Theme of Hebrews

Answer 1

* favorably compares the Christian faith to the Old Testament faith.

* exalts Jesus Christ as Lord.
Hebrews was written with a twofold intent:

1. To confirm Jewish Christians by showing that Judaism had come to an end through the fulfillment by Christ of the whole purpose of the law; and

2. The passages of exhortation show that the Writer had in view the danger of Jewish professed believers of either lapsing back into Judaism, or of pausing short of true faith in Jesus Christ.

The key-word is "better." Hebrews is a series of contrasts between the good things of Judaism and the better things of Christ.

Answer 2

AnswerThe author and time of writing for Hebrews are unknown. It was not until around 400 CE that Pauline authorship of Hebrews became widespread in the church, although that opinion was never completely accepted. Apart from the last chapter, which is written in a different style, the Epistle to the Hebrews is not really an epistle. It is more likely to have been a sermon or a primitive, Gnostic catechism.

The book does not mention Jesus as a person who lived on earth, but as a high priest in heaven. In fact, it says that if Jesus had lived on earth he could not have been a high priest. One could say from this that at the time Hebrews was written that the author did not even know or believe that Jesus had ever lived on earth. Perhaps it was a proto-Christian book written before the time Jesus began his mission on earth.

Hebrews tells us that the sacrifice of Jesus once and for all takes away sins. It deals with obedience and worship, but not obedience to or worship according to the Old Testament law, the new. Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians and its overall message was to stay true to Christ and not return to non-Christian Judaism.

Answer 3

Quite commonly, when someone converts from a long-standing religion of one's ancestors, doubt will arise. So it was with these first century converts to Christianity with many second-guessing their move. Hence the Book of Hebrews, usually attributed to the Apostle Paul, a known scholar of Jewish Law and once persecutor of the new found Christian group.

Paul set out to show that this new 'Christianity' called 'the Way' more commonly at the time, was indeed the true successor to Judaism - all Jews practiced Temple sacrifices in Jerusalem. He emphasized Jesus as God's final sacrifice for all mankind's Law breaking as being God's plan. Paul argues via the priesthood, sacrifice, divine redemption and the covenantal promises (see Hebrews 8:8-13; 9:15-22). Paul uses three Old Testament passages to prove his point: Psalm 110:4 announcing the new priesthood providing divine mediation; Psalm 40:6-8 speaks to the new and final sacrifice once and for all which provides divine redemption; and lastly, Jeremiah 31:31-34 and the announcement of the 'new covenant' providing full and final forgiveness. These three points of Paul's shows beyond a doubt the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus, the Christ.

Jesus is all we need as His sacrifice was more than sufficient to take away the sins of the world. He is therefore, all we need to come to God - back then for the Hebrews and today for all mankind.

Answer 4

Christianity is the true successor to Judaism.