a believer in Colosse
Purpose: Tell Philemon, a wealthy man and slave owner in Colosse, to accept his runaway slave, Onesimus, who has become a believer after being imprisoned with Paul
Theme: Redemption, Restoration, Forgiveness, Imputation
Basic Outline: Verses 4-7, Paul is thankful and encouraging to his friend Philemon Verses 8-9, Paul relationship with Philemon on the basis authority and love Verse 10, Paul mentions Onesimus for the first time and calls him “my son” Verses 11-13, Paul describes how “useful” Onesimus is and would like to keep him. Verses 14-16, Paul identifies Onesimus as Philemon’s property and a useful slave but also as a man and a brother in the Lord. Verses 17-21, Paul tells Philemon to welcome Onesimus back and to charge anything he owes to Paul’s account. Paul reminds Philemon that he owes Paul is own life. Verse 22, Paul asks Phlemon to prepare a room for him because he plans on visiting when he is released from prison.
Memorable Verses: “Although in Christ I could be bold and order yo to do what you ought to do, yet I appeal to you on the basis of love.” 8, 9 “I am sending him – who is my very heart – back to you.” “I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains.” 10 “He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.” 16 “If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me . . . I will pay it back – not to mention that you owe me your very self.” 18, 19
Greek Words: ’eucrhstoV – euchiestos – useful, serviceable, profitable, meet for use, 11. ’ellogew – ellogeo – imput, put on account. This word was a technical term in business used to refer to charging to someone’s account.18. splagcnon – splagchon – the inner organs, inward affection, bowels, used to refer to the total person at the deepest levels, 7.
Healthy Doctrine: New man in Christ Imputation

The General Epistles

The general epistles are:

Hebrews
James
First Peter
Second Peter
First John
Second John
Third John
Jude

The General Epistles Round Out Paul’s Teaching

Paul emphasized FAITH
The writer of Hebrews encourages GROWTH
James stressed DEEDS
Peter taught HOPE
John focused on LOVE
Jude’s message was PURITY

HEBREWS	68 AD
“Fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.” 3:1
Author: Unknown, maybe Barnabus Written From: Unknown, maybe Corinth or Asia sent to Rome or in Rome sent elsewhere Sent To: Jewish Christian leaders probably in a Messianic synagogue in an unknown city, maybe Rome or Corinth.
Purpose: A “word of exhortation” to encourage believers to continue to grow and mature and avoid returning to Jewish ceremonies, regulations, rituals and sacrifices
Theme: Jesus is supreme
Basic Outline: 1:1 - 4:13 – Superiority of Jesus to prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua 4:14-7:28 – Superiority of Jesus’ Priesthood 8:1-10:39 – Superiority of Jesus’ Covenant, Temple and Sacrifice 11:1-12:29 – Examples of Persevering Faith 13:1-21 – Christian Ethics and Behavior
Memorable Verses: “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” 1:2 “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” 2:1 “Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him (man). But we see Jesus.” 2:8, 9 “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity.” 2:14 “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” 3:12 “Now we who have believed enter that rest.” 4:3 “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” 4:12 “Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.” 5:8 “We have much to say about this but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.” 5:11 “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood . . . why was there still need for another priest to come.” 7:11 “They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.” 8:5 “When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made.” 9:11 “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming – not the realities themselves.” 10:1 “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 10:25 “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.” 10:35 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 11:1 “He (Moses) regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward.” 11:26 “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” 12:2 “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” 13:9
Greek Words: kreittwv – kreitton – better, best, superior. This is a theme word of the letter of Hebrews. It is used 13 times, 1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; 12:24. ’apistia – apistia – unbelief, 3:12, 19. ’epaggelia – epaggelia – promise, 4:1, 6:12, 15, 17; 7:6; 8:6; 9:15; 10:36; 11:9, 13, 17, 33, 39. teleiothV – teleiotes – perfection, denotes fulfillment or completion, 6:1 teleiow – telioo – perfect, 2:10; 5:9; 7:19, 28; 9:9; 10:1, 14; 11:40; 12:23. teleioV – teleios – mature, perfect, complete, that which has reached the end, 5:14, 9:11. fwtizw – photizo – enlightened, illuminate, make to see, 6:4; 10:32. ‘eteroV – heteros – other, some, strange, another of a different kind, 7:5. This is similar but different that the word alloV allos which means another of the same kind. ‘upodeigma – hupodeigma – copy, example, pattern, 4:11; 8:5; 9:23. skia – skia – shadow, shadowy reflection, 8:5; 10:1. tupon – tupon – pattern, figure, form, print, the stamp or impression made by a seal, 8:5
Healthy Doctrine: The New Covenant High Priesthood of Jesus Sufficiency of Jesus Perseverance

In chapter one Jesus is introduced as the means by which God spoke to us in these last days. Jesus is superior to the angels and greater than creation.

In chapter two the readers are warned not to drift away from Jesus. The punishment for such a failure would be more severe than the punishment Israel received for disobeying the message of an angel since this message was brought to us by the Lord himself. Jesus has become a man to fulfill all that man needed to fulfill. Jesus lived as a man, suffered as a man and is able to serve as the high priest for men before God.

Chapter three begins by showing Jesus as superior to Moses even though Moses was faithful. The readers are warned not to be like the exodus generation who did not have faith but instead lived in unbelief. The exodus generation did not enter the promise land because of disobedience that came form their unbelief.

In chapter four the readers are told that the promised rest still is available through faith in Jesus. More than that Jesus is introduced as the great high priest for mankind before God. The eternal God who became a man is also our high priest who understands our condition as men and is there to help us.

In chapter five the author begins to show that the Old Testament, even the Law itself, said there was another priesthood besides Aaron’s. The author has more to say about this but his readers have fade away in their ability to understand and perceive the revelation of God which includes the priesthood of Jesus.

Chapter six continues the rebuke but tells the readers there is only one way to move and that is forward. They can not go back into their unregenerate state. They are believers and will either grow and produce or become a field that is overrun with weeds that produces nothing useful.

In chapter seven the author returns to the priesthood of Jesus and compares it to the priesthood of Melchizedek from the book of Genesis which is also in the Law. Jesus’ priesthood is a better priesthood with a better covenant and with better promises. Jesus is a priest who is eternal and has access to God because he is perfect and is God himself. But, more, since he was a man he could also be offered as the perfect sacrifice for man’s sins.

Chapter eight continues to compare Jesus’ priesthood. Here the author explains that as a high priest Jesus entered the real temple which is in heaven and actually dealt with sin. The earthly temple was only a shadow or example of the reality of what Jesus did. The result of this is a new covenant promised in Jeremiah 31:31 which includes three main points:

The law of God written on believers’ hearts – they will have a new nature.
All believers will know God – they will have a personal relationship with God.
God will remember their sins no more – the penalty for sin has been forever paid.

Chapter nine and ten compare the earthly temple (or, tabernacle) and its rituals and sacrifices with the heavenly temple and the work of Jesus Christ. The temple in Jerusalem was a routine that was repeated because it was never effective. It simply taught of a great reality. This reality was fulfilled when Jesus actually died, paid for sin and entered into the temple in heaven. The work of Jesus will never need to be repeated because it was not a ritual but a real sacrifice that paid for the sins of men.

Chapter ten ends with the author encouraging his readers not to give up hoping in Jesus because this was the only effectual sacrifice and the only way of actual salvation. Many of the readers had been tempted to give up on the gospel of Jesus and return to their familiar Jewish rituals. The author says this would be a mistake since there is no other way. The choice is salvation through Jesus or destruction from God.

Chapter eleven gives a list of men and women of faith who believed the promises of God and continued to trust them even though they did not see them fulfilled in their lives. These people had faith. They trusted God’s promises and proved it by how they lived. The list of people begins in Genesis, continues through the Old Testament even including the time between the testament all the way up until the early church leaders (13:7)

Chapter twelve tells the readers it is their turn to live a life of faith and not give up. They are reminded that suffering does not mean the gospel is not true but instead means God is disciplining and training us for the day his kingdom does come. We are not looking for a natural mountain like the people of the exodus, but the heavenly mountain or the city of God which is heaven itself.

In chapter thirteen the author goes through a list of expectations for Christian morality, ethics and social behavior. He reminds them that even Jesus was rejected by the world. The Christian sacrifices are not burnt offerings but instead lips that confess Jesus, offer praise to God and the doing good deeds for the world and believers.

The Five Warnings in Hebrews
2:1- 4	Do not ignore this great salvation.	“If the message spoken by angels was binding and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” (2:2)
3:1- 4:13	Do not let unbelief keep you from entering the rest.	“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. . . We see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief. Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.” (3:12, 19; 4:1)
5:11-6:20	Do not be lazy or slow to learn. (6:12; 5:11, nwqroi means dull, slow, sluggish, lazy)	“We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn . . . you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again.” (5:11-12)
10:26- 39	Do not keep rejecting Jesus. Do not treat the blood of the covenant as an unholy thing.	“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (10:26, 27)
12:14- 29	Do not refuse the Holy Spirit when he calls you.	“See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven.” (12:25)

KEY POINTS (back to the top)

OTHER SITES (back to the top)

BOOKS from Galyn's Shelf: (back to the top)

QUESTIONS (back to the top)