A CLEAR, LOGICAL
PROGRESSION
HEBREWS 9: 6-7
HEBREWS 9:8
HEBREWS 9: 9-10
HEBREWS 9:11
HEBREWS 9:12
THE 38 TRANSLATIONS
THE EIGHT HAGIAS
HEBREWS 9: 11-12
IN THE GREEK
KEY WORDS IN
9:11-12
THE FIVE PROMISES
A CLEAR, LOGICAL PROGRESSION
There is an orderly progression throughout
this book. In 6:19, Jesus passed within the veil. In 7:25, He
is our high priest ministering on our behalf. In 8:1-5, He is
ministering in the tabernacle in heaven, which the earthly tent
was patterned after. In 9:1-5, we are told what was in the earthly
copy of the one in heaven. Now we are ready for 9:6 and onward.
HEBREWS 9: 6-7
In 9:6-7, the progression continues. We
are told that the earthly priest must first minister in
the first apartment, and that, at a later time, he would go briefly
into the second. We are not to violate either his definitions
of terms, nor the great truth he gave in 8:1, 2, and 5,-that
the earthly is the type of what happens in the heavenly Sanctuary.
HEBREWS 9:8
All this has brought us to 9:8, and the
next step in the progression should be for us to be shown Jesus
beginning His ministry in the first apartment of that Sanctuary.
AND THAT is what we are told in the 9:8! The problem is one of
mistranslation in the English, not of Paul's intent-as shown
clearly in the Greek of this passage.
It is important that we include these verses
in our study, for in order to properly understand Hebrews 9:11-12,
we will need also to examine verses 8-10, especially since verse
8 is held up triumphantly, along with verse 12, by the Evangelicals
as proof that the Adventists are in error. Hebrews 9:8: "The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way
into the holiest of all {"hagia"} was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. "
Notice here the exquisite sequence that
we have so far observed: (1) 7: 25-26--Jesus is our high priest
after A.D. 31 and busily engaged in this work. 8:1-5--Jesus has
entered and is ministering in the heavenly Sanctuary and the
earthly was carefully patterned after it. 9:1-5-The earthly sanctuary
had two apartments. 9:6-7-In the earthly sanctuary, there was
a daily ministry that continued for quite some time, and there
was a yearly ministry that later took place much more quickly.
Then we come to verse 8, where we are told
that the Holy Spirit uses the above information to explain to
us that Jesus could not enter the ''hagia" (first apartment)
of the heavenly Sanctuary while the earthly sanctuary still had
standing in the eyes of God. With the death of Christ, the earthly
sanctuary and its services had no meaning to God: (Matthew 23:38
and Luke 13:35; Matthew 27:51 and Mark 15:38). The probation
of the people closed 31/2 years later (Daniel 9: 25-27).
HEBREWS 9: 9-10
{9:9] "Which was a figure for the
time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices,
that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining
to the conscience; {9:10} Which stood only in meats and drinks,
and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until
the time of reformation."
Then, in the first part of 9:9, we are
told that the earthly sanctuary was only a symbol of the true
reality, which is in heaven!
At this point, we should expect to find
from Paul a triumphant announcement that Jesus had gone into
that first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary. That is the next
thing that we should expect to hear from his lips. But no, first
he is anxious to clear up one other point: the fact that the
sacrifice of Jesus is greater than sacrifices in the earthly
sanctuary. Paul brings out this point both before and after giving
that ringing announcement of Christ's entry into the first apartment
in heaven.
And now, continuing on with 9:9 to the
end of 9:10: The sacrifices in the earthly sanctuary never could
by themselves bring the elimination of sin from the lives of
God's people, for it all consisted only in animal blood and washings
and ministries by erring, sinful men.
HEBREWS 9:11
{9:11} "But Christ being come an high
priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this
building."
{9:11}
But Christ is NOW our HIGH PRIEST! He is not merely a
priest of things already accomplished (Calvary and His resurrection),
but also of GOOD THINGS to COME! {from heaven the atoning application
to our lives today). He has entered a greater and totally perfect
Sanctuary in heaven, a building that is not man-made.
The contextual sequence here is so important;
let me say it again:
8:1-5
said that Jesus was in the Sanctuary in heaven; 9:1-5 said that
it had two apartments; 9:6-7 said that the priest ministered
a long time in that first apartment before briefly entering the
second; 9:8 said that all this meant that an entrance into the
FIRST apartment ("hagia") of the heavenly sanctuary
could not be made until God rejected the earthly sanctuary and
its services. 9: 9-10 is parenthetical added information that
the sacrifices by the earthly priests were greatly inferior to
the sacrifice of Christ.
"At the time of reformation"
(9:10)- is when type meets antitype!
Once again, Paul hesitates to break the
wonderful news until the groundwork is laid for it, and so in
9:11 he repeats the earlier stated truths that Christ is the
priest of something much better, and that He is the priest of
a greater and most perfect heavenly Sanctuary.
Now Paul is ready for the terrific announcement:
HEBREWS 9:12
{9:12}
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own
blood He entered in once into the holy place {"hagia''},
having obtained eternal redemption for us."
9:12 tells
us that CHRIST HAS ENTER-ED THE FIRST APARTMENT (''hagia'')
of the heavenly Sanctuary And two new facts are given to us:
(1) He entered it by virtue of His own blood, not animal blood
(for the priest must minister with blood). (2) Entering it, He
has "obtained eternal redemption for us."
In some very definite respects, 9:12 is
one of the high climaxes of the book (along with 1:8, 2:9, 2:17,
3:6, 3:15, 4:9, 4:14, 5:5, 6:1, 6:19, 7:25, 8:1, 8:6, 9:8, that
preceded it, and some others that will follow, such as 9:24,
10:7, 10:16, 10:19, and 10:22.) This is Paul's manner in Hebrews.
He builds to a point and then springs it upon us. Hebrews is
a most wonderful book.
THE 38 TRANSLATIONS
But now let us return to our study. You
will note in all of this that the correct translation of "hagia"
is the key to the whole situation. Once understood, everything
falls into place. We are sorry to have spent so much time dealing
with it, but remember again: if the English translations of the
Greek had been accurate we would not have to return to the Greek
in order to learn the true meaning of these important verses
in Hebrews.
There is a variation among the different
translations in their handling of "hagia" in the Book
of Hebrews. Several years ago, in connection with the writing
of The Biblical Sanctuary, which defends from the Bible our historic
Sanctuary Doctrine in Hebrews and Daniel, I did research into
38 translations of the Bible into English. In that study I
found that only 9 out of 38 major English translations were a
problem in how they translated "hagia" in Hebrews
8:2, 9:8, 9:12, 9:24, 9:25, 10:19, and 13:11. Only 9 out of 38
translated ''hagia" in one or more of those 7 places as
"holiest" or "most holy place." The other
29 gave a translation acceptable to us: either "holy place,"
"holy places," or "sanctuary."
Interestingly enough, only two of the 9
were published before 1952 (King James Version {1611} and Verkuyl
or Berkeley Version {1945}. All the rest of the 9 were published
between 1952 and 1973. Here are the 29 English translations that
translate "hagia" in Hebrews in an acceptable manner:
Murdoch (1855), Noyes (1869), Sawyer (1891),
Rotherham: Emphasized (1895), Young (1898), English Revised (1881),
Coptic (1898-1905), Twentieth Century NT (1902),Weymouth (1903),
American Standard Version (1901), Fenton: New Testament in Modern
English (1919), Moffitt (1922), Ballan-tine: Riverside New Testament
(1934), Lamsa (1940), Basic English (1941), Confraternity (1941),Goodspeed
(1943), (1944), Revised Standard Version (1946), Spencer (1946),
Lattey: Westminster(1947), NewWorld(1950), British Authorized:
Translator's New Testament (1954), New English Bible (1960),
Beck (1963), Jerusalem (1966), Bying-ton: Bible in Living English
(1972).
Here are the 9 translations which in one
or more of those 7 verses, translate "hagia" as "holy
of holies," "holiest," "holiest of all,"
etc.:
King James: Authorized Version (1611);
Verkuyl: Berkeley Version (1945). Williams: New Testament in
Plain English (1952}, Amplified (1958) Phillips (1958). Today's
English Bible (1966), Living Bible (1967), Barclay (1969), New
International Version (1973).
The complete listing will be found on a
two page spread in my Biblical sanctuary (pages 13: 2-3). With
the exception of the King James, the other 8 translations nearly
always translate "hagia" as a second apartment term
in 9:8, 9:12, 9:25, and 10:19, and much of the time in the other
three passages. There is no doubt that these recent translations
are forcing their own Evangelical theology into their translations!
In 1952, Charles Williams published his
New Testament in Basic English. He was trying to produce a New
Testament that would only have a basic list of 1500 or so words
in it--so the semiliterate could read it. In order to do this
he took some liberties with the text. But it sold well
and made the translators after him more daring. Then J.B.
Phillips brought out his New Testament in Modern English in 1958.
Phillis used dramatic paraphrase, not always related to the
original Greek (Romans 3:31 is an example of this. Read it
in the King James, RSV and Phillips, and note how Phillips twists
it).
This was so highly successful that way-out
paraphrases began--and Hagia has been frequently mistranslated
into 'holiest' or something similar since then.
THE EIGHT HAGIAS
Let us view for a moment what a totally
correct translation of "hagia" does to several of the
most crucial passages in Hebrews:
8:1: "Now
of the things which we have spoken, this is the sum: We have
such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in the heavens; {8: 2} A minister of the
FIRST APARTMENT {"of the sanctuary"-K.JV, but
in the Greek: "ton hagion," "of the holies"
in the genitive plural case}, and of the true tabernacle {"skene"
"tabernacle" or "tent"} which the Lord pitched,
and not man."
9: 2:
"For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was
the candlestick {lampstand}, and the table, and the shewbread;
which is called the FIRST APARTMENT {"the sanctuary"-KJV,
but in the Greek: "Hagia," "holies" in the
nominative plural case}."
9:8: "The
Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the FIRST APARTMENT
{"into the holiest of all"-KJV, but in the Greek:
"ton hagion," "into the holies" in the genitive
plural case} of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first
tabernacle was yet standing."
9:12:
"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own
blood He entered in once into the FIRST APARTMENT"; {into
the holy place"- KJV, but in the Greek: "eis ta hagia"
in the plural accusative case}, having obtained eternal redemption
for us."
9:24:
"For Christ is not entered into the FlRST APARTMENT {of
the earthly sanctuary} made with hands, which are the figures
of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence
of God for us."
10:19:
"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the
FIRST APARTMENT {"into the holiest"-KJV, but
in the Greek: "ton hagion" in the genitive plural case},
by the blood of Jesus. "
13:11:
"For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought
into the FIRST APARTMENT {of the earthly sanctuary} by
the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp."
Notice throughout the above passages, Paul's
preoccupation with the first apartment. ONLY in 9:3-5,7 does
he mention the second apartment. That is because in his day it
was not time to discuss the ministry in that apartment. Thirty
years later, while in vision, John was shown Christ ministering
in the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary amid the first
apartment furniture (Revelation 4:5 with 5:6, 8:35). Later John
was shown in vision a future time when the door (veil) into the
second apartment would be opened and the importance of the law
of God would be seen (Revelation 11: 19).
Notice that in 13:11-13, the thought is
one of comparison: The earthly priests brought blood into the
first apartment ("hagia") from outside the tent, and
so in preparation for His ministry {in the first apartment in
heaven is implied in the comparison}, Christ suffered and died
outside also.
The key to all these "hagia"
passages is the fact that the word is always in the plural, and
that 9:2 reveals that a non-doubled "hagia" in the
plural can only mean "first apartment" in the Book
of Hebrews (A doubled plural "hagia" would indicate
"second apartment" as in 9:3).
And now we shall return to our study. Prior to when Paul wrote,
Jesus had indeed entered the "hagia" (first apartment)
and was there ministering on behalf of His people (9:12). Because
in the introduction to this study, Walter Martin made such a
big issue of Hebrews 9:11-12, we shall now pause to examine this
passage more closely in the Greek:
HEBREWS 9: 11-12 IN THE GREEK
The Greek of 9:11: "Christos
{Christ} de paragenomenos {but, having-come (or) having-appeared}
archiereus {highpriest} ton genomenon agathon {of-the-to-come
(or) that-are-to-come good things}, dia tes meizonos {through
the greater} kai teleioteras skenes {and more-perfect
tent} ou cheiropoietou {not hand-made}, tout estin
ou tautes tes ktiseos {this is not of-this the creation}."
A Translation of 9:11: "But
Christ having appeared (or) become a high priest of the good
things that are yet to come, because of the greater and still
more perfect tent (Paul did not want to insult the Jew's respect
for their temple), not made by men's hands nor of this present
world."
The Greek of 9:12: Oude di haimatos
{Nor through blood} tragon kai moschon {of-goats and
of-calves}, dia de tou idiou haimatos {through but the
(His) own blood} eiselthen ephapax {entered once} eis
ta hagia {into the first apartment}, aionian lutrosin
heuramenos {eternal} redemption having-found}."
A Translation of 9:12: "nor
by means of blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood,
He entered once into the first apartment, having found eternal
redemption."
KEY WORDS IN 9:11-12
Let us now notice certain key words in
these two verses:
"Ton genomenon agathon"-In the past (before
A.D. 65) ("paragenomenos") Christ became our high priest
and now ("ton genomenon agathon") In our present and
future great things are coming to you and me as a result! Part
of it is the present mediation of Christ (4:14-16, 7:25-26, 8:1-2,
9:24) on our behalf another part is the fact that we may in faith
come to Him and receive its benefits right now (4:14-16, 10:19-22),
yet another part is the promise that it can remove our sins (8:10,
9:14, 10:16), and then there is the final blessing that He will
soon return as a result and take us unto Himself (9:28, 10:35-37,
11:39-40). The consistent message of Hebrews is a PRESENT
mediation and PRESENT victories over sin, not a past
or a future mediation and victory over sin- as the Evangelicals
teach!
"Tragenkai moschon" In 9:12, 13, and 19, Paul writes about the
blood of bulls or calves and goats. Desmond Ford made a big issue
of that one, since goat and bull blood is used on the Day of
Atonement (Lev. 16:3,5-6,11), therefore he claims that Hebrews
9 is speaking about the second apartment. But if you will check,
you will find that bull, calf, and goat blood (bull: Lev. 4:3,
8:2, 9:2-3; bull and goat blood: Lev. 4 and 9) was regularly
used in the daily service as well (goat, kid, or ram blood was
the preferred offering for the people in the daily services:
Lev. 1:2-3,10; 3:6-7,12; 4:2-3,13-14,22-23,27 28; 5:6-7; 6:6;
8:2,14,18,22;9:2-4), and bull blood was only used in the Day
of Atonement for the sins of the priest himself (Lev. 16:3,6,11)
"Eis to Hagia"-In 9:12, Paul declares triumphantly that Jesus
had entered the first apartment of the heavenly Sanctuary, not
as Drs. Canon and Martin claimed, "into heaven."
"Ephapax"--This word means "once" or "one
time." It can also mean "once for all." Martin
made an issue of this point, as does Ford. "Hah, hah"
we are told by these scoffers, "Jesus entered once into
the most holy place, according to Hebrews 9:12 in the NIV! He
never did go into the first apartment!" But let us take
the passage for what it says in the Greek: "He entered once
into the first apartment." There is no threat in those words
to our historic teachings. In A.D. 31 Christ did indeed ONCE
enter the first apartment, there to begin his 18-century
ministry on our behalf. Later in 1844, He would enter once into
the second apartment, there to complete His work in the heavenly
Sanctuary. Paul likes to compare Christ's perfect, better,
greateness
with that of the earthly type. The earthly priest had to continually
go into the first apartment, but Christ only went in ONCE. We
heartily agree.
"Aionian lutrosin"-"Eternal redemption " is ours through
Jesus Christ! We say "Praise the Lord!" Through the
work of Christ, we can be eternal redeemed. On this point, we
can all agree. "Lutrosin" comes from "lutroo"-to
redeem, which comes from "lutron," or "ransom."
There is no problem here.
"Heuramenos"-Here is the last key word in these two verses,
and it is an important one. "Heurisko" means "to
find." Luke 9:12 KJV: Send the multitudes away, that they
may go into the towns and country.. and get victuals" The
Greek word for "get" here is from "heurisko,"
"to find." The disciples were saying "Send the
people away, that they may go look for food, and after searching
find some."
"To find" in the Greek means
to obtain as a result of a search. Jesus came to earth and then
to heaven on our behalf,-and He has found the means or pathway
to eternal life for every one of us! But this does not mean we
automatically POSSESS that etemal life as soon as He found it,
nor does it mean that He automatically GAVE it to us at that
time, or that we have NO PART to do in receiving it.
"Heuramenos" is the first aorist middle (indirect) participle
of "Heurisko, " and in the middle voice means to procure,
get, obtain. The Atonement is the means by which you and I can
inherit eternal life. On Calvary, Christ obtained that means;
in the Sanctuary above He gives it to us individually. It is
as simple as that. Let no one presume that Hebrews 9:12 teaches
an automatic Calvinistic giving of eternal life to beings who
have not already been born and do not want it, or a once-saved-always-saved
person, such as Martin's own Southern Baptist Church believed.
Christ obtained it; He offers to share it with you and me. By
His grace He enables us to cling to Him, so we may obey Him and
become like Him. Never, never should we imagine that that sinners
who cling to their sins automatically have the eternal redemption
that Christ will share with His faithful ones.
THE FIVE PROMISES
And that completes our study of Hebrews
9:11-12. Notice that the great announcement of Christ's entrance
into the first apartment, as given in 9:12 was earlier stated
in 8:2, promised in 9:8, and repeated again in 9:24 and 10:19:
So FIVE TIMES in the Book of Hebrews we are told that Christ
had, prior to A.D. 65, entered the FIRST APARTMENT of
the heavenly Sanctuary for us! That is a great truth to share
widely! "Hagia" is in every one of those five passages.
And the purpose of it all is to put away
our sins from us and perfect our characters (10:1-17, 11:39-40)!
And at His Second Advent, He will return tor His own-who have
no sin (9:28).
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