2 -- The Cast of Characters
3 -- The Context at Corinth/Ephesus (13:22-25)
4 -- Closing Clues (13:1-19)
5 -- The Main Takeaway (4:14-16; 10:25-31)
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Here is a scenario based on Hebrews 5:11-6:2 and 10:32-39.
1. Apollos is using Tertius as a scribe at Corinth. You remember Tertius, right? He served as Paul's scribe when he wrote his famed letter to the Romans from Corinth.
"So, in the first part of the sermon," says Tertius, "you're going to show them how secure they are in the hands of Christ, right? He is both our heavenly king and priest!" Tertius said.
"Right," Apollos responded. "And the point is that they need to hold fast. They don't need to worry about where they're going to get atonement now that the temple is gone. They have a far superior priest in a far superior sanctuary with a far superior offering. In fact, Christ is that toward which all the earthly system was actually pointing all along."
"Weren't they a model church during the hard days of Nero's reign?" Tertius asked.
"Absolutely. Not all Gentiles have the privilege of being enlightened, like they were (6:4; 10:32) -- in fact, like you were."
"Right. I am so thankful that God has extended his grace to us as well," Tertius said.
"When Paul was beheaded, when Peter was crucified, they endured the pressure with great faith (10:32-33). Nero set some Christians on fire to provide light for his garden. He killed some of them in the hippodrome pretending to be a god. He made sport of our deaths."
"But they endured the shame then," Tertius continued. "They took care of those in jail (10:34) -- you know how bad Roman jail is if you don't have someone on the outside to bring you food."
"Yes, and some of them even had their property confiscated," Apollos added. "But they endured it with such faith."
"So why do they seem to be wavering this time?" Tertius asked.
"A second battle is often harder than the first," Apollos answered. "Let's say you encounter a difficult sickness, but after a valiant struggle, you recover. Then if it comes back, it's often devastating."
"So the devastation of Jerusalem and all those put to death is weighing heavily on them, you think?"
"For sure," Apollos answered. "And now the only apostle still alive is John the elder. We all expected Christ to return by now. I think there are many who could use a boost of faith."
2. "We need to tell them not to give up," he continued.
"Give them a pep talk," Tertius said.
"Yes, and also a warning. You can't treat God's grace lightly. We need them to feel how high the stakes are -- the seriousness of what it might mean to fall away from the living God (3:12).
"Do you really think that's going to happen?" Tertius asked.
"I don't think so," Apollos said (6:9). "I think they just need a stern wake up call. They've believed in Jesus for a long time now (5:12). They should be the teachers. They should be eating solid food, not still nursing on milk (5:13). They need to grow up (5:14)."
"So a little good cop and bad cop in the same letter?"
"Yes. A little bit of hope and a little bit of the big stick," Apollos said. "They need to move on into a mature faith (6:1)."
"And the deep teaching on Christ as high priest will help," Tertius added.
"I sure hope so," Apollos agreed. "When they first believed in the God of Israel, they learned all the kindergarten truths. They learned to put their faith in the one true God -- a great opportunity for a non-Jew (6:2). They learned about turning from the dead works of their sins, especially idolatry. They learned about the final judgment and resurrection."
"All things a Jewish believer would have known from childhood," Tertius said.
"Yes, but a Gentile coming to Christ -- if they weren't a God-fearer -- first learns those elementary principles when they first believe in him (6:1). They learn about baptism too, and we lay hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit (6:2)."
"OK," Tertius agreed. "What do you think of alternating back and forth between teaching and admonishing them?"
"That's what I was thinking too," Apollos said. "We'll give them some teaching that shows why they should have confidence. Then we'll follow it up with a warning of the consequences of not holding fast.
"And Jesus will return soon enough," Tertius added (10:37), "just like Habakkuk said."
"Right," Apollos agreed. "We're not like those who shrink back and are destroyed. We are like those who keep going in faith and receive the salvation of our souls" (10:39).
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