The
Epistle to the Hebrews is a book in the
New Testament of the
Christian Bible.
Authorship. A considerable variety of opinions on
this subject has been advanced from the earliest times.
From around 400 A.D. to 1600 A.D, the author was traditionally
considered to be Paul. However,
the epistle makes no internal claim of authorship, which is
inconsistent with the rest of Paul's epistles. Also, while many of the letter's ideas are Pauline, the writing style is substantially different than that of Paul's epistles.
In addition to Paul, some have suggested Paul's companion Silas,
Pope Clement I, Luke, or some unknown Alexandrian Christian.
Two leading candidates are Barnabas, first suggested around
300 A.D, or Apollos, first suggested by Martin Luther.
Modern scholarship has reached no strong consensus.
The letter has, however, always been accepted as part of the New Testament canon.
It was most likely written before the
destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.[?] because the
text refers to temple practices in the present
tense (13:10).
Initial text from Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897 -- Please update as needed
To whom addressed.
Plainly it was intended for Jewish converts to Christianity, probably for the church at Jerusalem.
Its design was to show the true end and meaning of the
Mosaic system, and its symbolical and transient character. It
proves that the Levitical priesthood was a "shadow" of that of
Christ, and that the legal sacrifices prefigured the great and
all-perfect sacrifice he offered for us. It explains that the
gospel was designed, not to modify the law of Moses, but to
supersede and abolish it. Its teaching was fitted, as it was
designed, to check that tendency to apostatize from Christianity
and to return to Judaism which now showed itself among certain
Jewish Christians. The supreme authority and the transcendent
glory of the gospel are clearly set forth, and in such a way as
to strengthen and confirm their allegiance to Christ.
It consists of two parts: (a) doctrinal (1-10:18), (b)
and practical (10:19-ch. 13). There are found in it many
references to portions of the Old Testament. It has been regarded
as a treatise supplementary to the Epistles to the Romans and
Galatians, and as a kind of commentary on the book of
Leviticus and Temple worship in general. Its constant reference to Temple worship has been used to date the epistle before the destruction of the Temple (A.D. 70), but that is not conclusive.
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