REVIVAL MINISTRIES AUSTRALIA
An Apostolic Ministry to the Nations
... knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation - 2 Pet 1:20
... knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation - 2 Pet 1:20
Paul Galligan
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles [rudimentary beginnings] of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food" Hebrews 5:12. In the verses prior to this, the writer has been explaining some deep things concerning Christ the Son being "a Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek" (Heb.5:5-10). Then the writer says concerning Melchizedek, "of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing" (v.11). The problem with these Hebrew believers, is explained in four ways:
• they are dull of hearing
• they should have grown up to be teachers by now
• they need to be taught again the first principles of the oracles of God
• they need milk and not solid food.
As a result of still being babes in terms of understanding the word of God, they are "unskilled in the word of righteousness" (Heb.5:13). In the context, the word of righteousness is referring to the oracles of God. It is the mature word that comes, enabling the minister to rightly divide the word of truth (2Tim.2:15). It comes as a result of diligent study, giving oneself to the word. But God wants every believer to grow up into this maturity, for He says, "But solid food is for those who are of full age [mature], those who by reason of use [practice] have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil [bad]" Heb.5:14.
The oracles of God are the Scripture, that which is written. Jesus said "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'" (Matt.4:4). Jesus said three times "It is written" and each time He quoted from the Scripture. So the oracles of God are the Scriptures, but in the verse that Jesus quotes, the Scripture gives us further insight into the oracles of God: they proceed from the mouth of God. The Greek word used in this quote is rhema, normally translated 'word', but refers more to the spoken word, an utterance and is defined in the quote: "that proceeds from the mouth of God".
Summarising what we learn from Matthew 4:4 about the oracles of God; they are:
i. the Scripture
ii. that which is written
iii. the word that proceeds from the mouth of God
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2Tim.3:16. Notice it says all Scripture! The Bible is the word of God and it is the word of God in its sum total and in all of its parts - every part of the Bible is the word of God.
The Scripture is given by inspiration of God: this means the Scripture is God breathed. The Greek word is Theopneustos, meaning literally God breathed. Peter, in describing how the Old Testament Scriptures were written, says, "but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit" (2Pet.1:21). This means literally that they were 'being borne along' or 'coursed along' by the Holy Spirit, as in a river - the river of God!
The Scripture is profitable for: doctrine [teaching], reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. Remember the Hebrew believers were "unskilled in the word of righteousness" (Heb.5:13). We need to be taught and trained in the word, in the Scripture, so that we can receive the oracles of God. The Lord promises a "crown of righteousness" (2Tim.4:8). To receive this crown we need to be keeping [abiding in] the word of righteousness and standing in the word of righteousness.
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intentions of the heart" Heb.4:12.
There is nothing to compare with the word of God:
Energes can mean energetic and is the opposite of idle, inactive and ineffective.
The words of Jesus are forever
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away" Matt.24:35.
We are learning about the word. The main Greek word translated as 'word' is logos SC#3056, which has many meanings, but mostly translated as 'word'. It means: a transmission of thought, communication, a word of explanation, an utterance, divine revelation, an oracle, divine promise, divine doctrine.
True doctrine is a very important aspect of the oracles of God that must be understood. It is the doctrine of God: "Jesus answered them and said, 'My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, He shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or I speak on My own'" Jn.7:16-17. True doctrine comes from heaven; it originates from heaven; "Your word is settled in heaven" (Ps.119:89).
We are to take heed to the doctrine. "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" 1Tim.4:16. For there is no other doctrine. Paul says, "that they teach no other doctrine" (1Tim.1:3).
The word 'oracle' only appears seventeen times in the Old Testament in the King James Bible. In 2Samuel 16:23 it is the word dabar. This word primarily means the word and is mostly translated word (807x). "Now the advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God. So was all the advice of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom." The word that this man spoke was received as a reliable and authoritative word that was to be trusted and obeyed; it was as the oracle of God.
The Hebrew word is debir; SC#1687. This word has the sense of oracle, but actually refers to the shrine or the innermost part of the sanctuary. The word appears 16 times and in the King James Bible is translated as oracle. The references in question are: 1 Kings 6:5, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31; 1Kings 7:49; 1Kings 8:6, 8; 2 Chron.3:16; 2 Chron.4:20, 5:7, 9; Psalm 28:2. Please check these references in both the King James Version and the New King James Version, because in the New King James the word is translated as inner most sanctuary, not as oracle.
The point is that the Oracle of God is that word coming forth from the inner sanctuary from above the Mercy Seat. As Vines puts it: 'The place from which Deity speaks'.
There is a mystery here, and this mystery is also reflected in the New Testament in Revelation 15:5: "After these things I looked, and behold, the temple [sanctuary, the inner shrine] of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened." This verse is ill-translated by the word 'temple', because the Greek word is referring to the same thing as the ancient Hebrew word, debir, was referring to, that is, the inner sanctuary of the house of God, where God speaks. So the oracle of God is linked to the inner sanctuary of the house of God and is referring to the Holy of Holies in both the Temple and the Tabernacle, where the Ark of the Covenant was placed.
The oracle of God is that word which originates in the inner sanctuary of God's house. This is confirmed when God was instructing Moses in the building of the Tabernacle and its furnishings. "You shall put the Mercy Seat on top of the Ark, and in the Ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the Mercy Seat, from between the two Cherubim which are on the Ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give in commandment to the children of Israel" Ex.25:21-22.
This is confirmed in Numbers 7:89 "Now when Moses went into the Tabernacle of Meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice of One speaking to him from above the Mercy Seat that was on the Ark of the Testimony, from between the two Cherubim, thus He spoke to him."
Originally God intended to meet with His people face to face, but the people became afraid and they refused to meet with God. They requested Moses to meet with God and then to speak to them (Ex.20:18-19). In the new covenant God wishes to meet with everyone of His people and be able to speak to them face to face, even as He spoke to Moses. He intends for the people of God to be able to teach others the very word that God speaks to them.
There are other uses of the word 'oracle' in the NKJ Bible, but it is a different Hebrew word and does not really mean oracle. For example, in Numbers 23 and 24 it says that Balaam "took up his oracle" (Nu.23:7,18 & 24:3,15). The word in the Hebrew is translated 'proverb' and 'parable' in the KJV. The fact that Balaam was a defiled prophet who used sorcery, means that he could not speak the oracle of God, that is, the pure unadulterated word from the mouth of God. However he could not do other than speak the word God gave him to speak, but that is different to the oracle of God. God caused a donkey to speak as well and that is not the oracle of God.
The word translated as 'oracle' is logion SC#3051. It means 'an utterance [of God]' and is translated four times as oracle. Vines says that logion means a word, narrative, statement; a divine response or utterance an oracle.
1. The contents of the Mosaic law are the oracles of God
In Acts 7:38, Stephen is speaking of Moses receiving the law word, "This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give us."
2. The Old Testament Scriptures are the oracles of God
"What advantage has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God" Rom.3:1-2.
3. The Christian doctrine of the New Testament equals the oracles of God
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God and you have come to need milk and not solid food" Heb.5:12. We learn from this verse that all Christians are expected to grow to maturity and to be able to teach the oracles of God. To be enabled to do this, one must be properly founded in the first principles of the oracles of God. These first principles are listed for us in Hebrew 6:1-2: repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. These are the first principles of the oracles of God. They are the first principles of the faith which is in Jesus Christ. God will not allow His people to handle the oracles of God if they are not properly founded and trained in the elementary doctrines of Christ. There will be no permit to go on to perfection [full maturity] (Heb.6:3).
4. The oracles of God are spoken through the utterances of the ones ordained to bring forth the word
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion [sovereignty] forever and ever. Amen" 1Pet.4:10-11.
The need for grace and the enablement that grace gives is the context in which Peter says that we can speak as the oracles of God, that is, to bring an utterance from the mouth of God. In the context of Peter's teaching, he says any member of the body of Christ can be enabled by grace to speak as the oracles of God.
To be able to receive the oracles of God, which are the Scriptures, the doctrine, the pure unadulterated word of God, we need to be properly founded on the first principles of the oracles of God. Foundations must come first; then we will be able to receive the oracle, the word of righteousness. Let us continue to lay the foundations, where they have not been laid; and let us continue to shore up the foundations where they need to be strengthened.
The oracles of God are given to us so that we can be taught, reproved, corrected and instructed in righteousness (2Tim.3:16). Then we are able by His grace to speak of the glory of God in Jesus the Messiah, who has all sovereignty forever and ever. AMEN.