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5-144000

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    6. THE AUTHORITY OF YAHWEH'S WORD: Scripture

    I. What is the Word?

    6.1. How were the scriptures originally given? (2 Tim.3:16; 2 Pet.1:20-21)

    a.

    b.

    The Word is first spoken and then written by men of Yahweh who are moved by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit). Whatever is spoken by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) is therefore Yahweh's Word.

    The Bible is the best known example of Yahweh's Word and is the best attested collection of scriptures. It has been vindicated not only by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) but by archaeology and scholarship. It is not all that Yahweh has ever spoken to mankind, however.

    6.2. List some other Scriptures mentioned in the Bible but which are not found in today's modern Protestant and Catholic collections:

    a. Exodus 24:7

    b. Numbers 21:14

    c. Joshua 10:13 & 2 Samuel 1:18

    d. 1 Kings 11:41

    e. 1 Chronicles 29:29

      i
      ii

      iii

    f. 2 Chronicles 9:29

      i
      ii
      iii

    g. 2 Chronicles 12:15 & 13:22

      i
      ii

    h. 2 Chronicles 20:34

      i
      ii

    i. 1 Corinthians 5:9

    j. Ephesians 3:3

    k. Colossians 4:16

    l. Jude 1:14

    There are 150 psalms in the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament but when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in the late 1940's, six more psalms were found, making a total of 156.

    The New Testament quotes extensively from other Hebrew Scriptures which were regarded as authoritative by the Jews and by the first Christians, and especially by the apostles. For example, Paul's epistle to Jude (Yehudah) quotes extensivley from the Jewish pseudepigraphical book, the Assumption of Moses (e.g. Jude 9,16,18).

    The collection of scriptures which makes up the current Bible was hotly debated by the Christian Church for four centuries. In 400 A.D. the Council of Carthage canonised the existing Bible for the Western (Catholic) Church. However, the Eastern (Orthodox) Church as well as the Ethiopian and Egyptian Coptic Churches use quite different canons. (A canon is a collection of Scriptures regarded as authoritative). The Protestant Reformation saw the canon modified again with the Apocrypha being taken out of the Protestant Bible. (It was, however, a part of the 1611 King James Version). Martin Luther was also in favour or removing The Epistle of James (which he mockingly called the "Straw Gospel") because it contradicted his new doctrine of salvation by grace only, a doctrine which has become central to evangelical Protestant theology. He also wished to remove other scriptures that he did not like.

    Historically, then, there has been considerable debate as to what is, and what is not, authoritative Scripture. The first Christians after the apostles used many different collections.

    The word "Bible" comes from the Greek biblos which literally means a "library of books". It does not itself appear as a term in the Bible. The Bible nowhere defines what it contains, or what it should contain. It does however mention books that are not be found in either Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant Bibles. Since these Scriptures are clearly regarded by the writers of the Bible as authoritative (and therefore "canonical"), to which their readers are referred, they have an indisputable claim to be a part of the Divine Library, or Bible. For example, the apostle James quotes from the apocryphal book, The Wisom of Jesus the Son of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, which is found in Catholic but not Protestant Bibles (see James 1:5 = Sirach 18:19; 20:15; 41:22, and James 1:6 = Sirach 1:28; 2:12; 5:9; 7:10).

    Though most of these books have been lost or have been deliberately hidden away in various private or institutional collections (such as the Vatican Library in Rome), some have been found. One very important one called The Book of Jasher (Joshua 10:13; 2 Sam.1:18) was re-discovered and published in the 19th century. It is an account of the beginning of the world's history and is much more detailed than the better known Book of Genesis. Yet it has never been accepted by Christian institutions.

    6.3. What sort of men are required to discern whether scriptures are from Yahweh or not? (2 Peter 1:20-21)

    6.4. Why are such men hard to find on the earth? (2 Thess.2:3)

    In the apostle John's day the apostacy was so extensive that there were only seven truly Christian/Messianic congregations left in the world (Rev.1-3). After their eventual fall, Christian Churches began to blend Christian and pagan doctrine together. It was in this environment that the Bible canons were fixed in the fifth century A.D. We are not told how the present selection of Bible books was made. The Western Christian Church, which produced Catholicism and Protestantism, has assumed that the canonisation process was divinely inspired even though there is no Biblical warranty for such an assumption. The closed Bible canon is one of the unscriptural dogmas that has infiltrated Christianity.

    With few exceptions, almost all Christian Churches / Messianic Communities adhere to the tradition of a closed canon, the major branches of Christendom and Messianism having their own collections. The New Covenant Church of God / B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh (NCCG/BCAY) uses the same Bible canon as the Protestant Churches and most Messianic Assemblies (some admit the Book of Jasher and Book of Enoch) not because it believes that it is all that Yahweh has ever revealed, or will reveal, but (a) to build common ground with other churches/assemblies, and (b) to join with them in ministering the elementary principles of alpha-salvation (milk gospel - Heb.5:11-6:3) to the world. Though NCCG/BCAY does indeed have a much larger canon than the Protestant Bible, the scriptures that comprise it are regarded in a secondary canonical sense only. This is not because they are necessarily regarded as less inspired or inferior but but are thus treated for the sake of unity and cooperative effort in the wider Body of Christ. We believe that the Scriptural Canon will be enormously expanded in the Millennial Theocracy.

    As far as local colonies (congregations) of NCCG/BCAY are concerned, only the Bible is regarded as primary scripture. Books like the Olive Branch, which is regarded as a Priesthood Manual for the Deaconate and Eldership and is issued by apostolic authority to them, is used in a secondary sense or as a back-up to the Bible for confirmation or resolution of controversial areas of doctrine and practice. Its contents, though given in prophetic/revelatory mode, would not be dissimilar to the kinds of apostolic instruction issued by the Council of Jerusalem to the new gentile converts to the Messiah (Christ) as described in the Acts of the Apostles.

    Finally it is important to remember that whenever the term 'Word' is used of scripture in the New Testament it always refers back to the Old Testament because there was no 'Bible' other than the Old Testament at that time. The Old Testament is therefore the primary scripture of the Bible with the New Testament an expansion but not a replacement!

    II. The Authority of the Written Word

    6.5. What profit are the Scriptures to believers? (2 Tim.3:16)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    The 'Scripture' spoken of here is the Old Testament which receives its apostolic endorsement as a supplement to that made by Yah'shua (Jesus) (Mt.5:17-20). Only in a secondary, non-literal and implied sense may some of the emerging New Testament writings be included in this definition (see 1 Tim.5:18; 2 Pet.3:15-16).

    6.6. As newborn babes, having committed ourselves to the Lordship of Yah'shua (Jesus) the Messiah, what are we exhorted to do? (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Tim.2:15)

    a.

    b.

    6.7. As we drink the milk of the Word, what will happen? (1 Pet.2:2)

    6.8. What name is given to Yah'shua (Jesus)? (John 1:1)

    6.9. What is the Messiah called in Revelation 19:13?

    John tells us that Yah'shua (Jesus) is the Word with Eloah (God), is Elohim Himself, and is the Word of Eloah. "Word" translates the Greek logos (meaning, according to the usage of the day, one of the steps taken by a disciple in becoming more godly), the Aramaic memra (meaning Yahweh's expression of Himself), and the Hebrew dabar (meaning "the real thing" or "Authentic Being").

    The prologue to the Gospel of John (Jn.1:1ff) is one of the deepest and most profound passages of scripture there is and does not lend itself to a superficial exegesis. The reader is supposed to think back to the Genesis 1:1ff creation passage where the Elohim express themselves, commanding, calling, and creating as one of the two primary themes of the whole Bible (the other being Yahweh's justice and mercy leading to man's salvation). The Word of Elohim is always active and creative:

    As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
    and do not return to it without watering the earth
    and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields its seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
    so is My Word that goes out from My mouth:
    It will not return unto Me empty,
    but will accomplish what I desire,
    and achieve its purpose for which I send it
    Isaiah 55:10-11

    In submitting to the Lordship of Yah'shua (Jesus) we must also submit to the absolute authority of that which Yah'shua (Jesus) and His apostles spoke and wrote in the Scriptures. Yahweh's Word is Yahweh's thoughts, opinions, ideas, and personality. Yahweh's Word is His expressed will to man.

    6.10. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) say about this? (Luke 6:46)

    No matter what our opinions, objections, or reasonings may be they must be brought into submission to Yahweh's Word. Yahweh's Word, whether written or oral, is the absolute and final authority over our life. If a biblical passage is not clear (being interpretable many ways using human reason), then it should be submitted to the apostles for clarifying revelation.

    6.11. In light of this what must we do with any reasonings, imaginations, or any thought that would exalt itself above Yahweh's Word? (2 Cor.10:5)

    6.12. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) say was the spiritual "food" of the believer? (Matt.4:4)

    This word is always three-fold: (a) that which has already been revealed before and is primary (the Bible), (b) that which continues to be revealed to the Church/Messianic Community and builds upon the primary revelation (e.g. the Olive Branch), (c) and that which is given to each individual by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) for the management of their personal lives.

    6.13.. What has the god of this world done? (2 Cor.4:4)

    After coming out from a world filled with carnality and sin, we find that our minds have been warped and molded by sin and the things of this world.

    6.14. How is our mind transformed? (Rom.12:2; Eph.5:26)

    6.15. As a result of the washing of the water of the Word, what will we be? (Eph.5:27; 2 Cor.3:18)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    6.16. What can exclude us from the life of Yahweh? (Eph.4:7-18)

    6.17. Why do Yahweh's people perish? (Hosea 4:6)

    6.18. What will happen if we reject the knowledge of Yahweh's Word and forget His Torah (Law/Teaching)? (Hosea 4:6)

    From these Scriptures we see that for a lack of knowledge the people perish. It is Satan's will to keep men blinded to the Word of Yahweh and to the life and light that is in it. Ignorance of it can exclude us from the life of Yahweh and consequently keep us bound to sin, darkness, misery, and the power of the wicked one. Consequently, the Scriptures are one of Yahweh's greatest gifts to mankind. From their pages Yahweh Himself directs us in the way we should go, imparting to us wisdom and understanding that we may no longer be slaves of the evil one but sons and daughters of Yahweh who share the inheritance of the saints on high.

    6.19. Yahweh has given is His Word on paper, the Scriptures. But where does He intend His Word to be finally written? (Heb.9:10)

    The written Word, or Scriptures, are but a medium of communication. The Word is to finally be written into our very souls so that in the end we will neither need written scriptures nor require persons to teach us the Scriptures (Heb.9:11). The purpose of the local colonies of the New Covenant Church of God (B'rit Chadashah Assembly of Yahweh) is to administer the written Word; the Holy Order or Chavurat Bekorot has as its primary function to implant it in the mind and heart so that the saints become living Scriptures.

    6.20. What does the Psalmist David say about the guidance that comes from Yahweh's Word? (Psalm 119:105)

    6.21. What does David say about the wisdom that comes from Yahweh's Word? (Psalm 119:98-100)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    6.22. How can young believers keep their way pure and free from sin? (Psalm 119:9-11)

    6.23. What two other things does meditation in the Word do for you? (Psalm 119:45-46)

    a.

    b.

    6.24. Describe David's love for Yahweh's Word. (Psalm 119:113)

    6.25. When Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) fed on Yahweh's Word, what did it become for him? (Jer.15:16)

    6.26. How much did Job (Iyov) esteem Yahweh's Words? (Job 23:12)

    6.27. As we trust in Yahweh's Word, what assurance do we have? (Psalm 119:89,160; Num.23:19; Matt.24:35)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    6.28. How can you obtain life and health to your body through Yahweh's Word? (Prov.4:20-22)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    This, in essence, is the definition of meditation upon Yahweh's Word. Meditation is more than a casual reading of the Scriptures. It is a diligent seeking of the revelation of it from the Lord Himself (see Olive Branch, Section 331).

    6.29. What is the outcome of the man who meditates on Yahweh's Word day and night? (Psalm 1:1-3)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    6.30. What conditions did Yahweh set for Joshua (Y'hoshua) in order that he might be successful and inherit the promised land? (Josh.1:8)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    6.31 What orders did the Israelites have concerning the Word of Yahweh? (Deut.11:18-21)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    e.

    f.

    6.32. In doing this and loving Yahweh with all their heart and walking in His ways, what would be the results? (Deut.11:21-25)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    6.33. In the spiritual armour of the Christian, what is the Word called? (Eph.6:17)

    6.34. Give a description of this "sword". (Heb.4:12-13)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    As we dwell in the Word of Yahweh, its edge cuts away from our lives all things that are offensive and evil. The Word in our mouth pierces the hearts of those who hear us and brings conviction of sin.

    6.35. How did Yah'shua (Jesus) answer the devil (Satan) when He was tempted? (Matt.4:4,7,10)

    6.36. How can you prove your love to Yah'shua (Jesus)? (John 14:23)

    6.37. Describe the wise man and his house. (Matt.7:24-25)

    6.38. Describe the foolish man and his house. (Matt.7:26-27)

    6.39. Whom did Yah'shua (Jesus) call His mothers and His brothers? (Luke 8:21)

    6.40. Write down four things that result in the life of a believer who hears the Word of Yahweh and does it. (Acts 20:32; 2 Peter 1:4)

    a.

    b.

    c.

    d.

    Write down and memorise the following scripture: Hebrews 4:12-13

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    This page was created on 26 July 2003
    Updated on 26 July 2003

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