Lesson One
In Community with Jesus Christ
What is Hebrews?
Though this is called The Epistle to the Hebrews (meaning a letter to the Hebrews), it is in actuality, a sermon. It is structured so as to move between teaching and convicting.
To Whom Was this Written?
It was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling with their faith in Jesus Christ.
Why Were They Struggling?
The problem which Hebrews addresses is that many Jewish Christians were leaving the church and returning to Judaism. They were returning for two reasons. The first reason was because the Church had entered into a time of persecution (which means Hebrews was written sometime after 64 CE when Nero began the first Christian persecutions) while the synagogue and its Jewish adherents were still protected by Roman Law. The second reason Jews were leaving was the theological issue which the persecutions raised.
The theological issue was, how could Christianity be the culmination of Judaism’s quest for the Kingdom of God, when rather than finding freedom, its adherents were finding persecution and death? In the Old Testament, persecution came about because of unfaithfulness. Faithfulness resulted in blessing. The writer of Hebrews then had to explain, to his Jewish audience how the new Jesus way was superior to the old Jewish way, in such a way as to offer hope in the midst of increasingly difficult times.
The Place of Jesus in the Letter:
Hebrews 1:1-4: In this passage we learn several things about Jesus.
First, he is the Son, heir and co-creator of the world. This reflects the Johannine view of Jesus that everything that was made was made through Jesus, the Word (John 1:3) and that he is the Son (John 3:16) to whom God gives everything (John 14:8-11). This means that there is an intimate relationship between Jesus and God that no other human being can possess and that God had given the salvation and care of creation to Jesus.
Second, we see that he is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being. This once again echoes the language of John 1 when we learn that the Word was God. This also reflects Paul’s language in Philippians 2, where we read that Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be held to firmly.
He is also the one who made purification for sins, which is a priestly reference.
Hebrews 4:15-5:6: This passage turns us to Jesus as priest…as the ultimate priest.
All other priests were human and so on an annual basis had to be forgiven by God. Jesus on the other hand does not need to be forgiven because he was sinless. Even so, he had an intimate connection with humanity because he was tempted…even if he did not give in.
Melchizedek, as the study book tells us, was a mysterious figure who is only mentioned here, in Genesis 14:18-20 and in Psalm 110:4. Tradition tells us that because Melchizedek is not mentioned as having been born or having died, then he is the eternal priest. He is a “type” after which Jesus is modeled.
Questions
Though this is called The Epistle to the Hebrews (meaning a letter to the Hebrews), it is in actuality, a sermon. It is structured so as to move between teaching and convicting.
To Whom Was this Written?
It was written to Jewish Christians who were struggling with their faith in Jesus Christ.
Why Were They Struggling?
The problem which Hebrews addresses is that many Jewish Christians were leaving the church and returning to Judaism. They were returning for two reasons. The first reason was because the Church had entered into a time of persecution (which means Hebrews was written sometime after 64 CE when Nero began the first Christian persecutions) while the synagogue and its Jewish adherents were still protected by Roman Law. The second reason Jews were leaving was the theological issue which the persecutions raised.
The theological issue was, how could Christianity be the culmination of Judaism’s quest for the Kingdom of God, when rather than finding freedom, its adherents were finding persecution and death? In the Old Testament, persecution came about because of unfaithfulness. Faithfulness resulted in blessing. The writer of Hebrews then had to explain, to his Jewish audience how the new Jesus way was superior to the old Jewish way, in such a way as to offer hope in the midst of increasingly difficult times.
The Place of Jesus in the Letter:
Hebrews 1:1-4: In this passage we learn several things about Jesus.
First, he is the Son, heir and co-creator of the world. This reflects the Johannine view of Jesus that everything that was made was made through Jesus, the Word (John 1:3) and that he is the Son (John 3:16) to whom God gives everything (John 14:8-11). This means that there is an intimate relationship between Jesus and God that no other human being can possess and that God had given the salvation and care of creation to Jesus.
Second, we see that he is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being. This once again echoes the language of John 1 when we learn that the Word was God. This also reflects Paul’s language in Philippians 2, where we read that Jesus did not count equality with God as something to be held to firmly.
He is also the one who made purification for sins, which is a priestly reference.
Hebrews 4:15-5:6: This passage turns us to Jesus as priest…as the ultimate priest.
All other priests were human and so on an annual basis had to be forgiven by God. Jesus on the other hand does not need to be forgiven because he was sinless. Even so, he had an intimate connection with humanity because he was tempted…even if he did not give in.
Melchizedek, as the study book tells us, was a mysterious figure who is only mentioned here, in Genesis 14:18-20 and in Psalm 110:4. Tradition tells us that because Melchizedek is not mentioned as having been born or having died, then he is the eternal priest. He is a “type” after which Jesus is modeled.
Questions
- What initially interested you about Hebrews, or caused you to want to study this book?
- Which of the names/image of Jesus is most meaningful/important to you? Why?
- Which of the names/images of Jesus is most confusing to you? Why?
- When did you first learn about Jesus and what was the image of Jesus that was offered to you?
- What role has Jesus played in your life?
