Page 119 - Advanced New Testament Survey Student Textbook

12.3 Hebrews

Author

The author of Hebrews is unknown, and the audience is not clearly identified. However, the
recipients of the letter must have clearly known the author, and the author must have
clearly known his audience. Some early Christians grouped this letter among Paul’s writings;
others suggested authors in the early church, including Barnabas, Luke, and Clement of
Rome.

Recipients

Clues indicate that the recipients must have been Greek oriented Hebraic
Christian Jews, but nothing is clear about their specifics. However, the
author must have clearly known the recipients. Apparently, these believers
compromised in their faith when they faced suffering and adversity because
of the gospel. They also might have wondered whether Christ’s sacrifice
really dealt with their sin problem. As a result, it had become increasingly tempting to abandon Christ
and return to their former life of Judaism. 168

Because of the ambiguity of Heb 13:24, we may suspect that the recipients may have lived in Rome or
the surrounding area, or the author must have writing from Rome.
Date

The book of Hebrews might have been written before the mid-60s AD, since its material is used in an
early church letter (1 Clement) that dates to the late first century.

Themes

In Hebrews, Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God. Jesus is far superior than angels, Moses, Joshua, the
Levitical priesthood, sacrifices, and the tabernacle. The whole Old Testament its agents, and
symbolisms, point to Jesus and find in Him their true fulfillment. This leads the author to beg the
question, that since Jesus is the supreme reality that everything else anticipates, why leave Him and
return to the shadow?
Occasion

The letter was addressed primarily to Jewish converts who were familiar with the OT and who were
being tempted to revert to Judaism or to Judaize the gospel (cf. Gal 2:14). Some have suggested that
these professing Jewish Christians were thinking of merging with a Jewish sect, such as the one at
Qumran near the Dead Sea. It has also been suggested that the recipients were from the “large number
of priests who became obedient to the faith” (Ac 6:7).

Purpose

The author wanted the Hebrews to know that Christ as the ultimate
expression of God: He is superior to angels, Moses, and Joshua, and He is
also the great high priest, whose ministry transcends the work of all other
priests, including the sacrifices made under the old covenant. This reason,

168 Barry, J. D., et al.

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