Hebrews 1

Authorship

The author of Hebrews is unknown, but there are several “candidates” from church history

The most popular candidate is Paul

This is consistent with Paul’s intense burden to see his countrymen come to faith in Christ

Romans 9:1–3 NKJV

I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh,

Romans 10:1–4 NKJV

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Other candidates include: Barnabas, Apollos, Clement of Rome (however Clement makes no mention of it in his own letters), Luke, Silas, Phillip, John Mark, Aristion, and Priscilla (although the author uses a masculine participle to identify himself.

What DO we know about the author?

A Jewish follower of Jesus with an incredible command of the Old Testament

A second-generation believer (not an eyewitness).

Hebrews 2:3–4 ESV

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, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The author was known by the recipients

Hebrews 13:19–23 ESV

I urge you the more earnestly to do this in order that I may be restored to you the sooner. Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. You should know that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom I shall see you if he comes soon.

Audience, Location, and Timing

Second generation Jewish believers in Christ

Location is probably NOT Jerusalem

The recipients had not heard Jesus speak (2:3-4)

The recipients’ church was known for it’s generosity (6:10, 10:34), but the Jerusalem church was known for its poverty

The recipients had not yet experienced martyrdom for their faith. By the writing of Hebrews the Jerusalem church had already lost Stephen, James the apostle, and James the brother of Jesus

Most likely location are believers in Judea and Samaria

It has to have been written after 50 AD (when Paul led Timothy to Christ, since Timothy is mentioned in this letter).

It has to have been written before 70 AD when the temple was destroyed by the 10th Roman legion

Occassion

Danger of Jewish believers in Jesus returning to the sacrificial system of Judaism (perhaps to escape persecution)

Strengthen their faith in the intrinsic “Jewishness” of Jesus and his superiority to all elements of Judaism.

Calling of these believers to greater spiritual maturity.

The author laments their immaturity, since by now they should be teachers but he’s forced to feed them spiritual “milk”

Main Themes

The superiority of Jesus to Judaism

Qualities of Jesus

Hebrews 1:1–4 NKJV

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 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; 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, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Jesus is:

God’s Son

The ultimate verbal revelation of God (superior to the prophets)

Heir of all things

Creator and sustainer of the cosmos (by the word of His power)

The brightness of God’s glory

The express image of God’s person

The One who has purged our sins

He has completely finished his work of purging our sins

The One has has sat down at the right hand of God

Superior to Angels

Jesus is Superior to Angels

The writer quotes extensively from Psalm 2, 2 Samuel 7:14, Deut 32:43 (from the LXX), Psalm 104:4, Psalm 45:6-7, Psalm 102:25-27, Psalm 110:1