|
|
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| − | [[The Book of Mormon]] > [[Alma]] > [[Alma 13|Chapter 13]]
| + | #REDIRECT [[Alma 13:1-12]] |
| − | {|
| + | |
| − | | [[Alma 13:1-5|Previous (Alma 13:1-5)]] || || [[Alma 13:11-15|Next (Alma 13:11-15)]]
| + | |
| − | |}
| + | |
| − | == Questions ==
| + | |
| − | * What are we to make of the end of verse 6 "that they also might enter into his rest"? (see exegesis)
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | * Verse 6 makes it clear that this is a discussion of the "high" or Melchizedek Priesthood as opposed to the lower or Aaronic priesthood. Since the temple in Jerusalem during Lehi's time was being run by Aaronic priest, how did the descendents of Lehi get the Melchizedek Priesthood?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | * In verse 7 Alma says "according to his foreknowledge of all things." What do these verses tell us about the foreknowledge of God?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | * How is the priesthood related to "the holy order of God"?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | * In vs. 9 re read the familiar phrase about being "full of grace, equity, and truth". In this case it is referring to "the Only Begotten of the Father". Since we read elsewhere that Christ grew from grace to grace, what are we to make of the claim in vs. 9 that the Only Begotten of the Father is without beginning of days or end of years? Does this tell us anything useful about the nature of grace or how it might be obtained?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | * What does vs. 10 tell us about the importance of the priesthood service as part of the gospel? In this section we read about faith and repentence leading to ordination and priesthood service--so that we can follow Christ. Can we follow Christ without the priesthood? For truely sanctifying service, do we need the priesthood in order to follow "after the order of the Son" (vs.9)?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Lexical notes ==
| + | |
| − | * While it might be impossible to know what the original word was that is translated in vs. 9 as "grace", the original Hebrew "chen" signifies favour or grace, and is translated in the Greek NT as "charis"--that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, and charm or goodwill, loving kindness, favour. It is a noun that comes from the Greek verb "chairo"--to rejoice, be glad. So grace is tied to rejoicing, granting favors, and affording pleasure and delight. We grow from grace to grace when we cause God to rejoice by our bestowing favor and loving kindness on others, with ever growing abilities to create greater and greater joy.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | One who is full of this grace or charis is charismatic, and we respond to them by giving grace for grace.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Exegesis ==
| + | |
| − | Verse 6 ends by saying that the high priests teach the children of men "that they also might enter into his rest." There are three apparent questions: 1) who does "they" refer to, 2) what does it mean to enter into the rest of the Lord, and 3) what is the significance of the <i>also</i>?
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | # It seems "they" refers to the children of men that the high priests teach.
| + | |
| − | # [[Heb 4:10]] gives us one definition of entering into the rest of the Lord. Of course, it may be that this phrase is used differently in different parts of the scriptures. [[Alma 13:12|Verse 12]] suggests that being made pure is necessary to entering into the Lord's rest.
| + | |
| − | # The <i>also</i> here can be read to suggest that the high priests entered into his rest at the time they were preaching. [[Alma 13:12|Verse 12]] suggests that many, but possibly not all, of the high priests Alma is speaking of did enter into the rest of the Lord at some point. The scriptures don't tell us whether that happened in this life or the next. Both seem compatible with the text in verse 12.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | Verse 9 states "they become high priests forever." This point signifies the seriousness of the commitment. Being a high priest is not a temporary appointment. Anyone, then, who receives this ordination ought to realize the eternal nature of covenant.
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | == Related links ==
| + | |
| − | * ''Click the edit link above and to the right to add related links''
| + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | | + | |
| − | ----
| + | |
| − | {|
| + | |
| − | | [[Alma 13:1-5|Previous (Alma 13:1-5)]] || || [[Alma 13:11-15|Next (Alma 13:11-15)]]
| + | |
| − | |}
| + | |
