The document provides an overview of the book of Hebrews, including its authorship, date, recipients, and themes. It was likely written before AD 70 by an unknown author to Jewish Christians who were tempted to abandon Christianity and return to Judaism. The overarching theme is that Christ and the New Covenant are superior to the prophets, angels, Moses, the Old Covenant law and rituals. The book uses Old Testament references and quotations to show that Christianity is the fulfillment and next step from Judaism.

1. Introduction

2. Hebrews– Rooted in Old Testament
• Hebrews has 29 quotations and 53
allusions to the Old Testament, for
a total of 82 references.
• Significantly, Hebrews does not
refer even once to the books of the
Apocrypha.

3. TheAuthor
• For some 1,200 years (from c. a.d. 400 to 1600) the
book was commonly called “The Epistle of Paul to
the Hebrews.”
-Timothy, Paul’s right hand man is mentioned (13:23).
- Its subject matter is deep, something Peter said
about Paul’s writings (2 Pet. 3:15, 16).
-There are occasional breaks in a main topic then
a return to subject matter.

4. TheAuthor
Several components have led many to
question Pauline authorship.
For example; in 2:3 he writes about “us” and “those
that heard him” rather than having special
revelation (Gal. 1:11, 12).
The style is not typical of Paul’s manner of writing. It
sounds more like a string of sermons which
have been woven together to exhort one to
believe in Jesus rather than a general letter.
Many new words are used that was not in his prior writings.
Others have been considered: Barnabas, Apollos, Luke, Peter,
and Silas respectively. Some have considered a dual
authorship noting the “we” passages and consider it to
be a joint effort by Barnabas and Apollos.
What we do know is that the author was keenly aware
of Levitical practices, was a master of the
Greek language,
a frequent user of the OT Septuagint and a master

5. Date
• Hebrews must have been written before
the destruction of Jerusalem and the
temple in A.D. 70 because:
• (1) If it had been written after this date,
the author surely would have mentioned
the temple’s destruction and the end of
the Jewish sacrificial system; and
• (2) the author consistently uses the
Greek present tense when speaking of
the temple and the priestly activities
connected with it.

6. 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).
There are no references to Gentiles.
• 1) Hebrews who were intellectually convinced and
committed to Christ (faithful).
Their labor of love was highlighted (6:10) they were
still assembling (10:25)
they were compassionate toward those chains and
willing participants of the persecution (10:32-34)
they were hospitable (13:3)
good leadership (13:7, 17) and overall had
relations with the apostles and missionaries.
they had
good
R
ecipients

7. R
ecipients
• 2) Hebrews who were only intellectually convinced.
(lack luster believers)
They should have been mature, but they weren't
(5:12ff). They lost their confidence. Three times they
were encouraged to hold up their chin in light of
their distress (3:6, 14; 10:35). They were in danger of
returning to the patterns of Judaism – thus the
whole purpose of writing.
• 3) Hebrews who were neither convinced nor
committed to Christ. (unbelievers)
This group refers to Israel in general. The whole of
the book offer evidence needed to bring about faith
in Christ (9:11, 14-15).

8. Theme– “Better Things”
•
•
•
Greek words for “better” and “superior” occur 15 times.
Hebrews could be called “the book of better things.”
The theme of Hebrews is the superiority, or preeminence of
Christ. He is better than any Old Testament person,
institution, ritual, or sacrifice. It entails the superiority of
Christ over angels, over Moses, over Joshua, over Aaron and
his priesthood, and over the Old Covenant.
From that, the book moves to the superiority of Christ's
sacrifice over the old sacrifices, of Christ's faithfulness over
all the faithless, and of the superiority of Christ's testimony
over the testimony of all others.
•
• This subject matter, by design of the Holy Spirit, should provoke the
reader to understand that if he wants to be better, it is only through
Christ Jesus that this may be accomplished.

9. General Outline
I. The New Testament is better than and takes the place of the
First Testament because its Founder, the Messiah, is better
than (1:1-8:6):
1.The prophets (1:1-3) 2. The angels (1:4-2:18) 3. Moses (3:1-6)
4. Joshua (3:7-4:13)
5. Aaron (4:14-8:6)
II. The New Testament is better than and takes the place of the
First Testament (8:7-10:39), because:
1.It was prophesied to be better (8:7-13)
2.It is actual; the First Testament only typical (9:1-15)
3.It is made effective with better blood (9:16-10:39)
III. Of all the examples about people of faith, Christ is the one to
watch (11:1-12:2)
IV.Final Warnings and Exhortations (12:3-13:25)