"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"
Introduction To The Epistle
INTRODUCTION
1. The Epistle to the Hebrews is a unique book in the New Testament...
a. It begins as an "essay" - He 1:1-2
b. It progresses as a "sermon" - He 2:1-4
c. It ends as a "letter" - He 13:23-25
2. Its contents are deep and challenging...
a. Many Christians find it difficult
b. Some equate its difficulty with the book of Revelation
3. But for Christians who are willing to take the time to read and
reflect upon it...
a. They are REMINDED of how blessed they are to have trusted in
Christ
b. They are IMPRESSED with the superiority of Christ and His New
Covenant over Moses and the Old Covenant
c. They are WARNED of the danger of apostasy and the need for
steadfastness in their faith
4. With this lesson, I wish to begin a series of expository sermons
based upon this epistle...
a. Yet just as one should not begin a journey without some idea of
where they are going
b. So it is beneficial to begin with a preview of this epistle, that
we might have an idea...
1) Of where we are headed
2) And what we can expect to find
[Such a "preview" or introduction would naturally include some
information on...]
I. THE BACKGROUND TO THE EPISTLE
A. THE AUTHOR...
1. The author does not identify himself
2. Many believe it to be the apostle Paul (e.g., Clement of
Alexandria)
a. This seems unlikely in view of the author's statement:
"...was confirmed to us by those who heard Him," - He 2:3
b. For Paul declared that he had not received the gospel from
or through men - Ga 1:11-12
c. Yet there are many arguments which favor Paul as the author
(cf. New Testament Commentary on Hebrews, Robert Milligan,
pp. 5-19)
3. Other names have been proposed over the years:
a. Barnabas (suggested by Tertullian)
b. Apollos (suggested by Luther)
c. Priscilla (suggested by Harnack)
-- In the end, we can only say with Origen, "But who wrote the
epistle, to be sure, only God knows."
B. THE RECIPIENTS...
1. The general consensus is that this letter was written to
Jewish Christians
2. But there is uncertainty as to where they and the author were
at the time of composition
a. Most believe the recipients were in Palestine, and the
author in Rome
b. Others suggest the readers were in Rome and the author
elsewhere, based upon a possible implication in He 13:24
-- In any case, they were Jewish Christians whom the author knew
personally - cf. He 10:34; 13:19
C. THE DATE OF WRITING...
1. We know it was prior to 96 A.D., for Clement of Rome quotes
from Hebrews in his letter written at that time
2. There are certainly strong implications that it was written
prior to 70 A.D.
a. There is no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem and the
temple
b. The author writes as though priests were still offering
sacrifices - He 8:4; 10:11
3. If the Jewish Christians were in Palestine, it was likely
before or at the beginning of the Jewish Wars (ca.66-70 A.D.),
in light of He 12:4
-- The time frame of 63-65 A.D. is often suggested
D. THE PURPOSE OF THIS EPISTLE...
1. To prevent his readers from abandoning their faith in Christ
- cf. He 2:1-4
2. To encourage his Jewish brethren not to go back to the Old Law
a. By showing the superiority of Christ and His Covenant
- cf. He 8:1-2,6
b. A key word found throughout the epistle is "better"
1) Christ is "better than the angels" - He 1:4
2) We enjoy "the bringing in of a better hope" - He 7:19
3) Jesus has become "the surety of a better covenant"
- He 7:22
4) He is also "the Mediator of a better covenant, which was
established on better promises" - He 8:6
5) The heavenly things benefit from "better sacrifices"
- He 9:23
-- Indeed, the purpose of this epistle was to exhort his readers
- He 13:22
[With this background to the epistle, let's continue our brief survey
of the book by noticing...]
II. THE MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE EPISTLE
A. THE SUPERIORITY OF CHRIST - He 1:1-8:6
1. Better than the prophets, as a much better Spokesman - He 1:
1-3
2. Better than the angels, by virtue of His Deity and humanity
- He 1:4-2:18
3. Better than Moses, for He is the Son who provides a heavenly
rest - He 3:1-4:13
4. Better than Aaron, as His priesthood is a superior one - He
4:16-8:6
B. THE SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW COVENANT - He 8:7-10:18
1. For it is based upon better promises - He 8:7-13
2. For it is based upon a better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
3. For it is based upon a better sacrifice - He 10:1-18
C. EXHORTATIONS DRAWN FROM THIS SUPERIORITY - He 10:19-13:25
1. To draw near to God and hold fast - He 10:19-39
2. To run the race of faith with endurance - He 11:1-12:29
3. Miscellaneous exhortations - He 13:1-25
[A unique feature of "The Epistle To The Hebrews" are the warnings
throughout the book. As we conclude this introduction, perhaps it may
be profitable to summarize...]
III. THE KEY WARNINGS IN THE EPISTLE
A. THE WARNING AGAINST DRIFTING - He 2:1-4
1. Through neglect we can easily drift away
2. The solution is to give the more earnest heed to the things we
have heard
B. THE WARNING AGAINST DEPARTING - He 3:12-15
1. Through sin's deceitfulness we can become hardened and develop
a lack of faith by which we can depart from the living God
2. The solution is exhort one another daily and remain steadfast
C. THE WARNING AGAINST DISOBEDIENCE - He 4:11-13
1. Like Israel in the wilderness, we can fail to enter our rest
through disobedience
2. The solution is diligence and heeding the Word of God
D. THE WARNING AGAINST DULLNESS - He 5:11-6:6
1. Dullness of hearing can make it difficult for us to appreciate
the extent of our blessings in Christ, and even falling away
to the point of crucifying the Son of God afresh!
2. The solution is grasping the first principles of the oracles
of God, and then pressing on to spiritual maturity and
perfection
E. THE WARNING AGAINST DESPISING - He 10:26-39
1. It is possible to so despise God's grace as to no longer have
a sacrifice for sins, but only a certain fearful expectation
of judgment
2. The solution is to hold unto our confidence in Christ, and
believe with endurance
F. THE WARNING AGAINST DEFYING - He 12:14-29
1. It is possible to refuse to listen to the One who now speaks
from heaven!
2. The solution is to look diligently to the grace of God,
receiving it in such a way so we may serve Him acceptably with
reverence and godly fear
CONCLUSION
1. With such warnings, this book is indeed a "word of exhortation"!
- He 13:22
2. As we proceed through the book in the coming lessons, it will be my
intent...
a. To REMIND you of how blessed we are to have trusted in Christ
b. To IMPRESS you with the superiority of Christ and His New
Covenant over Moses and the Old Covenant
c. To WARN you of the real danger of apostasy and the need for
steadfastness in our faith
My task will be easy if I am faithful in letting the book speak for
itself. That is my hope and prayer...
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