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HEBREWS
Background to
Hebrews: Smith's Bible Dictionary,
EFEGW, C and EC. Author:
The King James version labels
the title as that of Paul. There is no
substantial
evidence
to point to any other than Paul as it's author. The Eastern Church accepted
it's
Pauline authorship from the beginning. Eusbebius,
Clemet of Alexandria, Origen,
Fenton all believe it to be
Paul's epistle. Others believe it to
be written by Luke,
Barnabas, or Apollos On the
whole though, the traditional view held through the
centuries
and still widely held is that Paul was the author.. The circumstances fit
Paul. (1) He was in Rome (Italy) (Heb. 13:24), in
prison (Heb. 10:34), was
acquainted with Timothy (Heb. 13:23). (2) The
internal evidence favors Pauline
authorship a the doctrine is typical Pauline (C and
EC).
To whom written: It's unmistakable
contents are intended for Jews. The
traditional and commonly
accepted view is that it is addressed to the Jewish Christians
of Palestine. The argument of the epistle is designed to be used with
most effect to
a church consisting
exclusively of Jews by birth, personally familiar with and
attached
to the temple service. Paul brings the Jews over ground familiar to the Jews
who
would have no difficulty in following the reasoning. Paul begins by "God spoke
to
our fathers". Chapter 13:18 ties
in with typical Pauline phrases found in Acts
23:1, 24:16.
II Pet. 3:15-16. Peter's testimony: "Paul hath written
unto you." Peter
was the apostle to the
circumcision and he acknowledged Paul had also written to the
circumcision.
Date: All sources
agree it was written before the destruction of Jerusalem
(Heb. 13:10, 10:11, 2:25, 8:4) in 70 A.D.
The letter was written from Italy (Heb.
13:24, 10:34). Timothy
was with Paul (Heb. 13:23). He had gone with Paul to
Jerusalem at the end of the
third mission (Acts 20:4) and accompanied him to
Rome (Col. 1:1). Paul was intending to send him back (Phil. 2:19,24) and it looks
as though both Paul and Timothy were planning to return to Jerusalem
(Heb.
13:23). The date then would be around
61 A.D., from Rome, shortly
before Paul's release.
Heb. 12:27 may indicate Jerusalem's coming doom.
Heb. 13:7 may refer to James'
martyrdom.
Purpose: Prepare the
Jews, who were Christians for the approaching fall of
Jerusalem and to prevent apostacy prior
to this destruction (Heb. 2:1-4; 4:1,11; 6:6;
10:23-26). They did migrate to Pella in 69 A.D. and escape.
Numerical pattern
proves Paul wrote the book due to the fact that fourteen
epistles
were written by Paul, not thirteen.
The epistle may have
been intended also for Jews around the world in general,
and
those too at Rome who were soon to see Rome burned and the persecution begin.
Hebrews gives a
complete pattern of the over all plan of God.
The book was written
in Paul's style; same manner of approach.
If Peter had written
it, why didn't he sign it, as none of the Jews were
antagonistic
toward him. Evidently Paul didn't sign
it because the Jews in Palestine
hated
him. Paul was more capable of dealing
with Jewish theology than any other of
the
apostles as he had trained under the feet of Gamaliel. God probably showed him
that the temple was to be
destroyed and along with James' death it appears God led
him
to write it.
CHAPTER 1.
V. 1 - Not normally introduced -- as an
epistle to a local church. Deals with
it
theologically,
no personal touch.
2 - Notice it is considered the
last times. Christ is heir of the
world. Worlds
here
are ages.
3 - "Person" (John
14:8-10). Christ was the perfect
expression of God. He
sustains
the universe, the sacrifice for sins.
4 - Having become -- he was made lower
than angels (Heb. 4:15, Rom. 8:17, Phil.
2:6-9).
6 - John 14:17. First begotten of Spirit
in any sense. First begotten of God
in
the human flesh; coming from God into a human form. There are more to
follow
(Rom. 8:29, Isa. 40:15-17). He was worthy of angel worship as a
human
being.
7 - An expression of divine
energy. God's angels have this power as spiritual
servants.
8 - Forever and ever --
eternally lasting never to end.
9 - Iniquity -- should be
lawlessness. Christ was made head of
the church
(oil
of gladness -- an anointing).
12 - The earth will be changed
(ii Pet. 3).
14 - The angels are our servants.
Notice shall be saved, not already saved.
CHAPTER 2.
V. 1 - There referring to (v. 14 of
chapter 1) the heirs of salvation. The
perse-
cution
setting in on the church would probably cause some to turn away.
2 - Acts 7:53, Gal. 3:19 for word spoken by the angels. Also Deut.
33:2, Ps.
58:17. Transgression and
disobedience. First refers to the
limits we go
beyond;
second, disobedience refers to not fulfilling a duty. See II Peter
2:4. For just recompense for
disobedience. Angels were used as no
man
could
look on God and live.'
3 - We escape -- Paul was referring to
converted Christians. Them that heard
them
-- namely Joshua and Caleb who heard the word and obeyed it. "Them"
also
refers to the Apost1es who received the word from Christ directly.' This
verse
does not prove Paul did not write the book.
4 - God augmented and filled
out the word with signs and wonders (Heb. 12:1,
Mark 16:20).
5 - The world -- the earth will
not be governed by angels.
7 - Christ -- the type of all
humanity, whole human race. Christ the
forerunner.
8 - In God's plan there was
nothing not left subject to Christ, but not yet.
9 - By God's grace Jesus became
the savior of the world. All are not
subject to
Him yet because all are
not converted and Satan is still allowed to work evil.
11 - Implies equality with Christ
as a brother.
13 - Prophecy pertaining to
Christ. (John 10:29; 17:6,9,ll,12). Also refers to
Christians in general.
14 - "Children" means
immature Christians and all mankind in general. "Destroy"
should
be "annul". How does Satan
have power of death? He caused the first
sin
by transgression of God's law, and his influence does the same today.
Christ made it possible
for man to be saved by taking these sins upon himself
and
through the Spirit living as He lived.
15 - All people fear death. "Bondage" -- sin. Perhaps also
human mortality
(Rom. 6:16,23). The instinct of
self-preservation and the unknown.
16 - Angels are merely the
ministering servants, not heirs.
17 - Heb. 4:14-16. Christ understands our problems. Christ by learning as a
lowly
human could have a more direct feeling and compassion for humanity.
Shows this was necessary for God's
plan.
CHAPTER 3.
V. 1 - Our calling is a calling from
heaven, not going to heaven. Christ an
apostle
-- one bearing authority.
2 - "Appointed" --
note church government.
4 - Moses was merely an
instrument. Christ created the people and directs the
Holy Spirit to build the
spiritual house.
6 - The Church
of God is the house of God.
Eph. 2:21.
9 - Putting God to an
unnecessary trial and test. See
Christ's example in Matt.
4:4 when he would not jump
from the pinnacle.
10 - God has ways.
11 - Obedience leads to the rest
-- millennium, eternal life.
12 - Beware lest we fall from the
living God, not Catholic idols.
14 - Gal. 2:20. Christ living in us.
16 - Persecution was going to
start. They must remain in the bond of
obedience
and
love.
19 - They could not enter because
of unbelief and disobedience. One and
the same
(James 2:17,20).
CHAPTER 4.
V.
1 - Num. 14:22-23. Israelites
(Ex. 15:33, Nun. 15:33) were
not allowed to enter
Canaan because
they disobeyed God and broke the Sabbath.
The rest spoken of
here
is eternal life, the millennium, the Kingdom
of God.
2 - Hearing and believing are two
different things. Rest -- katapausis -- a
place
of resting down. Both Judah and Israel disobeyed God by Sabbath
breaking.
Ezek. 20 shows the punishment that came upon them. Lev. 26, Deut.
28 shows
the seven times punishment. Nehemiah 13:15. They even profaned it
after
the captivity.
6-7 - "Unbelief" --
disobedience. Not keeping the Sabbath.
8 - It is the duty for God's people to
keep the Sabbath. Not keeping it means
being
cut off. "Rest" here means
spiritual rest.
9 - "Rest" -- sabbatismos -- a sabbath rest,
Sabbath keeping. First rest in
promised
land is a type of Kingdom. Second rest -- the seventh millennium
and
the Kingdom of God.
10 - We are to rest on the seventh day
the same way God did.
12 - The word of God is active,
living, it has meaning. It pierces
into your
whole
being. It divides your soul, (law of
sin and death) and spirit (mind
of
Christ). It puts them to war and it
discerns the evil mind of man.
(Jer.
17:9.)
13 - God knows all things. We can't get
around Him on any point.
15 - Infirmity -- physical as well as
spiritual weakness. He was tempted in every
way
(I Cor. 10:13). Christ found that way of escape because He
prayed
(Luke 6:12).
16 - Don't be bashful. Christ
knows exactly what we go through.
CHAPTER 5.
V. 1- Remember that the Jews still had
the priesthood. The Levites were chosen
by God, not by
man. They were an example to the people in that they had to
acknowledge
their own sins first.
2 - These physical priests were also
sympathetic to the congregation understanding
that
all sin.
4 - God does the absolute choosing.
Any not called by God are false ministers.
Only God appoints
priests.
5 - Even Christ was not a
self-appointed minister. Paul quotes the Old Testament
to
prove this.
6 - "Order" is
better translated 'rank of", or "likeness of".
7 - Matt. 26:39. Christ was
severely tried during His life. Panin has,
"could
have
saved Him from death." He
suffered and was tempted more than any
of us.
8 - As the physical priesthood learned, so did
Christ when He was in the flesh.
He went through physical and emotional
agony, even sweated blood and learned
obedience.
9 - In order to be saved we must obey Him. As
the physical priesthood learned.
and was
appointed, even so did Christ. He was
heard because of His Godly fear.
11 - Hebrews may have become a little
lukewarm.
12 - The mother church even had slipped
enough to be taught the very basics again.
Note:
"Milk" is alluded to as being good.
14 - By using and exercising, we do learn
the right way.
CHAPTER 6.
V.
1 - "Perfection" -- maturity. Which is far beyond basic
doctrine -- take strong
meat
-- not milk.
2 - "Baptisms" -- note the
plurality. Meaning, of course, the
initial baptism
in water and the baptism
with the Holy Spirit and being brought into the
church. "laying on of
hands" -- a church doctrine.
"Eternal judgment" --
either
to eternal life or death. (1) Repent
and be baptized, (2) Faith --
Christ in you, (3)
Baptisms (I Cor. 12:13,27), (4) laying on of hands, (5)
Resurrection, (6) God is
the judge.
3 - It is God who decides (Phil. 2:13).
4 - A stern warning against those in the
church who may fall away. The vague
idea we have now
is enough to commit us on the dangerous stand. This is the
rejection of the way of
God -- willful rejection after their minds had been
opened. They had received the Holy Spirit.
6 - Heb. 10:26, Matt. 12:31-32. It seems to be a law -- they reject the
only
channel
of being saved.
7 - Receiving of the Holy Spirit must
lead to fruit. We must produce fruit
or
we
will be burned in gehenna.
8 - Thorns and thistles are burned up
(Mal. 4, Matt. 3:30-12, Luke 3:16-17).
11-12 - Keep it up -- don't bog down.
We must have faith and patience our whole
lives,
enduring to the end.
16 - In every dispute of men, if
they have performed an oath, the oath is the
deciding
factor.
19 - Col. 1:27. Christ in us is
the hope of glory. That we know Christ is there
as
the priest bearing our supplication.
CHAPTER 7.
V. 1 - Now who was Melchisedec? Gen. 14:18-20. Notice Abraham. Meichisedec
brought
forth
bread and wine.
2 - Abraham paid tithes to
Him. King of Righteousness. There is no man that is
righteous
(Ps. 119:172, Rom. 3:10). This cannot refer to a man. "Salem" --
"King of Peace",
King of Jerusalem. He was
never. Ezek. 28:15.
3 - Ezra 2:62. It was part of His reconciliation as High
Priest to die
temporarily. Born but self-existent.' Not an angel either (Heb. 1:7, Ps.
104:4).
4 - Christ manifested Himself as a man
during various times (Gen. 18).
5 - Three tithings:
(1) Melchisedec tithes, (2) Levitical
priesthood, (3) the
New Testament
dispensation. Tithing is a law set in
motion from the beginning.
6 - Christ, the eternal had no descent.
8 - He lives; one of God's names -- Christ --
is Yahweh, which means eternal or
self-existent.
9 - The Levites were not excluded from tithing,
nor are God's priests today during
this
New Testament dispensation.
10 - He (Levi) was yet in
Abraham's loins when Christ met him.
11 - "Perfection" spiritual maturity. The law that pertains to tithing.
12 - The "law" . of tithing.' The law was
not done away with. This also could take
in
the law regarding the whole priesthood.
13 - According to the Levitical law, Christ could not become a priest or
receive
tithes,
but the law was changed.
14 - Judah did not have the right to become a priest, but Christ
did because he was God.
17 - Christ's claim is not from a
physical genealogy, but by Himself as Melchisedec.
19 - "The law" -- the
rituals and sacrifices under the Levites. (Heb. 9:15.)
21 - God' s
word infallibly stands.
22 - I Tim. 6:16. Christ alone has immortality.
24 - Surety by acting as our High
Priest.
25 - Makes intercession forever
because He is eternal.
27 - This is proof that Christ is
spoken of as Melchisedec.
28 - The oath was to His son to be
the High Priest.
CHAPTER 8.
("The New Covenant")
V. 1 - The main thing is that we have
such a High Priest.
2 - A High Priest in direct
contact.
4 - The Levitical
Priesthood existed until 70 A.D. "Gifts" -- tithes and sac-
rifices.
5 - Type of God's throne in
heaven and His spiritual work.
6 - The same law (ten
commandments) but better promises.
7 - The people were the
"fault" of the Old Covenant.
10 - This process began in 31
A.D., and it is not yet complete. It
is a spiritual
process.
11 - There won't be any preachers
during this great time because people's hearts
will
be right.
13 - It hadn't fully vanished away at that time, and in 70 A.D. the
physical
remnant
of the old was obliterated.
CHAPTER 9.
("Types")
V. 2 - All pictured the heavenly
things.
5 - Angels here even overshadowing
God's throne.
6 - Physical worship that was
accomplished.
7 - Ex. 30:10. Once a year on the Day of Atonement, for
the errors of the people.
8 - Type signified it. Way was
opened when Christ was sacrificed.
10 - The first tabernacle had gifts and
sacrifices that could not perfect. These
gifts,
etc., were the carnal ordinances.
11 - Christ made the Holy Spirit
accessible to man through God's throne.
13 - This was done in various
ceremonies and sacrifices.
14 - Works of death -- human
reason in rebellion to God.
15 - Rom. 6:23. A death had to take place. (Rom. 2:11, Acts
10:34-35) called
and
invited in due time. Rom. 11, Gal. 3:29-- Christ made a will. He had
to
die before it was in force as He had previously made the promises (I Cor.
10:4). Christ died to bring the New
Covenant into effect.
22 - Because the life is in the
blood (Lev. 17:11).
23 - The things in God's plan from
heaven.
26 - The wages of sin is not a
series of deaths or a burning hell. Consummation
of
the ages -- there may be many ages in God's plan.
27 - The normal routine is to die
(Rom. 15:51-- "But we shall not all sleep" --
it
is a change).. "Judgment" --
the normal routine of judgment. I Pet.
4:17 -
Judgment is now upon the
House of God. The carrying out of the
sentence will
not
be until the resurrection. Most men will be tried and tested after the
first
death.
28 - As King of kings and Lord of
lords -- in Him is the resurrection of the dead.
CHAPTER 10.
V. 1 - Law of sacrifices! (First mentioned in Chapter 7.) The ten
commandments
were
not shadows. Sacrifices did not enable
men to receive the Holy Spirit.
Only Christ can do this.
2 - The sacrifices were merely reminders
of Bin.
4 - Only Christ's death can do this.
8 - The law of sacrifices according to
the Levitical Priesthood.
9 - God's will being done in Christ's
body enabled us to be sanctified.
14 - Being sanctified, not already
saved. (Panin,
progressive tense.)
16 - The New Covenant made with Cod's
church today (Jer. 31:33).
18 - No further need for offerings
(physical).
19 - Eph. 2:11-18. We all now have access
to the Holy Spirit.
20 - His sacrifice was accepted directly
by Cod.
22 - Washed by the "water" of
the word.
23 - Each of us is to provoke one
another, remind in a right way.
25 - "ourselves"
-- those in God's church. "The
day approaching" - our physical
death
or Christ's second coming.
26 - Turning from "the
way". Christ only offered Himself once. It applies to us
once
too. If we reject the only means of repentance we are doomed! Heb.
6:4-6. The two ways of rejecting are: First, rejecting the works of God
and
second, rejecting the way. These two
are closely allied into one
unforgivable
sin.
29 - To treat cheaply Christ's sacrifice.
Blasphemy against the Spirit of Grace.
31 - In the sense of judgment.
33 - Reminds them how they
suffered in the past.
36 - How many of us will be
willing to take anything Cod gives us.
38 - God does not like a quitter.
39 - "Soul" -- our
life.
CHAPTER 11. ("The Faith Chapter")
V. 1 - Believing God's word and that He
will do as He promises.
3 - God created matter out of
energy.
4 - Abel understood the symbolism of offering an animal for the coming
sacrifice
of
Christ. "Being dead yet speaketh" -- teaches us a lesson through this.
5 - Translated in two ways --
from precarious circumstances, and "made a change
of
sides for". He knew of the coming
savior.
6 - important
verse. We can't look at Him objectively and materially. Note the
two
conditions necessary.
7 - He knew what God said would come to
pass.
10 - The New Jerusalem -- Abraham
knew of it.
13 - God doesn't fulfill every
promise during this physical life.
14 - They were seeking the Kingdom
of Cod. Rom 4:13, Rom. 8:17.
15 - God will let us go back any time we
want it.
19 - God must have been instructing
them through angels.
25 - Moses had every reason
(humanly speaking) to remain an Egyptian.
26 - I Cor.
10:4. Christ was the God of the Old Testament.
31 - Even the harlot Rahab had faith in the God of Israel.
33-38 - We really have it easy. The world is not worthy of the concern God
has for it.
40 - God gives us His Holy Spirit
now. He wants to train some in a different way
than
the Old Testament prophets.
CHAPTER 12.
V. 1 - Don't get bogged down with
these temporary trials and sins.
2 - There were many times that
Jesus could have turned.
4 - Heb. 5:5-8, Luke 22:38-46. He
suffered more than any of us ever have.
8 - If God doesn't deal with you
directly, He will, through circumstances, make
you
wake up and get on the ball.
9 - Reverence -- reverence the
office God has set in the home. He is in effect
acting
as a priest.
13 - Lift up your hands to God --
bend your knees in prayer, don't waver between
all
kinds of doctrines.
14 - I Thes.
4:7. Holiness comes by God's Holy Spirit being in us.
15 - Bitterness is the result of
not taking punishment like a man.
17 - Warning if we treat our calling cheaply and allow
it to fall by bitterness
we
will lose eternal inheritance.
19 - As awesome as this was -- in a
physical sense -- our reverence should be even
greater
because of the spiritual dispensation.
22 - The resurrected Christians --
the Church.
23 - General assembly and firstborn
-- God's Church (James 1:18) of the
firstfruits.
Perfected spirits -- minds
of men made just.
24 - Shows how much greater the New
Covenant is.
26 - God is really going to show
His power (II Pet. 3:10). When
God isn't obeyed,
how
much more impressive will it be when all the incorrigibles are liquidated.
28 - The fear of the ~rd is the
beginning of wisdom (Pro. 1:7).
CHAPTER 13.
V.
2 - Acts12:15.
On various occasions God sends angels in the form of men.
4 - God holds intercourse as a Holy
thing in His eyes in marriage.
5 - I Tim. 6:10. Seek God first.
Material gain comes later.
7 - Church government. Paul admonished
them to imitate their leaders. Many
were
martyred in faith.
9 - Don't be changed from the
truth (Eph. 4:14-15).
10 - The spiritual altar. God's
spirit is everything.
14 - The truth is not based upon
worldly concepts.
16 - Rom. 2:13, Rom. 12:1, I Pet. 2:9. We don't have to sacrifice
physical things
to
God anymore, but we can sacrifice physical things to help others in need.
17 - Don't resist God's ministers
-- don't make it hard on them, help them to
understand
your problems.
18 - Pray for the ministers.
19 - Paul wanted to come to Jerusalem once more.
23 - Paul had confidence that he
would come with Timothy. Timothy was with him.
Written from Italy, so it seems to indicate Paul had just been released and
was
still in Italy.
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