Holman New Testament Commentary - Hebrews & James

Thomas Lea, Max Anders

• Publisher: Holman Reference
• Year: 1999
• Print ISBN: 9780805402117
• eBook ISBN: 9781433674129
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Comentario bíblico

One in a series of twelve New Testament verse-by-verse commentary books edited by Max Anders. Includes discussion starters, teaching plan, and more. Great for lay teachers and pastors alike.

Introduction to

Hebrews

AUTHORSHIP

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The book is anonymous. We find no name for a stated author. Best suggestion for authorship is that given by Origen, Christian leader in the third century, who said, “But as to who actually wrote the epistle, God knows the truth of the matter.”

Eastern Christianity viewed Paul as the author, even though those who supported Pauline authorship knew that the language did not resemble Paul's other letters. Western Christianity did not accept Pauline authorship until the fourth century. They felt that the letter had great authority, but many saw it as anonymous and non-Pauline.

The writer of Hebrews held to the same basic apostolic teaching as Paul, but he wrote with a different style and quoted the Old Testament differently from the apostle.

Among possible authors suggested are Luke, Apollos (see Acts 18:24), Barnabas, Priscilla, and Aquila.

The author identified himself as a second-generation Christian (see Heb. 2:3), and he wrote with an excellent literary style and a vivid vocabulary.

The original readers of the book knew the writer's name, for he asked for prayers that he might be able to visit them (13:18–19) and expressed the hope that Timothy would come with him (13:23).

ORIGINAL READERS OF HEBREWS

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The title “To the Hebrews,” though not original, can be traced back to the last quarter of the second century. The readers of this book were familiar with the Old Testament and knew the ritual of the Book of Leviticus and the details of the tabernacle. The intended audience was probably Jewish believers with a similar background to those Jews who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls. They were not eyewitnesses to Jesus, but they had learned of him from those who were (Heb. 2:3–4).

They had faced persecution and endured abuse, imprisonment, and loss of property for their faith, but not martyrdom (Heb. 10:32–39; 12:4). They demonstrated their faith by serving fellow believers and particularly supported those who endured persecution (Heb. 6:10; 10:34).

They had ceased to grow as Christians and were falling away from the commitment they had known (Heb. 5:11–6:12). The writer rebuked them for not meeting together often enough (10:24–25). They were in danger of lapsing into sin (3:12–14).

The readers of Hebrews may have been in danger of returning to Judaism in order to avoid persecution. The author warned them against such apostasy (6:4–9; 10:26–31) and urged them to return to the mainstream of Christian fellowship.

Knowing where the intended audience lived is difficult to determine. Among locations suggested are Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Rome, with the latter being the best possibility.

DATE

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Mention of Timothy in 13:23 suggests a date in his lifetime, some time in the first century. Their failure to suffer martyrdom (Heb. 12:4) rules out the Jerusalem church (see Acts 7:54–60) and suggests a date before Nero's persecution (A.D. 64). Rome was the intended destination.

The author wrote as if the Jerusalem Temple were still standing. The description of the ritual in 9:6–9 contains many usages of the Greek present tense, suggesting events still underway.

Mention of sacrifices in 10:2 implied that they were still being offered. Best suggestion is a date just before Nero's persecutions in A.D. 64.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEBREWS

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The Greek style of Hebrews is elegant and highly literary. It is one of the most difficult New Testament writings to translate from the Greek. The book also contains many Old Testament quotations and allusions. Most of the quotations were from the Greek version of the Old Testament—the Septuagint. Many of these references were taken from the Psalms, particularly Psalm 110:1,4.

The writer used the Old Testament sacrificial system as a background for the explanation of the superiority of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

The references to the person of Christ (Christology) are many and varied. There are more than twenty names and titles for Jesus (Son, Lord, High Priest, apostle, author and finisher of our faith, etc.). Although there is clear reference to the deity of Christ, the humanity of Christ is emphasized more than in most New Testament writings (Heb. 4:14–16).

Throughout Hebrews a series of warnings appear. These are injected into the argument of the epistle. The warnings urge the readers not to neglect salvation in Christ (2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:20; 10:26–39; 12:15–29).

The form of Hebrews is unlike that of the typical Pauline letter of the New Testament. There are few personal references and greetings (cf. 6:9–10; 12:4). Some have suggested that Hebrews was an exhortation or sermon given to a specific congregation.

Hebrews 1

God's Son: Supreme over Prophets and Angels

I. INTRODUCTION

The Surprising Presidency of George Washington

II. COMMENTARY

A verse-by-verse explanation of the chapter.

III. CONCLUSION

Portraits of Jesus

An overview of the principles and applications from the chapter.

IV. LIFE APPLICATION

Jesus Will Not Be Moved

Melding the chapter to life.

V. PRAYER

Tying the chapter to life with God.

VI. DEEPER DISCOVERIES

Historical, geographical, and grammatical enrichment of the commentary.

VII. TEACHING OUTLINE

Suggested step-by-step group study of the chapter.

VIII. ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

Zeroing the chapter in on daily life.

“Millions of angels are at God's command
and at our service. The hosts of heaven
stand at attention as we make our way from
earth to glory, and Satan's BB guns are no
match for God's heavy artillery.”

Billy Graham

Hebrews 1 shows that Jesus is superior to the prophets and to angels. God had spoken fully through his Son but only partially and imperfectly through the prophets. Jesus is superior to angels because he is God's Son, while angels are created spirits sent by God to minister to believers. As God's Son, Jesus is his heir, cocreator, and coruler of the universe, exercising authority over creation and over his enemies.

God's Son: Supreme over
Prophets and Angels

I. INTRODUCTION

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The Surprising Presidency of George Washington

Even though today we call him the “Father of our Country,” some of his contemporaries did not think that highly of George Washington. Washington's father died when he was eleven. He had almost no formal education because his family could not afford the expense of school in an era without public education. He never visited Europe. John Adams tersely remarked that Washington was “too illiterate, unlearned, unread for his station and reputation.” He developed his mind through his own reading program.

This “unlearned” aristocrat surprised the country. He burst into the spotlight of leadership by commanding a frontier militia at twenty-one years of age. He delivered an ultimatum to French forces pushing into English lands in the Ohio Valley.

He was also a peacemaker. The followers of the brilliant politicians, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, often hotly debated their contrasting political views. With great skill and patience Washington brought unity and moderation to these unmanageable followers.

He had moral convictions. He provided freedom for his slaves after his wife's death and guaranteed their support in his will. In the 1830s these freedmen were still receiving payments from his estate.

He was unselfish. When Congress offered him command of the Continental armies, he refused a salary. He accepted only reimbursement for expenses. He made the same suggestion when he became President. Congress refused his suggestion and set the President's salary at $25,000, a large amount in those days.

Washington showed wisdom in what he expected for the country. He did not aim at power and expansion but at independence. In his farewell address he expressed the hope that the country would have the time “to settle and mature its yet recent institutions and to progress without interruption to that degree of strength and consistency which is necessary to give it, humanly speaking, the command of its own fortunes.”

Many Americans did not expect greatness from President George Washington. His success surprised and impressed his critics.

Hebrews addresses readers who reverenced the Old Testament...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Half Title
• Full Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• Editorial Preface
• Contributors
• Commentary
• Introduction 1
• Hebrews 1
• Hebrews 2
• Hebrews 3
• Hebrews 4
• Hebrews 5
• Hebrews 6
• Hebrews 7
• Hebrews 8
• Hebrews 9
• Hebrews 10
• Hebrews 11
• Hebrews 12
• Hebrews 13
• Introduction 2
• James 1
• James 2
• James 3
• James 4
• James 5
• Glossary
• Bibliography 1
• Bibliography 2