But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Therefore, his identity has stumped christians down through the centuries, although his original readers most certainly knew who he was. The concept of faith is not only central to heb 11. What follows is an attempt to capture these themes its simplest form. In a logical argument, the author demonstrates christs superiority, then adds practical instructions for following jesus. Themes in the book of james scripture confident living.
And so if either clement or luke were involved in the production of the extant book of hebrews, he would have had a very free hand in working with pauls material, to the point that he would be. Holiness is to be pursued in the community of faith. This video lesson gives a brief overview of the new testament book of hebrews. 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 main theme of the book of hebrews can be found in the opening verses. John bright thinks it presents as complex a literary problem as any book in the bible. Hebrews chapter 6 is one of the more discussed chapters of hebrews and is used by those of both arminist 1 and calvinists 2 as a proof text to justify their position of the saved believer. Hebrews differs in some respect with the other epistles of the nt. Oct 30, 2015 hebrews proves that jesus christ is superior to all ot types moses, aaron, the tabernacle, the temple, etc. This book portrays christ as our great high priest who ever lives to make intercession for us.
There is no time like the present to delve right in. This post will introduce better as one of these tools in the construction of this great book. The early church father clement quoted from the book of hebrews in a. 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. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the. 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 bookjesus. In establishing jesus superiority to the angelic hosts his deity is clearly affirmed 1. This description of the authors purpose helps orient us to the main ideas found in the book of hebrews. May 02, 2020 regardless of the human hand that held the pen, the holy spirit of god is the divine author of all scripture 2 timothy 3. This is the big application point in the book, and these. Hebrews 11 is a stunning description of how faith and hope across the ages have been the distinguishing characteristics of gods people, beginning with abraham. Our first lesson in the epistle to the hebrews selects some key verses. The theological epicenter of the epistle to the hebrews may be summed up in one word.
Sproul explains the difference between biblical faith. First, twice he calls particular attention to the one who is the real answer to his readers problemsjesus. So from the outset, we will be aware of the main idea in the letter, which is the authority exercised by jesus as our great high priest. The writer of this letter does not identify himself, but he was obviously well known to the original recipients. Its purpose was to present the lord jesus christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything. A summary of the book of hebrews limerick reformed fellowship. Youll notice in the diagram above that the theme verse falls into the second of those parenthesiswarnings 10. In an effort to drive home his main point act on your faith, james gives. New testament and second temple judaism scholar eric mason argues that the conceptual background of the priestly christology of the epistle to the hebrews closely parallels presentations of the messianic priest and melchizedek in the qumran scrolls. The son of god is better than angels, priests, old testament leaders.
The structure of the website has four main themes which will emerge and combine in forthcoming posts. The purpose, structure and theme of the epistle to the hebrews. Seven theological themes in hebrews gordon college faculty. This is the main action item for the book of hebrews. Seven theological themes in hebrews gordon college. Although some include the book of hebrews among the apostle pauls writings, the certain identity of the author remains an enigma. When it comes to the bible, i noted that exploring introductory matters can greatly help us in our interpretation just as a composite sketch of a suspect can help a detective solve a crime.
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. No other book in the new testament integrates the gospel with the old testament better than the book of hebrews. The book of hebrews also gives us a very high christology since the central theme is the supremacy of christ. The epistle to the hebrews is all about taking things that are old and outdated and making them into shiny new creations. Some think that paul wrote it but the style and vocabulary are very different from pauls other letters. No biblical document outside of the four gospels focuses as totally and forcefully on the person and redemptive achievement of jesus. The author is anonymous, although either paul or barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author.
In the midst of adversity, believers are to fix their eyes on jesus, live by faith, and run the race that is. Nov, 2014 4 reasons these are the theme verses of hebrews. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. The book of hebrews is quite challenging, claims commentary author donald guthrie, since there are many open questions about authorship, historical setting and audience. 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. The book of hebrews starts off by saying that jesus is the final revelation from god spoken about in the old testament lightfoot 35. Each book has a major theme that emphasizes an aspect of gods character or a way he is working to carry out his perfect plan.
As we studied through the book of hebrews, several overarching topics kept popping up again and again. This smaller section emerges as a theological micro cosm of the book as a whole. He is greater than moses, aaron, the angels, the tabernacle, the sacrifices. The superiority of christ and the condemnation of apostasy what does hebrews seem to teach regarding people who come to the truth and then fall away or continue in sin. Jan 28, 2010 perseverance in the book of hebrews is a major theme, or rather a strong emphasis on sin and turning away ftte, 21. The author of this epistle is relentless in his effort to reveal christ as greater than the prophets, angels, moses, and the levitical priests. Taken together, these themes distinguish the book of hebrews from books that we. Key verses in hebrews showing the main idea in the letter.
These texts provide a basis for consideration of the remaining theological features of hebrews. For those wanting to dig deeper into bible book paragraph summary themes go here. John bright, the book of joshua, in the interpreters bible, ed. The purpose for the book of hebrews is to show the supremacy and sufficiency of christ as the high priest who intercedes for us, the supremacy of christ as god himself, and as the. Jesus christ is clearly greater than anything that the old covenant had produced.
The book of hebrews is a general epistle apostolic letter. Themes of bible books simplified in one or two sentences. Who knew the author of a new testament book would agree with tupac about something. Some are obvious and some are a little more difficult to see but are clearly seen in the linking of greek catch words in the original text. View chuck swindolls chart of hebrews, which divides the book into major sections and highlights themes and key verses. Hebrews with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. Hold fast our confession shows up in the first section of the epistle 3. The believers are seen as men on earth having free entrance to god and a heavenly calling by the work of christ. These 3 themes of the book of james are covered twice in the first chapter of the book. Mar 14, 2018 every book of the bible has a theme and a purpose, and that is true of the book of james as well. What are the two main themes the book of hebrews emphasizes repeatedly. 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. Brothers, i urge you to bear with my word of exhortation hebrews. Hebrews, theology of bakers evangelical dictionary of.
Perseverance in the book of hebrews is a major theme, or rather a strong emphasis on sin and turning away ftte, 21. The whole book of hebrews negates that idea and supports what paul says in galatians 3. What is unique about the books of james and hebrews. Jesus is the great high priest, the eternal mediator between god and man who never stops mediating, and is the perfect fulfillment of all prophecies and types and shadows pointing to the. If the humanity of jesus is an important theme for hebrews, how much more is. The book of hebrews also warns believers about falling away from the faith, and challenges them to persevere in difficult circumstances, remaining faithful to the new covenant.
Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. The book of hebrews tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In the first post of this series, i likened the task of biblical interpretation to the work of a detective meticulously searching for clues and evidence. Upon close inspection, these seven themes can be seen to function as a forceful appeal for the readers not. Mike vestal covers some of the main events and themes of the book, including that the new covenant that jesus established is superior to any other religion or way of life. Hebrews proves that jesus christ is superior to all ot types moses, aaron, the tabernacle, the temple, etc. A biblical study guide on the book of hebrews ford. Noticing these will help to introduce and commend the letter to us. Of course, the author is clear that gods not trying to be a meaniehes actually good and just and loving. In times past god has spoken by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son jesus is everything that god wanted to say to us. Missing is pauls customary salutation common to his other works. 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. Themes in the book of hebrews jesus christ is superior.
Apr 22, 2015 the book of hebrews also warns believers about falling away from the faith, and challenges them to persevere in difficult circumstances, remaining faithful to the new covenant. A summary of the book of hebrews limerick reformed. The book of hebrews boldly proclaims the superiority of jesus christ and christianity over other religions, including judaism. 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. Theological themes in the book of joshua preaching source. The writer of hebrews the holy spirit uses words, phrases, and themes in the book to present jesus for who he is the messiah. The main theme of james is that of faith and actions, but there are also other themes and key topics addressed in this book. Christs sacrifice for our sins was perfect and complete. It has also been described as an intricate new testament book. Bible study series on the book of hebrews chapter by chapter. This summary of the book of hebrews provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of hebrews.
First, to suggest how the lord jesus may be associated with the book of judges. The two earliest suggestions for its authorship were paul and barnabas. Jesus is the great high priest, the eternal mediator between god and man who never stops mediating, and is the perfect fulfillment of all prophecies and types and shadows pointing to the hebrew messiah within the old covenant. In todays context, this seems to be predominantly the major area where perseverance of the christian is most tested. God is not called father of the believers hebrews 12. The book reveals to us that christ is the substance of all the old testament shadows. 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. Hebrews uses old testament quotations interpreted in light of first century rabbinical judaism. As weve just suggested, the author of hebrews wrote to exhort his audience. And throughout the epistle to the hebrews, god comes off as pretty judgmental. Every book of the bible has a theme and a purpose, and that is true of the book of james as well. Purpose the book of hebrews is designed to definitively demonstrate the supremacy of jesus christ see table 1 in both his identity person and ministry priesthood.
Apr 08, 2020 the writer of hebrews the holy spirit uses words, phrases, and themes in the book to present jesus for who he is the messiah. Listen to the way the author himself characterized his book in. Second, to identify major gospel themes in hebrews as an introduction to faith and faithfulness in chapter 11. In addition, the suggestion that the writer of this epistle relied upon knowledge and information provided by others who were actual eyewitnesses of christ jesus 2. The main theme of hebrews is the absolute supremacy and sufficiency of jesus christ as our high priest and revealer of god. This bible study lesson focuses on the 3 themes of the book of james, which are all found in the first chapter. Abednego also called azariah a jewish captive in babylon. More than most new testament books, hebrews requires detailed explanations of the background allusions within it, which reference the priesthood of christ being directly linked. In fact, the author argues, all the ceremonies, sacrifices, and.