Intro into Hebrews

Intro

Authorship and Audience

The author of the book of Hebrews is unknown, though there has been much speculation over the centuries. Some early church figures, such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria, attributed it to the apostle Paul, but this is not universally accepted. The author does mention knowing Timothy (Hebrews 13:23) and claims to have received the message from those who heard Jesus firsthand (Hebrews 2:3–4). The letter is addressed to a community familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures, especially the Torah, and is traditionally assumed to have been written to Jewish Christians-hence the title “To the Hebrews”

History The author of Hebrews is unknown.

Tertullian suggested Barnabas as the author around AD 200.

Martin Luther proposed Apollos as the author in the 16th century.

The most popular opinion is that Paul wrote Hebrews.

Paul’s writings have certain hallmarks and characteristics, but Hebrews does not have them.

Paul typically opened with a greeting of grace and peace, but Hebrews does not have this greeting.

Paul’s standard ending, where he signed with his own hand and made comments to specific people, is missing from Hebrews.

Hebrews is less of a letter and more of a formal sermon with carefully laid out themes.

Paul quoted from the original Hebrew text in his letters, but the author of Hebrews used the Septuagint-the Greek translation of the Old Testament.

Finally, the author of Hebrews put himself in the category of those who heard the gospel secondhand—the salvation "which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him" (Hebrews 2:3)—whereas Paul said he had received the gospel directly from Jesus Himself (Galatians 1:11-12). So who wrote Hebrews? Whoever it was knew Timothy (Hebrews 13:23), so that helps narrow the list of possibilities: perhaps Barnabas, Silas, Luke, Philip, or Aquila and/or Priscilla. But if I were to venture a guess other than Paul, I would say Apollos. He was a Jewish Christian, so he had a deep understanding of Judaism, and the Bible indicates he was an educated and eloquent speaker who taught the Scriptures accurately. He also would likely have known Timothy. But ultimately, God superintended the writing of all the books in the Bible, so human authorship is a secondary concern at best.

Date and Historical Context

Hebrews was likely written before AD 70, as it makes no reference to the destruction of the Jerusalem temple and assumes the sacrificial system is still in operation. The audience was experiencing persecution and imprisonment for their association with Jesus, and some were abandoning the faith; the author writes to encourage them to endure and not forsake Christ

Themes

The primary purposes of Hebrews are to encourage believers to persevere in their faith and to warn them against abandoning Christ. The author does this by demonstrating the superiority of Jesus over all others-angels, Moses, the priesthood, and the old covenant-and by showing that Christ’s sacrifice is the ultimate and perfect atonement for sin.

Jesus’ Superiority: Christ is superior to all creation, including angels, Moses, and the old covenant practices.

Priesthood of Christ: Jesus is presented as the eternal High Priest who offered himself as a perfect sacrifice, making a way for believers to approach God.

Faith and Endurance: The author calls believers to hold fast to their faith, especially in the face of suffering, and warns against the dangers of apostasy.

God’s Faithfulness: The promises of God are trustworthy, and believers are encouraged to trust in them until the end

The Central Message of Hebrews can be said in 4 words Jesus is Superior.

What do i mean by that Jesus is better than fill in the blank and this book will explain that for us

The First 10 Chapters of Hebrews Covers The Doctrinal (what to apply)

Better Messenger

Better Moderator

Better Ministry

Better Monument

Better Method

The Last 3 Chapters Cover the Practical ( how to apply)

Better Manner

Better Mindset

Better Mercy

Chapter 1

V1

The New King James Version Chapter 1

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,

Before Jesus God Spoke through the prophets

From Abraham (first listed in the Bible as a Prophet) Genesis 20:7 ““So now, return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not return her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.””

To Malachi is widely recognized as the last prophet of the Old Testament in both Christian and Jewish traditions. He is the final author of the prophetic books in the Old Testament canon, with his ministry and writings dated to around 440–400 BCE· He spoke to Moses by a burning bush (Exodus 3).

· He spoke to Elijah by a still, small voice (1 Kings 19).

· He spoke to Isaiah by a heavenly vision (Isaiah 6).

· He spoke to Hosea by his family crisis (Hosea 1:2).

· He spoke to Amos by a basket of fruit (Amos 8:1).

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

in divers manners—for example, internal suggestions, audible voices, the Urim and Thummim, dreams, and visions. “In one way He was seen by Abraham, in another by Moses, in another by Elias, and in another by Micah; Isaiah, Daniel, and Ezekiel, beheld different forms” [THEODORET]. (Compare

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

the fathers—the Jewish fathers. The Jews of former days (

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

A mortal king speaks by his ambassador, not (as the King of kings) in his ambassador. The Son is the last and highest manifestation of God (

V2

The New King James Version Chapter 1

2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds

These last days: This term refers to the age of Messiah. It may be a long period, but it is the last period.

By His Son-The true “Prophet” of God is “His majesty is set forth: (1) Absolutely by the very name “Son,” and by three glorious predicates, “whom He hath appointed,” “by whom He made the worlds,” “who sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” thus His course is described from the beginning of all things till he reached the goal (Hebrews 1:2, 3). (2) Relatively, in comparison with the angels, Hebrews 1:4; the confirmation of this follows, and the very name “Son” is proved at Hebrews 1:5; the “heirship,” Hebrews 1:6–9; the “making the worlds,” Hebrews 1:10–12; the “sitting at the right hand” of God, Hebrews 1:13, 14.” His being made heir follows His sonship, and preceded His making the worlds (Proverbs 8:22, 23; Ephesians 3:11). As the first begotten, He is heir of the universe (Hebrews 1:6), which He made instrumentally, Hebrews 11:3, where “by the Word of God” answers to “by whom” (the Son of God) here

(John 1:3 “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” ).

Christ was “appointed” (in God’s eternal counsel) to creation as an office; and the universe so created was assigned to Him as a kingdom. He is “heir of all things” by right of creation, and especially by right of redemption. The promise to Abraham that he should be heir of the world had its fulfillment, and will have it still more fully in Christ (Romans 4:13; Galatians 3:16; 4:7).

 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 440–441.

The Book of Hebrews (for the most part) does not present Jesus speaking of Himself. There is a sense in which the Son does not speak in Hebrews; the Father speaks concerning the Son. The book of Hebrews is God the Father telling us what God the Son is all about. “If men cannot learn about God from the Son, no amount of prophetic voices or actions would convince them.” (Guthrie)

V3

The New King James Version Chapter 1

3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

The radiance of His glory: Jesus embodies the radiance of the Father’s glory. The ancient Greek word for brightness, apaugasma, aptly describes the radiant emanation from a light source.

In this context, Jesus serves as the “beam” of God’s glory. While we have never witnessed the sun itself, we have only perceived its rays as they reach our eyes. Similarly, we have never encountered God the Father directly, but we perceive Him through the “rays” of the Son of God.

 The writer of Hebrews explained Jesus in terms that made sense to both first-century Jews and those familiar with Greek philosophy.

Logos: the English word logo is ultimately derived from the Greek word logos, meaning “word,” “speech,” or “reason.” The modern term “logo” is a shortened form of “logotype” (from Greek logos + typos, meaning “mark” or “imprint”), and refers to a graphic mark or symbol used for identification and branding

Jesus is God’s Logo. Jesus exactly represents God to us.

Upholding all things by the word of His power: The concept behind the word translated “upholding” is better understood as “maintaining.” Unlike the mythical Atlas who passively held up the earth, the word “upholding” implies active sustaining.

Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus consistently demonstrated the power of His word. He possessed the ability to heal, forgive, cast out demons, and calm even the fury of nature with the mere expression of one word. This demonstrates the immense power of His word, capable of upholding all things.

Purged our sins : The Son of God, a being of immense power and wisdom, demonstrated His profound love by purging our sins. He did this Himself, showing that no one else could do it for us, and we could not do it for ourselves.

Greek, “made purification of … sins,” specifically in His atonement, which graciously covers the guilt of sin. The word “our” is absent in the oldest manuscripts. Sin was the great uncleanness in God’s eyes, which He purged through His sacrifice [Alford]. Our sinful nature, burdened by guilt, could not directly contact God without the sprinkling of the heavenly mercy seat by the blood of our great High Priest’s atonement. Ebrard explains that the mediation between man and God, who was present in the Most Holy Place, manifested in three forms: (1) Through sacrifices (typical propitiations for guilt); (2) Through the priesthood (the agents of those sacrifices); and (3) Through the Levitical laws of purity (Levitical purity was achieved positively through sacrifice and negatively through avoidance of Levitical pollution, enabling the people to approach God without death, as stated in Deuteronomy 5:26) [Leviathan 16:1–34].

 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 441.

Sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high: This is a position of majesty, of honor, of glory, and of finished work. This position of Jesus sets Him far above all creation.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 1

This sitting of the Son at God’s right hand was by the act of the Father (

V4

The New King James Version Chapter 1

4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Having become so much better than the angels: This description of Jesus in previous verses shows us that He is far superior than any angelic being. Yet this tells us that Jesus became better than the angels. We could say that He is eternally better than the angels, but He also became better than the angels.

Jesus became better in the sense that He was made perfect (complete as our redeemer) through sufferings(Hebrews 2:10) – something no angel ever did

Griffith Thomas linked together the descriptions of Jesus given in these first few verses, culminating in Hebrews 1:4:

· Christ the Heir.

· Christ the Creator.

· Christ the Revealer.

· Christ the Sustainer.

· Christ the Redeemer.

· Christ the Ruler.

· Christ Supreme.

A more fitting name than theirs, Jesus’s superior status is evident in His name, which goes beyond a mere title and describes His nature and character. Understanding the surpassing excellence of Jesus, setting Him far above every angelic being, is crucial for several reasons.

Firstly, we often grasp concepts better when they are contrasted with others.

Secondly, while the Old Covenant was established by angels through Moses, a superior covenant was brought about by a superior being, Jesus. In contrast to the belief that the gospel was delivered by mere men, the apostles, it was actually Jesus, who surpasses the angels.

Furthermore, there was a dangerous tendency to worship angels emerging in the early Church (as evident in Colossians 2:18 and Galatians 1:8), and Hebrews affirms that Jesus is far above any angel.

Additionally, there was the heretical notion that Jesus Himself was an angel, a concept that diminishes His glory and majesty.

Lastly, comprehending how Jesus surpasses the angels equips us to grasp how He surpasses anyone or anything in our lives.