Well, Hebrews was the clear winner on the poll of which book we should tackle next. So Hebrews it is! As most books normally do, I wanted to give you a bit of an introduction into the book of Hebrews before we tackle it together. It will give you a sense of where the book is going and what it’s on about.
Introduction to the Book of Hebrews
The Epistle to the Hebrews is kind of like a bridge that connects the Old Testament promises with their fulfillment in the New Testament through Jesus. Hebrews is different from the other letters in the New Testament, in that it does not open with a greeting from its author, nor does it conclude with personal notes typical of Paul’s letters. Because of this, there has been considerable debate over who wrote this book. Traditionally, some have suggested Paul, while others propose Barnabas, Apollos, or even Priscilla as potential authors. However, the theological depth and literary elegance of the text, to me, convince me that this letter was written by Paul too. It may actually be a sermon that was preached, perhaps by Paul, and recorded by one of his companions. However, it doesn’t actually matter who wrote it exactly – it is in our Bible and so we accept it as something God ordained to be in the Bible for us to learn from.
The letter was likely written before the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in A.D. 70, as it refers to the temple services as ongoing practices. This is important for us to understand, because it speaks to a community, the Jews, who were familiar with the Jewish sacrificial system. Part of the reason why Hebrews is tricky for modern readers to grapple with is that it often simply assumes we know all about the sacrificial system, which often times we don’t. So as we work through the letter we need to keep that in mind.
Hebrews is rich with themes such as the supremacy of Christ, the finality of His sacrifice compared to the Old Testament sacrifices, and the concept of faith and perseverance. It shows Jesus as the ultimate high priest, the one who fulfills the roles and symbols outlined in the Old Testament, particularly those related to the priesthood and sacrificial systems. The letter emphasizes that Jesus is superior to angels, Moses, and the Levitical priests, and that His new covenant supersedes the old covenant.
So as we embark on this devotional journey through Hebrews, we’ll delve into how the writer (whoever he is… but probably Paul) skillfully weaves Old Testament references into a persuasive argument that Jesus is both superior and sufficient for salvation. Each section of Hebrews calls us to a deeper faith and greater endurance, reminding us that we have not only a high priest who intercedes for us, but also one who understands our struggles, having shared in our humanity.
So friends, lest dive in: hearts open, ready to learn and be transformed by the enduring power of God’s Word, as revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.
We start with chapter 1… tomorrow.