Pastor Maxwell Ogaga and I have been FB friends for a while. It has been a joy to follow his teaching and mentoring of young pastors through FB. I am very impressed with the extreme dignity, courtesy and respect, that my African friends have for each other, which often puts our casual American roughness to shame. Pastor Ogaga is a Pauline-type example for many Timothy's.

Together we will be teaching

Hear God through his word and Spirit in God's language; Hebrew

1. How is this teaching different from other Hebrew classes?

a. Purpose in learning Hebrew.

∞ Isa 43:10 Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

You may have been taught that you must 'believe' before you can know God. God says that you may know first. The word for 'believe' is trust. God asks you to trust him after you know that he is God.

∞ 2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

All scripture has four proper interpretations:

Four voices

The four voices of God in scripture are represented by the four offices which have revealed the Word:

Voice of the Prophet teaches doctrine. It always speaks of Christ on earth.

Voice of the Judge rebukes us; confronting us for sin.

Voice of the Priest teaches how Christ has corrected things; made them right.

Voice of the King teaches how to train the flesh in righteousness.

∞ 2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

The interpretation of scripture is given to the interpreter by the same Spirit that gave the prophecy to the authors. The interpreter is 'moved' by the Holy Ghost as he studies and meditates on the Word of God. He is moved by the Holy Spirit to correlate the scripture with scripture.

∞ 2Ti 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

"Rightly dividing the word of truth" means to understand each layer of scripture, avoiding free-for-all allegory, and determining it's meaning from scripture itself.

We do not study scripture to gain approval with God; we gained that through the cross. It is to separate us from the false or lazy teachers.

b. Assumptions for this class

Presuppositions

God is

desires to be known

He reveals himself to individuals by the Holy Ghost

Assumptions up for discussion

Hebrew is the languauge of God

Temple text

Eye witnesses: Wiseman hypothesis

Kenosis

One book