HOUSE GROUP for DISCUSSION and FAITH EXPLORATION through BIBLE STUDY
If you like a good Biblical discussion, why not give our House Group a try.
The group meets on the SECOND Monday evening in the month at the home of Mark Head …when fresh coffee & home-made cake accompany the conversation.
The next meeting is Monday 14 April at 7.30pm.
The sessions are lively and cover lots of interesting topics, this time focussing on HEBREWS. We look forward to seeing you.
If you would like to know more, please speak to Mark Head or contact him at headmail@zen.co.uk or 07910 816952
Here are the notes that Mark shared before the first meeting this year:
Well, this is going to be a whirlwind tour through the 13 chapters of Hebrews! Mercifully, the chapters are not long! I have split the study into 4 sessions, once more, taking us up to the beginning of Holy Week.
I have based the first session on Hugh J Schonfield’s 1985 new translation and reconfiguring of the NT for several reasons:
-
It is a great translation, and by an extremely thorough Bible Scholar who had the privilege of working on the Dead Sea Scrolls (Aramaic/Hebrew/Greek) and Nag Hammadi Texts (Coptic) and who has written many books, some really rather controversial!
-
He was a British Jew, fascinated in his youth by the fact that Jesus was a Jew, and started to delve deeply, to the consternation of his Jewish parents! He went to Bible College and developed a strong sense of forensic scriptural study, not put off by received understandings of either Jewish or Evangelical Christian theology.
-
He is uncompromisingly faithful in his translation and reconfiguring of the earliest writings available at the time.
I would ask you to read the footnotes of Session 1 as well as the scripture – they are taken from Schonfield’s sub-texts and help to give background to the Letter to the Hebrews
Please do read also, the Shonfield Interview 1985. It really does illuminate the life and motivations of this man.
WINTER -SPRING 2025 BIBLE STUDY SESSIONS – THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS
[Please click the blue link to access the text and study guide for each session]
SESSION 1: Monday 13 January Hebrews SESSION 1 Preface & Chs 1-2 WITH NOTES
Christ the Eternal Man and Image of God : paralleled with the Temporal Man, Adam.
This session takes the Hugh J Schonfield version of the New Testament, together with references to the OT and explanatory notes. It is necessarily a very Jewish Messianic version. Please read the footnotes ahead of the study, and also the interview with Hugh J Schonfield taken in 1985, 3 years before his death.
SESSION 2: Monday 10 February Hebrews SESSION 2 Chs 3-5
Fundamentals : Entering the Rest of God in Christ : Our Mediator and High Priest
This session continues the theme of the first, taking the journey of understanding and faith through the temptations of this world, testing our reality of faith and assuring us that the Saints of Old underwent a similar journey. But we have a High Priest in Christ.
SESSION 3: Monday 10 March Hebrews SESSION 3 Chs 6-10
Entering Maturity of Understanding : Leading to True Faith in the Messianic Life
This Session deals with moving on from basic understanding and entering a life of maturity in a life that sees the temporal and the eternal as one continuum. It reveals how the Law prefigured the Temporal appearance of the Messiah, and translates it into the Eternal reality. It talks of the deliverance from the Law’s demands and Christ’s deliverance from our temporal predicament of sin and disobedience.
SESSION 4: Monday 14 April – beginning of Easter Week. Hebrews SESSION 4 Chs 11-13
The Strength of Faith and the Example of the Saints : Boldness to Approach God
This last session deals with the understanding of what is faith, and how we obtain it, and with what power and authority we are able to approach God. It opens out into the wider Christian life of continued love, and the deliverance from fear through the discipline of faith. It concludes with the final salutations of the writer to the congregation, and to individuals, particularly Timothy.
Here is what we read and discussed – in its entirety – in the January session, together with references and our thoughts on the questions posed:
Preface to the Homily to the Hebrews : The Hugh J Schonfield Translation 1985
There has been much speculation as to the authorship and destination of this document. Eastern tradition ascribed the work to Paul; but it has long been recognised from the language, style and character of the book that it cannot have been written by him, though the author’s viewpoint is in many respects Pauline. Among suggested writers the most probable is Apollos, Paul’s esteemed fellow-worker. He is described in the Acts as an Alexandrian Jew, a learned man, well-versed in the Scriptures, fully in keeping with the character of the work. He is at home in the Cheek language, which he employs with considerable literary skill, and with delight in shades of meaning and plays on words. For his Old Testament quotations he employs the Alexandrian text of the Greek version, and he was evidently well-acquainted with the works of Philo, the Alexandrian Jewish philosopher of the first century AD: The Homily is directed to a particular community of Jewish followers of Jesus, who knew personally both the author and Timotheus, Paul’s devoted assistant. This is important, as it indicates – assuming that these touches have not been introduced to lend colour to Pauline authorship -that these believers were located in some city of Greece or Asia Minor where there was a considerable Jewish population. The most likely is Ephesus, where both Apollos and Timotheus worked. The document furnishes three other notable pieces of information, that the believers in question had suffered some persecution, that Timotheus had been imprisoned but was now released, and that the author was probably writing from Italy. With the evidence that the Temple at Jerusalem was still standing, this suggests a date of composition around AD 65-67; but of course it could be later.
About Hugh J Schonfield
A British Bible Scholar, a Jew, he was among the original scholars who worked on the Dead Sea Scrolls after their discovery in 1947. He published 30 books, including the best seller The Passover Plot, a fearlessly controversial re-take on the synthesised version handed down to us today. He was not afraid of opening up ‘established’ doctrine to re-inspection, and this translation revolutionises our understanding of the times, places and imperatives of the New Testament times and learning. He takes a far more Jewish standpoint on the writings, and sets them in chronological order, bringing a much needed re-setting of context to the world-changing events of the Judaeo-Messianic Christian faith.
The received New Testament scriptures as we have them, much altered, excised and supplemented in many instances from the originals, have been completely re-translated and deciphered using newer information and understanding from various sources and researches, and set in a language that is contemporary to us.
His version of the scriptures and his commentaries may be alarming in some instances, arising out of historical study and a theologically unfettered standpoint.
He was nominated in 1959 for the Nobel Peace Prize for series towards international harmony. Hugh J Schonfield died in 1988. (17 May 1901- 26 Jan 1988)
SESSION 1: Hebrews Chapter 1
Christ the Eternal Man and Image of God : paralleled with the Temporal Man, Adam.
At various times and in varied fashions God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but at the close of these times he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir to everything.1 By him also he instituted the aeons.2 He, being the reflection of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature,3 bringing everything into being by the exercise4 of God’s power, when he had effected an expiation for sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavenly heights. In this respect he is superior to the angels, in so far as he has obtained a more exalted status than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my son, to-day I have begotten you”?5 Or again, “I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me”.6 Or again, when he introduces the Firstborn to his world estate, he says, “And let all God’s angels pay him homage”7.
Now as regards the angels, God says,
Who employs spirits as his messengers,
And fiery flames as his agents.8
But as regards the Son,
Your Throne, 0 God, is of eternal duration:
A Sceptre of Justice9 is the sceptre of your kingdom.
You have loved rectitude and hated injustice;
Therefore God -yes, your God – has anointed you
With coronation oil in the presence of your peers.”10
And also,
You in the beginning, Lord, founded the earth,
And the heavens are your handiwork.
They will perish, but you will endure.
They will all grow old like a garment,
And like a robe you will fold them away.
But you will be ever the same,
And your years will never cease, “11
And to which of the angels did God ever say,
Be seated at my right hand,
Till I make your foes your foot-stool.12
Are they not all ministering spirits sent out for the service of those who are to obtain salvation?
Chapter 2
That is why we ought to pay much closer attention to the things we have heard, so that we never let them slip. For if the Message spoken by angels13 held good, and every failure or neglect brought just retribution, how are we to escape punishment if we should prove negligent of so great a salvation, which, originating with the Master’s own declaration, was confirmed to us by those who heard him, and corroborated by God by signs and wonders, and by a variety of phenomena and distributions of holy Spirit at his discretion?
Now it was not to angels that God made subject that future state of affairs of which we are speaking; for in one place a certain writer has expressed it thus:
What is Man, that you are mindful of him?
Or the Son of Man, that you take account of him?
You made him only slightly inferior to angels:
You crowned him with dignity and honour.
You set him over the work of your hands,
And made everything subject to him.14
By this “making everything subject to him” he left nothing outside his control. As it is, we do not see as yet that everything has been made subject to him. But as regards being made “only slightly inferior to angels” we do see Jesus by experiencing death having been “crowned with dignity and honour”, that thus in God’s mercy he should taste death for all mankind. For it seemed fitting to God, for whom and by whom everything exists, in raising many sons to dignity, to perfect by sufferings the one responsible for their salvation. He indeed who sanctifies and those who are sanctified have all one parentage, for which reason he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
I will declare your Name to my brothers,
I will praise you before the Community.15
And again, “I will put my trust in him”.I6 And again, “Here am I with the children God has given me”.17
Since, therefore, the children have human nature, so did he18 share it equally with them; so that by death he might put out of commission him who wields the power of death, namely the Devil, and release all those inhibited throughout their lives by fear of death. For where was the point of lending a helping hand to angels? It was the descendants of Abraham that needed a helping hand. Consequently it was essential for him to become in every respect like his brothers, that he might be a compassionate and trustworthy High Priest in matters relating to God, to propitiate for the people’s sins; for having experienced temptation himself he is able to aid those who are tempted.
REFERENCES:
1 & 3 Gen 1:26-30
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground– everything that has the breath of life in it– I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)
In this book we are in the realm of Jewish mysticism where much was made of man being created in the image of God. An Archetypal (heavenly) Man was conceived, equated with the Messiah Above (The Son of Man). (ref Book of Enoch) in Jewish Christian teaching this Man has incarnated in Jesus at his baptism. (Cf St Paul’s teaching on First & Second Adams, and Jesus being ‘filled with the fullness of the Godhead bodily’)
2 Or ‘AGES’
4 Lit ‘Expression’ : CF Proverbs 8: HOLY WISDOM
Prov 8 22-31
“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
Before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
When he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
When he gave the sea its boundary so that the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
Rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
5 Ps 2:7-9
7 “I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You. NKJV
6 2 Sam 7:12-17
12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ‘ ” 17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David. NKJV
7 Deuteronomy 32:43 LXX
Rejoice, ye heavens, with him, and let all the angels of God worship him; rejoice ye Gentiles, with his people, and let all the sons of God strengthen themselves in him; for he will avenge the blood of his sons, and he will render vengeance, and recompense justice to his enemies, and will reward them that hate him; and the Lord shall purge the land of his people.
8 Ps 104:1-4
Praise the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty.
He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind.
He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants.
(from The Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984, by International Bible Society)
9 Messiah as Throne and Sceptre
10 Ps 45:6-7
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions. NKJV
11 Ps 102:25-27
“Of old Thou didst found the earth;
And the heavens are the work of Thy hands.
“Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure;
And all of them will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing Thou wilt change them, and they will be changed.
“But Thou art the same,
And Thy years will not come to an end. NAS
12 Ps 110:1-2
The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of Your enemies! NKJV
13 The Law at Sinai given, according to Jewish teaching and tradition, through the medium of Angels (CF Gal 3:9)
14 Ps 8:3-5
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honour. NKJV
15 Ps 22:22-24
I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
You who fear the LORD, praise Him!
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!
For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from Him;
But when He cried to Him, He heard. NKJV
16 Isa 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.'” NKJV
17 Isa 8:18
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. NASU
18 As the heavenly Son of Man incarnate in Jesus
QUESTIONS
-
Chapter 1: After studying this version and the references, has our view on the nature of Jesus the Christ/Messiah been changed or modified, enlarged or diminished?
The subject of Angels arose – they are NOT the recipients of the Messianic message – they are the messengers. (Where to angels’ WINGS come from? Who started that?!) The Eternal Son of Man appears subservient to God, although raised to be at God’s right hand. This cuts across Trinitarian theology, which is a later construct by the Church, although the first word for GOD in the Torah – Genesis – is Elohim – a PLURAL God. That PLURAL GOD is in all things and through all things – AS IN HEAVEN SO ON EARTH. The ‘different’ theology was that of the early, 2ndC Church – the theology of Origen of Alexandria, and prevailed until Nicaea, when attitudes and power centres had changed.
Whatever our understanding of ‘Christology ‘ – the study of who Jesus ACTUALLY was and is – he is the Messiah, and in Him to we trust for Salvation through the Mercy of God.
-
We are not from a Jewish background, and those that are, in this day and age, are not generally of a Messianic tradition, but of a Talmudic/Rabbinical one (read Schonfield’s interview p3). However, does that hamper our understanding of the context of the message? How do we understand having a Messianic outlook?
A Messiah is one who is sent with a message – our lives are supposed to be messianic – evangelistic – preaching RENEWAL, HOPE, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, TRUTH, FAITH, SALVATION from this world’s ultimate demise. Jewish faith is largely centred on Keeping the Law; but the Law is only a ‘Schoolmaster’ guiding, teaching and correcting – and convicting – BUT the Sinai Law has been FULFILLED in the Messiah. We now trust in Him for our righteousness. The Messiah will RETURN, and then closed eyes will be opened!
-
Chapter 2 looks at the wonder of God’s preparation for us, and begs our immediate response. How do we see our relationship with Jesus the Messiah in the wider scheme of things? How do we view our current existence in terms of warfare and victory? What about the afterlife? What are we to make of it?
We are pilgrims on a journey – our Messiah leads us to a greater goal. This earth shall pass away – we as humans, shall pass away, as will all creation. HOWEVER, we have the Eternal God within us and we in Him – we are part of God, albeit temporal now. At the End of Days, there shall be no male, nor female, no giving in marriage – our lives will be fully joined with the eternal God. This is so because Jesus, the Heavenly Eternal Son, made Earthly for a season, has procured our atonement with the Father, and we are now adopted as brothers and sisters of the Eternal Son of God! Here on earth, we are the very living body, the flesh, of Jesus the Messiah – WE are Messiah on earth – He in Heaven – He is our head, our mind, and we are filled with his fullness – the Holy Spirit of God – to do his works and far greater, because he, the earthly Man, is now with his Father. This purpose for us here on earth brings us into deep conflict with Satan – he does not want any of this, so life, this earth, this society, is a battleground upon which we must stand. But Christ has the victory! We must REST in his victory in our daily lives, WALK in his ways and wear the ARMOUR of GOD to avert the fiery darts of Satan, and be SALT on this earth. (See Ephesians – Watchman Nee’s book on it – SIT-WALK-STAND)
RE-CONVENING AFTER THE SUMMER BREAK…
The group usually meets on the
SECOND Monday evening in the month; HOWEVER, due to a clash of
dates, the first session in September will be Monday 16 September
at 7.30pm at the usual venue of the home of Mark Head.
The sessions are lively and cover lots of interesting topics, with the focus
for the next few sessions being on the 1st Letter of Peter to the churches
in Turkey / Anatolia. We look forward to seeing you.
THE INVITATION…
Would you like to explore issues about God, the world and what it means to be human?
Are you bewildered, confused or even disillusioned about what you believe and wonder where you can find God in this difficult and challenging world?
If so, here is an invitation to join a small group of like-minded individuals once a month, to follow where their path takes them in reading, discussion, reflection and prayer in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere to explore the big and central issues in life.
If you would like to join the House Group, you will be most welcome. Come along and give it a try; we meet monthly at the home of Mark Head.
This is an opportunity for discussion on Bible-related topics in a friendly group.
ALL are welcome. The sessions are lively and promise to cover lots of
interesting areas, according to what participants wish to discuss.
Following a successful Lent course, “Christ and the Chocolaterie”, the House Group first met on Monday 17 April 2023. Since then, there have been some wonderful presentations and discussions on a variety of themes.
For LENT 2024, we studied ‘FROM NOW ON’, a book by the Archdeacon of Bolton, The Venerable Dr. Rachel Mann, looking at the themes of the musical ‘The Greatest Showman’. We were delighted that Rachel came to join us to introduce the course.
