acquainted with the pre-Christian Greek translation of the OT (the Septuagint), which he regularly quotes.
Hebrews must have been written before the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in a.d. 70 because: (1) If it had been written after this date, the author surely would have mentioned the temple's destruction and the end of the Jewish sacrificial system; and (2) the author consistently uses the Greek present tense when speaking of the temple and the priestly activities connected with it (see 5:1-3; 7:23,27; 8:3-5; 9:6-9,13,25; 10:1,3-4,8,11; 13:10-11).
The letter was addressed primarily to Jewish converts who were familiar with the OT and who were being tempted to revert to Judaism or to Judaize the gospel (cf. Gal 2:14). Some have suggested that these professing Jewish Christians were thinking of merging with a Jewish sect, such as the one at Qumran near the Dead Sea. It has also been suggested that the recipients were from the 'large number of priests who became obedient to the faith' (Ac 6:7).
The theme of Hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ as revealer and as mediator of God's grace. The prologue (1:1-4) presents Christ as God's full and final revelation, far surpassing the revelation given in the OT. The prophecies and promises of the OT are fulfilled in the 'new covenant' (or 'new testament'), of which Christ is the mediator. From the OT itself, Christ is shown to be superior to the ancient prophets, to angels, to Moses (the mediator of the former covenant) and to Aaron and the priestly succession descended from him. Hebrews could be called 'the book of better things' since the two Greek words for 'better' and 'superior' occur 15 times in the letter. A striking feature of this presentation of the gospel is the unique manner in which the author employs expositions of eight specific passages of the OT Scriptures:
2:5-9: Exposition of Ps 8:4-6
3:7 -- 4:13: Exposition of Ps 95:7-11
4:14 -- 7:28: Exposition of Ps 110:4
8:1 -- 10:18: Exposition of Jer 31:31-34
10:1-10: Exposition of Ps 40:6-8
10:32 -- 12:3: Exposition of Hab 2:3-4
12:4-13: Exposition of Pr 3:11-12
12:18-24: Exposition of Ex 19:10-23
Practical applications of this theme are given throughout the book. The readers are told that there can be no turning back to or continuation in the old Jewish system, which has been superseded by the unique priesthood of Christ. God's people must now look only to him, whose atoning death, resurrection and ascension have opened the way into the true, heavenly sanctuary of God's presence. To 'ignore such a great salvation' (2:3) or to give up the pursuit of holiness (12:10,14) is to face the anger of the 'living God' (10:31). Five times the author weaves into his presentation of the gospel stern warnings (see note on 2:1-4) and reminds his readers of the divine judgment that came on the rebellious generation of Israelites in the desert.
Hebrews is commonly referred to as a letter, though it does not have the typical form of a letter. It ends like a letter (13:22-25) but begins more like an essay or sermon (1:1-4). The author does not identify himself or those addressed, which letter writers normally did. And he offers no manner of greeting, such as is usually found at the beginning of ancient letters. Rather, he begins with a magnificent statement about Jesus Christ. He calls his work a 'word of exhortation' (13:22), the conventional designation given a sermon in a synagogue service (see Ac 13:15, where 'message of encouragement' translates the same Greek words as 'word of exhortation'). Like a sermon, Hebrews is full of encouragement, exhortations and stern warnings. It is likely that the author used sermonic materials and sent them out in a modified letter form.
Prologue: The Superiority of God's New Revelation (1:1-4)
The Superiority of Christ to Leading Figures under the Old Covenant (1:5 -- 7:28)
Christ Is Superior to the Angels (1:5 -- 2:18)
Scriptural proof of his superiority (1:5-14)
Exhortation not to ignore the revelation of God in his Son (2:1-4)
Jesus was made a little lower than the angels (2:5-9)
Having been made like us, Jesus was enabled to save us (2:10-18)
Christ Is Superior to Moses (3:1 -- 4:13)
Demonstration of Christ's superiority (3:1-6)
Exhortation to enter salvation-rest (3:7 -- 4:13)
Christ Is Superior to the Aaronic Priests (4:14 -- 7:28)
Jesus is the great high priest (4:14-16)
Qualifications of a priest (5:1-10)
Exhortation to press on toward maturity (5:11 -- 6:12)
The certainty of God's promise (6:13-20)
Christ's superior priestly order (ch. 7)
The Superior Sacrificial Work of Our High Priest (8:1 -- 10:18)
A New Sanctuary and a New Covenant (ch. 8)
The Old Sanctuary (9:1-10)
The Better Sacrifice (9:11 -- 10:18)
A Call to Follow Jesus Faithfully and with Perseverance (10:19 -- 12:29)
Having Confidence to Enter the Sanctuary (10:19-25)
A Warning against Persistence in Sin (10:26-31)
C. Persevering in Faith under Pressure (10:32 -- 12:3)
As in the past, so in the future (10:32-39)
Faith and its many outstanding examples (ch. 11)
Jesus, the supreme example (12:1-3)
Encouragement to Persevere in the Face of Hardship (12:4-13)
Exhortation to Holy Living (12:14-17)
Crowning Motivation and Warning (12:18-29)
Conclusion (ch. 13)
Rules for Christian Living (13:1-17)
Request for Prayer (13:18-19)
Benediction (13:20-21)
Personal Remarks (13:22-23)
Greetings and Final Benediction (13:24-25).
Heb1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Heb1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Heb1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Heb1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
Heb1:7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
