1. THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

2. INTRODUCTION TO HEBREWS
AUTHOR
DISTINCTIVES
THEME
BACKGROUND
APPLICATION

3. AUTHOR The author and time of writing are unknown
Some believe it was Paul
Case for Pauline authorship rests largely on a reference to Timothy (13:23 “our brother Timothy has been released”)
But unlike Pauline letters, here the author does not identify himself
Credible cases have been made for the writer being Paul, Apollos, Barnabas, Luke, Peter, Jude, Stephen, Silas, and Clement of Rome, among others

4. AUTHOR (cont’d)
Credible cases have been made for the writer being the following:
Paul
Apollos
Barnabas
Luke
Peter
Jude
Stephen
Silas and
Clement of Rome, among others

5. DISTINCTIVES
Vocabulary and style different than that of any other book of the New Testament
In fact, a number of words which are not found elsewhere in the apostolic writings
Lacks the basic ingredients that identified ancient letters
No mention of author, no mention of addressees, no greeting, no thanksgiving section and no prayer for the readers in the opening lines
But note: The closing verses of Hebrews 13 do reflect the traditional way in which a letter closes

6. DISTINCTIVES (cont’d)
If not a letter, what was it?
Writer describes his work in Hebrews 13:22 as a "word of exhortation"
Most likely the original literary form of the book was a sermon or homily

7. THEME Stay true to Christ and do not return to Judaism
Persevere in faith even when under tremendous pressure
Coming to Christ means final access to God without any barrier

8. THEME (cont’d) The supremacy of God’s Son
Christ is superior to the Angels
Christ is superior to Moses
Christ is superior to Aaron (the High Priest and priests)
Christ is sufficient for our every need
Indeed, Christ is BETTER
The Hebrew word for “Better” used 13 times in the book

9. THEME (cont’d) Two other very significant words: Perfect Used 14 times
Eternal
Used 19 times
Christ is Perfect and Eternal
Christ provides Perfect and Eternal standing before God

10. BACKGROUND Jewish Christians suffering extreme persecution
Exclusion from Jewish life
Social and Economic
Imprisonment
Flogging
Death

11. BACKGROUND (cont’d)
Jewish Christians were wilting under the acute pressure of persecution
But in this book they are exhorted
Old Israel continued on through thick and thin hoping for the Messiah
In the same way the readers of Hebrews must press on
Persevering under pressure because Messiah has already come
The final perfection of heaven must become their goal
And they have many more resources for their journey than old Israel had

12. Seven Warnings from Hebrews
A Warning Against Neglect (2:1-4)
Don’t neglect your salvation and faith
A Warning Against Unbelief (3:7-19)
Don’t harden your heart
A Warning Against Carelessness (4:1-13)
Don’t drift away
A Warning Against Immaturity (5:11-6:20)
Don’t be childish

13. Seven Warnings from Hebrews (cont’d)
A Warning Against Willful Sin (10:26-31)
Don’t go on sinning
A Warning Against Desertion (12:14-17)
Don’t leave the body of believers
A Warning Against Rejection (12:18-29)
Don’t refuse God

14. APPLICATION We live in a free nation But there is still persecution
The obstacles we face intimidate us
We are overwhelmed by uncertainty
We especially need to hear the basic message of Hebrews again

15. APPLICATION (cont’d)
We need a word of exhortation, a word of encouragement
Even a word of prodding that tells us to keep on the journey
We need constant reminders of the superiority of Christ

16. APPLICATION (cont’d)
Few of us are tempted to turn back to Old Testament style Judaism
But we are tempted to combine Christ with a system of philosophy of the world
We are tempted to believe lies
That faith is easy when life is easy
And faith is hard when life is hard

17. APPLICATION (cont’d)
We need to be reminded that life is a journey toward the final goal
an eternal and perfect relationship with God in Christ.
We need to be reminded that no price is too expensive to pay
no effort is too much to give in order to gain the final goal
We need to look forward to hearing Jesus say “Well done, good and faithful servant”

18. NEXT WEEK
Hebrews 1:1-4

19. SMALL GROUPS