Jovial (24 July 2016)
"Hebrew Thought in Paul's Letters"


When Paul said,

"We will not all sleep,
but we will be changed." (1 Cor 15:51)

He was thinking in Hebrew, because both the word SLEEP (שנה = shenah) and CHANGE (שנה = shanah) are spelled the same way in Hebrew, but pronounced different.  [And sleep is a change of state.]  Some people will try to write that off as a coincidence, but it is impossible to do that when this type of thing happens over and over again.  For example, when Paul said,

"In regard to evil (עול), be an infant (עול)"
(1 Cor 14:20)

The same sort of thing is happening again.  Paul uses two words in the same sentence that are spelled the same way in Hebrew (but pronounced different).  He is connecting these concepts together in his mind because he is thinking in Hebrew.  But when you hear my ENTIRE analysis of this passage, you will see that there is more to it than just Hebrew thought behind the text, but a message in what is being conveyed when one thinks of how Hebrew connects this phrase with the next one that contrasts with it.

And it was not just a coincidence that He chose a branch as a symbol of jealousy in Romans 11, because there is a connection that can be made between jealousy and branches in Hebrew thought.  These and other examples of Hebrew thought in the New Testament are covered in the below video.

If the above video fails to play, click on https://www.youtube.com/embed/B4412AMsMLY  and watch it there.

Shalom,

Joe