5. Warning #1: Pay attention! We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. (2:1-4) Warning #3: Falling away from the principles of Christ In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (5:11-6:20) Warning #2: Unbelief So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (3:7-14)
18. Views of God For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”? And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” (1:5 & 6)
19. Views of God Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (4:14-16)
Hebrews is a practical guide to everyday living. The writer himself refers to his letter as “a word of exhortation” designed to stir the readers into action.The author is unknown. Scholars believe the writer showed too much knowledge of the Greek language (quoting from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew forms Paul would have known) to have been Paul. Luke and Barnabas have been suggested because the theology in the book is consistent with that of Paul’s letters. There is still evidence that Paul wrote it though. Most notable in 1 Peter 3:15 when Peter writes to the Jews that he is writing to them just as Paul did.Probably before the second destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, the book references the rituals of the Temple but not it’s destruction.
Hebrews is a practical guide to everyday living. The writer himself refers to his letter as “a word of exhortation” designed to stir the readers into action.The author is unknown. Scholars believe the writer showed too much knowledge of the Greek language (quoting from the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew forms Paul would have known) to have been Paul. Luke and Barnabas have been suggested because the theology in the book is consistent with that of Paul’s letters. There is still evidence that Paul wrote it though. Most notable in 1 Peter 3:15 when Peter writes to the Jews that he is writing to them just as Paul did.Probably before the second destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, the book references the rituals of the Temple but not it’s destruction.
This letter was written to early Christians that still considered themselves to be Jews. These people were facing harsh persecution from their own Jewish kin, as well as persecution from the Romans. They needed to be reassured that it was all worth it: that Jesus really was the messiah, and that their sufferings would be rewarded in the next world. The author gave his readers six warnings. [See slide]
This letter was written to early Christians that still considered themselves to be Jews. These people were facing harsh persecution from their own Jewish kin, as well as persecution from the Romans. They needed to be reassured that it was all worth it: that Jesus really was the messiah, and that their sufferings would be rewarded in the next world. The author gave his readers six warnings. [See slide]
This letter communicates the theory that to be human means we are already saved from the horrors of true death. The letter was written to inform the early Christians that belief in Jesus meant salvation. And belief in Jesus meant that inner peace and kindness came naturally upon acceptance of Jesus. Faith is the most important element of humanity. According to this letter just having faith in Jesus can give us almost some sort of super power. Chapter 11 for instance is entirely about great heroes of the Jewish religion (Moses, Jacob, and Isaac among others) that accomplished remarkable things through their faith.
This letter communicates the theory that to be human means we are already saved from the horrors of true death. The letter was written to inform the early Christians that belief in Jesus meant salvation. And belief in Jesus meant that inner peace and kindness came naturally upon acceptance of Jesus. Faith is the most important element of humanity. According to this letter just having faith in Jesus can give us almost some sort of super power. Chapter 11 for instance is entirely about great heroes of the Jewish religion (Moses, Jacob, and Isaac among others) that accomplished remarkable things through their faith.
This letter communicates the theory that to be human means we are already saved from the horrors of true death. The letter was written to inform the early Christians that belief in Jesus meant salvation. And belief in Jesus meant that inner peace and kindness came naturally upon acceptance of Jesus. Faith is the most important element of humanity. According to this letter just having faith in Jesus can give us almost some sort of super power. Chapter 11 for instance is entirely about great heroes of the Jewish religion (Moses, Jacob, and Isaac among others) that accomplished remarkable things through their faith.
Who in the world is this Melchizedek? There is an entire chapter in reference to him in the Book of Hebrews. According to the chapter, Melchizedek was a high priest to God during the time of Abraham. Heb 7:6-7 “… and Melchizedek placed a blessing on Abraham, and the one who had already received the promises of God. And without question, the person who has the power to bless is always greater than the person who is blessed.” According to the author of this letter, Melchizedek was an even greater and earlier figure than Abraham, the “Father of Israel.” According to one of the Second Book of Enoch, a Jewish text from the first century C.E., Melchizedek was born of a virgin and the letter mentions that nothing known about his birth year or death year Heb7:3 “…He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.”
