LESSON #1

LESSON OBJECTIVES

• Outline the goal and purpose of this Hebraic Heritage Bible study course entitled, "Line upon Line"

• Communicate the three major phases of this Bible study program

• Establish the method we will be using in the Bible study to examine, study and interpret scripture

• Learn the laws of communication and why these laws require us to study the scriptures from a Hebraic perspective

• Understand the significance of  Psalm 40:7 and Hebrews 10:7 which tell us that the entire Bible is written about the Messiah Yeshua and the role that He would play in the redemptive plan of God

• Understand the order of the Old Testament scriptures and the meaning and significance of the acronym: TeNaCH

• Understand that the Hebrew language is a spiritual language and give an example how the Hebrew Language communicates spiritual truth

• Understand what an idiom is and give a Biblical example

• Understand what a Strong's Concordance, a Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon, and a Thayer's Greek Lexicon are and how to use them to aid in Biblical study

THE OUTLINE OF THE BIBLE STUDY COURSE

THREE PHASES OF THIS STUDY:

1. Lay the foundation for understanding the Hebraic roots of scripture by learning how to examine the Bible from a Hebraic thought and perspective

2. Study and learn the themes and spiritual truths of the Biblical festivals

   a)  Spring Festivals ---> Teach about the first coming of Yeshua
   b)  Fall Festivals     ---> Teach about the second coming of Yeshua

3. Tie together the foundation of understanding the scripture from a Hebraic thought and perspective with the spiritual truths and themes that God teaches through the Biblical Festivals to gain an in-depth understanding of God's complete redemptive plan and our personal relationship with Him

THINGS WE WILL STUDY AND LEARN
IN OUR FOUNDATION STUDY

• The 7,000 year redemptive plan of God
• Examine how each Biblical story reveals 'types' and 'shadows' which allows us to better understand the complete redemptive plan of God
• Determine how the Hebrew language and Biblical culture teaches spiritual truths concerning God's redemptive plan

METHOD OF LEARNING IN THIS BIBLE STUDY

• The scripture will define itself
• Compare scripture with scripture to establish spiritual truths in God's Word
• Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established
• Examining the scriptures from a Hebraic perspective is the METHOD/TOOL which God gave to understand His redemptive plan and our personal relationship with Him

OUR GOAL OF THE BIBLE STUDY

1. Encourage and uplift one another in the Lord (Hebrews 10:24- 25)
   
2. Grow in the knowledge of God (2 Peter 3:18)
   
3. Be blessed by God (Psalm 133:1-3, Acts 2:1-2)
   
4. Give glory to God (I Cor. 10:31, I Peter 4:11)
   

     "Lo, I (Jesus/Yeshua) have come, in the volume of the book (Bible) it is written of me"

           We know that this verse is speaking about Yeshua because it is quoted in Hebrews 10:4-7.
          (Psalm 40:7 = Hebrews 10:7)

           The volume (book) of the Bible is written about the Messiah and His role in the redemptive plan of God.

===>   Luke 24:44 confirms that the Law (Torah), Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Psalms (Chetuvim) speak about Yeshua further confirming our understanding of Psalm 40:7.

            The Jewish people refer to the Old Testament as the TeNaCh.

            This is an acronym for the order which the Old Testament is laid out in a Hebrew Bible:

            a.  Law/Torah - First five books
            b.  Prophets - Nevi'im (Isaiah, Jeremiah etc.)
            c.  Writings - Chetuvim (Psalms, Proverbs etc.)

            Jesus/Yeshua referred to the Old Testament in this manner (Luke 24:44)

UNDERSTANDING THE LAWS OF COMMUNICATION

         1) Language     2) Culture       3) Customs       4) Idioms



         A.  The original Biblical language ---> Hebrew

         B.  The culture is the Hebraic culture of the nation of Israel. The setting of this culture was the Middle East. In order to fully understand the Bible, we must understand the geography and history of the land of Israel and its people.

               So, we will be studying the Hebraic heritage which God gave to His people which includes having an understanding of the sabbath, the new moon, and the Biblical Festivals so that we can better understand the first and second comings of Yeshua/Jesus, the Messiah (Col 2:16-17).

        C.  A custom is associated to the culture. We must understand the customs which God gave to the nation of Israel to fully understand His instruction to us (Romans 9:2-5, I Chronicles 28:11-13)

        D.  An idiom is a phrase, saying or slang that is understood in the language, culture, and customs of a given group of people at a given period of time

             Let's consider an example of how God gave the Hebrew language to communicate His spiritual truths. Refer to your handout and consider the word translated into English as 'generation' as found in Genesis 2:4, 5:1, and Ruth 4:18. This is the Hebrew word "Toldah/Toldot". It is the word (8435) in the Strong's Concordance.

             Regarding the words in the Old Testament (TeNaCh), Jesus/Yeshua said in Matthew 5:17-18  that every jot (Yod -- the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet) and tittle (Taggim -- the decoration crowns on some Hebrew letters in the Bible) will be fulfilled. Here, Jesus/Yeshua is highlighting the significance of the Hebrew language in communicating the truths in the Bible.

             Let's consider an example of an "Idiom" which is 'a phrase, saying, or slang' which needs to be understood in the language, culture, and customs of the people in Biblical times. In order to do this, let's examine what is a "good eye" and an "evil eye" from Matthew 6:22-23.

             1. What is a "good eye"? A good eye is someone who is generous (Proverbs 22:9). The word 'bountiful' is the same word translated as 'good' in Genesis 1:4.

             2. What is an "evil eye"? An evil eye is someone who is stingy. (Prov 23:6 = Deut 15:9)

===>   Because we found the definition of a "good eye" and an "evil eye" in the Bible, we can understand another truth.

            ----->  The Bible will define itself. We do not need to mix our own interpretation of the Bible.

METHOD OF INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE

        B.  This truth requires us to "study to show thyself approved" (II Tim. 2:15).

        C.  In comparing spiritual things with spiritual things (scripture with scripture), by the mouth of two or three witnesses is every scripture established (Deut. 19:15, II Cor. 13:1, Matt 18:16, John 8:16-17).

              Jesus/Yeshua established that there are three witnesses which testify that He is the Messiah (Luke 24:44). These are: Law/Torah, Prophets (Nevi'im), Psalms (Chetuvim) -- TeNaCh.

        D.  No scripture is of any private interpretation. (II Peter 1:20-21).

        E.  This requires us to study the scripture so that we are not in error (Mark 12:24, Acts 17:11, Acts 18:24-28, I Cor 1:18,21-24).

BIBLE STUDY LEXICONS

           For this Bible study, we will be using a "Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon" for the Old Testament/TeNaCh and the "Thayer's Greek Lexicon" for the New Testament.

LESSON REVIEW/QUESTIONS

      2.  Every scripture should be established by the mouth of how many witnesses?

      3.  What method/tool did God choose to communicate His redemptive plan and allow us to understand our personal relationship with Him?

      4.  What is the meaning of Psalm 40:7?

      5.  In Luke 24:44, why did Yeshua/Jesus make reference to the Old Testament as 'the law (Torah) of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms'?

      6.  What does the acronym, 'TeNaCh' mean?

      7.  What are four different areas which make up the laws of communication?

      8.  What is the only language in the world which is a spiritual language?

      9.  Why is it important to understand the culture and the customs of the people in the Biblical days?

     10.  The Hebrew word, 'Toldot' means generation. Why is this word spelled with two 'vavs' in Genesis 2:1 and Ruth 4:18 but is only spelled with one 'vav' in all the scripture passages in between?

     11.  In Matthew 5:18, what is a 'jot'?

     12.  In Matthew 5:18, what is a 'tittle'?

     13.  What is an idiom?

     14.  In the Bible, what does the idiom, 'good eye' mean?

     15.  In the Bible, what does the idiom, 'evil eye' mean?

     16.  From a Hebraic perspective, what is the highest form of worship of God?

     17.  How do you use a Strong's Concordance?

     18.  What is the value of the Gesenius Hebrew Lexicon and the Thayer's Greek Lexicon?