With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. It is the superiority of our lord jesus, then, that remains the theme of this eloquently written letter. That is why this is the most christcentered book in the new testament. The theme of the promised land is crucial to understanding the warnings contained in the book of hebrews. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Jesus might have had humble beginnings, but he went on to become a pretty big deal. It is in many ways an enigma, but it is also in many ways the clearest teaching in the whole nt about the value of christ and his ministry on our behalf before god. It was assumed to be directed to jewish christians. The authorship of the book of hebrews is, at best, uncertain. Aug 29, 2011 the main theme of hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of jesus christ as our high priest and revealer of god. Nov, 2014 unlike some books, the epistle to the hebrews doesnt have a clearcut verse that everyone agrees is the theme of the whole book. As early as the second century, this treatise, which is of great rhetorical power and force in its admonition to faithful pilgrimage under christs leadership, bore the title to the hebrews. The theological epicenter of the epistle to the hebrews may be summed up in one word. Hebrews differs in some respect with the other epistles of the nt. Overall, the book of hebrews is a work of encouragement. The book reveals to us that christ is the substance of all the old testament shadows.
The author is anonymous, although either paul or barnabas. Although hebrews is not written in apocalyptic language, it does employ it. Is it the book of hebrews, the letter to the hebrews, or perhaps a sermon to the hebrews. And hebrews presents christ and his service in the heavens as antitype and fulfilment of the old testament instructions of service. The whole book of hebrews negates that idea and supports what paul says in galatians 3. Seven theological themes in hebrews gordon college faculty. A biblical study guide on the book of hebrews ford. The author knew his readers and wanted to see them again. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. No other book in the new testament integrates the gospel with the old testament better than the book of hebrews. Hebrews was written for christians who had been in the church for a while. A theme throughout hebrews is jesus as the preexisting son of god and as the high priest in heaven. The old testament foreshadowed the new, and hebrews is the place to go if we wish to understand this as we should. The hebrews were apparently being pressured by both jews and judaizing christians those who held to a belief in christ but taught that one must adhere to the mosaic law to be saved.
Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. Its theme is of salvation by faith in the atoning sacrifice of yeshua. Unlike some books, the epistle to the hebrews doesnt have a clearcut verse that everyone agrees is the theme of the whole book. Of course, the author is clear that gods not trying to be a meaniehes actually good and just and loving.
The theme of hebrews is the superiority of judaism over christianity. This smaller section emerges as a theological micro. The book of hebrews is a great book to teach us an important lesson about studying the bible. Perhaps nowhere in the new testament does the old testament come into focus more than in the book of hebrews, which has as its foundation the levitical priesthood. It is the book of hebrews that takes up this theme and explains it in greater detail see hebrews 8. The writer to the hebrews constantly compares the inadequacies. Macleod dean of the graduate program emmaus bible college, dubuque, iowa the question of emphasis or the doctrinal center of hebrews, is a vital one.
Theme verse a verse or set of verses that sums up the story, structure, andor theme of the book of the bible it was written in. Other new testament books play up jesus lowly origins more, but the author of hebrews is pretty big on the power and the glory part. Seven theological themes in hebrews gordon college. The text does not mention the name of its author, but was traditionally attributed to paul the apostle. There is nothing in the letter to tell us who wrote it nor is there a strong tradition to associate an author with the book. And throughout the epistle to the hebrews, god comes off as pretty judgmental. Introduction to hebrews 10 isaiah gives some remarkable insights into the apocalyptic language used in the bible. A summary of the book of hebrews limerick reformed. It begins as an essay, progresses as a sermon, and ends as a letter heb. The supremacy and sufficiency of jesus christ as revelator and as mediator of gods grace. Watch our overview video on the book of hebrews, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Clement of alexandria suggests that paul wrote the book originally in hebrew and that luke translated it into greek, though the greek of hebrews bears no resemblance to translation greek e. Book summary this book portrays christ as our great high priest who ever lives to make intercession for us.
Themes from hebrews no other book in the new testament integrates the gospel with the old testament better than the book of hebrews. Christs sacrifice for our sins was perfect and complete. The main themes in hebrews include the superiority of christ, the superiority of the new covenant, and urgent calls for the believer to persevere in his faith. Early manuscripts bear the title to the hebrews, which reflects the ancient assumption that it was written to jewish christians as well as gentile christians who previously had been drawn to the jewish religion. This summary of the book of hebrews provides information about the title, authors, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of hebrews. He was a gentile while the author was most definitely a hebrew. The book of the new testament routinely known as hebrews is a difficult nut to crack. The grand purpose of the book of hebrews uk apologetics. That is the theme of this book and this tells us what this book is all.
If you think about the new testament of the bible at all, you may wonder about the name given one of the books. The message of hebrews for the global church is that jesus is better than every other thing believers are tempted to fall back into, such as their formers ways of sin, culturally comfortable patterns of thinking or living, or nonchristian ethical codes. The book of hebrews along with romans and galations forms a trilogy explaining the heart and. In extrabiblical greek and the nt apart from hebrews, the meanings revolve around the idea of bringing a person or action to completion. Jesus is greater, so hold fast to him overviewbible. As hard as it is, we must let the text determine what the text is saying. When hebrews talks about faith, therefore, it must help us to see the object of faith, because our faith will be strong if we believe and understand that the object of our faith is strong. These folks knew about angels, the old testament heroes, the devil, and moses tabernacle, but someone thought they needed to know a little more. As we studied through the book of hebrews, several overarching topics kept popping up again and again. The book of hebrews elevates jesus above historical people.
Hebrews with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Though not initially written to us, hebrews will always be a relevant study for new testament christians to undertake. He is greater than angels, the torah, moses, the promised land, priests, melchizedek, sacrifices, and the covenant. It shows us his heavenly ministry at gods right hand, resting from the completed work. The theme of the epistle is the doctrine of the person of christ and his role as mediator between god and humanity. The author of this epistle is relentless in his effort to reveal christ as greater than the prophets, angels, moses, and the levitical priests. Far from being all about tithing this great book actually has a very clear and distinctive theme. Thisrevelationfromgodcameindiversmannerspolutroposinmanymannersls 659. First, twice he calls particular attention to the one who is the real answer to his readers problemsjesus. Doctrinally the book of hebrews accords with the pauline epistles.
I have discovered two effective ways in which auctor latin for author of the letter to the hebrews exhorts us to recognize the main theme in his book jesus. A summary of the book of hebrews limerick reformed fellowship. Who knew the author of a new testament book would agree with tupac about something. Oct 30, 2015 the excellency of jesus christ, the mediator of a better covenant a summary of the book of hebrews. One such example is its use of the word fire which apocalyptically refers to gods judgment see hebrews 10. The excellency of jesus christ, the mediator of a better covenant a summary of the book of hebrews. As should be noted in any discussion of baptism, the crossing into the land was highlighted by the baptismcircumcision of joshua josh 5. Christ, as son, heir, and creator, is also the final spokesman in the final covenant. Jesus is both the divine son of god and completely human, and in his priestly role he clears the way for human beings to approach the father in heaven through prayer hebrews 4.
A study of the book of hebrews and join us downtown on sundays at 9. Theme verse a verse or set of verses that sums up the story, structure, andor. Taken together, these themes distinguish the book of hebrews from books that we know were written by paul. Sproul explains the critical questions about the canonicity of hebrews and why we can have full confidence in its inclusion in the new testament. Theme verses of hebrews let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. Analysis of hebrews themes by phd students from stanford, harvard, berkeley. The apostle paul wrote more than half of the new testament.
The book of hebrews also gives us a very high christology since the central theme is the supremacy of christ. By examining the relationship of literary form to theological argument in the book of hebrews, seven theological themes. Hebrews, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of. Should it be listed with the rest of the new testament.
When he had made purification of sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. The doctrinal center of the book of hebrews david j. I have discovered two effective ways in which auctor latin for author of the letter to the hebrews exhorts us to recognize the main theme in his bookjesus. Hebrews clearly lays out the present priestly ministry of christ in the life of the believer. The book of hebrews compares and contrasts jesus to key historical people and events from the old testament. Theme it is stated early and emphasized often throughout the book. What does it mean that jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered hebrews 5. Akin, president southeastern baptist theological seminary wake forest, north carolina sebts. This book portrays christ as our great high priest who ever lives to make intercession for us.
The book of hebrews boldly proclaims the superiority of jesus christ and christianity over other religions, including judaism. Recently i have discovered two effective ways in which auctor latin for author of the letter to the hebrews exhorts us to recognize the main theme in his book jesus. Who knew the author of a new testament book would agree with tupac about. Israels sin had continually interrupted gods fellowship with his chosen and covenant people, israel.
The niv study bible, hodder and stoughton, 1993, article hebrews page 1817. The theme of hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of jesus christ as revealer and as mediator of gods grace. When you consider the wide agreement among biblical scholars about who wrote every other book of the new testament, its a little mysterious that we dont know who wrote hebrews. According to this book, from the beginning of time, jesus was there, hanging with god and the angels, plotting to be the savior of the universe. Jan 02, 2020 it is the superiority of our lord jesus, then, that remains the theme of this eloquently written letter. The book of hebrews starts off by saying that jesus is the final revelation from god spoken about in the old testament lightfoot 35.
What does it mean that jesus was a little lower than the angels psalm 8. The letter is written to hebrew christians, that is, those who have converted to christ from judaism, and who are under pressure to depart from christ. Given its beautiful qualities, maybe it doesnt matter. Bible study series on the book of hebrews chapter by chapter. The writer to the hebrews constantly compares the inadequacies of the old testament sacrificial system to the. Introduces perspectives on the author, audience, date and purpose of the book of hebrews that can help us interpret the original meaning and apply this book to our modern world. The son of god is better than angels, priests, old testament leaders. Hebrews interpretation of melchizedek in genesis, the book of genealogies, there is no genealogy of melchizedek. God is not called father of the believers hebrews 12. The main theme of hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of jesus christ as our high priest and revealer of god. Study on the road or teach directly from your tablet. Jan 02, 2020 book of hebrews bible survey who wrote the book of hebrews. Campbell morgan and lewis sperry chafer said that he was the preincarnate christ. A study of hebrews gene taylor2an introduction to the book of hebrews i.
By its warnings and exhortations it seeks to show what faith is, how it functions and what results it achieves. Specifically, some say he only wrote thirteen of the twentyseven books of new testament, while others say fourteen. Book of hebrews bible survey who wrote the book of hebrews. In the book of hebrews, we must accept that god can give stern warnings to his children.
Introduction to hebrews the epistle to the hebrews is a unique book in the new testament. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Other new testament books play up jesus lowly origins more, but the author of hebrews. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. No biblical document outside of the four gospels focuses as totally and forcefully on the person and redemptive achievement of jesus. What i mean by theme verse first of all, i should probably define theme verse for this conversation. Some think that paul wrote it but the style and vocabulary are very different from pauls other letters. The book of hebrews solves this problem by arguing that the hebrew scriptures also foretold that the. In hebrews, the author shows how jesus is the ultimate revelation of god. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the. The author of the letter to the hebrews remains shrouded in mystery. Themes in the book of hebrews jesus christ is superior.
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