Audience. Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians. The recipients (and the author) were well versed in Jewish history. They had a good understanding of the Temple and its sacrificial system.
Ro. 9:4-5. “who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the (Temple) service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.”
Authorship. In support of Pauline authorship. Eusebius (260-339) held that Hebrews was written by Paul in Hebrew for Hebrew Christians. Clement of Alexandria (150-211) believed that Paul wrote the letter in Hebrew and that it was later translated in Greek by Luke. In 10:34, the author states that the readers have compassion on him in his chains – his imprisonment. Paul, and others, were imprisoned. Also, 13:22, the author says that Timothy has been set free from jail. There was a known connection between Paul and Timothy. 13:24 speaks as if the writer is in Italy. Paul was jailed twice in Italy, the second time when he was martyred. There is additional information (subscript) provided in verse 25 in 2 versions of the 63 versions I consulted. The additional information appears to be a scribal note and not part of scripture. 1599 Geneva Bible (the one the Pilgrims used) adds: “Written to the Hebrews from Italy and sent by Timothy.” The New Matthew Bible adds “send from Italy by the hand of Timothy.” The Revised Geneva Bible adds “Written to the Hebrews from Italy. And sent by Timothy.” The subscript language of the AKJV adds “written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.” Identifies Timothy as the author. By the 3rd century, Pauline authorship was accepted in the East.
Against Pauling authorship. In Paul’s 13 letters, he identifies himself by name. The author of Hebrews does not identify himself by name.
Although Paul used the words “our brother” when referring to Timothy on 2-3 occasions, these occasions were when Paul was using a plural noun. He normally used more personal, fatherly terms such as Son, my son in the faith, child, co-worker.
Tertullian (AD 155-220), in the West, suggested that Barnabas was the writer. Barnabas was a Levite, which would have servd well in discussing the sacrificial system. So, Tertullian did not hold to Pauline authorship. Later Jerome and Augustine swayed the West toward Pauline authorship.
Origin (AD 185-253) writing in the 3rd century, suggested Luke, but also said that “only God knew who the author was.”
More recently, scholars suggest that the writer may have been Apollos, Luke, Barnabas, or even Priscilla. Pauline authorship began to be doubted by the Reformers. The writing of Hebrews is not in the style of Paul’s other writing, according to them.
Luther and Calvin believed that He. 2:3 excluded Paul as the author. Paul never put himself on a second tier with the other Apostles, but thought of himself as their equal. Luther suggested Apollos’s because of his Alexandrian roots (Acts 18;24). Calvin also agreed that Paul wasn’t the writer based on Hebrews 2:3 suggesting that either Luke or Clement of Rome penned the letter.
Entomology of “Hebrews.” “Hebrews” means “those who crossed over.” We have crossed over from: 1) darkness to light; 2) from doubt to faith; 3) from truth suggested in shadows, types, and symbols, to Messianic truth shining brightly for all to see.
Date. AD 50-66. Wesley thought that it was written in AD 52. It was written before the Roman Was of AD 67-70 because the sacrificial system was in place in Hebrews.
Hebrews reveals that Jesus is our High Priest. As High Priest, He was the victim or sacrifice, and He served as High Priest who offered the sacrifice.
Some main themes are destiny, inheritance, rest and perfection. Our destiny is found in our inheritance. As we enter our inheritance, we enter His rest and we also enter into perfection, completeness, wholeness.
Solemn warnings. These warnings are very serious, and they relate to the people to whom the warnings were addressed. The more you know, the more will be expected of you. Solemn warnings: 1) Neglect, 2) Unbelief, 3) Apostacy, 4) Willfully continuing to sin, 5) Coming short of the grace of God.
There are seven passages of contrast and comparison. 1) Between angels and Jesus; 2) between Moses and Jesus; 3) between the Levitical priesthood and the priesthood of Melchizedek; 4) between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant; 5) between the tabernacle of Moses and the heavenly tabernacle: 6) between the Levitical sacrifices and the sacrifice of Jesus; and 7) between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion.
Reliance on OT scriptures. There are twelve quotes or allusions to the OT in Chapter 1 alone.
Purpose of book: 1) He. 6: 18: “that by two immutable things (His promise and His oath (v. 13-17)), in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation (encouragement), who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.”
The Greek word for consolation is the same word used in Jo. 14 where Jesus speaks of the comforter. Encouragement has two meanings: 1) to cheer up; 2) to stir up. The Holy Spirit is the “cheer-er upper” and the “stir-er upper.”
The letter aims to prevent the Jewish Christians from returning to the law as a means of attaining righteousness. Instead, they are encouraged to live in the fulness of the new covenant, and the New Man, as the way to achieve righteousness before God.
It takes a High Priest to guarantee the promises, the oath and the covenant) (He. 8:6: “But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”
Jesus mediates the promises, the oath, and the covenant. A covenant is of no avail unless a sacrifice is offered (offering), and a sacrifice requires the shedding of blood.
Key Concepts. We have 1) Confident access to God. 2) Perfection/maturity. “Go on” is a key phrase. 3) The need for zeal, faith, and patience. 4) Exhortation to assemble, hold fast, encourage. 5) To remember and endure. 6) Press on, endure, pursue peace and holiness. 7) Exhortation to love, holiness, prayer, and submissiveness.
“Let us” passages. That indicates a personal and corporate decision. We can’t do this alone. We have to “move on” with our fellow believers. 1) Let us fear. Don’t take it for granted that you’re okay because you know a lot. 2) Let us be diligent. Don’t be lazy. 3) Let us hold fast our confession. Don’t give up. 4) Let us draw near with confidence to the Throne of Grace. 5) Let us press on to maturity or perfection. 6) Let us draw near to the Holy of Holies. 7) Let us hold fast the confession of our hope. 8) Let us consider now to stimulate one another. 9) Let us run with endurance. 10) Let us show gratitude. 11) Let us go to him outside the camp. 12) Let us offer to Him a sacrifice of praise.
Christ and His salvation are better: 1) 1:4 (Christ better than angels), 2) 7:19 (Christ’s grace gives us a better hope); 3) 7:22 (Jesus gives us a better covenant); 4) 8:6 (Jesus is the mediator of a better covenant); 5) 9:23 (Heavenly sacrifice was better than Levitical ones); 6) 10:34 (our heavenly inheritance is better); 7) 11:16 (our heavenly destination is better than this current destination); 8) 11:40 (our inheritance is better than the OT. Saints).
Christianity is not something tacked onto Judaism. It’s new and superior. It’s the NEW COVENANT OF GOD’S GRACE THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS THE MESSIAH.