Page 13 - Hebrews- Student Textbook

It would appear that some were having second thoughts about their conversion to Christ. Could it be
that they had really missed God’s plan and in following Christ had abandoned their own roots as found
in Abraham, Moses, and David?

To counter these improper feelings and views, the writer of Hebrews used the Old Testament as his
most important source, directly quoting it thirty-five times and making many allusions to Old Testament
teachings, persons, events, and doctrines. The writer of Hebrews also used the word “promise”
(epangelia) more than anyone else in the New Testament—a total of fourteen times. Only Galatians,
with its ten references to “promise,” came at all close to the number found in Hebrews. For example,
the writer can focus on the one promise of “entering [God’s] rest” in Hebrew 4:1, or refer to the
multiple specifications in that single promise-plan of God by using the plural form, “promises” (note the
Greek of 6:12). Thus, what the writer was arguing for in the supremacy of Christ was merely the
fulfillment of God’s ancient promises in his unified plan.
There are three main centers to the writer’s argument:

1. Christ offers a better priesthood than operated previously in the Old Testament (with Ps 110:4
as the central Old Testament text for Heb 7:1–28; 10:19–22);
2. Christ offers a better sacrifice than seen in the Old Testament (with Ps 40:6–8 as the central text
for Heb 8:8–13; 9:15–22);
3. Christ offers a better covenant than seen before (with Jer 31:31–34 as the central text for Heb
8:7–13; 10:15–18).

Therefore, the central theme in Hebrews is Christ. He is supreme over the angels (Heb 1), over Moses
(3:1–6), over Joshua (4:9), and over Melchizedek (7). But all of this is not so innovative that it had no
roots or anticipations in the revelation of God up to this point. On the contrary, it happened exactly as it
had been predicted in the promise-plan of God.

The writer used the term “better” (kreitton) thirteen times in Hebrews (1:4; 7:7, 19, 22; 8:6 (2×); 9:23;
10:34; 11:16, 35, 40; and 12:24) supplemented by kreisson in 6:9. Other terms and expressions are used
to make the same point (e.g., 2:2–4; 3:3–6; 5:4–10; 10:27–28; and 12:25), but the superiority of what
Jesus introduced was the theme of the book. Truly, this book wants to show that something more and
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better had arrived with Christ.

The author of Hebrews urges the audience to draw strength and confidence from the absolute
supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ. Although God spoke in the past in many ways, He most
recently has spoken by his Son, Jesus Christ, who is the exact imprint of God’s nature and who upholds
the universe by his power (Heb 1:1–3). Because of this revelation of God, we are called to stick with our
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faith and persevere in following Christ.

Unlike the people of the past, we now live in full relationship with God Himself via Jesus’ saving death
and resurrection. And Jesus now gives us the strength to go beyond societal norms to do the freeing and
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loving work of God.

12 Kaiser, (pp. 358–359).

13 Barry, et al.
14 Ibid

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