Hebrews
Notes
Transcript
Set the stage
Set the stage
Introduce my self
Series introduction
We are studying the book of Hebrews this whole year
part of how we are going to do this is by looking at it from various angles.
at bible study we will be looking very closely on a verse by verse level looking at the whole text
during our gatherings we will be looking at Key themes and big ideas regarding the text and various themes and big questions the come up in the text, such as the superiority of christ, how do we read the old testament in light of hebrews, even questions pertaining to the nature of our salvation
Information
Information
Context of the book
Context of the book
The book of hebrews is shrouded in mystery
We dont know exactly when the book was written.
The book would have had to be in circulation before the year 95 as it is directly referenced clement of Romes letter.
The two most likely time periods are either durning Nero’s persecution of the church in the year 68AD
or emperor Domitian in 82AD
The book seems to be written to a group of Jewish Christians who live within the roman empire.
there is a case that the book could have have been written to gentile audience but with the authors obsession with using the Old testament to support claims of christ
The book also contains some of the best greek in the new testament
The book is likely written to a group of christians who live in Rome. these Christians are tempted to turn back to Judaism as it was a legally recognized religion that wouldn't be subject to persecution
What is the book
What is the book
The book is an exhortation
22 I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.
15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.”
This mean that the book of hebrews was originally written as one fluid sermon
a homily in the form of a letter
Who wrote it
Who wrote it
There is so many theories out there as to who wrote the book of hebrews and it is one of those things that is almost not even worth debating
theories range from
paul
clement
luke
Barnabas
apollos
we cannot know for sure but when asked world leading Hebrew scholar George Guthrie stated it had to be someone like apollos who 1, knew greek that well and two was very pastoral and familiar with Roman jewish life
God only knows- Origen
Jesus’ Supremacy
Jesus’ Supremacy
The whole point of the book relies on the reality that faith in Jesus is better then faith in anything else
Lets just quickly look over how the author highlights these things
1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
Jesus as the true mouth piece of God
Jesus as the true mouth piece of God
Vs 1 and 2 talks about how Jesus is the true mouth piece.
Jesus is superior to all ways he revealed him self
God used to speak through prophets. vs 1 references Numbers 12 directly
6 And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. 7 Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
and additionally cites
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
One of the amazing things we see here is the assertion that God has spoken and God is speaking
all of human history since the beginning he has been speaking
Donald Guthrie:
Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary a. God’s Revelation through the Son (1:1–4)
The letter begins with a statement of fact, that is, that God has spoken
The author doesn't open with that God maybe spoke it is a definite assertion that God has spoken through the prophets and continues to speak to his people to this day.
Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary a. God’s Revelation through the Son (1:1–4)
Faith not only in the existence of God, but also in the communication of God is taken for granted. It is one of the planks on which the whole argument of the letter rests. It is useless to read further if God makes no revelation to men.
This book shows that God has spoken in the past he is in the present and he will for all of time.
The difference is that Jesus now speaks directly to us through the holy spirit and the word. meaning that if you are in christ you have the amazing blessing that the living God is available to you with out the need to see a prophet or preist or anything of the sort.
Vs 4 continues to back this point up as it is referencing Jewish cultural practices that based of Deuteronomy 32 that the Law was delivered by angel
Hebrews: An Introduction and Commentary a. God’s Revelation through the Son (1:1–4)
This latter suggestion is probable in view of the great Jewish interest in angels. It is understandable that, in an age when angels were highly regarded, the writer wished to show that God had now spoken through his Son in a much more effective way than through them.
Heir of All things
Heir of All things
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Again referencing the old testament the author connects Jesus to the psalm about the Son in the lineage of David having rule and reign over all of creation
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
Jesus was the one who was talked about long before he came to be.
Jesus is not a passive character who go involved around the year 7BC but rather he is the one who was to come through out the old testament
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Jesus is what the rays of life are to the sun
the wax to the stamp
This Jesus is God.He is the direct connection between the creation and the creator
Conclusion
Conclusion
What do we do with this?
This opening section should do a few things for us
make it very clear to us; there is no one like Jesus
He is God,
above all things
not separate from the father
2. Show us that God has had a plan this whole time
hermeneutic: The branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation
Hebrews should be the hermeneutic for how we now read the old testament as christians today
3. We also should be listen to the author who is arguing that following Jesus is better then anything.