The origin of the term Hebrew is a mystery to scholars, and to many of us, as later use of the words Israelite and Jew add to the confusion. Some believe the word came from a prominent person of the ancient Middle East known as Eber. He was a descendant of Noah the Ark through Shem and an ancestor of Abraham. Eber, literally meaning 'on the other side' may allude to Abraham's departure from Ur, a region east of the Euphrates River.
This possibility harmonizes with the statement made by God to the Hebrew people in Joshua's time. - Joshua 24:3-4 - Of Eber's descendants, Abraham, Nahor and Lot stand out. The genealogical list in Genesis chapter 10 and other passages indicate that Abraham was the ancestor of the Hebrews; Nahor was the ancestor of the Arameans; and Lot was the ancestor of the Moabites and the Ammonites. - Gen, 10:21, 24, 11:14-27 -
There is considerable evidence in the Old Testament that the Hebrews regarded themselves as a composite race. - Deut. 26:5 - In their wandering tribal days and during their early years in Canaan, the Hebrews experienced a mixture of bloods through marriage with surrounding peoples. When Abraham sought a suitable wife for Isaac, he sent to Padan Aram, near Haran, for Rebekah, daughter of the Syrian Bethuel. Jacob found Rachel in the same location. - Gen. 24:10, 25:20, chapter 28 to 29 -
Strains of Egyptian blood also appeared in the family of Joseph through Asenath's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. - Gen. 41:50-52 - Moses had a Midianite wife, Zipporah and an unnamed Ethiopian (Cushite) wife. - Ex. 18:1-7; Num. 12:1 - Although several unanswered questions about the origin of the Hebrews remain, no culture has equaled their contribution to mankind. In a pagan world with many gods, the Hebrews worshiped one supreme, holy God who demanded righteousness in His people. From the Hebrews also sprang Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who gave His life to set us free from the curse of sin.
Epistle/Letter to the Hebrews, the 19th book in the New Testament, is a letter/epistle written by an unknown Christian to tell and show how the Lord Jesus Christ had replaced Judaism as God's perfect revelation of Himself. Hebrews begins with a marvelous tribute to the person of Christ Jesus. The greatness of the incarnate Son of God.
At various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, the Son that he has appointed to inherit everything and through whom he made everything there is. He is the radiant light of God's glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command; and now that he has destroyed the defilement of sin, he has gone to take his place in heaven at the right hand of divine Majesty. So he is now as far above the angels as the title which he has inherited is higher than their own name. - Heb. 1:1-4 -
Throughout the letter/epistle the author weaves warning with doctrine to encourage his faithful and readers to hold fast to the Lord Jesus Christ as the great High Priest of God. The author makes extensive use of the Old Testament quotations and images to tell and show that the Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme revelation of God. Because of its literary style and the careful way it develops its disagreement or argued that the Letter/Epistle to the Hebrews reads more as an essay than a personal letter/epistle.
The question of who wrote this letter/epistle to the Jewish Christians has, unlike the disputes authorship of the pastoral letters, been a subject of debate from the earliest times. Not that its canonical status was often questioned, but up to the end of 4th century the Western Church denied that apostle Paul had written it, and the Eastern Church only affirmed it with many reservations about its literary composition. (Clement of Alexandria; Origen) Its vocabulary and style have a simplicity and a distinction quite uncharacteristic of apostle Paul; the way in which it quotes and uses the Old Testament.
Other than 1 John, the Letter/Epistle to the Hebrews is the only letter/epistle in the New Testament with no greetings or identification of its author. Although the king James Version entitles the books, 'The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.' This title stems from later manuscripts which came to include it. It is doubtful, that apostle Paul wrote Hebrews. However, there has been no shortage of suggestions concerning who the author may have been. The list includes apostle Luke, apostle Priscilla, apostle Aquila, apostle Clement of Rome, apostle Silvanus, and apostle Philip. Perhaps, the two most likely candidates are apostle Apollo and apostle Barnabas. Apostle Apollo because he was an eloquent Alexandrain Jew who knew Sacred Scriptures well - Acts 18:24 - and apostle Barnabas because he was a Levite. - Acts 4:36 - As with the others, however, this suggestions is only a possibility. The author or writer of the epistle/letter remains anonymous.
The repeated use of the Old Testament quotations and images in Hebrews suggests that the people who received this book had a Jewish background. The repeated warnings against spiritual unbelief and disbelief reveal that the readers and the faithful of this epistle/letter were on the verge of renouncing the Christian faith and returning to their former Jewish ways. Negligence in good deeds and sloppy attendance at worship services were evidence of a cooling, in their faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. In an effort to rekindle them of the commitment to Christ Jesus, the author/writer urges the faithfuls and readers not to retreat from persecution, but hasten to the front lines. He calls for a 'new exodus' and tells them not to 'draw back' but to go forth to Him.
In a spirit similar to apostle Stephen's [first Christian martyr] defense before the Jewish Sanhedrin - Acts chapter 7] Hebrews sets out to show that Christianity is superior to Judaism because of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, the Great High Priest, and the author of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ stands as a peak of revelation, superior to angels and Moses. He is the Son of God, the reflection of God's own glory and, indeed, the very character and essence of God. Whatever revelations appeared before the Lord Jesus Christ were but shadows or outlines of what was to appear in Him.
The Lord Jesus Christ is the Great High Priest, whereas earthly or worldly priests inherited their office, Jesus Christ was appointed by the direct call of God. The earthly or worldly priests followed the lineage of Aaron, Jesus Christ, who has no successors, is a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Whereas earthly or worldly priests ministered within temples made with human hands, Jesus Christ ministers within the true sanctuary - the eternal house of God. Whereas earthly or worldly priests offered animal sacrifices for their sins as well as for those of the people, Jesus Christ offered the one perfect sacrifice which never need be offered again - His sinless self.
As the unique Son of God who made the supreme sacrifice of Himself to God, Jesus Christ is described by the author/writer of the book of Hebrews as the "author of their salvation" and the "great Shepherd of the sheep." The Lord Jesus Christ saves His people from sin and death. In Hebrews salvation is called the "rest" of God " - 4:1 - eternal inheritance" - 9:15 - the "Most Holy Place/Holy Sanctuary" - 9:12 - The three emphases - Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Great High Priest, the Savior of the world - are drawn together in one key passage.
Though He was the Son of God, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered, and having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as the Great High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek. In light of Christ's preeminence, the author/writer urges his readers to hold fast to the true confession and endure whatever suffering or reproach is necessary on its behalf.
The author/writer warns that if a person willingly turns away from the Lord Jesus Christ, he and she can no longer be forgiven. The intent of these is to cause Christians to remember the great cost of God's grace and to take their profession of faith reverently and seriously. Two passages in Hebrews often trouble Christians:
As for those people who were once brought into the light, and tasted the gift from heaven, and received a share of the Holy Spirit, and appreciated the good message of God and the powers of the world to come and yet in spite of this have fallen away - it is impossible for them to be renewed a second time. They cannot be repentant if they have willfully crucified the Son of God and openly mocked him. A field that has been well watered by frequent rain, and gives the crops that are wanted by the owners who grew them, is given God's blessing; but one that grows brambles and thistles is abandoned, and practically cursed. It will end by being burnt. - Heb. 6:1-8 -
If, after we have been given knowledge of the truth, we should deliberately commit any sins, then there is no longer any sacrifice for them. There will be left only dreadful prospect of judgment and of the raging fire that is to burn rebels. - Heb. 10:26-27 -
The backbone of this letter/epistle is the finality of the Lord Jesus Christ, for salvation. This wonderful truth is no less urgent for us today than it was for the original readers and faithfuls of Hebrews. The rise of cults, enmities of God, with their deceptive claims of security, is but one example of the many things that appeal for our ultimate loyalty. The Letter/Epistle to the Hebrews reminds us that the "Lord Jesus Christ" is the same yesterday, today, and for ever.
Remember your leaders, who preached the word of God to you, and as you reflect on the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be for ever. Do not let yourselves be led astray by all sorts of strange doctrines; it is better to rely on grace for inner strength than on dietary laws which have done no good to those who kept them. We have our own altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the animals whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for the atonement of sin are burnt outside the camp, and so Jesus too suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people with his own blood. Let us go to him, then, outside the camp, and share his degradation. For there is no eternal city for us in this life but we look for one in the life to come. Through him, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God. - Heb. 13:7-16 -
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Faith . Hope . Love - Welcome donation. Thank You. God bless.
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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 -
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