Hebrews in Biblical History

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What is Hebrews?
EPISTLE TO THE HE'BREWS
was written about the years 62 to 64 in Italy, Heb 13:24, and addressed to the believing Jews of Palestine and the East. The design of the author was not, primarily, to make new converts or to console old ones, but to guard them against apostasy and to strengthen their faith by an exhibition of the evidence in favor of the pre-eminence of the religion of Christ over that of Moses, One gets the impression of peculiar temptations to apostasy or a weakening in the faith against which the Hebrew Christians are continually warned in the Epistle, ch. Ruth 2:1; Song of Solomon 4:1, Song 4:14; Ezr 10:23. The Epistle at once exhibits the unity and the characteristic difference of the Old and the New Testament economy and revelation. Both were alike of divine origin, Heb 1:1-2, but the former was imperfect and defective, chs. Heb 8:6-7; Dan 10:1. This is proved by an extended consideration of the character of Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, and of the mediators (Moses and Aaron) of the old covenant, and by a consideration of the prophecy of Jeremiah concerning a new covenant, ch. Neh 10:16, and its spiritual character, chs. Heb 9-10. In the comparison thus instituted we discover a marked contrast between the old and new covenants, so far as both their nature and their founders are concerned. The Epistle exhibits the person of Christ, the Author of the new covenant, as superior in dignity to the angels, ch. Heb 1, and proves it by the O.T. itself. Christ was the very brightness of God's glory and the express image of his person, ch. John 1:3. Therefore the conclusion is drawn that the revelation made by him is of greater authority than that made by angels, which was accepted, ch. Gen 2:2. He is then represented as of superior dignity to Moses, ch, Heb 3:3, and as our High Priest, ch. Dan 3:1, who belongs to the order of Melchisedek, ch. Heb 5:16; Heb 7:21. In order to perform the high priestly functions, it was necessary for him to endure the sufferings and temptations incident to the humanity he intended to save, Heb 2:17; Gal 4:15; 1 Kgs 12:2, and to assume human nature, ch. Num 2:14. He thus becomes the Author of salvation, ch. Heb 5:9, by the shedding of his blood, Gal 2:9; Heb 9:12. The superiority of his high priesthood is shown not only by his super-angelic nature, but in his freedom from sin, Gal 4:15; Heb 7:27, The Aaronic priests were sinful, Heb 7:28. Christ has thus purchased an eternal salvation for all who believe in him in a View of Hebron fiom the South. (After Photograph by Bonfils.) Mount Hermon, with Ruins of an Ancient Temple. (After Photograph by Good.) special sense, ch. Heb 7:25, and for every man, ch. Gal 2:9, He has entered into the holy of holies, the divine presence, and is seated on the right hand of God. Eze 10:12. The latter part of the Epistle is taken up with practical exhortations and a profound definition and telling illustration of faith, ch. Heb 11, The apostle thus establishes, by a remarkably clear and lucid argument, the divine yet temporary character of the old revelation and the super-eminent dignity of the High Priest, Christ, whose manifestation is "the better thing" which God has provided for us, Heb 11:40. The Epistle corroborates the divine origin of the old covenant, and at the same time is calculated to reconcile the Jew to the destruction of his temple, the loss of his priesthood, the abolition of his sacrifices, the devastation of his country, and the extinction of his name, because it exhibits a nobler temple, a better priesthood, a more perfect sacrifice, a heavenly inheritance, and a more durable memorial. The authorship of this anonymous Epistle is a matter of dispute; some ascribe it to Paul, who for special reasons concealed his name, others to Luke or Barnabas, or to Apollos. It was certainly inspired by the genius of Paul, and may have been written by him in Hebrew and translated or reproduced in its present Greek form by Luke or some other disciple of the great apostle of the Gentiles. This hypothesis would account for the difference of style as well as the unity of sentiment.

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Schaff, Philip, Dr. "Biblical Definition for 'hebrews' in Schaffs Bible Dictionary".
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