The book of Hebrews

[JohnD]

The Book of Hebrews was written to the Hebrews to expound upon the Gospel message in the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 31:31-34 (KJV)

31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

It is therefore a divine commentary on that passage.

Hebrews 1 (NASB95)

1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,

2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

The totality of God (Father / Son / Holy Spirit) have interacted with humanity mostly through the prophets or the fathers of Israel. But since the advent of Messiah, made the totality of the message clear (i.e. the Gospel) through whom God made all things.

Detractors try to use this verse to undeify the Messiah... saying he did not create the world but that he was a tool through which the Father created all things. But this is rather a proof text that Messiah is God incarnate in that he made the world. That it was by him and for him (Colossians 1:16) and that he (God the Word John 1:1) did it alone by himself (Isaiah 44:24). So, "through whom also He made the world..." is referring to the totality of God (the Godhead) and that the one in the Godhead who made all things is the preincarnate Jesus. John 1:1-3 / John 1:14... Colossians 1:13-18... Isaiah 44:24 / Genesis 1:1. 1 John 1.

[JohnD]

The late Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse said that the book of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews to tell them to stop being Hebrews and to become Christians.

I understand what he meant to say... but the good Doctor presumed that Christianity is the ends and Judaism the means towards that end. I would agree that the Covenants are that way, but the New Covenant has been compromised nearly to the point that if God did not make many concessions, no one after 313 CE would have been saved. With the Hebrew monarchy (1 Samuel 8), and the Temple being built by anyone other than the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12-13 / Zechariah 6:12-13 / 1 Kings 8) we have biblical evidences of the fact that God makes concessions.

But it is not wise to presume like Dr. Barnhouse did and most Christians do that God has scrapped Judaism or the Jewish people. God's plan was to convert the Jewish people and for them in turn to evangelize the world till all who would believe were brought into the harvest. The Jews were infiltrated early on (which is what Matthew 13 covers as the State of the Kingdom Address). The evil leaders used the authority of the seat of Moses to prevent Jews from even considering belief in Jesus... despite all the evidences he is the genuine Messiah. So, God forged ahead with the evangelism of the Gentiles as he'd always planned. And the end times had to be the way they are prophesied to be for the purpose of bringing Israel back into the fold. The tribulation and near annihilation will be what it takes to convince them (actually as a last resort) to cry out to Jesus.

In the meantime, we Gentiles have made Christianity into something even a sincerely seeking Jew would consider to convert to (thankfully many still do despite these things), and IMHO it's up to us to get back to our Hebraic roots so that faith in the Jewish Messiah will be plausible to the Jews.

[Bold Believer]

The late Dr. Donald Gray Barnhouse said that the book of Hebrews is written to the Hebrews to tell them to stop being Hebrews and to become Christians.

I understand what he meant to say... but the good Doctor presumed that Christianity is the ends and Judaism the means towards that end. I would agree that the Covenants are that way, but the New Covenant has been compromised nearly to the point that if God did not make many concessions, no one after 313 CE would have been saved. With the Hebrew monarchy (1 Samuel 8), and the Temple being built by anyone other than the Messiah (2 Samuel 7:12-13 / Zechariah 6:12-13 / 1 Kings 8) we have biblical evidences of the fact that God makes concessions.

But it is not wise to presume like Dr. Barnhouse did and most Christians do that God has scrapped Judaism or the Jewish people. God's plan was to convert the Jewish people and for them in turn to evangelize the world till all who would believe were brought into the harvest. The Jews were infiltrated early on (which is what Matthew 13 covers as the State of the Kingdom Address). The evil leaders used the authority of the seat of Moses to prevent Jews from even considering belief in Jesus... despite all the evidences he is the genuine Messiah. So, God forged ahead with the evangelism of the Gentiles as he'd always planned. And the end times had to be the way they are prophesied to be for the purpose of bringing Israel back into the fold. The tribulation and near annihilation will be what it takes to convince them (actually as a last resort) to cry out to Jesus.

In the meantime, we Gentiles have made Christianity into something even a sincerely seeking Jew would consider to convert to (thankfully many still do despite these things), and IMHO it's up to us to get back to our Hebraic roots so that faith in the Jewish Messiah will be plausible to the Jews.

"The tribulation and near annihilation will be what it takes to convince them (actually as a last resort) to cry out to Jesus." The tribulation didn't do one thing to bring and more Jews to Jesus. It was intended to punsh them for their rejection of him as Messiah and for the sins of the Jewish people. (See Daniel 9.) God chastised them, destroying the Temple and making it so that they would eventually have to come to the True Temple, the one made without hands. We are that temple, all who believe that Jesus is Lord. We are a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Anyone who is being led to salvation is led there by the Spirit and through the Temple (Believers). That is what Israel was meant to do and failed because of sin.

Hebrews 9 is a great way to show a Jew the High Priest has gone into the Temple and has made atonement. The thing is, they more often reject it because they perceive the NT to be a Gentile book. IF it's a priesthood they want, show them Peter's book, where NT applications of Isaiah are given. 1Pe 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.

IF a temple, show them Ephesians 2:19-22 wherein it is written:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy [fn]temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

[joi]

Detractors try to use this verse to undeify the Messiah... saying he did not create the world but that he was a tool through which the Father created all things. But this is rather a proof text that Messiah is God incarnate in that he made the world. That it was by him and for him (Colossians 1:16) and that he (God the Word John 1:1) did it alone by himself (Isaiah 44:24). So, "through whom also He made the world..." is referring to the totality of God (the Godhead) and that the one in the Godhead who made all things is the preincarnate Jesus. John 1:1-3 / John 1:14... Colossians 1:13-18... Isaiah 44:24 / Genesis 1:1. 1 John 1.

Revelation 20:6

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ,

and shall reign with him a thousand years.

This verse speaks of both God and Christ and then says HIM, indicating they are one.

It also indicates we are to be priests of God, which got me wondering just what that means.

Today priests minister to the saved and try and bring in the unsaved, so in heaven one wonders what we would do???

Sorry John, not meaning to interrupt your thoughts and subject.

[JohnD]

The New Testament often makes reference of God and Christ or of God the Father and Jesus Christ for the same reason Jesus referred to himself more as the Son of man than he did the Son of God... because of all the trouble he went to to become a man (while never ceasing to be God) and he wanted to remind us of this often.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Isaiah 44:24 (NIV)

24 “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,

John 1:1-3 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:15-16 (NIV)

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Genesis 1:1 (NIV)

1 In the beginning God THE WORD created the heavens and the earth.

God the Father didn't create in the beginning. He did later.

John 1:14 (NIV)

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Hebrews 10:5 (NIV)

5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;

[JohnD]

We must also remind ourselves that Jesus Christ has a second nature. The Father does not. The Spirit does not. So when we see God AND Jesus Christ this in no way diminishes the deity of Christ... rather it establishes the uniqueness of Christ the God man.

[JohnD]

Hebrews 1 (KJV)

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,

John 14:26 (KJV)

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

John 15:26 (KJV)

26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13 (KJV)

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by {together with} his Son...

...whom he hath appointed heir of all things by {the ground or reason by which something is or is not done} whom also he made the worlds;

Colossians 1:16-18 (KJV)

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

An example of this form of the word "by" or "through" would be the Trump family fortune was made BY or THROUGH Donald Sr. So the passage does not make Jesus just an agency of the creation but the Creator. Another way to put final clause in verse 2 is to say the one in the Godhead who created was Jesus.

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

Colossians 1:13-15 (KJV)

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Who is the VISIBLE image of the INVISIBLE God.

and upholding all things by the word of his power,

Colossians 1:17 (NIV)

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

This verse seems to take theological steps backward by mentioning such a thing. We must remind ourselves that at the time of the writing of this book, the Bible was not fully recorded and canonized... thus human awareness of theological doctrine was in flux. It took the whole context of the entire Bible to realize even the elementary doctrines of theology. Remember John in Revelation was twice scolded for worshiping an angel (Revelation 19:10 / Revelation 22:9). Peter on the mount of Transfiguration wanted to build booths for Moses and Elijah in addition to Jesus (Matthew 17:4). He was in effect wanting to make three shrines or tabernacles in the honor of all three.

The passage serves the modern reader / student in that it supplements the doctrinal distinctions between God and angels and man and angels which is a vital thing to consider when we read passages like:

James 2:19 (NIV)

19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

This is not to elevate the beliefs of fallen angels to some magnificent point above humans as if to say how then can we inferior believers be saved??? No. What it means is they do not have a kinsman redeemer. Humanity does (1 Timothy 4:10 / 1 John 2:2) . Furthermore, angels were in their eternal state when they sinned. Man is in his temporal state and subject to death which avails redemption through resurrection. Angels cannot die. So we must consider these things when we see passages like this about angels in the Bible.

5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?

Notice in the verse it makes three paradigm shift statements: TODAY I have begotten thee / I WILL BE a Father to him / he WILL BE a Son to me... meaning that prior to that point none of the above was true. So the Eternal Son doctrine is proved false by scripture. God the Word is eternal and became the Son in the incarnation. But he was not the Son before the incarnation.

6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

7 And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Here we have the Father calling the Son God and the Father declared to be his God (in the humanity of Jesus) to further fulfill the office of Messiah which is an office of humility... so if he were his own God he would not qualify as our kinsman redeemer.

10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

This is still the Father speaking to the Son.

11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

[JohnD]

Hebrews 2 (NASB95)

1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.

2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty,

3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard,

4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.

6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, “What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him?

7 “You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands;

8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren,

12 saying, “I will proclaim Your name to My brethren, In the midst of the congregation I will sing Your praise.”

13 And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children whom God has given Me.”

14 Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.

16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.

17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.

18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

[Jasher]

If you don't understand the historical background of Hebrews - you never will have a full understanding of what the writer is saying. Having a 21st century opinion of the Bible is a disaster as we see on boards like these all of the time - especially on the subject of Eschatology. We must ALWAYS ask these questions below before reading a book of the Bible - ALWAYS.

Who wrote Hebrews?

Hebrews smacks of the thinking of Paul. Best info is that Paul wrote this originally in Hebrew (which was lost to history) and the letter extant that we have was translated into Greek by Luke who wrote for the Disciples and Apostles. Thus the thinking was crafted by Paul, but the style was that of Luke. But there is no documented proof of this.

To whom was the letter written?

Specifically to the Messianic Hebrew Christians in Rome.

When was it written?

Some time after the burning of Rome in July of 64AD and the Spring of 65AD. It was written in that 9 month interval. After the fire, Nero was fomenting hatred against the Christians via the Roman citizens who had lost everything in the fire of Rome, which consumed 10 out of 14 precincts in the city. Roman citizens lost their homes, possessions, businesses, temples, and they were highly susceptible to Nero’s accusations toward the Christians. History believes that it was Nero himself that caused the fire to clear an area for his ambitious new building projects. The book of Hebrews says that they had "not yet come to resist unto blood." This happened later in the spring of 65AD when Nero started to cruelly kill Christians. Over the next three years he killed an estimated 5,000 Christians. The Christians in that era were suffering harassment and persecution from the Roman populace. It was a very grave and serious time in history.

Why was it written?

The Messianic Christians were reverting back to Judaism to escape persecution by Nero. At this particular time it was only the Christians and not the Jews who were being persecuted.

What was the historical context?

The book of Hebrews was written to the Messianic Christian Jews to convince them that they should not go back to Judaism, but to contend for their Christian New Covenant faith. The book is a review of Jewish history and a comparison of the Old and New Covenants. The great theme of the book is that the New Covenant is a better covenant (Than the Old to which they were returning to - to escape persecution.)

Here is just one example of what I am speaking of…

Under the Old Covenant there was no sacrifice for willful and deliberate sins. The best example that I can think of is when the Israelite was gathering sticks for a fire on the Sabbath when he knew this was against the Old Covenant Law.

Numbers 15:27-36 (KJV)

And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. [28] And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. [29] Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. [30] But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, [willfully] whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [31] Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. [32] And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. [33] And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. [34] And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. [35] And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. [36] And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.

There was no sacrifice for willful sin - only for sins done in ignorance. Proven willful sinning was punishable by death. In this case stoning.

Under the New Covenant, which is a better covenant - there is forgiveness for willful and deliberate sinning. Big Improvement.

1 John 2:1 (NASB)

My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

No differentiation between willful and un-willful.

Another reference.

Acts 2:36-38 (NASB)

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified." [37] Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" [38] And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What Peter basically said was that God had surreptitiously brought about the cross and now that his purposes had been fulfilled in the sacrifice of his son now everyone could come and receive forgiveness. Don’t tell me that their was not willful sin on the part of the religious leaders of that day. They may not have repented, but they were offered the opportunity.

Under the new covenant there was forgiveness through our advocate for willful sin.

Hebrews 10:26-31 (NASB)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

Remember the Hebrews were reverting back to Judaism and the Old Covenant to evade persecution.

[27] but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. [28] Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.

Still speaking of the Old Covenant - good example of the guy picking up sticks.

29] How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." [31] It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

You trample underfoot the Son of God by ignoring the cross and going back to Judaism. All of the Old Testament symbols, types and shadows in the OT were pointing forward to the crucifixion. God offered us the Grace of the New Covenant - to go back to Judaism is an insult to the spirit of Grace - isn’t it?

You have to hold in mind all of these things as you read the book of Hebrews.

[JohnD]

I agreed with Dr. Barnhouse's assessment up to the point of his seeing Christianity as an end to being Hebrew.

So, yes, it is a book written to the Hebrew to tell the Hebrews to stop being Old Covenant Hebrews and to become New Covenant Hebrews.

And while we must insist upon the criteria of interpretation you spelled out, Jasher, we must not be willing to imprison the text in just that setting (meaning it has no other application to anyone else or could not contain prophetic elements as do all texts of scripture).

I agree for example when the book of Hebrews speaks of continuing to sin no other sacrifice is left pertains specifically to the rejection of Messiah in preference to the Mosaic covenant... meaning if you continue to reject the salvation of Messiah for a past covenant there is no salvation except in Messiah and the New Covenant. And in the context of scripture overall (Romans 11:23 specifically) this is not an irreversible predicament.

But thank you for pointing out what you did, Jash.