07-08-2010, 08:22 AM
I've been doing a little research on this verse.
Here is some of what I found.
An article by Lois E. Gibson, brief, excellent points.
Link - http://www.spiritualabuse.org/mywritings/obedience.html
And here are a few excerpts from another article, link provided below.
Heb 13:17, partially quoted and incorrectly translated, has been used by countless authoritarian pastors as a hammer to put their congregations into blind subjection to their personal vision for how they feel that the church should operate and behave. This is contrary to the clear teachings of the Scriptures.
The problem is this: the popular incorrect translation of the original Greek as “Obey those who have the rule over you†simply does not square with (reconcile or harmonize) with the rest of the Scriptures and seems to empower certain men to have authoritarian rule in the church. But we know that the Bible forbids the authoritarian rule of men in the Church.
Not surprisingly, the area of leadership and authority is often where we see the most mistranslated verses in even good translations of the Bible. This is likely because this is the power base by which men gain control over other men by subjugating the teachings of the Scriptures to manmade traditions. Therefore:
Well-meaning translators with the best of intentions, being human, are subject to the temptation of influence by their own denominations, church leaders, church traditions, personal opinions, etc.
It is clear, when taken in context with the rest of this Scripture and with the other words properly translated, (as well as what the rest of the Bible teaches on the subject), that “peitho†simply means believing, trusting, obeying and accepting. The question is believing…and accepting what? The answer from the context is this: believing, trusting, obeying and accepting God’s Word as accurately or faithfully presented by true elders.
It is assumed or implied that these are true not false elders. When the Bible mentions things in passing like the subject of elders, it is always assumed that these things are genuine and true. So we know the Bible is not allowing or endorsing false elders.
This word “peitho†here does not in any way suggest or license some type of blind obedience to a self-proclaimed dictator or groups of co-dictators.
Heb 13:17 is clearly not a license for men to dictate, rule, control, command, dominate, and otherwise exercise authority over others in the church. We know this first and foremost because Jesus and His Apostles told us that such things are forbidden!
A true elder, commonly called pastor is a servant-guide protector not a dictatorial lording leader. A true elders is not a CEO corporate America mover and shaker but rather one who truly feeds and protects the sheep, not for their own personal gain or to support heir own personal agendas
Please read the full text by Paul Howey .
Link - http://www.truthguard.com/Articles/solvi...a-a17.html
Here is some of what I found.
An article by Lois E. Gibson, brief, excellent points.
Link - http://www.spiritualabuse.org/mywritings/obedience.html
And here are a few excerpts from another article, link provided below.
Heb 13:17, partially quoted and incorrectly translated, has been used by countless authoritarian pastors as a hammer to put their congregations into blind subjection to their personal vision for how they feel that the church should operate and behave. This is contrary to the clear teachings of the Scriptures.
The problem is this: the popular incorrect translation of the original Greek as “Obey those who have the rule over you†simply does not square with (reconcile or harmonize) with the rest of the Scriptures and seems to empower certain men to have authoritarian rule in the church. But we know that the Bible forbids the authoritarian rule of men in the Church.
Not surprisingly, the area of leadership and authority is often where we see the most mistranslated verses in even good translations of the Bible. This is likely because this is the power base by which men gain control over other men by subjugating the teachings of the Scriptures to manmade traditions. Therefore:
Well-meaning translators with the best of intentions, being human, are subject to the temptation of influence by their own denominations, church leaders, church traditions, personal opinions, etc.
It is clear, when taken in context with the rest of this Scripture and with the other words properly translated, (as well as what the rest of the Bible teaches on the subject), that “peitho†simply means believing, trusting, obeying and accepting. The question is believing…and accepting what? The answer from the context is this: believing, trusting, obeying and accepting God’s Word as accurately or faithfully presented by true elders.
It is assumed or implied that these are true not false elders. When the Bible mentions things in passing like the subject of elders, it is always assumed that these things are genuine and true. So we know the Bible is not allowing or endorsing false elders.
This word “peitho†here does not in any way suggest or license some type of blind obedience to a self-proclaimed dictator or groups of co-dictators.
Heb 13:17 is clearly not a license for men to dictate, rule, control, command, dominate, and otherwise exercise authority over others in the church. We know this first and foremost because Jesus and His Apostles told us that such things are forbidden!
A true elder, commonly called pastor is a servant-guide protector not a dictatorial lording leader. A true elders is not a CEO corporate America mover and shaker but rather one who truly feeds and protects the sheep, not for their own personal gain or to support heir own personal agendas
Please read the full text by Paul Howey .
Link - http://www.truthguard.com/Articles/solvi...a-a17.html