The slogan of hebrews could well be, building better things through the blood of jesus. Superior or more excellent kjv is diaphoros, which can mean varying, but in this instance means different in a surpassing way. These folks knew about angels, the old testament heroes, the devil, and moses tabernacle, but someone thought they needed to know a little more. A friend and i recently read out loud through the book of hebrews using the books of the bible i can definitely recommend this way of experiencing the bible. This word choice suggests that the audience was facing public or official.
Hebrews uses old testament quotations interpreted in light of first century rabbinical judaism. Better than everything an introduction to the epistle to the hebrews. Hebrews could be called the book of better things since the two greek words for better and superior occur 15 times in the letter. The dupont company had a slogan, building better things through chemistry.
The early church father clement quoted from the book of hebrews in a. Hebrews is a book of better things and here we find that christ has entered into a better priesthood. Hebrews is one of the most significant books in the new testament for understanding the relationship between the old and new covenants. There is anonymity of both author and recipients because these details are not included in the text of the letter.
Better is a key word that occurs thirteen times in this book, emphasizing the central thesis of hebrews that the way of jesus christ is so much better. When one understands this, things become less complicated and much. Epistle to hebrews study a better covenant messianic. A striking feature of this presentation of the gospel is the unique manner in which the author employs expositions of eight specific passages of the ot scriptures. Barring a major upset to a political party and a financial miracle that this nation doesnt collapse financially under the weight of its massive debt which would send this nation into crisis mode, christians in the united states might very well. The book of hebrews offers many exhortations to encourage us to do certain things. Here a tapestry is unfolded, depicting great examples of faith from the record of old testament heroes. The son of god is better than angels, priests, old testament leaders, or any religion. Aug 31, 2016 the book of hebrews is a long list of reasons to cling to jesus.
All scripture is quoted from the king james version unless otherwise noted. Hebrews chapter one tells us that jesus christ is made much greater than the angels, and it explains the relationship the angels have with christ,that they are ministering spirits sent to minister to those who have inherited the kingdom of heaven. The is the apostle and high priest of something specificour confession. The book of hebrews ties together the old and new testaments better than any other in the new testament. The writer of the book of hebrews also uses the word rest katapausis in the sense of a future relationship with god saying, we who have believed do enter that rest hebrews 4. The whole book of hebrews negates that idea and supports what paul says in galatians 3. The book calls itself a word of exhortation, and this was a common way to refer to sermons hebrews. Whoever wrote hebrews appears not to have been an apostle of jesus. The book of hebrews trinity evangelical divinity school. Jun 15, 2008 some of the ancient and most foundational concepts of our faith can be difficult to understand.
In this 10session, versebyverse study of the book of hebrews, jen wilkin explores how god provided something better for us in the person of jesus christ heb. The book of hebrews is thought of as more elaborate and refined than all of the books in the new testament. No better answer is given in perhaps all the bible than in the great eleventh chapter of the book of hebrews. It lists many men and women who showed faith in god and his promise. This is a verse by verse study of the book of hebrews in outline form. The epistle to the hebrews has suffered from anonymity. Neglecting our great salvation the writer of hebrews gives ample encouragement to believers, but there are five solemn warnings. Jesus is greater, so hold fast to him overviewbible.
Hebrews is the better book, about our surpassing savior hebrews 1. Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry new. An american translation, clementson, goodspeed, interlinear greekenglish new. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. The supremacy of gods son long ago, at many times and in many ways, god spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. In this letter, the two greeks words for better and superior occur 15 times. There are 7 better things listed in the book of hebrews see notes. Better the book of hebrews can be called the better book of the new. The book of hebrews, youll discover the power of being inseparably linked with the historic, living savior, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I would argue that the glory of god as revealed in jesus christ is the gravitational center of the book of hebrews. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. These puzzles can be used freely in church bulletins, etc.
But not only is jesus better than any other human religious. This verse opened the eyes of augustine, and helped him to become a mighty man of faith, and it is. He also appears to have been one to whom the apostles had confirmed the lords word. Hebrews the book of better things by bill britton dedicated to helen, cindy, and all the other wonderful young people who have labored so faithfully with us to help get this message out. The book of hebrews presents christ as gods full and final revelation. Atonement is the primary way of understanding right relationship with god in the book of hebrews. Hebrews 1 commentary new testament matthew henry st. Lecture 1 of 4 released 101520 in the first lecture of this fourpart series on the book of hebrews, dr. Only through christs life and death can we, or those faithful mentioned in hebrews 11, receive the promise.
And he offers no manner of greeting, such as is usually found at. Hebrews reminds to have faith, repent and trust god, father, son and holy spirit. She is also the author of women of the word, none like him, in his image, sermon on the mount bible study, 1. The foundations of christianitythe jewish sacrificial systemthe power of jesusjesus as high. New testament and second temple judaism scholar eric mason argues that the conceptual background of the priestly christology of the epistle to the hebrews closely parallels presentations of the messianic priest and melchizedek in the qumran scrolls. I loved the way the study was done, we had a large group time of teaching the next weeks background for 45 minutes and then a small group time going over homework etc. The whole central section of hebrews is built around the idea of jesus death providing an atoning sacrifice that secures right relationship with god.
In a logical argument, the author demonstrates christs superiority, then adds practical instructions for following jesus. Apr 11, 2009 hebrews is one of the most significant books in the new testament for understanding the relationship between the old and new covenants. We need to ask some questions about the book of hebrews. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the. Better the book of hebrews can be called the better book of the new testament. Hebrews was written for christians who had been in the church for a while. The word better occurs some times and apply describes the new covenant in relation to the old. Jul 14, 2015 in fact, the central motif of hebrews is jesus christ is better the words better, more, and greater appear a total of twentyfive times. Higher purpose ministries better a sermon series on. But as we read through hebrews, it seemed to us that it was addressing instead a pre70. Carson looks at the introduction to the book, the significance of the idea of better, and explores old and new testament occurrences of the phrase you are my son. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power. May 02, 2020 regardless of the human hand that held the pen, the holy spirit of god is the divine author of all scripture 2 timothy 3.
Hebrews was a book of the bible i to be honest just hadnt been super interested in diving into. The dupont company has a slogan, building better things through chemistry. The foundations of christianitythe jewish sacrificial systemthe. However, both the authorship and audience are in question. The author does not identify himself or those addressed, which letter writers normally did. I believe that a study of the book of hebrews may be the next step for us as a church as we seek to grow in our desire for greater intimacy with christ, greater faith, and bolder acts of service. When god ordains men to act in the priesthood on behalf of other men, he knows that those priests are also weak, sinful, and infirm, and need an offering for their own sins. How many better words are there in the book of hebrews. In great castles, dark tapestries hang on musty walls to portray the exploits of great knights and lords from long ago, preserving. Political forces are at work in the united states much like they have been in europe. From the first records of the christian church, its origins and who wrote it have been contemplated.
Some of the ancient and most foundational concepts of our faith can be difficult to understand. Intro to hebrews biblica the international bible society. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of hebrews, and the following are five of the best. The book of hebrews is a long list of reasons to cling to jesus. Hebrews pictures jesus as better than the angels, as bringing better lives to. Hebrews is one of the three new testament commentaries on a single old testament verse. The book of hebrews boldly proclaims the superiority of jesus christ and christianity over other religions, including judaism. Your introduction says that the recipients of this letter seem to have lived in italy. The association of barnabas with the book of hebrews may be because he was described as a son of encouragement, and hebrews.
Apr, 2016 no better answer is given in perhaps all the bible than in the great eleventh chapter of the book of hebrews. This was the challenge that faced the author of the book of hebrews. Jan 02, 2020 no other book so eloquently defines christ as high priest of christianity, superior to the aaronic priesthood, and the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Oct 22, 2012 hebrews is the better book, about our surpassing savior hebrews 1. Hebrews is the better book of our surpassing savior. The entire theme of the epistle is built around the word better, which is used in a series of comparisons to show how gods revelation in messiah yeshua christ jesus is superior to the revelation that came through the law, especially as the law was applied through the levitical priesthood. T he 11 th chapter of hebrews is known as the hall of faith in the bible. Christ, the sinless one, is our only valid representative before the throne of god.
May 30, 2014 the book of hebrews is thought of as more elaborate and refined than all of the books in the new testament. The term kreitton literally, more excellent or better permeates the book. This wonderful chapter is an example to us on how we can, and should, have faith in god as well. Better is a good title for the book since the author to hebrews uses the word better times as he compares the christianity to the old way of living and as he compares jesus christ to the patriarchs, the prophets, the angels, the priests, and everything else. The book of hebrews has a relation to what i call the fullness of the gospel, the disclosure of gods final doctrinal revelation to man which paul called the mystery. Clement of alexandria suggests that paul wrote the book originally in hebrew and that luke translated it into greek, though the greek of hebrews bears no resemblance to translation greek e.
Hebrews shows us that the bible is not a collection of unrelated stories. Looking to grow in your understanding of the book of hebrews. Walking thru the bible hebrews introduction the 21 new testament. By dying on the cross and rising from the dead, jesus guarantees believers salvation and eternal life jesus serves as our mediator to the father. This discussion may be technical, but it is important. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book. The word redemption introduced a new set of ideas in the context. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. Last week, we were challenged to think of our lord in much greater terms greater in power, in majesty, in love and mercy and grace. Hebrews 1 new american bible revised edition nabre i.
But as we read through hebrews, it seemed to us that it was addressing instead a pre70 a. Regardless of the human hand that held the pen, the holy spirit of god is the divine author of all scripture 2 timothy 3. No other book so eloquently defines christ as high priest of christianity, superior to the aaronic priesthood, and the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Jen wilkins newest study will help you dig into hebrews with new insights and applications.
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