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The Book of Hebrews Explained

THE OBJECTIVE of the first three verses of Hebrews is to impress upon the Jewish Christians that a new epoch has begun which, while it centers in Jesus, is based upon the prophetic accumulations of the past. Because the entire book of Hebrews will contrast Jesus to features and prominent ones of the past, showing him to be the one in whom these features are fulfilled, Paul wishes in these first verses to establish at the outset Jesus’ superiority over all…   To read the book, click here:    Hebrews 2009

HEBREWS AT FIRST GLANCE

INTRODUCTION (1:1-3)
We are in a New Age in which Jesus replaces everything

I. SUPERIOR TO ANGELS (1:4 – 2:18)
1:14 Church Introduced
2:1 – 18 Resulting Responsibilities in Order to Share Reign

II. REPLACEMENT FOR MOSES (3:1 – 4:13)
3:1 – 6 WHY He is Greater
3:7 – 4:13 How WE Must Be Greater than Moses’ House

III. REPLACES ALL FORMER PRIESTHOODS (4:14 – 8:5)
4:14 – 5:5 Comparison to Aaron
5:6 ff Comparison to Melchizedek
(6:1 – 19 Admonitions to Follow the GOSPEL Upon Which the Melchizedek Priesthood Is Founded)
(7:12 Introduces Reason for Melchizedek)

IV. HE IS BASIS OF A NEW COVENANT (8:6 – 9:28)
9:1 – 7 Tabernacle as CENTER of Old Covenant
9:8 – 14 Replaced by Heavenly Tabernacle
9:16 – 22 Blood of Old Covenant
9:23 – 28 Blood of New Covenant

V. THE REAL SIN OFFERING (10:1 – 39)
10:1 – 18 The Sin Offering
10:19 – 39 Our Responsibilities in the Sin Offering

VI. FAITH AS OUR ANCHOR (11:1 – 12:13)

VII. THE SERIOUS NATURE OF OUR COMMITMENT (12:14 – 13:17)
EPILOGUE (13:18 – END)

2 comments to The Book of Hebrews Explained

  • Caleb

    “It is important to the Christian to be
    convinced that it is Paul’s work.” It’s difficult to be convinced that Hebrews is Paul’s work in light of what Paul wrote in Gal 1:11-12 and the statement in Hebrews 2:3. Hebrews states that the “this salvation…was confirmed to us by those that heard Him.” If Paul had written that verse I think he would have phrased it so that Jesus confirmed the salvation to him personally and he passed it on to others, in keeping with his statement in Gal. Instead the author of Hebrews makes it sound as if he heard the confirmation of this salvation “by those who heard him” and not from Jesus himself.
    Most Bible scholars and commentators do not feel that Paul wrote Hebrews and the fact that it’s written completely different from Paul’s other letters seems to verify this point. Tha’t not to say that it’s not inspired, just not written by Paul. The statement “Only the Apostles had the authority to establish doctrine and to be the appointed interpreters of prophecy for the Church.” is misleading since James and Jude were not apostles either.

    • Peter K. (admin)

      Caleb – Thanks for your perspective. In Hebrews 2, the writer is explaining how important the message was from Christ, indicating in verses 3 & 4 that this message was heard and relayed to othes by many eye witnesses whose testimony was confirmed by their demonstrations of miraculous gifts. The writer is not directly speaking of himself. Paul heard the confirmation of this salvation both “by those who heard him,” as well as by direct revelation from Jesus himself.

      This epistle is the deepest in the New Testament and its author was an expert in the Jewish Law, Tabernacle, Types and History. I can hardly imagine anyone more qualified to write this wonderful epistle than the Apostle Paul.

      We find confirmation at the end of the epistle Hebrews 13: (NKJV) 23 Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly
      Paul was very close to Timothy and sometimes mentions him in his other epistles.

      Hebrews 13: (NKJV) 24 Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. Paul was close to the brethren in Italy. He wrote the epistle to the Romans and converted many in Caesar’s house while he was in prison at Rome. Personally, I believe Paul to be the author.

      It appears that James and Jude were either Apostles or half brothers of Jesus. We read of “Jude of James” (Lu 6:16), a phrase also translated as “Jude the son of James.” When comparing the Apostolic lists (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13), by deduction, he seems to be Thaddaeus (Matt 10:3). This Apostle might be the writer of Jude or it might be one of Jesus half brothers. The writer of James could also be on of Jesus’ half brothers or the Apostle James (Luke 6:15 “James the son of Alphaeus.”

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