Hebrews

Overview of the Book

The epistle to the Hebrews has a unique place among the New Testament writings.  H.E. Dana1 states (quoting Origen, one of the early Church fathers) that Hebrews begins like a treatise (for example, Introduction in Hebrews 1: 1 – 4), proceeds like a sermon (for example, Body/message in Hebrews 1: 5 – 13: 19), and closes like an epistle (for example, conclusion in Hebrews 13: 20 – 25).  The highlight of the epistle is the supremacy of Christ over everyone else and everything else.  This is portrayed very explicitly and with all-out accuracy. Therefore, the epistle is provided with a more Christ-centered message than any other epistle in the New Testament.

Title of the Epistle

There is no any other title documented for the Epistle other than the title stated here – that is, Hebrews.  As per the historical standpoints, the title of the epistle is simply mentioned as ‘To the Hebrews.’  Therefore, the epistle is known as ‘The Epistle to the Hebrews.’

Authorship of the Epistle

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews is still undesignated because the book does not give any hint about the authorship of the epistle. One thing is for sure, from the passage of Hebrews 13:22 – 24 states that the author was a familiar figure among the intended recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews.  Over the years, many Biblical scholars proposed various potential authors of the epistle.  Some of the prominent possible authors among them were Apostle Paul, Apollos (based on Luke’s reference to him in Acts 18:24 – 28)2, Apostle Barnabas (Acts 14:14 – a close friend and companion of Paul and who knew Timothy very closely), and Luke (the evangelist who wrote the Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles).  

On one hand, many early Christians, including some of the Church fathers, accepted Apostle Paul as the author of Hebrews.  This, however, has drawbacks because:

  • The writing style of Hebrews does not match with the rest of Paul’s writing style
  • The methods of argument and teaching in Hebrews are different from Paul’s way of presenting arguments and instructions
  • Paul introduces himself as the author in all his writings from Romans to Philemon (refer to the opening statements in each epistle) 
  • According to Galatians 1:11-12, Paul claims that the revelation he receives is not from man but directly from Christ

On the other hand, the Church historians and scholars3 who hold onto the authorship of Apostle Paul argue that: 

  • Paul, being an Apostle to the Gentiles, omitted his usual introduction about himself deliberately because the epistle is addressed to the Hebrew audience thinking that the Hebrew scholars would have evaded the epistle because of Paul’s authorship
  • The other supporting argument highlighted is that the closing statements such as, “May the God of peace” (Hebrews 13:20 as in Romans 15:33), “Grace be with you all” (Hebrews 13:25b as in 1 Corinthians 16:23, Colossians 4:18, and 2 Thessalonians 3:18)
  • The variance in writing style, unlike Paul’s other epistles, is because the epistle is written to a specific group of people, that is, the scattered Jewish Christian community, who were persecuted because of their faith in Christ Jesus
  • Timothy was one of Apostle Paul’s missionary companions, who Paul loved very much.  The highlighting of Timothy’s name in Hebrews 13:23 as a ministry companion directs to the authorship of Apostle Paul

Regardless of who wrote Hebrews, the Holy Spirit led the author to record revelations with divine insights and authority. 

Recipients of the Epistle

Although the epistle is addressed ‘To the Hebrews,’ it is difficult to identify the geographical location of those Hebrews (of the Jewish community).  The author’s use of Old Testament quotations from Septuagint4 to support his claims indicates that the epistle is written to the Greek-speaking Jewish Christian community who were living outside of Palestine.   Possible locations could be: somewhere within the boundary of Palestine, Asia Minor, Rome, Corinth, Syria, Ephesus, Alexandria, Antioch, Colossae, Cyrene, or Cyprus.

Date of Writing

Again, it is hard to pin-point the exact date or year of writing. However, most scholars think the book was written between 67 and 69 AD.  The reason for such an assumption is that the book does not mention any information about the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem by the Roman emperor Titus, which took place in 70 AD.  Therefore, it is considered that the book was written before 70 AD.

Purpose of Writing

According to the message recorded in the epistle, the purposes of writing the epistle are:

  • to strengthen the Greek-speaking Jewish Christian community living outside of Palestine who were facing life-threatening persecution due to their faith in Christ Jesus
  • to defend the finality and superiority of Christ Jesus, who is the exact representation of God’s Being (Hebrews 1:3)
  • to prove the fact that God revealed Himself fully in and through His Son – Christ Jesus 
  • to reaffirm the redemption of humanity through Christ Jesus
  • to encourage Jews who accepted the teachings of Christ Jesus to remain faithful to the gospel and not turn back to the former way of life because of temporary suffering (Old Testament way of life)
  • to highlight the consequences of forsaking faith or drifting away from Christ Jesus

Major themes of the Epistle

‘A better covenant’ is the major theme of the epistle.  The author tries to recount why the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant. The reasons include:

  • the New Covenant is established through His Son Christ Jesus
  • the true worshippers have direct access to Yahweh through Christ Jesus
  • the redemptive provisions of God under the Old Covenant have been fulfilled and made obsolete (out-of-date) with the coming of Christ Jesus
  • the redemptive provision of God under the New Covenant is established through the atoning death of Christ Jesus on the cross

General Outline of the Epistle

  1. Introduction (Hebrews 1: 1 – 3)
  2. The major argument: The Superiority of Christ over Jewish Teachings and Traditions (Hebrews 1: 4 – 10: 18)
    1. Christ Jesus: the full and final revelation of God to Humanity (Hebrews 1:1 – 4:13)
      1. Christ Jesus is superior to the Old Testament Prophets (Hebrews 1:1 – 4)
      2. Christ Jesus is superior to the Angels (Hebrews 1:4 – 2:18)
        • Warning and Danger of drifting away (Hebrews 2:1-4)
      3. Christ Jesus is superior to Moses (Hebrews 3: 1–6)
        • Warning and Danger of skepticism (Hebrews 3: 7-19)
      4. Christ Jesus superior to Joshua (Hebrews 4: 1–13)
    2. Christ Jesus: Greater than Aaron and the Old Testament and Levitical Priesthood (Hebrews 4: 14 – 10: 18)
      1. Christ Jesus is superior in His Priestly Qualifications (Hebrews 4: 14 – 7:25)
        • In His order (Hebrews 5:1-10)
        • Warning and Danger if remain spiritually immature (Hebrews 5:11-6:3)
        • Warning and Danger of falling away from faith in Christ (Hebrews 6: 4 – 20)
      2. Christ Jesus is superior in His Character (Hebrews 7:26–28)
      3. Christ Jesus is superior in His Sacrifice and Ministry (Hebrews 8:1–10:18)
        • A Better Sanctuary, which is Heaven (Hebrews 8:1–5)
        • A Better Covenant founded on New and better promises (Hebrews 8:6–13)
        • A Better Service that is cleansed with His own blood (Hebrews 9:1–22)
        • A Better Sacrifice – a full-paid once and for all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:23–10:18)
  3. The Application and Response of our Faith and Endurance (Hebrews 10:19–13:17)
    1. The role of faith, hope and love in the realm of Salvation (Hebrews 10:19–39)
      1. Warning / Danger if despise (Hebrews 10:26–39)
    2. The Nature of Faith and its Demonstration in Old Testament times (Hebrews 11:1–40)
      1. The term ‘Faith’ explained (Hebrews 11: 1 – 3)
      2. Examples of Faith Demonstrated and Exercised (Hebrews 11: 4 – 38)
      3. Justification of faith completed in Christ (Hebrews 11:39–40)
    3. Faith and our Endurance (Hebrews 12:1–13)
      1. Example of Endurance: Patience and Discipline (Hebrews 12:1–13)
      2. The Priority of Holiness and Ethics (Hebrews 12:14–24)
      3. Warning and Danger of denial (Hebrews 12:25-29)
    4. The Practice of Holiness and Ethics: Faith Manifested by Love and faithfulness (Hebrews 13:1–17)
  4. Conclusion (Hebrews 13:18–25)

Lessons from Hebrews

  1. Let us hold on to the faith in Christ Jesus until the end of the age, just as the author encourages the readers to hold on to their confession of faith in Christ Jesus until the end of the age
  2. Let us be motivated, by reading the Scripture, to grow into spiritual maturity, just as the author motivates his audiences to go on growing into spiritual maturity 
  3. Let us not abandon our faith in the Lord Christ Jesus, just as the author instructs his listeners not to abandon their faith in Christ Jesus because He is greater than: 
    1. The Angels (Hebrews 1–2)
    2. Moses and the Prophets (Hebrews 3–4)
    3. Aaron and the Levitical Priesthood (Hebrews 5–7)
    4. Melchizedek, who was greater than Abraham (Hebrews 7-8) 
    5. the Sacrifices in Old Testament and in Judaism (Hebrews 9–10)
    6. all human insufficiencies, problems, and sufferings (Hebrews 11–13)

Elaboration (of the superscripts)

H.E. Dana, Jewish Christianity: An Expository Survey of Acts I to XII, James, I and II Peter, Jude and Hebrews (New Orleans: Bible Institute Memorial Press, 1937). P. 201

The reason is, according to Hebrews 2:3, the author confirms himself as a second-generation follower of Christ, to whom the gospel of Christ was confirmed by eyewitnesses of Christ and His ministry. 

Many early Church historians claim Apostle Paul’s authorship of the epistle.  Eusebius (Bishop of Caesarea during the reign of Roman emperor Constantine) especially upholds Pauline authorship, scholars from the Jehovah witness group also believe Paul is the author of the epistle.

The Ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, that is, the Old Testament, is known as Septuagint (abbreviation, LXX).  It is also widely known as Greek Old Testament.  The term is derived from Latin Septuaginta, meaning 70, because it is believed that 70 Jewish scholars were appointed by the Grecian ruler named Ptolemy Philadelphes to translate the Hebrew Bible into Greek for the sake of Jews living throughout his empire.  The title Septuagint is given to honor the 70 translators.  The Hellenistic Jews were the ones who benefitted the most out of this translation.  It is also helped many Greek-speaking non-Jews to know about the beliefs and traditions of Judaism.  It was said to be translated in Alexandria between 300 and 200 BC.  Many early Christians referred to the Septuagint to learn about the Hebrew Scriptures.  Also, many New Testament writers used quotations directly from Septuagint to support the authority of their writings. 

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