The Epistle to the Hebrews
Introduction to the Book
Introduction
The Epistle to the Hebrews is one of the most difficult books I have encountered in the New Testament when I was still a new Christian who was so interested and motivated to read the Word of God. I want to learn and know God’s Word so I kept reading the Bible every day. If I find a book and passages difficult to understand, I just kept reading hoping and knowing that someday, I will be able understand it. Years passed by and even after graduating from the Bible School, there’s still a lot of things I cannot understand and explain. I would however, try my very best to expound this book and with the Holy Spirit’s grace, guidance and help, we would all be able to know important truths about this book.
I. Authorship and Date
A. My Thompson Chain Reference Bible entitles it as “The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Hebrews. The Apostle Paul has been generally accepted author, but some suggests that it was written by Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, Silas, Philip, Priscilla, Aquila, and others.
1. The argument against Paul’s authorship is that in his thirteen Epistles, (Hebrews is the fourteenth), he definitely identified himself as the author, while here, he has not.
2. Paul was generally recognized as the Apostle to the Gentiles and all his Epistles were truly written to Gentile churches or persons.
3. Indeed, the above arguments are reasonable, however, if we take a closer look, Paul describes himself as “Hebrew of the Hebrews” (Phil. 3:5). He has great burden “for my brethren my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom. 9:3). He taught that the gospel should go “to the Jew first” (Rom. 1:16), and in any place or city he would go, he will “preach first in “a synagogue of the Jews as his manner was (Acts 17:1-2). We can see his love and care for his fellow Hebrews.
4. The Apostle Peter while writing to the Jews of the dispersion may have referred to the Book of Hebrews that was written by Paul when he mentioned “our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (2 Pet. 3:15-16). The Jews of “diaspora” or dispersion are the Jews scattered in lands other than Israel. I honestly believe that Peter also is addressing his Epistle to the same people addressed in the Book of Hebrews. Peter accepts Paul’s Epistles as part of the “scriptures” and also mentioned “the wisdom given unto him” that he had “written unto you”.
5. It’s not hard for me to think that Paul had written this Epistle to his Jewish Christian brothers who are undergoing difficulties and discouragements that they are considering to go back to Judaism.
6. The author also is well versed in the Old Testament, so is the Apostle Paul who is a Pharisee.
7. This Epistle was written in Italy (Heb. 13:24) by a friend of Timothy (Heb. 13:23) who was in prison at that time (Heb. 10:24). This would coincide with Paul’s imprisonment as written in Acts 28.
B. The date of writing must have been before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Romans in A.D. 70.
Illustration/Application: Bible—Not by Good or Bad Men
John Wesley said that the Bible must have been written by God, not good or bad men, nor angels, nor devils. Bad men or devils would not write it because of the condemnation of sin and pronouncement of fearful judgment upon the sinner.
Good men or angels would not deceive men by lying as to its authority and claiming that God was the writer. Therefore, the Bible must have been written, as it claims to have been written, by His words, using the human instrument to communicate it to man. —A. Naismith
Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.
II. Recipients
A. The Epistle does not name the Persons to whom it is addressed. It is clearly addressed to Hebrew Christians who were members of some definite community (Hebrews 13:7, 17-19, 22-24). Perhaps Jews in Palestine or the church in Jerusalem. However, it is, of course, still for all Christians, for in Christ Jesus there is neither Jew nor Greek.
III. The Purpose
A. It is the Holy Spirit’s explanation or commentary on the Pentateuch specially the Book of Leviticus. It was written to explain that all the ceremonial law given in the Old Testament such as animal sacrifices and ministrations of the priests, were no longer useful or needed. Killing of animals could never take away sin. It’s just a picture of the coming sacrifice of Christ, the great sacrifice for sins, the true Priest and one Mediator between God and man. Now that he had come, sacrifices are no longer needed.
B. To provide a “word of exhortation”(encouragement) to his readers to go on in maturity in their faith in Christ (13:22)
C. To warn his readers against the dangers of lapsing back into Judaism.
D. To instruct his readers about the superiority of Christ.
E. Hebrews is a warning to Jews who had professed faith in Jesus to continue in that faith and thereby show that they were genuinely saved (Heb. 2:1; 3:12; 4:1, 11; 6:11; 10:38; 12:12-13). The Jewish professors were in danger of turning back to Judaism because of persecution (Heb. 10:32-35) and the reproach of their fellow Jews (Heb. 13:13).
Illustration/Application: Definition of Faith
Relying on what God has done rather than on one’s own efforts. In the Old Testament, faith is rarely mentioned. The word trust is used frequently, and verbs like believe and rely are used to express the right attitude to God. The classic example is Abraham, whose faith was reckoned as righteousness (Gen. 15:6). At the heart of the Christian message is the story of the cross: Christ’s dying to bring
salvation. Faith is an attitude of trust in which a believer receives God’s good gift of salvation (Acts 16:30-31) and lives in that awareness thereafter (Gal. 2:20; cf. Heb. 11:1).
The Shaw Pocket Bible Handbook, Walter A. Elwell, Editor, (Harold Shaw Publ., Wheaton, IL; 1984), p. 350
Illustration/Application: Increased Faith
There are several Scripture commands having to do with increased faith. You can increase faith by thinking back on your toughest experiences as a Christian (Heb. 10:32-5); you may do so by becoming better acquainted with Scripture (Rom. 10:17); you may do so by getting rid of excess spiritual and psychological baggage (Matt. 6:24).
The Fight, J. White, IVP, pp. 105ff
IV. Five Warnings
A. Disregarding God’s Word (Heb. 2:1-4).
B. Doubting God’s Word (Heb. 3:7-19
C. The dangers of Falling away (Heb. 5:11-6:12)
F. The danger of wilful sin. (Heb. 10:19-25)
G. The danger of indifference to the point of denial. (Heb. 12:25-29)
V. Key Words
A. “Better” is shown throughout the Epistle
1. Better Revelation, Heb. 1:1-4
2. Better Hope, Heb. 7:19
3. Better Covenant, Heb. 8:6
4. Better Promises, Heb. 8:6
5. Better Sacrifices, Heb. 9:23
6. Better Possessions, Heb. 10:34
7. Better Country, Heb. 11:16
8. Better Resurrection, Heb. 11:35
B. “Let us”
1. “Let us fear” (Heb. 4:1).
2. “Let us labour” (Heb. 4:11).
3. “Let us hold fast” (Heb. 4:14; 10:23).
4. “Let us come boldly” (Heb. 4:16).
5. “Let us go on” (Heb. 6:1).
6. “Let us draw near” (Heb. 10:22).
7. “Let us consider one another” (Heb. 10:24).
8. “Let us lay aside every weight” (Heb. 12:1).
9. “Let us run with patience” (Heb. 12:1).
10. “Let us have grace” (Heb. 12:28).
11. “Let us go forth unto Him” (Heb. 13:13).
12. “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God” (Heb. 13:15).
C. Another key word is “Eternal”, Heb. 5:9, 6:2, 9:12, 14, 15)
D. Partakers (mentioned nine times)
E. Heaven (mentioned seventeen times)
F. Priest, High Priest (mentioned thirty-two times)
VI. Conclusion:
There are so many spiritual things, we can learn from this book. It has been called the fifth Gospel. The first four tells what the Lord Jesus Christ did when he was here on earth. This book tells us what He is now doing in heaven. This book is also divided into two parts, the first part is doctrinal (chapters 1-10), and the second part is practical. (Chapters 11-13).
