WHICH CHURCH WAS HEBREWS WRITTEN TO?

[douge]

The book of Hebrews was written to the kingdom church, the believing remnant of Israel, undergoing persecution and scattered (Acts 8:1-4).

This book is not written directly to the church today, the body of Christ, although it is most profitable for our understanding. Misunderstanding doctrine in this book can be a snare to the believer and impact assurance of salvation.

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

1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

God spoke in time past unto the fathers of Israel, and the us to whom the Son has spoken to, are the children of Israel.

The book of Hebrews is dealing with "these last days". The last days are spoken of as pertaining to the time in which the Davidic kingdom will be established on earth, in which, Christ will reign upon David's throne from Jerusalem along with the believing remnant of Israel (Isaiah 2:2-3 Luke 12:32).

1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Christ, by his own blood, entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for believing Israel (Hebrews 9:12). Christ died for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (Hebrews 9:15).

1:8 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.

Christ will establish his prophetic kingdom on earth (Psalm 45:6 Isaiah 9:6-7 Daniel 2:44).

[JoeT]

11 hours ago, douge said:

The book of Hebrews was written to the kingdom church, the believing remnant of Israel, undergoing persecution and scattered (Acts 8:1-4).

This book is not written directly to the church today, the body of Christ, although it is most profitable for our understanding. Misunderstanding doctrine in this book can be a snare to the believer and impact assurance of salvation.

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

1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

God spoke in time past unto the fathers of Israel, and the us to whom the Son has spoken to, are the children of Israel.

The book of Hebrews is dealing with "these last days". The last days are spoken of as pertaining to the time in which the Davidic kingdom will be established on earth, in which, Christ will reign upon David's throne from Jerusalem along with the believing remnant of Israel (Isaiah 2:2-3 Luke 12:32).

1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Christ, by his own blood, entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for believing Israel (Hebrews 9:12). Christ died for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament (Hebrews 9:15).

1:8 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.

Christ will establish his prophetic kingdom on earth (Psalm 45:6 Isaiah 9:6-7 Daniel 2:44).

 

There are several different communities the Epistle to the Hebrews is written.  It seems obvious that the writer is contending with material very familiar to Hebrews therefore we can assume the the Epistle is written for a Jewish Christian community.  The material is a very compact priestly and Christological  doctrine relying heavily on the Old Testament. Interestingly the only reference to the New Testament would be Hebrews 10:7.  The Epistle makes the argument for the Christian Jew that Jesus Christ is both the high priest of the order of Melchisedech who offers himself as the victim, i.e. the sacrificial lamb. 

Being one of the oldest epistles, definitely written before 70 AD. The best contending community would logically be Jerusalem, however various scholars will cite other communities. In the rise of the Church, Jerusalem would have the highest percent of intellectual Jews who believed in Christ shortly after the Pentecost. The author is shear speculation, some of the Early Church Fathers from the East would suggest St. Paul is the author.  In the Western Church Early Church Fathers suggested "Pastor" of Hermas, but by the end of the 4th century many were coming around to the Apostle Paul as the author.   [Primary source: Fonck, L. (1910). Epistle to the Hebrews. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved December 30, 2019 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07181a.htm ].

JoeT 

[OldCoot]

I keep things simple.  Hebrews was written to Hebrews.  Just like James was written to the 12 tribes in the diaspora.  When one keeps who the target audience is in view, then usually they don't get things mixed up.

The first 6 chapters are pure apologetic, making the case that Messiah is better than Moses, Aaron, the priesthood, Angels, Temple, etc.  In Chapter 6, the writer shows that once one is enlightened to the fact that Yeshua is the Promised Messiah, there remains no other means of salvation.  If they turn away from the knowledge of Messiah, it is all she wrote, so to speak.  There is nothing else that can save.

If these were believers, then it wouldn't make sense that the writer would spend the first 6 chapters making the case that Yeshua is greater than everything that came before.  If they were believers already, they would already know that. 

I am convinced that based on the outline of the book, it was written by Paul.  He kept his name out of it because of the bad rap he had been given by the Jewish leadership in both Israel and the diaspora.  He had a burning desire to tell his Hebrew brethren of their promised Messiah, as evidenced in Romans and other books.  But to keep from generating bias in the readers, he kept his name out of the book.

And a common theme in Jewish eschatology was that the 7 days of creation equated to the 7000 year plan of God.  "these last days" would pertain to the last two days before the 7th.  The first 2 days were equated with Adam to Abraham, days of ignorance - without Torah.  The next 2 days with the time of Torah or instruction.  The third  2 days were associated with the days of the Messiah.  And we see that right out of the gate in the book of Hebrews.  The writer associates the "last days" with the days of Messiah.  We see these delineations explicitly  pronounced in Essene writings of the Qumran community also. 

Edited January 9, 2020 by OldCoot

[douge]

9 hours ago, OldCoot said:

I keep things simple.  Hebrews was written to Hebrews.  Just like James was written to the 12 tribes in the diaspora.  When one keeps who the target audience is in view, then usually they don't get things mixed up.

The first 6 chapters are pure apologetic, making the case that Messiah is better than Moses, Aaron, the priesthood, Angels, Temple, etc.  In Chapter 6, the writer shows that once one is enlightened to the fact that Yeshua is the Promised Messiah, there remains no other means of salvation.  If they turn away from the knowledge of Messiah, it is all she wrote, so to speak.  There is nothing else that can save.

If these were believers, then it wouldn't make sense that the writer would spend the first 6 chapters making the case that Yeshua is greater than everything that came before.  If they were believers already, they would already know that. 

I am convinced that based on the outline of the book, it was written by Paul.  He kept his name out of it because of the bad rap he had been given by the Jewish leadership in both Israel and the diaspora.  He had a burning desire to tell his Hebrew brethren of their promised Messiah, as evidenced in Romans and other books.  But to keep from generating bias in the readers, he kept his name out of the book.

And a common theme in Jewish eschatology was that the 7 days of creation equated to the 7000 year plan of God.  "these last days" would pertain to the last two days before the 7th.  The first 2 days were equated with Adam to Abraham, days of ignorance - without Torah.  The next 2 days with the time of Torah or instruction.  The third  2 days were associated with the days of the Messiah.  And we see that right out of the gate in the book of Hebrews.  The writer associates the "last days" with the days of Messiah.  We see these delineations explicitly  pronounced in Essene writings of the Qumran community also. 

In response to what you said here "If these were believers, then it wouldn't make sense that the writer would spend the first 6 chapters making the case that Yeshua is greater than everything that came before.  If they were believers already, they would already know that. "

Hebrews 6:9 states they are believers. They were being edified to endure to the end to receive the promises (Hebrews 6:11-12).

Edited January 9, 2020 by douge

[OldCoot]

1 hour ago, douge said:

In response to what you said here "If these were believers, then it wouldn't make sense that the writer would spend the first 6 chapters making the case that Yeshua is greater than everything that came before.  If they were believers already, they would already know that. "

Hebrews 6:9 states they are believers. They were being edified to endure to the end to receive the promises (Hebrews 6:11-12).

No it does not.  The writer is promoting the idea that they reach the goal of the works and diligence and imitate those who thru faith and patience inherit the promises.

If one takes Hebrews as talking of believers, they have a conundrum in Hebrews 6 also.....

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

To apply it to believers means that if a believer falls away, they can never be restored.  That goes against everything in scripture.

Just like Yeshua "tasted" of the sour wine and gall (Matthew 27:34) but did not take it in, the passage is talking about being enlightened and tasting of the Holy Spirit, but not taking in the HS.  The believer has taken in the HS and is sealed.  Obviously these folks were not.  And it is impossible, if they reject the knowledge of Yeshua that the writer has been showing in the previous chapters, that there is another way of salvation.   

[douge]

21 hours ago, OldCoot said:

No it does not.  The writer is promoting the idea that they reach the goal of the works and diligence and imitate those who thru faith and patience inherit the promises.

If one takes Hebrews as talking of believers, they have a conundrum in Hebrews 6 also.....

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

To apply it to believers means that if a believer falls away, they can never be restored.  That goes against everything in scripture.

Just like Yeshua "tasted" of the sour wine and gall (Matthew 27:34) but did not take it in, the passage is talking about being enlightened and tasting of the Holy Spirit, but not taking in the HS.  The believer has taken in the HS and is sealed.  Obviously these folks were not.  And it is impossible, if they reject the knowledge of Yeshua that the writer has been showing in the previous chapters, that there is another way of salvation.   

These believers are not in the body of Christ. It is only believers in the body that are sealed. These are the believing remnant of Israel. If these believers fall away they can not be renewed to repentance as it says.

[BeauJangles]

11 minutes ago, douge said:

These believers are not in the body of Christ.

what? 

[douge]

22 hours ago, OldCoot said:

No it does not.  The writer is promoting the idea that they reach the goal of the works and diligence and imitate those who thru faith and patience inherit the promises.

If one takes Hebrews as talking of believers, they have a conundrum in Hebrews 6 also.....

Hebrews 6:4-6 (NKJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

To apply it to believers means that if a believer falls away, they can never be restored.  That goes against everything in scripture.

Just like Yeshua "tasted" of the sour wine and gall (Matthew 27:34) but did not take it in, the passage is talking about being enlightened and tasting of the Holy Spirit, but not taking in the HS.  The believer has taken in the HS and is sealed.  Obviously these folks were not.  And it is impossible, if they reject the knowledge of Yeshua that the writer has been showing in the previous chapters, that there is another way of salvation.   

These believers are those who believed the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23 Matthew 4:17), they are the little flock (Luke 12:32), the remnant of Israel. They must endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 24:13) to go into the kingdom on earth and reign with Christ as kings and priests ( Hebrews 12:28 Exodus 19:5-6 Revelation 5:10). If they are unbelieving and don't produce fruit they will not enter into the kingdom (Matthew 25:14-30). If they fall away they cant be renewed again to repentance like Esau (Hebrews 12:15-16) and will lose the blessings of the promises (Hebrews 6:12).

[BeauJangles]

1 minute ago, douge said:

If they fall away they cant be renewed again to repentance like Esau

what? 

[douge]

4 minutes ago, BeauJangles said:

what? 

Like Esau who gave away his birthright, lost blessings cant be reclaimed