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"You need someone to teach you again the first principles..."

Text: Hebrews 5:12

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

We have heard this phrase time and time again, “back to square one” or “back to basics”. Should we just shrug our shoulders and accept this as “normal”? The fact is that there are many situations in life when we cannot go back to square one!

1. We cannot recover lost time.

2. We cannot recover lost opportunities.

3. We cannot fully repair the damages caused by the ravage of time.

A SAD COMMENT

The author of Hebrews made a sad and indignant comment concerning the state of some believers.

“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…”
Hebrews 5:12b

1. A case of genuine ignorance

a) The case of Apollos may be cited as one of “genuine ignorance” (Cf. Acts 18:24-28)

b) He was a fervent disciple of John the baptizer and he fervently preached what he knew.

c) He lacked full knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ when he met Aquila and Priscilla.

d) But after Apollos had been fully instructed by this godly couple, he became an effective and eloquent teacher of the Gospel of Christ.

2. “You need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God”

a) Christianity had a well-organised system of theological beliefs.

b) The beginner’s level may be described as “the first principles of the oracles of God”.

i) The word “oracles” simply means “truths” (ton logion tou theou”).

ii) The word “oracles” may be translated “the words of God”.

c) These believers had been taught the words of God previously.

d) They were not able to teach even simple truths to others though much time had lapsed.