Hebrews
General Letters · New Testament · Book 58 of 66- Author
- Unknown — the letter never says
- Written
- c. AD 65–69, before the temple fell
- Time covered
- Written to believers under pressure to go back
- Where
- Unknown; the readers were probably in Italy or Judea
- Written to
- Jewish Christians tempted to return to the old system
- Genre
- Letter — more a sermon than a letter
- Chapters
- 13
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”Hebrews 4:12 KJV
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Overview
Hebrews is written to people thinking about going back. They had believed, suffered for it, and were now worn down enough to wonder whether the old way — temple, priests, sacrifices — might be safer.
The answer is one word repeated: better. Better than angels, than Moses, than Joshua, than Aaron, than the covenant, the tabernacle and the sacrifices. Going back would mean leaving the substance for the shadow.
Background
Whoever wrote it knew the Old Testament deeply and wrote the best Greek in the New Testament. Paul, Barnabas, Apollos and Priscilla have all been suggested; the honest answer is that no one knows.
The temple still stands in its argument, which places it before AD 70. Its readers had already lost property for their faith, and some had been imprisoned.
Key themes
- Christ is better, and the old system was a shadow of Him.
- He is a high priest who was tempted as we are and can be touched with our infirmities.
- One sacrifice, once for all, sat down — the work is finished.
- Do not drift, neglect, harden or shrink back: five warnings run through the book.
- Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, proved by a long list of those who had it.
Outline
- Better than angelsChapters 1–2
God has spoken by His Son — and how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
- Better than MosesChapters 3–4
A builder over a house, and a rest still open to those who believe.
- A better priesthoodChapters 5–7
A high priest after the order of Melchisedec, who lives for ever.
- A better covenant and sacrificeChapters 8–10
A new covenant, a heavenly sanctuary, and one offering that perfects for ever.
- FaithChapter 11
Abel to the prophets — what faith did, and what it cost.
- Run the raceChapters 12–13
Looking unto Jesus, enduring chastening, and a kingdom that cannot be moved.
Key passages
- Hebrews 1:1-3 God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.
- Hebrews 2:18 He is able to succour them that are tempted.
- Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.
- Hebrews 4:15-16 Touched with the feeling of our infirmities — come boldly unto the throne of grace.
- Hebrews 9:27-28 It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.
- Hebrews 11:1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
- Hebrews 12:1-2 Run with patience the race — looking unto Jesus.
- Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Christ in Hebrews
The book is about nothing else. He is the express image of God’s person, the apostle and high priest of our profession, the mediator of a better covenant, the offering and the priest at once, and the author and finisher of our faith — who sat down, because there was nothing left to offer.
Reading it
- Read chapter 11 in one go; it was written to be heard as a roll call.
- When the argument turns to the tabernacle, keep Leviticus 16 nearby.
- Mark the five warning passages and notice they interrupt the argument on purpose.