Epistle In The Book Of Hebrews

Hebrews is a letter that was likely written to Jewish Christians prior to 70 AD, as the author refers to the temple in the present tense. (ESV study Bible) The temple was destroyed in 70 AD; if Hebrews was written after that time, it would be assumed the author would refer to the temple in the past tense. ( ESV study Bible) The writer of the book of Hebrews is unknown, but believed to also be a Christian of Jewish heritage. (ESV study Bible) Some possible authors are Barnabas and Apollos (Serendipity Bible, 1667) Additionally, due to the nature of the writing, multiple sources have noted it is likely the author was a leader within the early Church, specifically over the believers he is addressing. Though there is nothing definitive that Hebrews …show more content…
Epistles are also written for a specific purpose, to clarify teaching, to rebuke, explain, correct false teaching, or to expand on Jesus’ teaching. According to Mel Lawrenz, “Epistles are “occasioned” texts, and so we need to get at the circumstances that led to them being written.”
Whether Hebrews is a letter or a sermon, it was clearly written to a Messianic Jewish audience that was struggling, under persecution, and the “temptation to apostasy or reversion was severe enough that the letter to the Hebrews had to be written to encourage these beleaguered Christians.” (Serendipity Bible, 1667). Due to the audience previously adhering to Jewish beliefs and customs, the author spends a majority of the book affirming the authority and supremacy of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah, the proclaimed one of the Scriptures. Along with identifying who Christ is, the author is urging the believers to remain steadfast, to not surrender their salvation but to press on despite hardships. (ESV …show more content…
(2 Samuel 7:13) Continuing throughout the first half of the book of Hebrews the writer utilizes passages from the Old Testament scriptures to affirm that the person of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the Messiah. The utilization of Old Testament scriptures communicated the message in a means they understood, while also giving authority and validity to the position. “The New Testament writers, evangelists and apostles give no reason to doubt that Jesus is the Messiah, or in New Testament language, the Christ. He came, born of Abrahamic and Davidic lineage.” (Baker 525) The author of Hebrews is trying to convey this confidence in the believers he is addressing by standing upon the authority of the