Hebrews – Lesson 1 Introduction. Hebrews - Lesson 12 Format of the Study 13-Week Study, based on...

Hebrews – Lesson 1

Introduction

Hebrews - Lesson 1 2

Format of the Study13-Week Study, based on the text of HebrewsLesson sheet for each week for personal study

Occasional outside resources

Class format: DISCUSSIONDISCUSSIONYour involvement will make the classYour personal study will lead to involvement


Suggested ResourcesHebrews – James

George Guthrie and Douglas Moo (Zondervan)

Hebrews: Christ – Perfect Sacrifice, Perfect Priest

John MacArthur (Nelson Impact)

HebrewsShepherd’s Notes (Holman Reference)

NICNT - The Epistle to the HebrewsF. F. Bruce (Eerdman’s)


Reading Someone Else’s MailWhat if you were to pick up someone else’s mail and try to understand it?What would you need to know?

Who the writer was?Who the recipient was?Their common experiences?History and relationship between them?The cultural environment of the day?


Understanding ScriptureIs it possible to really understand Scripture?

After all, it was written thousands of years ago

A few thoughtsUnderstand the historical contextUnderstand the authorUnderstand the recipientsUnderstand the relationship between themAllow the Sprit to guide you


Some BackgroundKnown as the Letter to the Hebrews since the 2nd Century

It did not bear the name in the 1st CenturyProbably received the name due to its heavy reference to Jewish systems and symbols in its argumentsDoes not necessarily imply that the recipients were Jews, only that they were familiar with the OT


Date of WritingObviously written after Jesus’ deathQuoted by Clement of Rome in 95 ADMany references to Jewish sacrificial system

Ended in 70 AD with destruction of the Temple

Recipients under persecution (Heb 10:32-34), but not yet martyrdom (Heb 12:4)Facts fit well within Nero’s reignTherefore many fix the date at 67 AD


The World of the DayRomans Occupy the Known World

Glory Days of the Roman Empire

Nero is EmperorKnown for his Lunacy

Persecution of Christians is Heating Up

Jewish religion was “religio licita”• However, things in Judea are tense

Christians did not enjoy such protection


Roman Empire – 1st Century


RecipientsWere they Hebrews or Hellenists, or even Gentiles?Possibly written to three distinct groups

Believers on the verge of apostasyUnbelievers who were intellectually convinced, but yet to accept the GospelUnbelievers drawn to the message but had reached no conviction

Possibly to recipients at Rome (Heb 13:24)


StyleNot so much a letter, as a sermon or essayWritten in an elegant form of Greek, using advanced forms of persuasive argument and rhetoricAuthor veryvery well versed in Old Testament scriptures, as well as Jewish verbal tradition

Extensive exposition of OT Writings

Similar in style to other writings from Alexandria, a major Jewish center in Egypt


Persuasive ArgumentHebrews is the longest sustained argument in the NT

Uses a style from Greek rhetoric known as “a minore ad maius” – “from the lesser to the greater”Basically: If such and such is the case with X, which is a small matter, then it is even more the case with Y, which is a greater matterRelies on analogies, with similarities and dissimilarities


AuthorshipAuthor does not identify his/herselfMany possibilities have been suggested

PaulBarnabasAquila and/or PriscillaLukeClement of RomeApollos


What About Paul?For hundreds of years after the 1st Century, the writing was attributed to PaulArguments against Paul as author

He doesn’t identify himselfWriting style is radically different than Pauline writings

Arguments for Paul as authorSome content similar to RomansPossibly written in a style for Hebrews, then translated into Greek by Luke


Who Then was the Author?Perhaps Apollos

“a native of Alexandria” - Acts 18:24“a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures” - Acts 18:24“he spoke with great fervor” - Acts 18:25Consistent with Alexandrian style of writingAuthor quotes from Septuagint OT

“But as to who actually wrote the epistle, God knows the truth of the matter.” Origen


ThemesThe supremacy of ChristA contrast of the imperfect and incomplete Old Covenant with the infinitely better New CovenantBelievers now have direct access to God through ChristTerrible consequences for those who reject the Son


Six WarningsWarning against driftingdrifting from “the things we have heard” (Heb 2:1-4)Warning against disbelievingdisbelieving the “voice” of God (Heb 3:7-14)Warning against degeneratingdegenerating from “the elementary principles of Christ” (Heb 5:11-6:20)Warning against despisingdespising “the knowledge of the truth” (Heb 10:26-39)Warning against devaluingdevaluing “the grace of God” (Heb 12:15-17)Warning against departingdeparting from Him “who speaks” (Heb 12:25-29)


To the TextRead Hebrews 1:1-4How did God speak to His people in the past?

Through the Prophets

What sorts of messages did they bring?

AnnouncementsJudgments and condemnationsExhortations and encouragement


God SpeaksHow does God speak to His children now?

Through the Son

What message does the Son bring?

SALVATION!SALVATION!What is the distinction between the “past” and “these last days”?


Jesus the SonHow does the author describe Jesus here?

The Son of GodThe Heir of the UniverseThe Creator of the UniverseThe Radiance of Divine GloryThe Exact Representation of GodThe Sustainer of the UniverseThe Redeemer from sinThe Exalted One

Compare with John 1:3 and Col 1:13-20


For DiscussionWhat is the Hebrew writer’s primary message in the introductory passage?

God has spoken in the past via Prophets (mere men), but now speaks to us via His Son (superior to all)

LISTEN!LISTEN!


Next Week’s LessonLesson 2 – Jesus Better than the Angels

Hebrews 1:5-2:18

Hebrews – Lesson 1 Introduction. Hebrews - Lesson 12 Format of the Study 13-Week Study, based on...

Documents

Transcript of Hebrews – Lesson 1 Introduction. Hebrews - Lesson 12 Format of the Study 13-Week Study, based on...