What Will Happen If We Learn The Bible with Hebrew Thinking?

Contents

1 A Theological University And Graduate School That Pastors And Missionaries From Around The World Come To Learn
2 Why has Cohen University spread so much worldwide?

Based on the contents of the program “CGN Focus” produced by Japan CGNTV, we look at what it means to learn the Bible with Hebrew Thinking, and what changes that entails.

A Theological University And Graduate School That Pastors And Missionaries From Around The World Come To Learn

In December 2016, Bible lectures based on the original texts of the Bible and analyzed by Hebrew Thought began in Japan.
These lectures are organized by Cohen University, which is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, and has branch schools in 130 countries.

Dr. Gary Cohen, the founder of Cohen University, is the only theologian who has converted from Judaism to Christianity despite being the 147th descendant of the High Priest Aaron.
Dr. Cohen can recite the entire Old Testament in Hebrew, including the Old Testament Torah (the 5 books of Moses ).
As the head of the translation committee of NKJV (New King James version)Bible, Dr. Cohen worked on the translation and supervision of many parts of the Old Testament with 138 Biblical theologians.

Dr. Cohen is currently the honorary president of Cohen University, which has today become a global theological university.

Cohen University teaches the Bible based on the original texts and analyzes it based on Hebrew Thought, a principle inherited to only descendants of the chief priest, and applies it to the Gospel. As the only institution that does this, Cohen University is attended by many pastors and missionaries worldwide even after graduation.

Why has Cohen University spread so much worldwide?

The Gospel Is Integrated With The Entirety Of Our Lives

Pastor Yukie Kawai, who played a big part in bringing Cohen University to Japan, came to Japan from Korea alone more than 30 years ago.

Although she began evangelism in Japan, for a long time she was frustrated over the fact that her work wasn’t bearing fruit.

But when she took the lectures at Cohen University for the first time in 2015, she says she was surprised at how the Gospel is integrated with the entirety of our lives.

“In particular, I was surprised at how pastoring changed with Hebrew Thought.
I thought, ‘Ah, the Gospel is amazing’. By applying just a little Hebrew Thought into the Gospel that I had been preaching, it changed so much.
I understood that God who gave us His Word and had prepared everything so that we could integrate His Word and our lives.”

In fact,the Jewish people have integrated God’s Word and their lives. And they are greatly blessed.

The crucial difference between learning the Word by Hebrew Thought and Biblical interpretation with the traditional Hellenistic (Greek) thought is that by having a direct relationship with God that is deep and strong, you can experience the conviction and joy of faith in full,even during the lectures.

In fact, there is always laughing during the lectures among those who attend.

At times the attendees cry, they fear the Lord, they are overflowed with joy and gratitude, and are overwhelmed by the height, size, depth and length of the gospel.

“Hebrew Thinking” – If We Live According To God’s Point Of View, We Will Also Be Happy In Real Life

Lecturer Dr. Kim Hyung Jong explains the difference between Greek Thought and Hebrew Thought as follows:

“What is the difference between Greek Thought and Hebrew Thought?
In a nutshell, in Greek Thought everything is done by humans, without God, including judgement and evaluation.
Hebrew Thought is to think from God’s point of view.
God created humans, but if you think in terms of Greek Thought, which is human-derived, all your actions will be opposite from God.
To think in a God-centered way means you live in a way that God intended us to be happy when He created us humans.
Only then, can you live in the way we were created for.”

In the past, Christians analyzed, classified and interpreted the Bible.causing a history of numerous divisions and sects in the church, including the division of Catholics and Protestants.

On the other hand, the Hebrew Thought,which the Jews have passed down for generations, is a simple and integrated way of thinking that accepts the Word of God as it is.

As a result, the Jews gathered under the name of God even after 2000 years of Diaspora.

Because they accepted, declared, executed, and passed on the Word of God.

Pastor Kazuya Hayashi, the representative of Japan Cohen Learning Center, explains as follows.

“Greek Thought classifies and separates the Bible and analyzes each bit in fine detail.
But when you do that, division unavoidably occurs. Because you are thinking with human thought.
You will understand this well, if you look at the history of division that the Christian church has followed.
On the other hand, Hebrew Thought is totally the opposite, as youmemorize the Word ‘as is’. It is very simple.
That’s why despite being captured, persecuted, and scattered all over the world for 2500 years from the Babylonian captivity, when Israel was founded in 1948,the Jews were able to become one and begin to move forward as a country in an instant.
This is because they didnot add their own theological interpretation, and they memorized the Word of God in the original Hebrew language(God’s thought) as it is.
Because they believed it as it is, quoted, and memorized it.”

Pastor Hayashi also serves as the Japan Representative of the World Tefillin Council, and personally practices “tefillin”(Bible Reciting) in Japanese, English and Korean.

Pastor Hayashi preaches eleven worship service messages a week in his pastoral work.
Including early morning messages from Monday to Friday, day and night Wednesday prayer meetings, an off-campus message on Tuesdays, an all-night prayer meeting on Fridays, and twice on Sundays.
He gives 10 different messages in 11 services, but says that he has never being stuck on what topics to talk about.

In addition, Pastor Hayashi tackles a busy schedule which involves preparation of the Japanese Cohen Learning Center held three times a year, studies at Cohen Graduate School held three times a year, and weekly discipleship training for foreigners at Tokyo and Ibaraki. Despite his busy life he enjoys his favorite pastime which is taking a tefillin walk (reciting tefillin while walking).

Even when I was writing my doctorate thesis at the Cohen Graduate School, Tefillin walking kept me refreshed.

Thanks to that, I was able to graduate with first-class honors.”

The Learning Of Hebrew Thought Over flows With Joy

When you learn the Bible from the point of view of Hebrew Thought, that is, learning from God’s point of view, your eyes are opened to the truth, and people live a vibrant life.

Let’s hear from some of those who have actually taken the lectures.

Kumiko Yamamoto (attendee)
“I think most people have never done this kind of learning.
That alone makes me feel like I’ve been able to be part of an amazing experience. I am grateful.”

Takaaki Masuda (attendee)
If you have one foot in this world, and the other foot in heaven, then the Lord will not work when you’re standing in this world.
The Lord said that we should have both feet in Heaven.
There’s a part of me that is very of this world, so it felt like I was told to wake up.
That was the message of Revelation, so I’m happy.

Pastor Junko Kaneko (Glory Christ Church)
“I really feel my eyes were opened to see how interpreting the Bible with Hebrew Thought brings a deeper meaning to the New Testament.
I was really re-educated,almost to the extent that I think I’m not worthy to stand on the pulpit any more.It was like relearning the basics.”

Seven children of Korean missionaries (aged 3 to 12) also took the entire lectures on “Genesis” over five days along with adult attendees.

This was the first time for Cohen University, but the children each focused on taking notes and concentrated on the lectures.

And what’s amazing is, they weren’t children who would normally quietly listen to lessons at school!

Dr. Kim was surprised at this, but it was proof that a Hebrew-style education is being practiced, in which three generations learn the Word of God with delight.

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