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TOM · The Owner's Manual · New Testament

Hebrews 1

Before you read Hebrews: who, when, why

BOOK 58 OF 66 · NEW TESTAMENT · LETTER

Something Better

AUTHOR
Unknown. The letter never names its writer. Origen, about AD 240, said only God knows. See The Big Question pages.
WRITTEN FROM
Unknown. Those from Italy send you greetings, 13:24, so maybe Italy, or Italians living somewhere else.
DATE WRITTEN
Most likely about AD 60 to 69, while the temple sacrifices were still going on, 10:1 to 2. Some date it about AD 80 to 90.
WRITTEN TO
Believers in Jesus with a Jewish background, maybe in Rome or Jerusalem, who were tempted to go back to the old ways.
WHY HE WROTE
To show that Jesus is better than everything that came before Him, and to beg them not to drift away.
KEY VERSE
Hebrews 12:2. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
THE OLDEST COPY OF HEBREWS

The Oldest Copy of Hebrews

This is a page of Papyrus 46, a book of Paul's letters copied in Egypt about AD 200. At the top are the last words of Romans, and Quartus our brother, Romans 16:23. Under them is the title, To Hebrews, and the letter begins: On many past occasions and in many different ways, 1:1. A few lines down is the rare Greek word for radiance, 1:3. The page runs to about 1:7. Public domain.

The Setting

Hebrews reads like a sermon with a short note at the end; the writer calls it a word of encouragement, 13:22. His readers had a Jewish background and had already suffered for Jesus. They lost property, and some went to prison, 10:32 to 34. Now years had passed. Jesus had not come back yet, some were skipping church, and the temple in Jerusalem, with its priests and sacrifices, still looked solid. Going back must have looked easy. So the writer walks through the Old Testament, the angels, Moses, the priests and the sacrifices, and shows that Jesus is better than all of it.

What Was Going Wrong

  • Drifting. Slowly sliding away from the faith, 2:1 and 3:12.
  • Slow Learners. They should have been teachers, but still needed milk, 5:11 to 12.
  • Skipping Church. Some had stopped meeting together, 10:25.
  • Pressure. Insults, lost property and prison, 10:32 to 34 and 13:3.
  • Going Back. The pull of the old system of priests, food rules and sacrifices, 13:9 to 13.

Where to Find Jesus

  • Hebrews 1:3. The radiance of God's glory, who sat down at His right hand. Psalm 110:1.
  • Hebrews 4:15. A High Priest who was tempted in every way like us, yet without sin.
  • Hebrews 7:17. A priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4.
  • Hebrews 10:12. One sacrifice for sins for all time, then He sat down.

Cool Stuff Most People Miss

  • Seven Quotes in A Row. Chapter 1 strings together seven Old Testament quotes to show the Son is greater than the angels.
  • A King Named Righteous. Melchizedek means king of righteousness, and Salem means peace, 7:2.
  • The Hall of Faith. Chapter 11 names 16 heroes of faith and points to many more.
  • No Name. The writer never says who he is. People have been guessing for 1,800 years.

What Happened Next?

We do not know how the first readers answered. Within a few years, in AD 70, the Roman army burned the temple, and the sacrifices stopped for good, just as Hebrews said the old system was ready to vanish, 8:13. The church kept Hebrews and read it as Scripture, even while it argued about who wrote it.

Chapter 1 in 30 seconds

God used to speak in bits and pieces through the prophets. Now He has spoken through His Son, who made the universe and holds it together. Angels? They are great, but they are servants. The writer proves it with seven Old Testament quotes in a row, the ancient version of showing the receipts.

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The Supremacy of the Son// Colossians 1:15–23

1On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.

  • HEB 1:1[NOTE]WHO WROTE IT? The letter never says. See the two Big Question pages, Who Wrote Hebrews?

3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs. 5For to which of the angels did God ever say:

  • HEB 1:3[FULFILLS]David's Lord sits at God's right hand until His enemies are His footstool ← PS 110:1
  • HEB 1:3[NOTE]RADIANCE. The Greek word, apaugasma, is rare. The Wisdom of Solomon uses it for Wisdom, the radiance of eternal light, Wisdom of Solomon 7:26. Hebrews says it of the Son. He sat down because His work was finished, Psalm 110:1.

“You are My Son;

today I have become Your Father”?

Or again:

“I will be His Father,

and He will be My Son”?

  • HEB 1:5[FULFILLS]He would be called the Son of God and 3 more ← 2SA 7:14a; 1CH 17:13; PS 2:7; PS 89:26
  • HEB 1:5[NOTE]SEVEN QUOTES. Verses 5 to 13 quote Psalm 2:7, 2 Samuel 7:14, Deuteronomy 32:43, Psalm 104:4, Psalm 45:6 to 7, Psalm 102:25 to 27 and Psalm 110:1. Each one shows the Son is greater than the angels.

6And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says:

“Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

  • HEB 1:6[FULFILLS]The nations would rejoice with God's people and angels would worship Him ← DT 32:43
  • HEB 1:6[FULFILLS]All the heavenly powers are told to worship Him ← PS 97:7MEDIUM
  • HEB 1:6[TEXT]Let all God's angels worship Him follows the Greek Old Testament of Deuteronomy 32:43. Most Hebrew Bibles are shorter there, but a Hebrew copy from Qumran, 4QDeut q, has a similar line.

7Now about the angels He says:

“He makes His angels winds,

His servants flames of fire.”

8But about the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,

and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.

  • HEB 1:8[FULFILLS]'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God' and 2 more ← 2SA 23:3; PS 45:6; IS 32:1

9You have loved righteousness

and hated wickedness;

therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

  • HEB 1:9[FULFILLS]Anointed with the Holy Spirit beyond measure ← PS 45:7

10And:

“In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,

and the heavens are the work of Your hands.

  • HEB 1:10[PROPHECY]The heavens shall perish, but You remain; they shall grow old like a garment → STILL TO COME
  • HEB 1:10[FULFILLS]Messiah identified as the preexistent Son and Creator ← PS 102:25-27

11They will perish, but You remain;

they will all wear out like a garment.

12You will roll them up like a robe;

like a garment they will be changed;

but You remain the same,

and Your years will never end.”

13Yet to which of the angels did God ever say:

“Sit at My right hand

until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”?

  • HEB 1:13[FULFILLS]David's Lord sits at God's right hand until His enemies are His footstool ← PS 110:1

14Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

  • HEB 1:14[MIRACLE]Angels are ministering spirits sent for those who inherit salvation

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