Contents
The author of this book does not tell us his name. There is nothing in the book to say who wrote it. For centuries the
church thought that the author was the *apostle Paul. But Paul always begins his letters with his name. The way that
the author uses *Greek words is unlike the way Paul uses them. There have been many suggestions, but nobody
knows who wrote this book. All that we know is that *Timothy was a friend of both the writer and the readers (13:23).
Other people who have been suggested as authors of this Book are Appollos (proposed by the great Reformer
Luther), Barnabas (proposed by the Church father Tertullian), while other less popular authors have said to be Silas
or a certain Epaphras. What makes this Book’s authorship especially difficult to define is the fact that the author
actually identifies himself as a disciple of the Apostles and not one of the Apostle’s himself (2v3).
2 Who were the first readers of this book?
The first readers were probably Christian *Jews. The author did not write for all *Jews. He wrote to a group, whom he
knew well, that had become Christian. The book shows that they were not strong in their *belief. They were in danger
of going back to their old religion. The writer argues from the Old Testament to keep them trusting in Jesus.
3 Where did the writer send the book?
From early times the church believed that the readers lived in *Jerusalem. The title, the letter to the Hebrews, could
show that they were *Jews in *Israel who spoke *Hebrew. Many *Jews who did not live in *Israel spoke *Greek. Another
*suggestion is that the readers lived in *Rome. There is in fact so little evidence in the book itself that we have to say
that we do not know where the readers were living. What we do know however is that the Book eventually became
known throughout the Church world and is today part of the Canon of Scripture. This is just another mystery that this
Book refuses to share with us. Again, what we do know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the Book could have been
addressed to,” The Hebrew Believers wherever you are and whenever you read it.”
4 When did the author write the book?
A bishop of *Rome named *Clement knew this letter and used it in his own writing. He wrote in about AD 96. The
author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote his letter before then. From what is in the book we could argue that the
*Jews were still carrying on the *temple ceremonies in *Jerusalem. We know that the *Romans destroyed the *temple
in AD 70. If the date of writing was later, the author would have noted that event. So the date of the letter was
probably before AD 70. (The ceremonies that he speaks about did not take place in fact from the *temple. They refer
to the special tent that was in use before the *Jews built the *temple).
5 Why did the author write the book?
These Christian *Jews had to make a choice. They could not continue in *Judaism and be Christians. They must
decide which way to go. It was either to go back to being *Jews or to go on to be Christians. It seems that their nation
had now turned against Christians. They could not now go to the *temple as the *Jews would not let them. The writer
tries to show his readers that the right choice was to continue to trust in Jesus. That was much better than all the
ceremonies of their former religion, which Jesus had replaced. It is a little known fact that before the Diaspora,
Christianity was viewed, especially by the Roman Empire as a Jewish sect an therefore under the protection of one of
the long standing and established religions of the Empire. It was only until after Paul’s missionary journeys (circa A.D.
46-57) that Gentiles started to flood into the Church. The identity of the first believers in Christ was therefore very
closely linked to the Temple and to Judaism and they could not possibly imagine a Christianity without any ties to
Judaism, Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem. We know that the Temple in Jerusalem was finally destroyed by the
Roman legions under the General Titus, in A.D. 70, after 4 years of Jewish revolt. The first people to start seeing the
significance of the Church as the Temple made of Living Stones was Stephen, who was martyred early on in his life,
and other Apostles and Church leaders who eventually took the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the corners of the known
world and beyond.
6 What sort of book has the author written?
The way the author has written the book is not like any other book in the New Testament. We call it a letter, but it
does not start like one. It does finish like a letter, but the author does not give us his name. The writer knows the
readers and is eager to see them again (13:19, 23). He thinks well of them (6:9), but they should by now have been
able to teach (5:12). He knows all about their past and their needs.
The way he writes is almost like a speech or a lesson. He cares about his friends and wants to advise them in the
choices they have to make.
Shape of the letter to the Hebrews
1 Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18
The greatness of the Son 1:1-3
Jesus is superior to *angels in his person 1:4-14
Jesus is superior to *angels in his message 2:1-4
Jesus is superior to *angels as a *human being 2:5-18
2 The superior *apostle 3:1-4:13
Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6
Warning to obey 3:7-4:2
Warning not to miss God’s promised rest 4:3-13
3 The greatest chief priest 4:14-7:28
Jesus is superior to Aaron 4:14-5:14
Jesus is superior in promises 6:1-20
Jesus is superior to Melchizedek 7:1-28
4 Jesus is the better *mediator 8:1-10:39
A new and better agreement 8:1-13
A new way to praise God 9:1-28
A new *sacrifice and way to life 10:1-39
5 The better way 11:1-13:25
The way of trust and hope11:1-40
The right way to live 12:1-29
The way of love and doing what God wants 13:1-25
Another way to divide the Book up-from The Reformation Study Bible.
1. Christ is Superior to Angels (Ch.1&2)
A. Prologue: God’s last and best Word is spoken in His Son (1v1-4).
B. Scripture testifies to the Son’s greater honour (1v5-14).
C. An exhortation not to neglect the salvation revealed through the Son (2v1-4).
D. The Son became like His brothers as our High Priest (2v5-18).
2. Christ is superior to Moses (3v1-4v13)
A. The Son has greater honour than the servant (3v1-6).
B. Exhortation not to imitate those who disbelieved in the wilderness (3v7-4v13).
3. Christ is superior to Aaron (4v14-7v28)
A. Christ is the eternal High Priest (4v14-5v11).
B. An exhortation to Perseverance and Spiritual Maturity (5v12-6v12).
C. A Priest forever by Divine Oath (6v13-20).
D. D. A Priest forever after the Order of Melchezidek (ch.7).
4. The superior priestly ministry of Christ (8v1-10v18)
A. A superior Covenant (ch.8).
B. A superior Tabernacle (9v1-10).
C. A superior sacrifice that cleanses the Conscience (9v11-28).
D. Christ’s sacrifice is once and for all (10v1-18).
5. Call to persevere in the Faith (10v19-12v29).
A. A superior covenant implies greater responsibility (10v19-39).
B. Examples of life and faith (ch.11).
C. True children of God (12v1-17).
D. The heavenly Jerusalem (12v18-29).
6. Conclusion (ch.13).
A. Final Exhortations (13v1-19).
B. Benediction and Greetings (13v20-25).
- About the letter to the Hebrews
- Shape of the letter to the Hebrews
- Notes to explain the letter to the Hebrews
- Word List
- Book List
- Who wrote this book?
- Who were the first readers of this book?
- Where did the writer send the book?
- When did the author write the book?
- Why did the author write the book?
- What sort of book has the author written?
The author of this book does not tell us his name. There is nothing in the book to say who wrote it. For centuries the
church thought that the author was the *apostle Paul. But Paul always begins his letters with his name. The way that
the author uses *Greek words is unlike the way Paul uses them. There have been many suggestions, but nobody
knows who wrote this book. All that we know is that *Timothy was a friend of both the writer and the readers (13:23).
Other people who have been suggested as authors of this Book are Appollos (proposed by the great Reformer
Luther), Barnabas (proposed by the Church father Tertullian), while other less popular authors have said to be Silas
or a certain Epaphras. What makes this Book’s authorship especially difficult to define is the fact that the author
actually identifies himself as a disciple of the Apostles and not one of the Apostle’s himself (2v3).
2 Who were the first readers of this book?
The first readers were probably Christian *Jews. The author did not write for all *Jews. He wrote to a group, whom he
knew well, that had become Christian. The book shows that they were not strong in their *belief. They were in danger
of going back to their old religion. The writer argues from the Old Testament to keep them trusting in Jesus.
3 Where did the writer send the book?
From early times the church believed that the readers lived in *Jerusalem. The title, the letter to the Hebrews, could
show that they were *Jews in *Israel who spoke *Hebrew. Many *Jews who did not live in *Israel spoke *Greek. Another
*suggestion is that the readers lived in *Rome. There is in fact so little evidence in the book itself that we have to say
that we do not know where the readers were living. What we do know however is that the Book eventually became
known throughout the Church world and is today part of the Canon of Scripture. This is just another mystery that this
Book refuses to share with us. Again, what we do know beyond a shadow of a doubt is that the Book could have been
addressed to,” The Hebrew Believers wherever you are and whenever you read it.”
4 When did the author write the book?
A bishop of *Rome named *Clement knew this letter and used it in his own writing. He wrote in about AD 96. The
author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote his letter before then. From what is in the book we could argue that the
*Jews were still carrying on the *temple ceremonies in *Jerusalem. We know that the *Romans destroyed the *temple
in AD 70. If the date of writing was later, the author would have noted that event. So the date of the letter was
probably before AD 70. (The ceremonies that he speaks about did not take place in fact from the *temple. They refer
to the special tent that was in use before the *Jews built the *temple).
5 Why did the author write the book?
These Christian *Jews had to make a choice. They could not continue in *Judaism and be Christians. They must
decide which way to go. It was either to go back to being *Jews or to go on to be Christians. It seems that their nation
had now turned against Christians. They could not now go to the *temple as the *Jews would not let them. The writer
tries to show his readers that the right choice was to continue to trust in Jesus. That was much better than all the
ceremonies of their former religion, which Jesus had replaced. It is a little known fact that before the Diaspora,
Christianity was viewed, especially by the Roman Empire as a Jewish sect an therefore under the protection of one of
the long standing and established religions of the Empire. It was only until after Paul’s missionary journeys (circa A.D.
46-57) that Gentiles started to flood into the Church. The identity of the first believers in Christ was therefore very
closely linked to the Temple and to Judaism and they could not possibly imagine a Christianity without any ties to
Judaism, Jerusalem and the Temple in Jerusalem. We know that the Temple in Jerusalem was finally destroyed by the
Roman legions under the General Titus, in A.D. 70, after 4 years of Jewish revolt. The first people to start seeing the
significance of the Church as the Temple made of Living Stones was Stephen, who was martyred early on in his life,
and other Apostles and Church leaders who eventually took the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the corners of the known
world and beyond.
6 What sort of book has the author written?
The way the author has written the book is not like any other book in the New Testament. We call it a letter, but it
does not start like one. It does finish like a letter, but the author does not give us his name. The writer knows the
readers and is eager to see them again (13:19, 23). He thinks well of them (6:9), but they should by now have been
able to teach (5:12). He knows all about their past and their needs.
The way he writes is almost like a speech or a lesson. He cares about his friends and wants to advise them in the
choices they have to make.
Shape of the letter to the Hebrews
1 Jesus, son of God, greater than all 1:1-2:18
The greatness of the Son 1:1-3
Jesus is superior to *angels in his person 1:4-14
Jesus is superior to *angels in his message 2:1-4
Jesus is superior to *angels as a *human being 2:5-18
2 The superior *apostle 3:1-4:13
Jesus is superior to Moses 3:1-6
Warning to obey 3:7-4:2
Warning not to miss God’s promised rest 4:3-13
3 The greatest chief priest 4:14-7:28
Jesus is superior to Aaron 4:14-5:14
Jesus is superior in promises 6:1-20
Jesus is superior to Melchizedek 7:1-28
4 Jesus is the better *mediator 8:1-10:39
A new and better agreement 8:1-13
A new way to praise God 9:1-28
A new *sacrifice and way to life 10:1-39
5 The better way 11:1-13:25
The way of trust and hope11:1-40
The right way to live 12:1-29
The way of love and doing what God wants 13:1-25
Another way to divide the Book up-from The Reformation Study Bible.
1. Christ is Superior to Angels (Ch.1&2)
A. Prologue: God’s last and best Word is spoken in His Son (1v1-4).
B. Scripture testifies to the Son’s greater honour (1v5-14).
C. An exhortation not to neglect the salvation revealed through the Son (2v1-4).
D. The Son became like His brothers as our High Priest (2v5-18).
2. Christ is superior to Moses (3v1-4v13)
A. The Son has greater honour than the servant (3v1-6).
B. Exhortation not to imitate those who disbelieved in the wilderness (3v7-4v13).
3. Christ is superior to Aaron (4v14-7v28)
A. Christ is the eternal High Priest (4v14-5v11).
B. An exhortation to Perseverance and Spiritual Maturity (5v12-6v12).
C. A Priest forever by Divine Oath (6v13-20).
D. D. A Priest forever after the Order of Melchezidek (ch.7).
4. The superior priestly ministry of Christ (8v1-10v18)
A. A superior Covenant (ch.8).
B. A superior Tabernacle (9v1-10).
C. A superior sacrifice that cleanses the Conscience (9v11-28).
D. Christ’s sacrifice is once and for all (10v1-18).
5. Call to persevere in the Faith (10v19-12v29).
A. A superior covenant implies greater responsibility (10v19-39).
B. Examples of life and faith (ch.11).
C. True children of God (12v1-17).
D. The heavenly Jerusalem (12v18-29).
6. Conclusion (ch.13).
A. Final Exhortations (13v1-19).
B. Benediction and Greetings (13v20-25).
| Bible Study takes place at St Georges Presbyterian Church on Tuesday mornings at 10am to 12 midday and Wednesday evenings at 7pm to 9pm. All are welcome. The Bible Study is led by Rev. Mark Boshoff. These studies are not yet edited and anyone with editing suggestions can contact Mark. The study notes are used in the context of a congregation and should be viewed as such. |
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