Hebrews

An Introduction

introduction

As we begin to dive in, we’ll soon discover that numerous ancient springs from the Old Testament contribute to its fresh message to God’s people. Rich in history, vibrant in imagery, and eloquent in style, the book of Hebrews has the words to refresh our minds and cleanse our souls.

The letter to the Hebrews isn’t a casual read. It is dense and deep, complex and compelling, profound and practical. It requires focus and motivation to grasp the content it provides and to wrestle with the application. But rest assured, if we can expose God’s purposes for this letter, it will provide eternal dividends.

Hebrews is 13 chapters, which is one of the longest epistles of the New Testament. The only two letters that are longer are Romans and 1 Corinthians. There is some reluctance to dive into this book but that should dissuade us from absorbing the spiritual insight it provides. There is a lot of history, vibrant imagery and eloquence in style.

Before we get into this epistle, we need to have some understanding of the background. Who is the author? Who was it written to? When and why was it written. My hope for this series is that we have and understanding of it’s truths and how we can apply it to our lives now even though it was written so long ago.

The Author

author

First, we need to acknowledge the one thing consistent with all biblical historians....the author is anonymous. Origen, a Christian leader in the third century stated “But as to who actually wrote the epistle, God know the truth of the matter.”

Eastern Christianity viewed Paul as the author, even though those who supported Pauline authorship knew that the language did not resemble Paul’s other letters. Western Christianity did not accept Pauline authorship until the fourth century. They felt that the letter had great authority, but many saw it as anonymous and non-Pauline.

The writer held to the same apostolic teachings as Paul, but he wrote with a different style. When he quoted the Old Testament, he did it differently than Paul did in other writings.

Clement of Alexandria thought Paul had written it in Hebrew originally and that Luke translated it. One thing is clear is that the person who wrote this is likeminded with Paul.

Another option that was considered was Barnabas.

Paul

Barnabas

Barnabas

Barnabas was Paul’s former missionary partner. This idea first appeared in the West by Tertullian who was an author and apologist in the second and third centuries. This idea carried on to other theologians like Jerome, Gregory of Elvira and Filaster. This was believed so much so that Hebrews went under the name the Epistle of Barnabas.

The only geographical reference in Hebrews is to Italy (13:24). If this tradition about Barnabas is true, then this would make sense. He spent the majority of his ministry throughout the Roman Empire.

He was a Levite, so his understanding and explanations of the Levitical system would also point to him as the author. Since he was close to Paul, he would have had a deeper understanding of the old testament laws as well. He was present when Timothy was converted to Christianity and was probably known to Barnabas. If Paul were dead at the time of the writing of Hebrews, it wouldn’t have been surprising if Timothy had joined Barnabas.

The authorship by Barnabas cannot be proven just as the authorship of Paul. However, this is a more likely option than others that have been suggested. These include Clement of Rome, Luke, Silvanus, Philip the Evangelist, Priscilla and Apollos. If it could be proven that Barnabas did in fact write Hebrews, it can claim apostolic origin as he was an apostle.

Apollos has shown some favor with modern writers though.

Apollos

Apollos

Many, including Martin Luther, suggested that the eloquence and intelligence displayed in the epistle matches the description of Apollos in Acts 18:24.

Acts 18:24 CSB

Now a Jew named Apollos, a native Alexandrian, an eloquent man who was competent in the use of the Scriptures, arrived in Ephesus.

The Readers

Addressees of Hebrews

Although the authorship will most likely remain a mystery, the general identification of the recipients are clearer.

The letter was addressed to Jewish Christians estranged from the world in every way. If we remember, the Jewish person would have already been “a stranger in a strange land” with regard to neighboring Gentiles (Exod. 2:22). They would have been the focus of stares, prejudice and an object of scorn.

As you could imagine that these would get worse for the Jew when he placed his faith in Jesus as the Messiah and then incorporated themselves in the church body of both Jews and Gentiles. The Jewish converts, who have already been snubbed by the gentiles are now shunned by fellow Jews. They would find themselves without homes, families, jobs and the support of their former Jewish peers.

Now, these people may have been in Italy. Why Italy?

Because of a verse in Hebrews 13:24.

This verse, in the Greek, is a bit ambiguous. It could mean that this coming from Italy to these estranged readers or to people who are in Italy. The letter to the Hebrews first appeared in Rome in the late first and early second centuries so this makes more sense. If this was written by Paul, he was imprisoned in Rome about the time Hebrews was written.

If it were Barnabas, one location that might fir all the requirements is the ancient Libyan city of Cyrene in North Africa. Cyrene had been founded as a Greek colony around 630 B.C., but during the Roman period, there was a sizable and influential Jewish community.

A little back story...The christian origins in Syria are quite early since the church at Antioch in Syria was founded by missionaries from Cyprus and Cyrene (Acts 11:20). This is of interest because Barnabas’ Cypriot background. Two other who ministered with Barnabas in Antioch were “Simeon called Niger” and “Lucius of Cyrene” (Acts 13:1). Since Simeon’s other name, Niger, means black, he may have been from North Africa, as was Lucius. We don’t know if Simeon is the Simon who bore Jesus’ cross (Luke 23:26), but Simon was also from Cyrene.

Whether Italy in Rome or Cyrene in Libya, these would explain the reference to the Italians in Hebrews 13:24.

Either way, the recipients were more than likely a church with a large Jewish congregation. They were most likely under constant pressure to give up their Christian profession and return to their ancestral faith.

They were in danger of drifting away from (Hebrews 2:1) their faith or deserting it all together (Hebrews 3:12). There were some had stopped meeting together-presumably from worship (Heb. 10:25).

The writer uses a carrot and stick tactic throughout this letter. He encourages them not go the way of those who have already given up. He then exhorts them by way of warnings to remember the experience of the faithless among the wilderness generation. He also warns them that if they give up, there is no second chance. He also reminds them of God’s faithfulness (Heb. 10:23).

There are 3 groups of people the writer is addressing. First, the faithful, saved, born again believers. Second, these people are the enlightened people. They have read the scriptures, they go to church, they have seen what God has done through miracles and preaching but they haven’t given themselves fully to Christ (not saved). Finally the third group are the take it or leave it group. They go to church on occasion but aren’t committed to anything. This will be important when we get to Hebrews 6.

This letter began to circulate. It sought to bolster, firm up their convictions and give them strength to persevere in the storms of persecution. Encouraging them to remain true to their Messiah as the Way, the Truth and the Life and discouraging them from to returning to the old, obsolete life of the old covenant. The theme is simple: Christ is superior in His person and work.

Hebrews 13:24 CSB

Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings.

Italy, Rome

Cyrene, North Africa

Acts 11:20 CSB

But there were some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, proclaiming the good news about the Lord Jesus.

Acts 13:1 CSB

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

Hebrews 2:1 CSB

For this reason, we must pay attention all the more to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

Hebrews 3:12 CSB

Watch out, brothers and sisters, so that there won’t be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.

Hebrews 10:25 CSB

not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:23 CSB

Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful.

The Date

time

When was this written? This can be dated pretty easy. It wasn’t later than about 95 AD since it was known to Clement of Rome and quoted by him in his writings. Since there is no mention of the destruction of the Jewish Temple, it probably wasn’t written after 70 AD. This probably would have been mentioned along with the cessation of the Old Testament sacrificial system, but instead the writer mentions seems to regard it as still in operation Hebrews 8:4, Heb. 8:13, Heb. 9:6-9 and Heb. 10:1-3.

Some may say that these were second generation Christians since they knew Timothy and so did the author. If Paul is not the author, then Heb. 13:23 may suggest he had already died. Otherwise, Timothy might have been expected to join Paul on his release from prison around 68-69 AD. When Paul requested Timothy to visit him in his second letter to him, he may have went and been arrested himself. Paul was arrested around 64 AD.

By all this reasoning, the book of Hebrews can safely be determined to have been written between 64 and 70 AD.

Hebrews 8:4 CSB

Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law.

Hebrews 8:13 CSB

By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

Hebrews 9:6–9 CSB

With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry. But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance. The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing. This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.

Hebrews 10:1–3 CSB

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come, and not the reality itself of those things, it can never perfect the worshipers by the same sacrifices they continually offer year after year. Otherwise, wouldn’t they have stopped being offered, since the worshipers, purified once and for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in the sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year after year.

Hebrews 13:23 CSB

Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you.

The Purpose

purpose (intention)

The purpose of Hebrews was to encourage the Hebrew Christians to hold to their faith and go on to maturity. It also showed that Christianity is superior to Judaism, so we should proclaim this to others.

It is broken down into 3 major sections:

Christ is superior in His person chapters 1-4

Christ is superior as our high priest chapters 5-10

Christ is superior for pressing on 11-13

Throughout our time in Hebrews, we will find out that

Christ is a better Mediator

Christ is better than Moses

Christ is a better High Priesthood

Christ is a better Covenant

Christ is a better Sanctuary

Christ is a better Sacrifice

Christ is a better Promise

How will this apply to us?

Us

How does Hebrews apply to us or why is it relevant to us?

Most of us aren’t Jewish believers and even if some of us are, we aren’t living in first century Rome under the madness of Nero. What we do know is that our culture is becoming a more anti Christian one and we feel the pressure to conform to the values and priorities of this darkening world. Like these Jews who were tempted to turn from our Messiah and leave His ways for a more comfortable path, we need to come to grips with the sufficiency of Christ and His superiority. We need to pledge our allegiance to Him who bought us at the greatest price.

Whatever you are dealing with, Christ is superior. It could be pressure from outside yourself. It could be a family member, coworker, boss, teacher or another student who ridicules you because of your faith. It could be a boss or a spouse who is jealous of your time and personal relationship with Jesus. It could be a medical issue or disharmony in the home, we need to remember that He is superior.

It could be something from inside yourself. Emotional baggage you have been carrying, feelings of loneliness, sadness or disappointment. Worry about the future, regret over the past and stress in the present. Whatever goes through your head over and over and obsess over, you can have peace knowing that Christ is Superior to all of this.

Maybe you are thinking about throwing in the towel and calling it quits. Maybe you are tempted to let life not only knock you down but also knock you out.

If these things are true, then listen to what we will be discussing as we go through Hebrews together. Christ and Christ alone is superior to your greatest challenges and lowest despair. He knows you intimately, cares about you deeply and most importantly, he has the superior power, wisdom and love to save you completely.

Why? Because, in His person and work, He’s superior to everything.