1/5/02. Intro To Hebrews

Transcription

1 1 2 1/5/02 Intro To Hebrews We want to begin our study in the epistle to the Hebrews, which presents to us Christ as our glorious High Priest in a way that in unparalleled in any other book of the New Testament. Edmond Herbert in his Introduction of the New Testament says the following about the book of Hebrews, No other book in the New Testament breathes more deeply the Spirit of God nor more clearly authenticates its own inspiration than Hebrews, yet no other book leaves us with so many puzzling and enigmatical problems as does this book. I. The authorship of Hebrews. II. The canonicity of Hebrews. III The book of Hebrews. I. The Authorship of Hebrews. A. There is probably no other epistle in the New Testament that people are more uncertain regarding the authorship than Hebrews and many persons have been suggested. 1. Philip. 2. Mark. 3. Luke, but he was a Gentile and did not have the Hebrew understanding of the of Judaism contained in the book. * Clement of Alexandria suggested that Hebrew was written in Hebrew by Paul and then translated into Greek by Luke, but there is no trace of such a theory! 4. Barnabas is another suggestion and even though he was a Levite there is no evidence that he ever wrote anything, the only one who named him is Tertullian, A.D Silas. 6. Priscilla and Aquila has been the suggestion by Harnack. 7. Apollos was the opinion of Luther, but no one of before him ever held this view, even though Barnabas is mentioned in connection to Paul s ministry, no writing of his is ever known. Acts 18:24; 19:2; 1Cor. 1:12; 16:12; Tit. 3:13 8. Clement of Rome is another, but if so, why is there no tradition of it in Rome?. B. The arguments against Paul being the author has been usually based on literary style, different words, absence of common phrases and topic in Paul s other epistles. 1. Too much has been made of the language, grammar and phrases.

2 The scholars disagree greatly, some even think a Jew of Hellenist culture familiar with Philo wrote it. 3. The late learned Dean Alford against Paul s authorship saying, Well might Origen pronounce the man void of the power of distinguishing character, who could imagine that one and the same person could, even be the most artificial disguise, have produce both. (Baxter:277) 4. Yet the eminent Greek scholar, Dr. Bloomfield, said in his Greek Testament: After a study of the Greek language as diligent, and an acquaintance with its writers of every age, as extensive probably as any person at least of my own country now living, I must maintain my decided opinion that the Greek is, except as regards the structure of sentences, not so decidedly superior to the Greek of St. Paul as to make it even improbable that the epistle was written by him. (Baxter:277) 5. The late Sir Robert Anderson declared, Will any student of literature maintain that so great a master of the literary art as the apostle Paul might not, in penning a treatise such as Hebrews, display peculiarities and elegancies of style which do not appear in his epistolary writings? (Baxter:279) 6. The language and style difference between John s Gospel and Revelation is so wide, yet it is not questioned of being written by John. 7. The argument is foolish when one considers that the letter was written to meet the special need of these Hebrews who were in danger of going back to animal sacrifices. 8. There was no need to mention or write what Paul had written to meet the needs of the other churches. 9. Not to mention that Paul the aged had grown and changed in his writing through the years, as any person in life. * Lincoln's Gettysburg Address contained 68 words not found in his Second Inaugural Address, comprising 51% new words, yet he wrote both two years apart. 10. The author was very familiar with his audience, a friend and teacher of the recipients, as evident throughout the letter. Hebrews. Heb. 5:11; 6:12; 10:32-39; 12:4-5; 13: The late J. Vernon McGee as well as Pastor Chuck Smith believe the apostle Paul wrote Hebrew and this is my belief

3 5 6 and that the literary difference has been overstated. a. No other person could of written Hebrews. b. Peter tell us that Paul had written to Hebrew Christians, And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2Pet. 3:15-1 * Peter wrote to the dispersed Hebrews. 1Pet. 1:1, 2Pet. 3:1 12. But in all reality, who wrote Hebrews is not really important, for men were merely the instrument while God the Holy Spirit the only author. 2Tim. 3:16-17; 2Pet. 1:20-21 This gives us the various opinions about the authorship of the book of Hebrews! II. The canonicity of Hebrews. A. The external evidence. 1. The book itself has been recognized since the first century as being inspired yet was not in the canon till the 4th century. 2. Hebrew is not found in the Muratorian Cannon, 170 A.D. 3. Clement of Rome, A.D , in his epistle to the Corinthians, written about A.D. 96, quotes from it as authoritative. 4. The Western Church did not accept Hebrews as Paul s, though it was know and held in highest honor in Rome before the end of the first century. 5. Then it passed on to obscurity. 6. The Eastern Church on the other hand did accept Hebrew as Paul s. 7. Justin Martyr, A.D , in his first Apology chapter 63, speaks o Christ as the apostle, thus apparently showing his acquaintance with Hebrews 3: 8. Clement of Alexandria said that his teacher, probably Pantaenus, explained why Paul did not insert his name and Clement also quoted Hebrews frequently as authoritative at the close of the second century, A.D Origen, A.D , ascribe Hebrew to Paul. 10. Esubius of Caesarea, A.D , in his Ecclesiastical History, 3.3, acknowledged that Hebrews was

4 7 8 disputed, although he himself regarded it as one of the fourteen epistles of Paul. 11. In North Africa another tradition held Barnabas as the author of Hebrew, Tertullian of Carthage, A.D , introduces a quotation from Hebrews 4:1, 4-6 with the words, This is also an Epistle to the Hebrews under the name of Barnabas:, On Modesty, chap The Council of Hipo A.D. 393 mentioned thirteen epistles of he Apostle Paul, one epistle of the same writer to the Hebrews. 13. But the Council of Carthage A.D. 397 and 419, no distinction was made, only the mention of fourteen epistle of Paul. 14. The Western church excepted Hebrews into the canon in the fourth century and was firmly established by the fifth century, largely due to the influence of Jerome, A.D , and Augustine, A.D Hebrews remained unquestioned for the next eleven hundred years, until the Reformation. 16. The Reformers also didn t accept it as Pauline, while acknowledging it in the canon with full apostolic authority, Erasmus, Luther, Calvin, etc B. The internal evidence. 1. The reference to Timothy being in prison and released. Heb. 13:23 * Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. a. The bond between Paul and Timothy was very deep. b. The final request for Timothy to come to him at Rome, reveals how close. 2Tim. 4:9, The characteristically Pauline conclusion regarding his epistles. Heb. 13:22-25 a. He requests pray for them, urging them to obey, that he might be restored to them the sooner. vs b. He commends them to the God of peace, Jesus the great Shepherd of the sheep, the blood of the everlasting covenant to make them complete in every good work to do His will, working in them what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. vs c. He appeals to them as brethren and bear with the word of exhortation he had written to them in few words. vs. 22 d. He informed them of Timothy s release from prison and that he would

5 9 10 be coming to see them with him. Vs. 23 e. He asked them to greet all the leaders over them, and all the saints, as well as sending greetings from those with him from Italy. Vs. 24 f. He finalizes with the customary, Grace be with you all. Amen. Vs Some have attempted to use Hebrews 2:3 to prove that the author also heard and received the gospel from the apostle of Jesus but that is not what the text says. * How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him. a. This is bad inductive study and observation, it only says that this great salvation first began to be spoken by Jesus and then confirmed to them. b. The text says nothing of Paul or the author receiving the gospel from the apostles. c. It is more like isegeses, reading into the text what you want it to say! 4. The author had been in jail in the past and they had ministered to him in fellowship. Heb. 10:34 * For you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. 5. The author expected to come to them shortly and expected to travel with Timothy to see them. Heb. 13:19; 23 * But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. This gives to us a good background to the canonicity of the book of Hebrews! III. The book of Hebrews. A. There are various opinions as to who the epistle was written to. 1. There are those who say Hebrews was written to Gentiles. a. But the internal evidence denies this position, b. They believe that the title To the Hebrews was added later but there is no evidence of this. c. They also argue regarding the absence of any distinction between Jew and Gentile, circumcision, etc, but one

6 11 12 can not make a case by the absence of material. 2. There are those who espouse the view that Hebrews was written to a special class of Hebrews like the priest described in Acts. Acts 6:7 a. The hypothesis is interesting but there is no internal evidence the author is addressing exclusively priest who had believed in Jesus as Messiah but knew little of Him as personal Savior. b. The presupposition being that they merely believed and were not regenerated but the internal evidence reveals they were born-again, eight times the word brethren appears adelphos, literally born of the same womb. Heb. 2:11; 12, 17; 3:1, 12; 7:5; 10:19; 13: 22 c. In fact one of the proponents says, The Hebrews epistle was directed to Hebrews, of whom some at least were believers after the sort we have described, and its first interpretation belongs to them. And based on two of the severest warning in Heb. 6:4-6, 10:26-29, he states, They refer to a particular class, in a situation which has forever passed away. (Baxte:266-67) 1) Are we to believe that the book of Hebrew has no long application to those in the church? I, for one say absolutely not! 2) This I believe is due to a systematic theological stands of Calvinism or eternal security, instead of allowing the text to speak for itself! d. Twenty-nine times he uses the personal pronoun us to identify with their identity with Christ. Heb. 1:2; 2:3; 4:1, 2, 11, 14, 16; 6:1, 18, 20; 7:26; 9:12, 24; 10:15, 20, 22, 23, 24; 11:40; 12:1, 9, 10, 28; 13:13, 15, 18 e. Fifteen times he uses the pronoun our, making himself one with them. Heb. 1:3; 3:1, 14; 4:14, 15; 7:14; 10:22, 23; 12:2, 10, 29; 13:15, 20, 23 f. Twice the word saints is used of them and believers. Heb. 6:10; 13:24 3. There are also those who say Hebrew was written to distinctive Hebrew Jews who spoke Aramaic, while others say it was written to Hellenistic Jews, due to the fact that the LXX text is used in Hebrews. a. Yet Paul used both the Hebrew and LXX in other writings.

7 13 14 b. And even if Paul did not write Hebrews, the LXX was the standard text for the early church. c. Some have even attempted to assign the book of Hebrews to recent converts from the community of the Essenes, since the findings at Qumran. No! d. Others even to the Lycus Valley, due to the topic of angels, doubtful! 4. The book of Hebrews traditionally is believed to of been written to Hebrews who had excepted Christ as Lord and Savior but were thinking of going back to Judaism, apostatizing from their relationship to God through Jesus. a. Some think it was written to Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem, others in Palestine and others in Rome are other destinations. b. The internal evidence supports their bent to apostatize completely. b. The five warnings are not fictitious or hypothetical case but real with all the dangers they describe. c. The Bible does not warn unbeliever to abide or continue in Christ but believers. d. The very fact that believers are warned and exhorted throughout the Gospels and epistles, to not be deceived or deceive oneself, to not believe false doctrines, is evidence enough to believe and heed the warnings. Rom. 11:22; 1Tim. 1:20; 4:1; 2Tim. 1:15; Ja. 5:19-20; 2Pet. 2:20 e. Then one said to Him, Lord, are there few who are saved? And He said to them, Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Lk. 13:23-24 f. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. Jn. 8:31 B. The location from which Hebrews was written from and the date. 1. The location is not certain. a. In the closing chapter the author says, Those from Italy greet you. Heb. 13:24c b. This could mean that the epistle could possibly be written from there itself. c. This could also mean that some individuals from Italy were sending their greetings, therefore he was writing to Italy. d. The traditional acceptance is that the epistle was written to Jewish

8 15 16 Christians residing in Jerusalem or in Palestine. e. The majority of modern scholars say Rome. d. There is no way of knowing for certain. 2. The date of the writing. a. There are those who say Hebrews was written after 70 A.D. as late as 95 A.D., since Clement of Rome in A.D. 96 use the epistle in writing to the Corinthians, favoring the Domitian persecution of 85 A.D. 1) Their argument being that the temple is nowhere mentioned in the epistle, only the tabernacle. 2) But this argument is foolish, for the internal evidence clearly show these Hebrews were planning on going back to animal sacrifices and that could only be true if the temple was still standing. Heb. 8:4, 13 b. The most logical and practical date is before A.D ) The Neronian persecution began its course in Rome around the latter part of A.D ) Paul was released from his first imprisonment in AD. 63 and went to Spain being absent at the time Rome burned, in July 19, 64 A.D., which resulted in the edict of making Christianity an illicit religion. Rom 15:24 * Nero crucified Christians, threw them to wild dogs, dipped them in pitch and used them as torches on stakes to light his gardens while he drove around in his chariot naked! 3) Paul was arrested again, either in late A.D. 64 or after. 4) Peter in his second letter wrote to the dispersed Jews about being faithful in the day of apostasy, telling them that the Lord had told him he would soon put die and that Paul had written to them a letter of difficult understanding. 2Pet. 1:14, 3:1, * Peter wrote that letter A.D and Paul was beheaded by Nero between A.D. 5) The epistle of Hebrews could have been written A.D , after Paul s first released? a) The author mentions how they endured sufferings and mockeries, loss of property by being affiliated suffering saints and his own imprisonment. Heb. 10:32-34

9 17 18 b) Perhaps this is just prior to the persecution of Nero in A.D. 64, since the author tells them, You have not resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. Heb. 12:4 6) Then again the persecution could have been the one in A.D. 49 under Claudius who expelled Jews from Rome for riots due to one Chrestus, believed to be a misspelling for Christ. Acts 18:2 * Perscilla and Aquilla were subject to this persecution, if so then the late J. Vernon McGee is accurate saying it was written in A.D ) There may be a clue to the nearness of the destruction of the temple in chapter eight., In that He says, A new covenant, He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. Heb. 8:13 C. The particulars of the book of Hebrews. 1. The epistle to the Hebrews touches three areas of study a. Christology, the study of Christ, He is God. Heb. 1:6, 8; 2:14, 17; 4:14-15; 5:7-9 b. Soteriology, the study of salvation, He redeems, Heb. 8:1, 6, 9:12, 24, 27, 10:10, c. Eschatology, the study of last things, He is coming. Heb. 9:28,;10:25, Hebrews has been said to begin like a treatise, proceed like a sermon and conclude like a letter. a. Much like the epistle to the Roman, where Paul writes a treatise of the gospel of Grace and systematically tears down everything that men would used to merit righteousness before God, while at the same time building on the preceding thought as an extended telescope, arriving at very clear and dogmatic conclusions. a. The author to the Hebrews does much the same thing in relationship to the superiority of Christ in relations to the Law, sacrifice and priesthood to stand before God. c. The author himself calls it an exhortation. Heb. 13:22 d. The content of the closing bearing the evidence of an epistle. Heb. 13:18-25 e. The book has careful construction of sentences, elegant diction such as the opening section. Heb. 1:1-4 f. The author uses the Rhetorical method, Reinforcement, Implications,

10 19 20 Literal Sense of a Word or Phrase, the Principle of lesser to the greater and verbal analogy, allowing one verse to explain another, chain of Quotations, example lists and Typology. Heb. 11:32 g. And the use of Jewish Midrash, utilizing Old Testament quotes and commentary and application for the superiority of Jesus, Christo-centric hermeneutic He is seen as the key to the Old Testament. h. The author was well known to his readers and perhaps even considered as a leader. Heb. 13:18, 22; 13:7, The epistle to the Hebrews has no salutation or greeting in the opening. * But neither does the First epistle of John! a. Some say it has been dropped because it was written by a woman and it would not of been excepted, which is purely speculation. b. Clement of Alexandria said Paul did not identify himself because he did not want to offend the Jews, again speculation. c. The book contains elegant Greek and follows the LXX translation. d. The title found in the oldest manuscripts is simply, To Hebrews, the KJV has The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews but it is not in the original. 4. These Hebrews were in a state of spiritual degeneration, having become dull of hearing. Heb. 5:11 a. They were in danger of drifting from the things they had heard. Heb. 2:1 b. They needed to be treated like spiritual babes, when in reality they should have been mature. Heb. 5:12-14 * One commentator called them kinder-garden children. c. They had come to the place of forsaking the assembling of the saints. Heb. 10:25 d. They were to watch out for an evil heart of unbelief and falling away from the living God. Heb. 13:5 e. The purpose is very clear through the entire letter, it was an exhortation to these Jewish Christians to continue in their spiritual growth in Christ and not return to Judaism for it was a type, shadow and temporary economy that was to be fulfilled in Christ. Heb. 2:1; 4:1; 6:1; 8:1; 13:22 1) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Rom. 10:4

11 ) The Law had been a school master to bring us unto Christ. Gal. 3:24 3) The evidence of persecution revealed that some were contemplating abandoning the faith. Heb.10:32-38; 12:3-4 f. The leaders in part had already died. Heb. 13:7 5. The internal evidence establishes that these were Christians in danger of returning to animal sacrifice for their sins, yet through out the epistle Paul gives them the positive benefit of any doubt. a. But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. Heb 6:9 b. And this we will do if God permits. Heb. 6:3 c. But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Heb. 10:39 d. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed Heb. 12:12-13 e. And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. Heb. 13:22 6. The exhortations to these Hebrew believers were important. a. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Heb. 10:22 b. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Heb. 10:23 c. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. Heb. 10:24-25 d. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Heb. 12:1 e. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may

12 23 24 serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb. 12:28 f. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Heb. 13:13 g. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Heb. 13:15 7. The epistle is the witness of the Father speaking about the Son and the author lays great emphasis on the fact that the Holy Spirit is speaking also, another evidence of the ultimate revelation of Jesus. a. God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Heb. 2:4 b. Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice. Heb. 3:7 c. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit. Heb. 6:4 d. The Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. Heb. 9:8 e. How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb. 9:14 f. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before. Heb. 10:15 8. The Old Testament is used extensively in full quotation and allusions. a. The number of illusion vary from author to author from 53 to 70. b. One said there are 4,942 words in Hebrews, 1,038 different words, 169 are found only in Hebrews. c. There are 29 actual quotations, a total of references. d. Psalm 110 is quoted repeatedly prophetically of the Melchezedek Priesthood fulfilled by Jesus Christ, each with a different emphasis. e. Jeremiah 31 is quoted repeatedly in fulfillment of the New Covenant of Grace through Jesus Christ, brining to finality of the Old Covenant by replacement of the New Covenant. Heb. 8

13 25 26 * No other writer in the New Testament quotes Ps. 110:4; Jer. 31:31-34 or Ps. 40:6-8, which establish the foundation and validity for Jesus as Messiah, Eternal Priesthood, New Covenant and all the Old Testament spoke of Him. f. The entire epistle is a commentary on the Old Testament and Jewish religion to establish that everything pointed to Christ and is fulfilled in Him. Heb. 10:14, 18 g. The author had a vast understanding of the Old Testament from the ministry of angels, to the prophet Moses, Joshua, Aaron the High Priest, the holy place and the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle, as well as the sacrificial system of Judaism. h. The use of the hortative mood of the verb is noteworthy. Heb. 4:1, 14; 10:22; 12:28 i. Twenty to twenty-five texts, God is the grammatical subject in the context speaking in history past and now again to them. (World Bibl. Comm.:cxvii) 9. The Christology of Hebrews is one of the riches. a. There appears twenty titles for the name of Jesus, the favorite being Son, another being priest-king * He is ascribed as Creator, Sustainer, God, Redeemer, Sacrifice and High Priest!. b. The eschatological focus is Christ and the perspective is two-fold. 1) The present reality of the First coming of Christ to die for the sins of the world. 2) The future reliability of Jesus coming again for His saints. Heb. 9:28; 10:37 * The Kingdom is present and yet to come! c. There are some key words 1) Perfection or perfect, meaning complete, mature and full age, not sinless. Heb. 2:10; 6:1; 7:11, 19; 9:9, 11; 10:1, 11:40; 12:23, 14 2) Eternal or forever, meaning perpetual and without end Heb. 5:9; 6:2; 9:12, 14, 15; 13:20, 21 3) Better, meaning more useful, more serviceable, more advantageous or more excellent. Heb. 1:4; 6:9; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6; 9:11, 23; 10:34; 11:4, 16, 35, 40; 12:24 *Thirteen appearances in total! d. There are some key verses.

14 ) The ultimate and final revelation of God in the last days is in His Son. Heb. 1:2 2) The fact that Jesus tasted death for everyone. Heb. 2:9 3) The privilege of the believer to enter in to the throne of grace in heaven. Heb. 4:16 4) The fact that Jesus offered up himself for sins once and for all. Heb. 7:27 5) The warning that after death is the judgment. Heb. 9:27 6) The volume of the Old Testament spoke of Jesus. Heb 10:7, 9 7) The participation of the believer towards perseverance to run the race. Heb. 12:1 8) The perspective of the believer for persecution, looking to Him who endured such hostility for us. Heb. 12:2 e. Key phrases. 1) Much better than angel, more excellent name. Heb. 1:4 2) More earnest heed. Heb 2:1 3) More glory than Moses. Heb 3:3 4) Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts. Heb 4:7 5) By so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Heb. 7:22 6) He has obtained a more excellent ministry, He is also Mediator of a better covenant, established on better promises. Heb. 8:6 7) How much more shall the blood of Christ. Heb. 9:14 8) Of how much worse punishment. Heb. 10:29 9) Much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who peaks from heaven. Heb. 12:25 f. Key concepts. 1) The believer is a stranger and pilgrim traveling through this world. 2) The salvation of the believer is present and sill future, he is in process. 3) The believer must be growing, if not he is going backwards and degenerating, the finish line is forwards in the race. 4) The believer is to eat good food, sound doctrine not strange doctrine. g. The key motif.

15 ) The High Priest is the key structural element in the book of Hebrews. 2) The other elements are meaningful and understood in relation to the priesthood of Christ, sacrifice, forgiveness and access to God. 10. There are five passionate appeals of warning to these Hebrew believers who were considering returning to the Old Testament sacrifices and priesthood for the for the forgiveness of their sins and standing before God. a. Don t drift from what you have heard, the warning is against disregarding the words of Jesus, so great of salvation, the consequences is eternal loss. Heb. 2:1 b. Don t disbelieve or depart from the living God, the warning is against unbelief the sufficiency of God for one s salvation, exhort one another to not harden your hearts through the deceitfulness of sin. Heb. 3:12 c. Don t degenerate in your spiritual growth, the warning is against discrediting the Son of God, and falling away to another system, the consequence being there is no repentance apart from Christ. Heb. 5:12; 6:4-8 d. Don t despise the Spirit of Grace, the warning is against blaspheme, the consequences are eternal punishment. Heb. 10:29 e. Don t defy what you have heard, the warning is against disobeying the call of God. Heb. 12:25 * See if the warning parallel the practical section? * See is the Perils of Deuteronomy parallel the perils of Hebrews? 1) The five warnings are not fictitious or hypothetical case but real as well as all the dangers they describe. 2) Each should be interpreted in it s context 3) Each one becomes increasingly more dangerous and more severe in it s consequences. 4) They were a second generation church, going on to a third generation. Heb. 2:3 5) They were familiar and known to the author. Heb. 6:10; 10:34; 13:18, 23 6) They were warned of taking up strange doctrines. Heb. 13:9 11. There seemed to be tensions in the local congregation. a. Falling back into sin. Heb. 12:1-2

16 31 32 b. Sexual sin. Heb. 13:4 c. Lack of submissiveness to leader. Heb. 13:l7 D. The epistle can be divided into three major divisions: I. The Person of Christ. Heb. 1:1-4:13 A. He is better than the angels. Heb. 1:4 B. He is God and Lord. Heb. 1:8, 10 C. He tasted death for every man. Heb. 2:9 D. He destroyed him (Satan) that had the power of death. Heb. 2:14 E. He was suffered being tempted. Heb. 2:18 F. He is better than Moses. Heb. 3:3 G. He is our rest, better than Joshua. Heb. 4:11 H. He is all knowing. Heb. 4:13 II. The work of Christ. Heb. Heb. 4:14-10:18 A. His priesthood is in the heavens. Heb. 4:14 B. His priesthood is better than Aaron s. Heb. 5:4 C. His priesthood is after the order of Melchizedek. Heb. 5:6 D. His priesthood is a better hope. Heb. 7:19 E. His work is a better Testament. Heb. 7:22 F. His priesthood is un-transferable. Heb. 7:24 G. His ministry is more excellent, a better covenant and has better promises. Heb.:6 H. His work is the New covenant. Heb. 8:13 I. His work is a greater and more perfect tabernacle. Heb. 9:11 J. His office of mediator is for eternal inheritance. Heb. 9:15 K. His is a better sacrifice. Heb. 9:23 L. His work took away the first covenant and establish the second covenant. Heb. 10: 9 M. His work effectiveness is born witnessed by the Holy Spirit. Heb. 10:15 III. The Life in Christ. Heb. 10:19-13:25 A. A new and living way. Heb. 10:19 B. A hope to be held on to. Heb. 10:23 C. a commitment to have community life. Heb. 10:25 D. A constant expectation looking for the return of Christ. Heb. 10:37 E. A life of faith. Heb. 11:6

17 33 34 F. A call to endurance. Heb. 12:1 G. A life of accountability. Heb. 12:11 H. A life of holiness. Heb. 12:14 I. A life of diligence and selfexamination. Heb. 12:15 J. A life motivated by love. Heb. 13:1 K. A life of pilgrimage. Heb. 13:14 L. A life of obedience and submission. Heb. 13:17 M. A life of dependence on prayer is essential. Heb. 13:18-19 N. A closing benediction. Heb. 13:20-21 O. A closing appeal to heed the exhortation. Heb. 13:22 P. A brief note on Timothy s release from prison. Heb. 13:23 Q. A closing greeting. Heb. 13:24 R. A commendation to God s grace. Heb. 13:25 * In the weeks and months to come we will be looking at: instructions, warnings and exhortations that I pray will help us in our spiritual pilgrimage. I. The authorship of Hebrews. II. The canonicity of Hebrews. III The book of Hebrews. This is the specifics of the book of Hebrews! Conclusion 1. The epistle to the Hebrews stands as a witness against any and every system that is based upon a priesthood apart from Christ ( Mormons, Monks and Catholicsl 2. Christ is declared to be the Son of God, God and the Eternal High Priest for the redemption of mankind.