NT Framework - When a word is more than an idea

We don't think of words as anything more than an idea without form or substance, but is this always the case? Is there at least one situation where a word was more real than you and me?

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and
our series on the New TestamentFramework.
Today a smaller, bite-sizedpiece from the larger lesson.
We hope you enjoy it.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
So again you wonder why does it express it this way?
The Word of the Lord which came, it's just odd.
So maybe this is an individualand not just hearing words.
Later in the New Testament, asI mentioned, the word becomes
flesh and dwells among us.
Why is he referred to in john'sgospel as the word?
Is that to connect us to theword of the lord.

(00:32):
Passages in the old testament,in his word of the lord in the
old testament, an expression forthe second person of the
trinity.
That's the question.
How about proverbs 8.22?
Proverbs 8.22, and this willtalk about the wisdom of the
Lord, proverbs 8.22.

(00:53):
After Psalms you have Proverbs.
So if you go right to themiddle of the Bible they say
you're going to open it up toPsalms, and if you go a little
bit to the right you'll find theProverbs.
The first nine chapters arewisdom literature, and then
later you get to the pithy shortsayings in chapters 9 and
following, and in chapter 8,there's this interesting figure.

(01:15):
Now, throughout the book ofProverbs it's kind of
interesting.
The early chapters, wisdom isviewed as feminine, consistently
.
Sometimes lady wisdom, ladywisdom is portrayed as a woman,
because a woman in Genesis wascreated for the man to be a help

(01:37):
.
So wisdom is viewed as a helperand these chapters are telling
us that get wisdom right.
Wisdom is more valuable thangold and silver and diamonds.
You know, do anything to getwisdom.
Why?
Because it's a help.
Every believer needs it in lifeto navigate the trials and

(02:02):
difficulties of life.
So these chapters are talkingabout the importance of wisdom
and getting it because it's ahelp.
Now, wisdom in the OldTestament Hebrew, is the concept
of skill.
So, for example, if you were anartist who had wisdom, that
meant you had skill in art.
If you're a musician and youhad wisdom, it meant you had

(02:25):
skill in your musical instrumentor with voice or with whatever
the task was at hand.
So it was always a helper.
And in this case you needwisdom to be skillful in the way
you live life right.
So that's all the background inProverbs 1 through 8.
And then we meet thisinteresting figure in verse 22.

(02:46):
Proverbs 8, 22.
And it says Yahweh possessed meat the beginning of his way.
Speaking of what?
Speaking of wisdom?
Notice verse 12.
So back up and see what he'stalking about when he says
possessed me I.
Back up and see what he'stalking about when he says
possessed me.
I wisdom, verse 12.

(03:06):
So when he says in verse 22,the Lord possessed me, he's
saying the Lord possessed wisdomat the beginning of his way,
before his works of old, sobefore the works of creation is
what he's talking about.
That wisdom was with him.

(03:27):
Verse 23, from everlasting, Iwas established from the
beginning, from the earliesttimes of the earth, when there
were no depths, I was broughtforth.
When there were no springsabounding with water, before the
mountains were settled, beforethe hills, I was brought forth.
So this is all talking aboutthings that were created during

(03:52):
creation week.
And he's saying I was beforethat Eternal generation.
I was there First.
Who is it?
Well, it's wisdom.
Right, wisdom is a help, andthis wisdom is with God, with
Yahweh.
This is a helper of Yahweh.
A helper of Yahweh in what?
In creation, okay, in thecreation work, Verse 26.
While he had not yet made theearth and the fields, nor the

(04:12):
first dust of the world, when heestablished the heavens, I was
there.
That's wisdom.
When he inscribed a circle onthe face of the deep, when he
made firm the skies above, whenthe springs of the deep became
fixed, when he set for the seaits boundary so that the water
would not transgress his commandwhen he marked out the
foundations of the earth.
Then I was beside him as amaster worker.

(04:34):
I, wisdom, was with him in thebeginning as a master workman
and I was his daily delight,rejoicing always before him,
rejoicing in the world, hisearth, and having my delight in
the sons of men.
The question is well, who isthis wisdom?
Is it just a concept or is it aperson?

(04:57):
It sounds like a person becauseverse 30 says he was a master
workman and the new testamentopens up and indicates that
creation itself was done by thefather as source, through the
agent of the son and with theoversight of the Holy Spirit.

(05:20):
So is the wisdom that was withthe Father in the beginning?
Is this another indication inthe Old Testament that there's a
diversity of persons withinhimself from all eternity past?

Speaker 1 (05:35):
Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with
Jeremy Thomas.
If you would like to see thevisuals that went along with
today's sermon, you can findthose on Rumble and on YouTube
under Spokane Bible Church.
That is where Jeremy is thepastor and teacher.
We hope you found today'slesson productive and useful in

(05:55):
growing closer to God andwalking more obediently with Him
.
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next time, we hope you have ablessed and wonderful day.