Hebrews
Holy Writer
This letter is one of the most unusual letters in the New Testament in that neither the writer nor the intended audience is clearly mentioned.
The consensus of the early church was that the writer of this letter was Paul (Clement of Alexandria was the first to suggest that Paul wrote this letter in Hebrew and Luke translated it into Greek). Two main reasons were used in support of this theory. First, the writer states that he was “in chains” (10:35); secondly, there are many parallels in thought between this letter and many of Paul’s letters.
But opposing such an argument are several other facts: One, this letter does not contain the typical Pauline greeting; two, common Pauline phrases are absent from this letter (e.g. Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus etc.); and three, the writers own words: “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard him...” (2:3). The writer makes it clear that he was not an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus, but had come to the knowledge of Jesus as Savior through others who had been with Jesus personally. This runs contrary to what Paul writes in Galatians “the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11-12).
Other individuals who have been suggested are Barnabas (Tertullian) and Apollos (Luther) who would both fit the description of one who had not been with the Lord Jesus but had learned from others. While there is uncertainty about who the holy writer was, we should have no doubts regarding the certainty of the inspiration of the book, as the authorship by the Holy Spirit is evident throughout.
Title and Recipients
We will not find any reference to the original readers anywhere in this letter either (even the title “to the Hebrews” was not part of the original, but was added later). Though we cannot pinpoint a certain location, we will find certain features about the group who first received the letter.
➜ They were Christians who knew the writer personally: “Pray for us ... But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner” (13:18-19).
➜ They had been Christians for some time, but were in danger of weakening in their knowledge: “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; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (5:12).
➜ They had endured some persecution, but had not yet experienced martyrdom: “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (10:32-24), and “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin” (12:4).
➜ With all the references to tabernacle ritual and Old Testament quotes from the Septuagint we can also conclude that they were Greek speaking Jews, well versed in the contents and worship life of the Old Testament. There are at least 37 quotations from the Old Testament in this letter, as well as many references to individuals, events and rituals recorded in the O.T. (cf 7:1-16, 9:1-7, 11:4-32 ).
Date of Writing
Quotations from the book of Hebrews are found as early as 96 A.D. where it is first quoted by Christian writers living in Rome. Because of the persecution mentioned throughout the book, it would seem that the book was written at some point following the great persecutions started during the reign of Nero in 64 A.D. It is also important to notice that nothing is said in this letter about the fall of Jerusalem which occurred in 70 A.D. (The ruin of the temple would have been convincing proof for the author’s claim that Christ had rendered the O.T. sacrificial system obsolete). So the book of Hebrews was most likely written sometime between 64-70 A.D.
Purpose and Contents
The purpose of the letter is very clear - it was written to encourage Jewish Christians who were suffering persecutions, and to urge them not to abandon their faith in Christ. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (3:12-14); and again, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching”(10:23-25 - cf. 2:1; 4:14; 6:11-12; 10:39; 11:39-40; 12:1-3, 12-13, 15, 25 - note the progression of the warnings!).
The letter to the Hebrews is an exposition of one main theme. The first half of the letter (1:1-10:18) gives the doctrinal teaching about the person of Christ emphasizing His work of atonement. Time and time again, the writer points to Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. The book of Hebrews is an excellent guide in helping us to understand the meaning and significance to the Levitical rituals. The writer demonstrates that the function of these rituals were to point Old Testament believers forward to Christ and what He would accomplish. When describing New Testament Christianity, the writer uses words like “new” and “better” (cf. 7:19, 22-24, 8:6, 9:11-12) in order to show how the Old Testament covenant of promise and symbolic imagery was completed by Christ through the New Covenant.
The second half of the letter (10:19-13:25) applies faith in Christ to the lives of the readers. Faith is described, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (11:1), faith is illustrated by the lives of familiar Old Testament figures, and the end result of faith is looked forward to.
Christ in Hebrews
The book of Hebrews focuses on Jesus as the perfect Savior from sin and the complete answer for our every need. As a person reads through the book of Hebrews the emphasis on the person and work of Christ becomes clearly evident. There are many descriptions of Jesus given in this letter to the Hebrews.
Jesus is...
• “the brightness of His (God’s) glory and the express image of His (God’s) person” (1:3);
• “in all things ... made like His brethren” (2:17);
• “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (3:1);
• “a great High Priest” (4:14) and “High Priest of the good things to come” (9:11);
• “a surety of a better covenant” (7:22);
• “Mediator of a better covenant” (8:6) and “Mediator of the new covenant” (9:15);
• “the author and finisher of our faith” (12:2);
• “the same yesterday, today, and forever” (13:8);
• and the “great Shepherd of the sheep” (13:20).
Outline
Theme: Christ - the only way to Heaven!
I. Introduction (1:1-3)
II. Christ - better than the angels (1:4-2:18)
III. Christ - better than Moses and Joshua (3:1- 4:13)
IV. Christ - better than the Aaronic Priesthood (4:14-7:28)
V. Christ and His better Covenant (8:1-10:18)
VI. Faith in Christ the better way (10:19-12:29)
VII. Conclusion (13:1-25)
Note: This study was prepared for the Bible Class at Zion Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, GA by Pastor Nathanael Mayhew.
If you would like more information about this study,
please contact Pastor Mayhew