In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He [Jesus Christ -Yeshua]
was in the beginning with God.
HEBREWS
The book of Hebrews is the first of the eight
general epistles. The
author of Hebrews and the place it was written are unknown. Although
there are similarities in language and style to suggest Paul as the
author, there are also sufficient dissimilarities that make it difficult
to identify Paul as the author. The time of Hebrews is also difficult to
pinpoint. However, because Timothy was still alive and no mention is
made of the destruction of Jerusalem, the date of writing has been
placed between AD 64 and AD 68.
Hebrews central theme emphasizes the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the
Messiah, as being superior over the Judaic system. The exhortation to
believers to remain steadfast and to mature in their faith in Christ was
evidently directed to Jewish believers. The author articulated the
superiority of Christ and His ministry over the former manner in which
God spoke to their fathers through the prophets. Because of His deity,
Christ is superior to the angles, to Moses, and to the
Levitical
priesthood. Believers were warned not to neglect their
salvation spoken
by the Lord or to harden their hearts toward Him. They were to mature in
Christ and move toward perfection. Otherwise, they risked falling away
and crucifying Him again to a point where they cannot be renewed
again to repentance.
The author of Hebrew makes a comparison between the old and new
covenants. The old covenant of tabernacle worship and sacrifices were
earthly and temporary. In the new covenant, Christ came as High Priest
with a tabernacle not made of this world. He entered the Holy Place once
for all and shed His own blood for our eternal redemption. We are not to forsake
Christ lest we forfeit our position in Him. We are to endure in our
faith as was demonstrated in Hebrews by many before us. We are to
continue in love.
Hebrews 1-4: Superiority of Christ; warning against hardened hearts;
entering into God’s rest
Hebrews 5-9: Christ’s priesthood; maturing in Christ; the new and
better covenant
Hebrews 10-13: Enduring in faith; examples of faith; warning against
rejecting God; exhortation to love