WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY August 18 In-depth study of Hebrews

Transcription

1 WEDNESDAY NIGHT BIBLE STUDY August 18 In-depth study of Hebrews Hebrews An Overview A book of many different parts historical, pastoral, exhortation and sermon. The author, date and location of writing are not conclusive but can be gleaned from the letter itself, perhaps. Author unknown. Possibly Barnabas, Luke, Apollos, Silvanus, Philip, Priscilla and Aquila, or maybe even Paul. o There is no doubt from the writing that the author was not a first generation Christian (an eyewitness) but heard about Jesus from first generation believers (2:3-4). o Probably lived in atypical Greco-Roman area where cults and cultic worship took place. o Very familiar with Old Testament writings. o Planned to visit the Hebrews soon (13:19, 23) Location unknown. Probably written from the Pauline community of churches in Rome (see 13:22-25 Those from Italy send you greetings. ) Audience unknown. Many scholars believe that the community to whom the letter was written was in Rome. o There were many house churches in Rome that could have been the recipient fo such a letter. o Some external evidence points to Rome as the destination of the letter, notably 1 Clement 36:1-6 which appears to quote the letter. Date unknown. Again from external evidence we believe that it was before AD 100. o Some scholars believe it was written before the destruction of the Temple in AD 70 because some religious and sacrificial ceremonies are mentioned without mention of the Temple s destruction. Hebrews as a sermon. o Hebrews may be better seen as a word of exhortation 13:22. o The writing style makes it appear that the author is speaking to a congregation 2:5 Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. 5:11 about this we have much to say 8:1 the main point of what we are saying is this

2 9:5 Of these things we cannot speak now in detail. o The sentence structure and the use of classical greek would be comparable to our hearing a sermon in the Kings English or in the language of Shakespeare. The Use of Scripture in Hebrews o Hebrews is filled with OT material. o Hebrews uses exhortation an encouragement and exposition an explanation o Six specific quotations are used as encouragement: Psalm 8 (Hebrews 2:6-8) Psalm 95 (Hebrews 3:7-11) Psalm 110 (Hebrews 5:6) Jeremiah 31 (Hebrews 8:8-12) Habakkuk 2 (Hebrews 10:37-38) Proverbs 3 (12:5-6) o One recent commentator said there are thirty-one explicit quotations, four implicit quotes, thirty-seven allusions, nineteen summaries of OT material and thirteen instances of Biblical name or topic with not specific content. o The author uses the Septuagint as his/her main scripture. The LXX (Septuagint) was formed by the Jewish leaders in Alexandria (Egypt). Having the largest population of Jews in the world, and speaking Greek, they needed a Greek translation of the Scriptures. The king asked the high priest to select six scholars from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to work on the translation. According to legend, these 72 scholars produced their work in 72 days. LXX (Septuagint) was a rounded off number. The translators tried to preserve the original Hebrew phrases and meanings but of course, this resulted in some awkward Greek. The entire early Christian church adopted the LXX as their version of the scriptures (OT). o The readers and hearers of Hebrews are expected to know the OT! o The author attempts to bring the OT scripture to life by explaining and expounding upon it. The Christology of Hebrews o This is evident in the first four verses of the letter.

3 o Jesus as a high priest had to be chosen from among the people inorder to sympathize with their weakness and to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward (5:2) o Before, the people were spoken to by the prophets. Now they are spoken to by a Son, Jesus. o Yet, we must be careful not to identify Christianity as over and against Judaism Jesus is the fulfillment of Judaism! Miscellaneous Observations o Watch for connective words such as therefore and since. 2:1; 3:7; 4:1; 6:1; 10:19; 12:1 When you see the word therefore or since, recall the previous argument or exhortation. There is something PRACTICAL coming after the therefore and since statements. o Look also for hookwords that connect sections of Hebrews Angels connects a section (1:1-4) with another (1:5-14) o The author also used the technique of using the same phrase to begin and end a section. The section 1:5-14 begins with For to which of the angels did God ever say and ends in verse 13 with But to which of the angles has he ever said o This letter is written with a very important goal in mind encourage the believers during a time of stress and teach them the importance of not falling away. o As we study the Book of Hebrews, we would do well to understand its message in light of our present day circumstances. o Like The Revelation, Hebrews will foreshadow motifs that will later be revisited repeating and refocusing them for us. Hebrews 1:1-4 The Introduction The entire book can be summed up in the first four verses of Hebrews. o In these verses the author states that Jesus is the focus of God s entire relationship with humanity. o God s revelation to us is not information, it is HIMSELF. We are not saved by information, we are saved by a Savior Jesus Verses 1-2 describe three distinct declarations about Jesus: o God spoke to us through his Son. It used to be that God spoke through prophets, through other humans.

4 This is the first contrast between the old and the new. Even as the old method of speaking through prophets is being changed to a new word from the Son, the author still uses the OT to interpret God s purposes. We can see that each prophet spoke of God in a specific manner: Amos called for social justice; Hosea spoke of God s forgiving love; and Isaiah told of God s holiness. Jesus spoke to everything He was God s revelation of all! o God has appointed him to be heir of all things The inheritance theme is stressed form the very beginning a theme that will be stressed throughout the entire book. o God created the world through Jesus. We see in the OT (Proverbs), wisdom is portrayed as a woman, a woman who describes how she was the Lord s companion during creation in Proverbs 8: Jesus as creator was acceptable thought throughout the NT John 1:3, 10; Romans 11:36; 1 Cor. 8:6; Colossians 1:16 Verse 3 describes Jesus as the reflection and exact imprint of God. o The reflection of God... The Greek word apaugasma (reflection) is found nowhere else in the Bible. Jesus reflects God s glory, glory does not emanate from Him. o The exact imprint This word (Greek character) is not found anywhere else in the NT, but is found only three times in the LXX. o Jesus is the reality and essence of everything that God is. The basic fundamental reality of God is found in Jesus. o Jesus carries out the duties of God upholding the world with His word. o When he had made purification for our sins Jesus earthly career is summed up in this statement. It evokes the scene of the priest who is at the altar making a sacrifice, a purification of the sins of the people. o Then Jesus is enthroned. Verse 3 - and possibly also verse 2 was a hymn. o The use of unusual words like reflection and exact imprint. o The clauses are balanced in the original Greek. o They may have been sung as a part of a worship service Much as Philippians 2:5-11 was used in worship as a hymn. o Using this as a hymn helped remind a struggling congregation of God s redeeming work. Verse 4- a more excellent name.

5 o This comparison with angels begins a new section in Hebrews that will focus on angels and Jesus. The word superior is used at least ten times in Hebrews and is a major theme of the book. o The comparison begins with the fact that Jesus has been given a name Son. Being a Son is more significant, and more valuable than anything else could be. Becoming a child of God is a pretty big deal. But even as Son, Jesus must suffer and die. He is the priest the high priest who brings his people into relationship with God. Thoughts and Insights o With the opening verses of Hebrews we see the difficulty and the beauty of the letter. We understand that its readers must have been educated to understand the connections the author is making. o We must have a basic understanding of scripture, particularly OT, to engage properly with the book of Hebrews. The author is inviting us to willingly become involved in his sermon. o The Letter to the Hebrews is designed to accomplish something. The readers/hearers need confidence and courage to face everyday life. Later (in 6:10) we see that the believers are tiring of doing food things. This letter encourages them and reminds them of who they serve and why they serve. o Knowledge of the OT is presupposed and is used to explain Jesus. The author uses the OT to reveal who Jesus is and raises Him to a position of authority and one who is worthy of worship. We don t toss out the OT! The OT teaches us about Jesus he fulfills promises, he completes the story.