Hebrews is a letter written by an unknown Jewish Christian to show how Jesus Christ had replaced Judaism as God's perfect revelation of Himself. Hebrews begins with a marvelous tribute to the person of Christ and throughout the epistle the author weaves warning with doctrine to encourage them to hold fast to Jesus as the great High Priest of God, Mediator between God and man.

The question of who wrote this letter to Jewish Christians has been a subject of debate from the earliest times. It is ranked with Paul's letters in importance, its doctrine has Pauline overtones and it was written from Italy, perhaps from Rome; but while there may be a strong presumption that his author had come under the influence of Paul, the letter can hardly be attributed to Paul himself.

It is a sustained argument from Old Testament texts to keep Jewish Christians firm under persecution. The title 'to the Hebrews' dates from the 2nd century and is well chosen. The letter clearly assumes not only that its reader are throughout familiar with the Old Covenant but that they are Jewish Christians, perhaps even Jewish priests to judge by the emphasis on public worship and ceremonial.

Having become Christians, they seem to have left Jerusalem and gone for shelter to some coastal town like Caesarea or Antioch. They are tired of exile and think longingly of the splendour of Temple worship and of the part they played in it; their new faith is not very strong and they have not yet properly understood it; persecution discourages them and they are tempted to go back.

This letter was written to them to try to prevent this happening - 10:19-39 -

HEBREWS - (1) Prologue - The greatness of the incarnate Son of God - The Son is Greater than the Angels - Proof from the scriptures - An exhortation - Redemption brought by Christ, not by angels - Chapter 1 to 2 - (2) Jesus the Faithful and Merciful High Priest - Christ higher than Moses - How to reach God's land of rest - The word of God and Christ the priest - Jesus the compassionate high priest - Chapter 3 to 4 - (3) The Authentic Priesthood of Jesus Christ - Christian life and theology - The author explains his intention - Words of hope and encouragement - Chapter 5 to 6 - (4) Christ's Priesthood Higher than Levitical Priesthood - Melchizedek - Melchizedek accepted tithes from Abraham - From levitical priesthood to the priesthood of Melchizedek - The abrogation of the old Law - Christ's priesthood is unchanging - The perfection of the heavenly high priest - Chapter 7 -

(5) The Superiority of the Worship, The Sanctuary and the Mediation provided by Christ the Priest - The new priesthood and the new sanctuary - Christ is the mediator of a greater covenant - Christ enters the heavenly sanctuary - Christ seals the new covenant with his blood - Chapter 8 to 9 - (6) Summary: Christ's Sacrifice Superior to the Sacrifices of the Mosaic Law - The old sacrifices ineffective - The efficacy of Christ's sacrifice - Chapter 10 - (7) Persevering Faith - The Christian opportunity - The danger of apostasy - Motives for perseverance - The exemplary faith of our ancestors - The example of Jesus Christ - God's fatherly instruction - Unfaithfulness is punished - The two covenants - Chapter 10 to 12 - (8) Appendix - Final recommendations - Faithfulness - Obedience to religious leaders - Epilogue - News, good wishes and greetings - Chapter 13 -

In summary : About the way the earliest Christians conceived the harmony of the Old and New Testaments and about the way of understanding the redemptive work of Jesus in terms of God's whole plan of salvation.
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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless. 

By bank transfer/cheque deposit:
Name: Alex Chan Kok Wah
Bank: Public Bank Berhad account no: 4076577113
Country: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -