Hebrews 10:25

by millie210 44 Replies latest watchtower bible

  • PSacramento
    PSacramento

    Context is important.

    Hebrews 10:

    One Sacrifice of Christ Is Sufficient

    10 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? 3 But in thosesacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for theblood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

    “ Sacrifice and offering You have not desired ,
    But a body You have prepared for Me ;
    6 In whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have taken no pleasure .
    7 “ Then I said, ‘Behold , I have come
    ( In the scroll of the book it is written of Me )
    To do Your will , O God .’”

    8 After saying above, “ Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “ Behold , I have come to do Your will .” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

    11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God , 13 waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet . 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

    16 “ This is the covenant that I will make with them
    After those days, says the Lord :
    I will put My laws upon their heart ,
    And on their mind I will write them ,”

    He then says,

    17 “ And their sins and their lawless deeds
    I will remember no more .”

    18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer anyoffering for sin.

    A New and Living Way

    19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us throughthe veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, forHe who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

    Christ or Judgment

    26 For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation ofjudgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries . 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deservewho has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “ Vengeance is Mine , I will repay .” And again, “ The Lord will judge His people .” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

    32 But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, 33 partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. 34 For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and acceptedjoyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. 35 Therefore, do not throw away yourconfidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

    37 For yet in a very little while ,
    He who is coming will come, and will not delay .
    38 But My righteous one shall live by faith ;
    And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him .

    39 But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

    A chapter about ALL that Christ did for those that believe so that NOTHING else needs to be DONE.

  • PSacramento
    PSacramento

    As for the passage in question:

    A New and Living Way

    19 Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us throughthe veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, forHe who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

    Look at what it says:

    Let us consider how to stimulate one another for LOVE and GOOD deeds and to not foresake meeting BUT to ENOURGAGE one another.

    It isn't a passage about meeting up and assemblies and what not, it is a passage advising the readers to HELP one another in love, to help each other to do good deeds (such as caring for the poor and charitible works).

    It is a passage that says that in UNION they will be able to strengthen each other better than alone.

  • Wonderment
    Wonderment

    Many here have posted some excellent points, including one by Oubliette which offered good comments. However, I fail to see how the NWT (Revised and earlier editions) butchers this verse, as implied by some comments. Here is an interlinear reading by McReynolds:

    "Not leaving behind the bringing together of ourselves, just as custom in some, but encouraging, and to such more as much as you see nearing the day." (Paul R. McReynolds Interlinear)

    The right margin has the reading from the NRSV as so: "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

    Jerusalem Bible: "Do not stay away from the meetings of the community, as some do..."

    Good News Translation: "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing..."

    New English Bible: "Not staying away from our meetings, as some do..."

    This is a sample of various versions which communicate nearly the same thing, along with the NWT.

    One version which goes beyond the literal reading by adding a bit of interpretation is this reading from The Living Bible: "Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do..."

    As some of you have rightly pointed out, it is the common interpretation among JWs which is wrong, along the line of The Living Bible, not the translation itself of the NWT. It appears that the Revised NWT reading of Heb 10.25 is another effort to simplify the message, but I don't see it as a genuine deviation of the Greek text.

  • JW GoneBad
    JW GoneBad

    I seem to be cheered-up with a sense of well being when I miss JW congregation meetings.

    I feel beat-down, blue, depressed and dispirited when I attend JW congregation meetings.

    The answer to happiness in my personal life as a JW is to attend less and less JW congregation meetings!

    Do I recommend that the 8 million JWs in the 113,000+ congregations worldwide attend less and less meetings for their own spiritual well being?.....HALE YES!!!

  • L3G
    L3G

    Of course, different people's situations are different, but you're still able to go (not DFed/DAed) and if you can stomach it, you could always pop into a meeting once in a while and then say, "See, I'm not FORESAKING them. I'm just irregular. Heb. 10 is about those foresaking the meetings."

    Just a thought if it helps you deal with friends/famly still in, like many members here have.

  • johnamos
    johnamos

    8-15-04 WT - Christian meetings provide an excellent opportunity for us to comfort and encourage one another. (Hebrews 10:24, 25) This loving interaction is not limited to congregation meetings. Rather, God’s people also look for opportunities to engage in wholesome association in casual settings. When distressing situations arise, we will readily assist one another because strong bonds of friendship have already been established.

  • Oubliette
    Oubliette

    When distressing situations arise, we will readily assist one another because strong bonds of friendship have already been established.

    Unless of course you become irregular, inactive, disassociate yourself or get disfellowshipped. Then it's: "Fuck you pal. You're on your own!"

    So much for those "strong bonds of friendship." They dissolve pretty quickly when it comes right down to it.

  • millie210
    millie210

    Is it possible to find a bit of yourself in each posters observations?

    PSacremento - You are right in that is is about helping one another in love (or that is how it SHOULD BE)

    Wonderment - I appreciate your analytical appraisal. In the end, I want to be accurate, not just "mad" at the JWs so thank you for being so fair in your post!

    JWGoneBad - that is EXACTLY how I feel. Worse when I go and better when I dont. Can you believe there was a point where I thought the relief I felt when meetings were over was a good feeling about the meeting itself?

    At least I know the difference now.

    L3G- That is a warm and practical solution for people like myself, struggling to come to terms. Thank you for saying so!

    Oubliette - I have yet to see you miss it EVER. You always call it. I am in the beginning phases of exactly what you describe. People are starting to fall off in their enthusiasm in direct relation to how many meetings I missed.

    I am an easy person to be around usually, so I am trying not to take losing "friends" too personally!!!

  • Oubliette
    Oubliette

    millie210: I am in the beginning phases of exactly what you describe. People are starting to fall off in their enthusiasm in direct relation to how many meetings I missed.

    I'm sorry you're going through this. It's all so unnecessary.

    But know this, that by working through this you'll become a stronger, better person.

    Don't get me wrong, it's painful to be cutoff by people you love and thought were true, loyal friends. But the reality is, they are more loyal to a demonstrably false and hypocritical religion than to people of character, strength of real conviction and character.

    They lack the humility to see that there is another way to see the world than the distorted vision they've come to accept through WT indoctrination. They lack the perspective to consider situations from any other point of view.

    I'm glad you're working on not taking it personally, as hard as that is. But the truth is, people that cutoff are all wrapped up in themselves. It's all about them. It's not really about you.

    When we get stronger and make choices for our life that are our own, it threatens them. Their only possible reaction is anger and ultimatums. It's really a childish tantrum.

    Hang in there. It gets better.

  • millie210
    millie210

    In trying to check out all the new features I found this warm and encouraging reply from you Oubliette.


    Dont know how I missed it but I see it now and I thank you.



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