SS - Hebrews Introduction

Set up with scene of transfiguration in Matt 17

Takes 3 disciples on the mountain

They see Moses & Elijah

Peter wants to build a tabernacle for them

When disciples rise up

Don’t see moses

Don’t see Elijah

They see Jesus

Hebrews (Chapter 1: God’s Final Word (Hebrews 1:1–2)) A.W. Pink comments: “The glory associated with Moses and Elijah was so eclipsed by the infinitely greater glory connected with Christ, that they faded from view.”

This is a beautiful picture that accurately depicts the theme of Hebrews

“Jesus is Better”

The supremacy of Christ

The sufficiency of his work

The necessity of faith in him for salvation

The book of Hebrews gives us perhaps the greatest christology we see in all the scriptures.

However, this letter is not a theological argument, per se, but rather this is a sermon in letter form.

Hebrews 13:22 “I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.”

Author

We actually dont know who wrote hebrews

Some options

Paul

Pros

It appears the early church believed this

Mention of Timothy

Hebrews 13:23 “You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.”

Common “Pauline” themes

Christs atonement

Supremacy of Christ (Like Colossians)

New covenant

Final greetings resemble Paul

Cons

Greek style is radically different (some of most polished greek in NT. Paul is usually more rugged, emotional, and digressive)

Resurrection is rarely mentioned (Only once 13:20) - Key emphasis for Paul

In addition, it appears the author received the gospel from someone else, not Christ (Heb 2:3)

Paul begins all his (other) letters by name

Barnabas

Pros

Barnabas was a levite

(Acts 4:36 “Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,” )

Meaning he would have known well

The priesthood

sacrifices

tabernacle worship

covenant structures

Connected to Paul’s circle

Known Timothy

Encouragement emphasis in Hebrews

Barnabas means “son of encouragement” acts 4:36

Proposed by Tertullian around 200Ad

Cons

Outside of Tertullian, little ancient church support

Nothing directly points to Barnabas

Nothing to compare Barnabas writings to Hebrews

Luke

Pros

Greek is polished, much like Luke-Acts

“Gentile sophistication” is similar to Luke

Definitely a “jewish” letter but with gentile greek writing

Pauline connections

Travelled with Paul & Timothy

Cons

Theology is distinct from Luke-Acts

Hebrews is deeply Jewish

Luke was a gentile

Yet hebrews is full of Jewish themes (temple, sacrificial system, etc)

Not really a historical narrative flavor

Apollos

Became popular when Martin Luther suggested it

Pros

Acts 18:24 talks about Apollos

Acts 18:24–25 “Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, competent in the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John.”

Highly skilled in scriptures (OT)

Preaching style to him perhaps

Eloquent. Spoke & taught accurately. (Hebrews is sermon)

Had Pauline connections

Jewish

Alexandrian

Greek philosophy meets Jewish theology (Polished greek)

LXX came from Alexandria

Alexandrian interpretation used typology similar to what we see in Hebrews

“earthly copy, heavenly reality”

“shadow vs substance”

Cons

No early attribution recorded in church history

Speculative (based on his person)

How many other men could those things be said of?

Like Barnabas, no writings to compare

Ultimately, we do not know who wrote Hebrews, but we can agree with the early church scholar Origen who said “Who wrote the epistle is known to God alone.”

Audience

Who is this letter written to?

Jewish Christians

Experiencing persecution because of their faith in Christ

To be a Jewish Christian was costly

You would be labeled a traitor

Banned from synagogue

Rejected by family, friends

Social implication

They had not received violent persecution

Hebrews 12:4 “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

Because of this, this letter is written to encourage and exhort them to remain faithful in the Lord, no matter the cost

Think about the arguments against Jesus by their friends and family

He was only a man

Son of a carpenter

Didn’t succeed in setting up his kingdom

He was crucified as a criminal

This is before we have 2000 years of church history and the explosion of Christianity

In light of that, the author shoes them that Christianity is not a discarding of OT faith, but fulfillment of it

Hebrews 1:1–2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 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.”

MOSES -servant of house, Jesus is owner Hebrews 3:1–6 “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.”

Joshua gave israel rest in Canann, Jesus gives final rest Heb 4

When was it written?

Most likely mid 60’s.

Persecution was rising against Christians

Not earlier because these are 2nd generation christians

Hebrews 2:3 “how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,”

Temple is destroyed in AD 70

The sacrificial system is still ongoing it appears

You would think this event would be mentioned

Timothy is still alive

Genre

Epistle/Letter

Written like sermon

It’s written to a specific people for a specific reason

Flyover of Hebrews

Chapters 1-10 - Christ is greater than all

1:1-4 Greater revelation

Heir of all things

Creator

Radiance of God’s glory

Exact imprint of his nature

1:5-2:18 - Greater than the angels

3:1-4:13 - Greater than Moses

Moses was faithful as servant - Christ is faithful as sone over the house

Israel failed in wilderness

4:14-7:28 - Greater Priesthood

Jesus is

Great high priest

sympathetic

sinless

eternal

8-10 - Greater covenant & Sacrifice

Old covenant

Could not perfect

Repeated sacrifices endlessly

pointed forward

Christ

entered once for all

offered himself

secured eternal redemption

10:19 “therefore”

Chapters 10-13 Persevere/Hold fast

10:19-12 - Persevere in Faith

Confidence to enter God’s presence

Warning against apostasy

hall of faith - Ch 11

Fix eyes on Christ - Ch 12

13 Live as pilgrims

Brotherly love

purity

contentment

honoring leaders

worship

sacrifice of praise

“Here we have no lasting city” Heb 13:14

Major themes to look for

Supremacy of Christ

Perseverance

Warnings against drifting

Access to God

Fulfillment

Pilgrimage

Let us not miss the impact of this letter on our own lives.

Sermon to weary Christians tempted to take their eyes off of Jesus and let go of the head. Go back to what they knew.

The solution is not try harder, it is see Christ clearer. The more clearly we can see the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ, the more we will hold to the head. All the while knowing he his holding fast to us.