Hebrews-Study 1-Overview plus Ch1:1-2

Hebrews Study 1 Hebrews Background and people: The Author- We know for a fact, like all scripture, that the Holy Spirit was the author of Hebrews! Who-a small community of strictly, if not all Hebrew/Jewish people. To completely understand this letter you must understand that the writer is speaking to three segments of believers in this particular church. First and foremost, true, born again believers in Jesus who have intellectually assented to Jesus being the Messiah and who desire to know and walk in the truth. The second group of individuals were people who assented to the fact that Jesus was the Messiah, but struggled with letting the old covenant and ceremonial system behind. The third and last group were individuals who (Hebrews 6:4-6) were enlightened (Greek-photisthentas means to expose and render evident) and tasted (Greek- geusamenous means experienced and participation) of the heavenly gift. These individuals were never truly saved, but they enjoyed the participation of church, attendance and the love amongst the believers. We will deal with this in detail when we get to chapter 6. What- this letter is a treatise of the pre-eminence of Jesus and his sufficiency in all aspects of the new covenant over the old covenant. The author desired this letter to be an encouragement to these Jewish Christians, who were considering going back to traditional Judaistic rituals of the old covenant and them being persecuted which we will delve into deeply, through this study. Where- Most likely they resided in Rome/Italy. It says in Hebrews 13:24 “ those from Italy, send you their greetings.” When-this letter was written somewhere between a AD 64 through 69. Obviously, Titus had not ransacked Jerusalem, which happened in AD 70, since the author speaks in the present tense of the temple and the sacrificial system still functioning. (Hebrews 10:11) Why-to help teach and encourage those who truly were believers and desired to grow, but there was also some correction because they had believed long enough (30 years and into the second generation) but they had not grown in their knowledge of God‘s word and truth. Also, these Jewish Christians were being heavily persecuted by their own people and probably by Gentiles, through the hatred of Christian by Emperor Nero in the mid 60’s AD, too and we’re considering going back to traditional non-Christian Judaism. Also, these believers were probably second generation Christians because they received the gospel by non-apostolic people. The author says that by this time you should be teachers of the word. Read Hebrews 5:11-14 and the fact that it had been 30 years since Pentecost! Main Teaching- The Preeminence of Jesus over all things but in this letter showing Christ’ Supremacy over: Moses, Aaron and the Priesthood, Joshua, Melchizedek , Old Covenant, sacrifices, temple, Angels, Prophets, making Him the ultimate mediator between God the Father and man. Chapter 1 Verse 1 In many different ways- the wording from the Greek is (polytropos) which means variously as to methods and to form. Examples: 1. Abel’s blood that was spilled by Cain , cried out to God from the earth, 2. Abraham’s offering Isaac his only son, 3. Joseph through being sold for silver, going into prison (Jesus death) and being brought out and given an exhaled position next to Pharaoh (God the Father), 4. David through his Psalms, 5. and through those called Judges showing great power and defeating their enemies and finally 6. The actual prophets from Abel to Zechariah. (Matthew 23:34-36. By/Through- the prophets- the word through in the Greek is (en) and means through the instrumentality of. Prophets- the Greek is prophetais, a foreteller and inspired speaker. Verse 2 But in these “last” days- the Greek here for the word last is eschatou. This is where the doctrinal term of Eschatology is derived which is the teaching of the end or last days. His “Son- the Greek is Huios and it means one of like character. Later in Hebrews it will say that Jesus is the express “image” which defines His One-ness with the Father. He “appointed” the Greek (ethenken) means to Establish a double intensity upon “appointed” as the “heir” which means to being appointed as heir. The Greek for heir is (kleronomon) which means to be are as the inheritor and possessor Of “all” the Greek is (panton) which means collectively all things or the whole of all seen or unseen of every kind And “through” whom the word is (di) which means a channel of an act “of whom (Jesus) He “made” - which the Greek word is (epoiesen) which means to cause to be, construct or manufacture the “universe “ the Greek word is (aionas) and it means Age or ages. He created, not only the world and the cosmos we see but perpetuity. The ages heaped upon ages… (Read John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16-17, First Corinthians 8:6 and Hebrews 11:1-3 the Word of God (Jesus) created by faith) Brother Jeff Clay