Greek vs. Hebraic

January 28

Greek versus Hebraic
From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman


"I will bend Judah as I bend my bow and fill it with Ephraim. I will rouse your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and make you like a warrior's sword," Zechariah 9:13.

In the early church there was an emphasis on developing a heart toward God. This was the Hebraic way. The scriptures were not accessible like they are for us. So, the relationship with God was the key focus. God related to his people on a personal and intimate level. And obedience was the key to a healthy relationship with God. Decisions were not made based on reason and analysis, but by obedience. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm 111:10.

This is why many of the miracles performed in the Bible went against natural reason, (i.e. feeding five thousand, crossing the Red Sea, retrieving a coin from a fish's mouth, walking around Jericho to win a battle, etc.) God constantly wanted to check the leader's obedience, not his knowledge. Knowledge and reason came into the early Church with the Greek scholars in subsequent centuries. This is when the church began to affirm oratory skills among Church leaders. Gradually, over many centuries the focus on knowledge and reason has become more accepted in the Church.

Loss of intimacy with God has been the fallout as a result of the influence of the Greek spirit. The primary focus has been teaching and discipleship instead of the development of a personal and intimate relationship with God. This has resulted in a form of religion, but one without power.

In the early church, the rabbi was there primarily for quality control, not as the primary teacher and speaker. He did not even address the people from an elevated platform. The whole congregation was in a more circular format, each sharing what they believed God was saying. The focus was on the power of God working through each individual, not one individual. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.)

Is your focus on gaining more knowledge or growing in intimacy and power with Jesus? He desires to know you intimately.



Our Brother Hillman has articulated a truth that many people of faith have observed but have been unable to explain. We read the exploits of kings and prophets in the Old Testament and we see the power demonstrated by the Apostles of Christ, then we look at ourselves and wonder at the lack of efficaciousness in our own walk of faith.

Can Os Hillman be right? Are we so focused on teaching and learning and understanding the WORD that we have neglected our relationship with JESUS, the LIVING WORD of GOD?

Are we so busy serving the purposes of the Kingdom that we have neglected to sit at the feet of the King? Have we become so devoted to sharing the truth of God with the lost that we are too busy to place our hand into the hand of the Master and to walk in sweet fellowship with Him?

If we are as busy doing the Lord’s work as was Martha, we have little time for the devotion of Mary. Jesus prefers our devotion. (See Luke 10:38-42.) If we are to be effective in the work of the Kingdom, we must first be intimate with the King. We must walk with Him, commune with Him, rest in Him, or we have nothing of value to share with anyone else.

We must KNOW our Savior, not merely know of Him (See Acts 19:13-15.) If we go about doing His work without Him, we become as those on judgment day who will say, “Lord, Lord, didn’t I prophecy in Your name? Didn’t I cast out demons in Your name? Didn’t I heal sick bodies in Your name?” And Jesus will say to them, “Depart from Me; I never knew you.” Matthew 7:21-23.

Lord Jesus, take our good intentions and conform them to Your will. Take the eagerness in our hearts to serve You and conform it to Your heart of love that reaches out in Your way, in Your time to those to whom You send us. We know You can best do that when we draw near to Your bosom and abide in You.