Intro to Hebrews
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Hebrews 1:1-4 “The God who speaks”
Background Information
Hebrews & how it fits in the New Testament
New Testament Books = 27
Historical books = 5
Epistles (Letters) = 22
Epistles structure expressed by formula: 9+4+9
1st group of 9 - Written to Christian Churches.
Middle group of 4 - Written to individuals.
Last group of 9 - Written to Jewish and Gentile Christians.
Both groups of 9 begin with a major theological treatise. (A treatise is a written work dealing formally & systematically with a subject).
Romans introduces 1st group of 9. It discusses the relationship of the Gospel to God’s moral law with great appeal to OT prophetic ministry.
Hebrews introduces 2nd group of 9. It discusses the relationship of the Gospel to God’s ritual law with great appeal to OT priestly ministry.
Hebrews: The audience.
1. Jewish Christians attempting to keep ritual law.
2. Lost Jews searching OT for Messiah in order to introduce them to Jesus Christ, their long awaited Messiah!
3. Gentile Christians who might think we need to become Jews!
Hebrews: The author. Officially it is anonymous!
The unofficial case for Paul.
1. He had the theological training necessary. Acts 22:3. He was a Pharisee. Acts 23:6, 26:5, Phil.3:5.
2. His much time in prison gave him the opportunity to write it. CF Acts 28:17-31.
Records Paul reasoning with the Jewish leaders from morning till evening, a big dispute, some believed, some did not. What better reason to write a book to the Hebrews? Paul was there for 2 years!
3. Hebrews itself hints toward Paul’s authorship. Hebrews 13:19, & 23.
4. Peter hints toward Paul’s authorship. 2 Peter 3:15-16, Hebrews 5:11.
So why didn’t Paul identify himself as the writer of Hebrews like he did in every other epistle?
1. The Holy Spirit decided it would remain anonymous.
2. Formal identification of Paul as the author could have been a great stumbling-block to lost Jews searching for the Messiah who viewed Paul with contempt.
3. In 1:1-2, it is God who speaks through Jesus Christ so His voice is of superior importance than the human author!
4. The anonymous authorship provides a similar picture Hebrews paints of Melchizedek. Ultimately, it is God who wrote Hebrews!
Theme of Hebrews: The superiority of Jesus Christ.
Key terms & phrases to watch for:
1. Perfection - This is not sinless perfection, but refers to Christian maturity.
2. Eternal - Contrasts the eternal nature of faith in Christ contrasted to the temporary faith in Judaism.
3. Better - Jesus is better than angels, provides a better covenant, better sacrifice, better resurrection. Appears 13 times in Hebrews
4. “Let us” - Appears 13 times in Hebrews challenging us to personally appropriate all that is available in Christ.
Note the 5 warnings of Hebrews:
1. Disregarding the salvation of God. Heb. 2:1-4.
2. Disbelieving the sufficiency of God. Heb. 3:7-4:13.
3. Discrediting the Son of God. Heb. 5:11-6:20.
4. Despising the Spirit of God. Heb. 10:26-39.
5. Disobeying the summons of God. Heb. 12:15-29.