Home	Our Hope
Bible Study		January 25, 2014
The Scissors

Introduction

Hebrews 4:9-10 contains two verses that I like to call The Scissors. Together they would cut up silly ideas about the Sabbath. They were such a problem for Satan that he had one blade of The Scissors covered in a sheath. This kept it from cutting and dulled the other blade and kept it from cutting as well as it could. He sheathed it with the help of his followers, liars who belong to their father.

And there are plenty of silly ideas to be cut up. Without any real effort it is possible to find three completely different interpretations of what these verses are saying – all of them wrong. There are many verses in the Bible where some small majority has an unusual interpretation. But when we find that there is no majority opinion but instead a large number of widely held opinions this is a sign that there is a problem in Christianity. Either God has not revealed the true understanding to man or man is fighting against the true understanding.

In this lesson we will reassemble The Scissors and do some cutting.

Lesson (Hebrews 4:9-11)

Here are the verses from the NIV translation

⁹ There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; ¹⁰ for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. ¹¹ Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

The first problem with this is the translation. Any translation that allows the translator(s) to interpret the meaning runs the risk of the translator distorting the verses. The NIV is a thought-for-thought translation not a literal translation. This requires the translator to understand the thought before translating it, which can open the door for bias. To escape that, we have to use a more literal translation, the more literal the better. The NASB renders the verses this way

⁹ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. ¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Notice how the NIV has changed the verb tense to "rests from their works", which is present tense, from "has […] rested from his works", which is past tense. The NIV is twisting the verb tense to fit the verses into a common interpretation. That is, that the resting from works described here comes in the after-life, not in the physical life. A literal translation does not allow such a verb change and therefore the true meaning is more accessible.

We'll begin our study with Hebrews 4:10. This verse sets up a simile, a literary device, a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things. That verse is shown below to show the parts of the simile

The simile can be made more obvious by expanding the text and removing the superfluous word "himself".

When this is understood, this blade of The Scissors is sharp enough to do some cutting by itself. One of the silly ideas that it cuts up is the idea that these three verses are a call to man to stop sinning, to rest from his evil works. We can see how the blade cuts by inserting the interpretation into the literary simile. Because it is a simile the interpretation must be inserted into both sides of the simile

This shows the interpretation to be silly. God did not rest from his evil works.

There is another interpretation I have seen that tries a different approach. It too would be cut by this blade but the author decided not to expose the idea to the blade. Instead he tries to blow smoke in the reader's eyes. He does this when he describes how the verses fit with his interpretation. When he gets to verse 10, instead of describing how that verse fits his interpretation, he starts talking about how wonderful the after-life will be. In fact he spends more time blowing smoke on that verse than he does on the other two verses. The reason is obvious – verse 10 would slice up his silly idea if it had a chance.

This blade of The Scissors has had an interesting effect on those who are honest enough to expose their ideas to it. They recognize that their interpretation must survive the simile of verse 10. But because they have a priori rejected the correct interpretation they are forced to come up with even sillier interpretations. One of these is the "rest of faith" interpretation. Here the idea is that it is not the afterlife that Hebrews is talking about but an aspect of our earthly lives they call the "rest of faith". The problem of course is that nowhere else does the Bible talk about anything like a rest of faith, in fact the faithful are called to work to bring in the harvest. So, it's interesting that the sharpness of the 4:10 blade has caused even sillier ideas to be proposed. This is because the other blade of The Scissors is not operating.

Now we'll go back to verse 9. This is the verse that Satan had to cover in a sheath.

The word that is translated as "Sabbath rest" comes from the Greek word Sabbatismos. It is actually not a Greek word, but a Greek-ified version of a word borrowed from Hebrew. Unfortunately the word disappeared from the Greek language very quickly. In a case like this translators have to look at how the word is used in the text to figure out the meaning of the word. This makes it very subject to translator bias.

Sabbatismos appears only once in all of the New Testament. Obviously it doesn't appear in the Hebrew Old Testament but it also doesn't appear in the Greek LXX translation of the Old Testament either. This is what Strong's Concordance says about word 4520, Sabbatismos.

sabbatismos: a sabbath rest

Original Word: σαββατισμός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: sabbatismos
Phonetic Spelling: (sab-bat-is-mos')
Short Definition: a Sabbath rest
Definition: a keeping of the Sabbath, a Sabbath rest.¹

You can see the definition "a Sabbath rest" there which is what is used in the English translation. But notice that there is another definition "a keeping of the Sabbath". Where could another definition come from if the word only appears once? It turns out the word is used in other Christian writings a total of 5 times² and this is where the other definition is coming from.

In all those other cases, however, it is clear from how the word is used that the definition is "a keeping of the Sabbath" not "a Sabbath rest". In fact, it isn't necessary to see the other uses of Sabbatismos to understand the definition. Any good Greek translator can see from looking at the word what it means. And yet, the one instance in the Bible is the only place where the word was translated as "a Sabbath rest".

We see that "a Sabbath rest" is a coined term, not a translation. It expresses a concept the translator wants to convey that a direct translation of the text would not convey. It is a paraphrasing and like all paraphrasing subject to bias. The translator is trying to express the idea of the Sabbath as a reference to the afterlife rest.

We know that Sabbatismos is a very rare word. It is a noun. We can use the word "block", which is a noun, in a similar sentence. "After he lost his fuzzy toy there remained a block for the dog to play with". The word "block" can also be used as a verb. "The wall blocked him from moving forward." But just as "block" can also be used as a verb there is also a verb form of the word Sabbatismos. It is used many times in the Greek LXX translation of the Old Testament. An example would be: he was keeping the Sabbath. In every case it refers to Israel keeping the Sabbath as God commanded.

When we take a close look at "a Sabbath rest" we are confused at what it would mean. The word Sabbath means "a rest, or ceasing from work". Looked at that way "a Sabbath rest" would mean either "a rest rest" which is non-sense, or "a ceasing from work rest" which is just the definition of the Sabbath. So "a Sabbath rest" makes no sense.

So why is "a Sabbath rest" used. It's because a literal translation results in a verse that Christendom doesn't want to hear – a verse that cuts in a way that they have rejected.

⁹ So there remains a keeping of the Sabbath for the people of God.

In summary then, we see that all other uses of Sabbatismos mean "a keeping of the Sabbath". Also, every use of the verb form of Sabbatismos means "to keep the Sabbath". We also see that "a Sabbath rest" makes no sense. Therefore it becomes apparent that "a Sabbath rest" is a fraud perpetrated against the church.

The final test is to see how the verses work together with the sheath removed.

⁹ So then, it remains for the people of God to keep the Sabbath. ¹⁰ For whoever enters his rest has rested from his works as God has from his own. ¹¹ Let us take pains, therefore, to enter that rest, lest we fall in the manner of those who were not persuaded.³

The verses prior to this have been saying that the promised provision of God's rest to his people was not delivered when Israel entered the Promised Land. In fact it was Israel's lack of faith and obedience that caused them to lose that promise and they wandered in the desert until they died. Therefore that promise of God's rest has not been delivered. That takes us to verse 9 which says, therefore (because the promise of God's rest is still future), it remains for the people of God to continue to keep the Sabbath which is the observance of that rest which began at the end of creation.

Now comes 4:10. Can this interpretation make it past this blade?

The simile comes out perfectly and makes complete sense. The author of Hebrews is comparing the weekly Sabbath, with its resting and ceasing from work, with the rest that God took after the days of creation. His point then is that those who enter into God's rest have observed the Sabbath, which is a commemoration of God's rest.

Now for verse 11

¹¹ Let us take pains, therefore, to enter that rest, lest we fall in the manner of those who were not persuaded.

By saying "let us take pains" the author is saying that a physical action is required – we must do something to enter that rest. From verse 4:9 we understand this to be the observance of the Sabbath. But the author follows with an important point. In saying "lest we fall in the manner of those who were not persuaded" he is saying that faith and obedience are the foundation of Sabbath observance. The same lack of faith and disobedience that Israel showed when they did not enter the Promised Land can cause us to lose that future rest of God.

So we've seen that this interpretation comes out of a correct translation from the Greek. It is not based on some quirky twisting of scripture. Moreover, it fits perfectly within these three verses and fits perfectly within the discussion and context of the chapter.

Focus

If you have not yet taken a pair of your own scissors to this document there is more to be learned. The first reaction everyone has to this teaching is that it must be false because it would mean that almost no Christian since about 500 AD would ever make it into God's rest. I wrestled with this myself.

The answer comes from a parable that Jesus told as recorded in Luke 12:42-48.⁴

⁴² The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? ⁴³ It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. ⁴⁴ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

⁴⁵ But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. ⁴⁶ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. ⁴⁷ "The servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

From this we see that those who put the sheath on verse 4:9 are like those servants who beat the other servants. They will be assigned a place with the unbelievers. But those who do not know the truth will be beaten with only a few blows. My goal for myself and for you is that you be beaten with no blows.

Addendum

Because "Sabbath Rest" is a meaningless term it opens the door for allegorizing it into whatever each author / interpreter wants it to be. Here are some of the commonly seen interpretations. For each one a source document is listed but, being common, these interpretations can be found in many documents.

Rest of Faith – Resting From Our Works to do God's Works⁵

The foundation is the idea that this Sabbath Rest is not a reference to an after-life rest at all, but a rest, of sorts, in our present life. The author begins by interpreting God's creation act as having two stages, the first being work but his rest afterward as being a new work. He says "It is a rest from work which is now finished, for higher work now to be carried on." Applied to the Christian life this is a call to cease from our efforts to so God's work and instead to let God work through us. Maintaining the simile of 4:10, he sees the Christian life as also having two stages and says "The one [stage] in which, after conversion, a believer seeks to work what God would have him do. The second, in which, after many a painful failure, he ceases from his works, and enters the rest of God, there to find the power for work in allowing God to work in him"

After describing this interpretation the author feels a necessity to address its critics. They characterize it as a "state of passive and selfish enjoyment, of still contemplation which leads to the neglect of the duties of life, and unfits for that watchfulness and warfare to which scripture calls." In short, they say this interpretation is just an excuse to be a lazy Christian.

But aside from that there are a large number of theological concerns with this interpretation. God's rest is never described in anyplace as being a new work. The Sabbath as commanded to the Israelites is not a celebration of a new work. The Sabbath is both a looking back at God's rest from creation and a looking forward to an after-life rest with him. Nowhere is that after-life rest described as a new work.

So this interpretation has no basis in scripture and is simply an attempt to find an interpretation that survives The Scissors. It can be praised for at least honestly presenting itself to The Scissors.

This isn't to say that there is no merit to the message. We should never let our desire to do good works override the specific works that God would have us do. From reading the Bible we know that God wants us to care for the poor. If we read that and head out on our own to do that we may not be doing the works that God wants us to do. It may be God's plan for us to serve in some other way, a way to which we are better suited. Not all of the parts of the body contribute in the same way. So it's necessary for us to be watchful for the opportunities to serve that God sends our way.

A Rest For All

The foundation here is that this Sabbath Rest is a present life rest that comes to all believers. Therefore all who believe experience this rest. So then Hebrews 4 is a call to faith, to conversion.

The context of chapter 4 and also chapter 3 make it clear this is not the correct interpretation. While the author of Hebrews includes faith in the context, he also includes obedience and thus action. This is particularly clear in 4:11 which says "¹¹ Let us take pains, therefore, to enter that rest […]"

Resting From Evil Works

The foundation here is that 4:9-11 are a call to cease from our sinful / evil works. The text of the lesson addresses this interpretation in detail

Jesus is the Sabbath Rest⁶

The foundation here is hard to describe because it requires some amazing literary antics. The idea is that Jesus provided us with the Sabbath rest when he was crucified or perhaps when he ascended. But then somehow Jesus himself becomes the Sabbath rest. Therefore the Sabbath rest mentioned in 4:9 is a present rest, not an after-life rest.

This interpretation seems to rely heavily on the catch phrase, Jesus is our Sabbath rest. The phrase sounds wise but when the idea is studied in detail it falls apart into foolishness. When you hear Jesus saying "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath" it's hard to imagine how "Jesus is our Sabbath" fits with that.

And that's a general problem with this interpretation. It is based on various sleight-of-hand changes and therefore it is usually described in 40,000 foot views that lack any detail. If anyone tries to dig into details they quickly run into trouble.

This interpretation is not really that different from the "A Rest For All" interpretation. Therefore it runs into all the same problems. But the particular article cited here as support further confounds the matter by adding such ideas as the Jubilee Year is the fulfillment of the Sabbath.

Every Day is the Sabbath

The foundation here is the frequent use of the word "Today" in chapters 3 and 4 some people have decided that therefore the Sabbath is every day. So they tell themselves that and are contented by it and without looking at it in depth, off they go. But this interpretation also commonly appears as part of the other present time Sabbath interpretations.

New Creation / Old Creation

The idea here is that the Sabbath is an observance of the old creation and now that we are a new creation it no longer applies to us. There is no logic behind this. Even if one accepts that the Sabbath is an observance of the old creation, the old creation is a physical creation of the universe. How would you argue that the spiritual new creation of a man would somehow invalidate the Sabbath.

But the Sabbath is not only about the old creation. It isn't either just about God's rest after creation. Paul make that clear through Hebrews 3. The Sabbath is also about our entering into that rest of God after creation.

8^th Day

The idea here is that the Sabbath was moved to Sunday because Sunday is the day that Jesus rose from the grave and because Sunday is the day after the 7^th day, therefore the 8^th day. The thinking is that therefore the old Sabbath is gone and replaced by Sunday.

The Bible does mention the 8^th day. It was part of Judaism. Children were circumcised on the 8^th day after birth. It was the symbol of becoming a new man and related to what Paul says in Ephesians 2:15 about a new man and elsewhere about being a new spiritual creation. It is about new beginnings; it isn't related to the Sabbath.

This way of thinking is often coupled with the New Creation / Old Creation idea.

Summary

This is only a list of those interpretations that are in some way related to the verses of The Scissors. There are other understandings of the Sabbath that come from other places. For example there are those who believe Jesus specifically canceled the Sabbath when he said "So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."⁷ And there are others who take the same verse to mean that every man is master of the Sabbath so it is up to each man to decide how to observe it … or not.

It has to be obvious from the large number of interpretations that there is a problem. And the differences among the interpretations are not small. The only thing they have in common is that each is sure that the Sabbath, as observed by the Jews, is not for Christians.

A large number of widely held interpretations of a scriptural passage is a sign of one of two things:

1. God has not yet revealed the correct interpretation
2. Man has rejected the correct interpretation

The first case is more commonly seen with prophetic verses but there are some non-prophetic verses where it seems that God is hiding deeper understandings, presumably to be revealed at some time to some person(s).

¹ http://biblehub.com/greek/4520.htm

² "The words 'sabbath rest' is from the [Greek] noun sabbatismos, [and is] a unique word in the NT. This term appears also in Plutarch (Superset. 3 [Moralia 166a]) for sabbath observance, and in four post-canonical Christian writings which are not dependent on Heb. 4:9" (The Anchor Bible Dictionary, Vol. 5, p. 856).

³ Aramaic New Testament

⁴ Also in Matthew 24:45-51

⁵ The Holiest of All: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews – Andrew Murray

⁶ http://lifeassuranceministries.org/proclamation/2011/4/enjoysabbathrest.html

⁷ Mark 2:28