Hebrews – Lesson 1 Introduction

Hebrews - Lesson 12 Format of the Study 13-Week Study, based on the text of Hebrews Lesson sheet for each week for personal study Occasional outside resources DISCUSSION Class format: DISCUSSION Your involvement will make the class Your personal study will lead to involvement

Hebrews - Lesson 13 Suggested Resources Hebrews – James George Guthrie and Douglas Moo (Zondervan) Hebrews: Christ – Perfect Sacrifice, Perfect Priest John MacArthur (Nelson Impact) Hebrews Shepherd’s Notes (Holman Reference) NICNT - The Epistle to the Hebrews F. F. Bruce (Eerdman’s)

Hebrews - Lesson 14 Reading Someone Else’s Mail What 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?

Hebrews - Lesson 15 Understanding Scripture Is it possible to really understand Scripture? After all, it was written thousands of years ago A few thoughts Understand the historical context Understand the author Understand the recipients Understand the relationship between them Allow the Sprit to guide you

Hebrews - Lesson 16 Some Background Known as the Letter to the Hebrews since the 2 nd Century It did not bear the name in the 1 st Century Probably received the name due to its heavy reference to Jewish systems and symbols in its arguments Does not necessarily imply that the recipients were Jews, only that they were familiar with the OT

Hebrews - Lesson 17 Date of Writing Obviously written after Jesus’ death Quoted by Clement of Rome in 95 AD Many 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 reign Therefore many fix the date at 67 AD

Hebrews - Lesson 18 The World of the Day Romans Occupy the Known World Glory Days of the Roman Empire Nero is Emperor Known 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

Hebrews - Lesson 19 Roman Empire – 1 st Century

Hebrews - Lesson 110 Recipients Were they Hebrews or Hellenists, or even Gentiles? Possibly written to three distinct groups Believers on the verge of apostasy Unbelievers who were intellectually convinced, but yet to accept the Gospel Unbelievers drawn to the message but had reached no conviction Possibly to recipients at Rome (Heb 13:24)

Hebrews - Lesson 111 Style Not so much a letter, as a sermon or essay Written in an elegant form of Greek, using advanced forms of persuasive argument and rhetoric very Author very 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

Hebrews - Lesson 112 Persuasive Argument Hebrews 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 matter Relies on analogies, with similarities and dissimilarities

Hebrews - Lesson 113 Authorship Author does not identify his/herself Many possibilities have been suggested Paul Barnabas Aquila and/or Priscilla Luke Clement of Rome Apollos

Hebrews - Lesson 114 What About Paul? For hundreds of years after the 1 st Century, the writing was attributed to Paul Arguments against Paul as author He doesn’t identify himself Writing style is radically different than Pauline writings Arguments for Paul as author Some content similar to Romans Possibly written in a style for Hebrews, then translated into Greek by Luke

Hebrews - Lesson 115 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 18:25 Consistent with Alexandrian style of writing Author quotes from Septuagint OT “But as to who actually wrote the epistle, God knows the truth of the matter.” Origen

Hebrews - Lesson 116 Themes The supremacy of Christ A contrast of the imperfect and incomplete Old Covenant with the infinitely better New Covenant Believers now have direct access to God through Christ Terrible consequences for those who reject the Son

Hebrews - Lesson 117 Six Warnings drifting Warning against drifting from “the things we have heard” (Heb 2:1-4) disbelieving Warning against disbelieving the “voice” of God (Heb 3:7-14) degenerating Warning against degenerating from “the elementary principles of Christ” (Heb 5:11-6:20) despising Warning against despising “the knowledge of the truth” (Heb 10:26-39) devaluing Warning against devaluing “the grace of God” (Heb 12:15-17) departing Warning against departing from Him “who speaks” (Heb 12:25-29)

Hebrews - Lesson 118 To the Text Read Hebrews 1:1-4 How did God speak to His people in the past? Through the Prophets What sorts of messages did they bring? Announcements Judgments and condemnations Exhortations and encouragement

Hebrews - Lesson 119 God Speaks How does God speak to His children now? Through the Son What message does the Son bring?SALVATION! What is the distinction between the “past” and “these last days”?

Hebrews - Lesson 120 Jesus the Son How does the author describe Jesus here? The Son of God The Heir of the Universe The Creator of the Universe The Radiance of Divine Glory The Exact Representation of God The Sustainer of the Universe The Redeemer from sin The Exalted One Compare with John 1:3 and Col 1:13-20

Hebrews - Lesson 121 For Discussion What 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!

Hebrews - Lesson 122 Next Week’s Lesson Lesson 2 – Jesus Better than the Angels Hebrews 1:5-2:18