Hebrews

Overview

Who

Written by Not named. The writer heard the gospel from others: it "was confirmed unto us by them that heard him" (2:3). He knows "our brother Timothy" (13:23). Traditionally many credited Paul; others have suggested Barnabas or Apollos.

Written to Not named. Believers who had "endured a great fight of afflictions" (10:32) and had "need of patience" (10:36). The writer says "ye ought to be teachers" by now (5:12) and warns them not to "draw back" (10:38-39).

When

Traditional view: Before AD 70. The letter speaks of the tabernacle service as still going on (8:4-5, 10:1-3) and never mentions the temple's fall.

Scholarly view: Most scholars date it about AD 60-90 and say the writer is unknown; many hold to a date before AD 70.

Where

Written to Not stated. Traditionally Jewish believers, with Rome and Jerusalem the places most often suggested.

Written from Not stated. "They of Italy salute you" (13:24) may mean the writer was in Italy or was writing to it.

Why

To show that God "hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son" (1:2), and to call the readers to "consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (3:1), to "go on unto perfection" (6:1), and to "hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering" (10:23). The writer calls it "the word of exhortation" (13:22).

Earlier the readers "took joyfully the spoiling of your goods" (10:34). Now some were forsaking "the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is" (10:25), and the writer warns "lest at any time we should let them slip" (2:1).

Outline

1. 1:1-2:18 The Son above the angels
2. 3:1-4:13 The Son above Moses; entering God's rest
3. 4:14-7:28 Our high priest after the order of Melchisedec
4. 8:1-10:18 A better covenant and a better sacrifice
5. 10:19-12:29 Hold fast; the faithful; run with patience
6. 13:1-25 Closing exhortations

Key themes

• The Son is "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person" (1:3).
• Our high priest "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (4:15).
• "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (9:22).
• "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (11:1).
• "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (13:8).

From the letter's own text, compared with the Old Testament passages it quotes; authorship and dating views summarized from standard introductions.