Chapter 12.1 : This session covers the following content: Hebrew Thinking Style: Core Characteristics 1. Creator-Created Worldview Universal Domain: Reality is framed through a Creator :: Created relationship. Operating System: An open system governed by a spiritual power or divine will, not limited to material/natural causes. Emphasizes dependency on external authority, particularly divine authority. 2. Authority & Community Authority is relational and communal, not individualistic. Cultural focus on cooperation and collective experience. Historical and experiential knowledge is valued over abstract theory. Belief in Hebrew Thought: A Living Action Hebrew Belief Terms and Concepts Key Insight: In Hebrew, belief is not a passive thought—it is an active trust demonstrated through faithfulness, loyalty, and action. Contrast with Western "Belief": Western View: Belief = Mental acceptance or intellectual assent, often separate from action. Hebrew View: Belief = Trust, reliability, and consistent, lived-out faithfulness. Hebrew language doesn't even have a word for "belief" in the abstract sense—belief is always relational and action-based. Emunah Peshutah: “Simple Faith” Like a Child Based on Luke 18:15–17, where Jesus says the Kingdom belongs to those who receive it like children. Related word: Paidion (Greek) = little child, infant — symbol of innocence, dependency, and trust. This childlike faith mirrors emunah: secure, faithful, relational trust, not intellectual complexity. Core Insight: In Hebrew thought, faith is not what you think—it's how you live. Belief is embodied through commitment, community, and covenant. It is deeply relational, built on trust, and grounded in lived experience.
Chapter 12.2 : This session covers the following content: Hebrew Word for Belief: ‘Aman Definition: To confirm, support, trust, be faithful. Meaning: Implies firmness, certainty, and reliability. Cultural Significance: More than intellectual agreement—‘aman’ is about being established, faithful, and steadfast in relationship and action. From ‘Aman to Emunah Emunah = Faithfulness, trust, fidelity, steadfastness Meaning: Firmness, security, reliability Used to Describe: God's trustworthy nature The believer’s loyalty and active trust in God Faith in Hebrew is not just belief about something, but living in faithfulness to Someone (God). Hebrew Faith: Rooted in Action and Covenant Belief is relational and embodied—based on God’s proven faithfulness and humanity's response of loyalty and obedience. Core Insight: In Hebrew thought, faith is built on relational trust and covenant loyalty. God is not just a concept but a personal being who reveals, creates, sustains, and commands. Belief (aman) leads to faithfulness (emunah)—not just knowing the truth, but living it.
Chapter 12.3 : This session covers the following content: Covenant-Based Relationship System The Hebrew worldview operates with a practical, relational framework—life governed by covenants (berith) between God and humanity. These covenants define responsibilities, expectations, and loyalty between both parties. Meaning of "Berith" (Covenant) Definition: A solemn, binding agreement (legal/spiritual). Biblical Use: God’s covenants with key figures (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David). Cultural Background: In the ancient Near East, covenants were formal agreements ratified by rituals or sacrifices. Key Covenants in Hebrew Thought - Covenant with Adam One command: Do not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Represents the beginning of man's moral accountability. - Covenant with Abraham God promises land, descendants, and His presence. Sign of the covenant: circumcision Genesis 17: A relational and generational promise. - Covenant through Moses (Sinai) The Law (Torah): begins with the 10 commandments, expands into 613 total laws. Purpose: to form Israel into a holy nation and kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:3–9). Covenants as Relationship Blueprints Each covenant: - Defines the nature of God’s relationship with people - Lays out human responsibility (obedience, loyalty, worship) -Shows that relationship with God involves ethical action Knowledge of God: "Da`ath" Definition: Knowledge, insight, understanding Type of Knowledge: Not just factual, but experiential and relational. Spiritual Depth: Involves wisdom, discernment, and moral awareness. Scriptural Insight: Hosea 6:6 – God desires mercy and relational knowledge over ritual sacrifice. Core Idea: In Hebrew thinking, obedience, knowledge, and relationship are inseparable. Living faithfully within God’s covenant means knowing Him intimately and acting ethically. This knowledge is practical, rooted in history, and proven through actions of trust and loyalty.
Chapter 12.4 : This session covers the following content: Reliable Knowledge in Hebrew Culture Source: Not constructed individually or by group consensus. Foundation: Revealed by God through covenant relationships with humanity. Knowledge was relational and experiential, not speculative or abstract. Knowledge Through Experience (Empiricism) Hebrews valued personal and communal experience as a form of knowing. Example: Their firsthand experience of God delivering them from Egypt (Exodus 19:3–4) served as undeniable evidence of His power and presence. Skepticism Was Foreign to Hebrew Thought Unlike Western traditions that value doubt and skepticism as tools for discovering truth, Hebrew culture emphasized faith and trust in God. In the Old Testament (NASB), "doubt" appears only once—and even then, not in a philosophical sense, but a physical sense. Hebrew mindset: If God has spoken or acted, it is to be trusted—not doubted. Contrast with Greek Thought: Doubt and Faith Greek word diakrinó = to doubt, discern, judge, or waver. It implies hesitation or inner conflict, often seen as the opposite of faith. New Testament warns against doubting (e.g., James 1:5–8), describing doubt as evaluating or applying reason to faith. Faith (Pistis) in New Testament and Hebrew Thought Pistis = faith, trust, confidence, fidelity. A foundational virtue in both Christian and Jewish life, deeply tied to trusting in God’s character and promises. It implies active, relational trust, not just intellectual agreement. Key Idea: In Hebrew culture, reliable knowledge came through revelation and covenant, not rational doubt or critical questioning. Trusting in God’s word and remembering His actions formed the basis for faith, truth, and wisdom.
Chapter 12.5: This session covers the following content: The New Covenant and Hebrew Epistemology: The New Covenant (Luke 22:19–20) - Established by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper. - Ratified by His sacrifice on the cross and shed blood. Jesus is described as the second Adam, whose obedience opened the way for a restored relationship with God. Purpose of the New Covenant Restores personal, relational knowledge of God—not just intellectual understanding. - Believers come to know God as their Father. Colossians 2:2–4: In Christ are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Reliable Knowledge in the New Covenant: is not based on philosophy, tradition, or critical deconstruction. True knowledge comes from God, not through human speculation. Colossians 2:8–15: Warns against human philosophy and emphasizes that Christ is the fullness of God and the source of true knowledge. Science and Creation Science, in this framework, is rooted in the Creator-Creation relationship. Colossians 1:16–17 affirms that Jesus created all things—both visible and invisible—and sustains all of creation. Reliable Knowledge = Revelation through the New Covenant Knowledge is given by God through revelation, not constructed and then open to skepticism or deconstructivism. Jesus Christ is both the way, the truth, and the life. Pillar/Resource #1: The Triune God God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the eternal source of wisdom and power. Isaiah 40:28–31: God's power and understanding are unsearchable, yet He gives strength and renewal to those who trust Him. Core Conclusion: In Hebrew epistemology, reliable knowledge is not discovered through critical human reasoning, but is received through divine revelation—especially as revealed in Jesus Christ under the New Covenant.
Chapter 12.6 : This session covers the following content: God Is Worthy of all Worship 12. Pillar/Resource #2: God Created Physical Reality - Genesis 1:1-2 – God created time, space, and matter: “In the beginning (time), God created the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).” These are the fundamental physical resources that form the foundation of the created universe. 13. The Product: A Universe Created by a Wise and Powerful God - Jeremiah 51:15-17 emphasizes that: God created the earth by power, established it with wisdom, and stretched out the heavens by understanding. Mankind, by contrast, is ignorant without knowledge apart from God. - Genesis 2:7 – Humanity was uniquely created: God formed man from the dust and breathed into him the breath of life, making him a living soul. Greatest Commandment: Love God and Others - Matthew 22:36–40 – Jesus teaches the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Hebrew: aheb – to love A love rooted in loyalty, action, and covenantal commitment. Greek: agapaó – to love A selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love, as exemplified by God’s love in Christ. In both languages and cultures, love is not merely emotion, but a faithful, lived-out action rooted in relationship. 14. Conclusion: God Is Worthy of Worship - Revelation 4:11 – Worship is due to God because: “You created all things, and because of your desire they existed and were created.” Summary: God is the Creator of time, space, matter, and life itself. He is the source of knowledge, the object of love, and the only One worthy of ultimate honor and praise. True knowledge and purpose come from understanding and living in response to that truth.