Hebrews

Introduction

The book of Hebrews differs from other Epistles by based upon a deep understanding of the Old Testament, so assuming that the reader is already familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. He exalts Jesus Christ as Saviour of the world, in contrast with the insufficiency of overcome animal sacrifices. Despite its title, the book is directed also the Israelites and the Gentiles, emphasizing the full sufficiency of Christ's atonement for their sins.

When and by whom it was written

The exact date at which the book was written cannot be stated with certainty, but in its content there is enough evidence to justify that it was between 60 and 69.

Although their original recipients meet the author (13:18) and he was also known for Timothy whom he refers at the end of the book (13:23), his identity is not in the book or other documents preserved from that time. According to philologists he demonstrates excellent mastery of the Greek language that prevailed in the first century after Christ, and his vocabulary indisputably vaster than any other writer of the New Testament, with the exception perhaps of Lucas.

The author was unquestionably Israeli, because their familiarity with the ritual, customs, tradition and Israeli interests, and his mastery of the Scriptures in Hebrew prove it conclusively. The fact that the quotes from the old testament by he made were drawn exclusively from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the 2nd century BC, suggests that he was a Hellenistic born out of the land of Israel, on Israeli diaspora within the Roman Empire, as were Paul, Barnabas and Apollo.

In addition, he was master of the rhetorical style of communication common in Greco-Roman environment of the first century. Their arguments using the three Aristotelian manners of persuasion: ethos (feature based on reputation and character who speaks, but in this case of Jesus, in whom the book focuses on), pathos (appeal based on the emotions, passions and interests of beneficiaries) and logos (a plea for reason and intellect). Unfortunately, some of their stylistic glory is lost in the translation to English: I don't understand your use of alliteration, assonance, irony and criticism, repetition of special words over successive sentences, or the addition and subtraction of conjunctions for greater effect.

This combination of deep understanding Biblical Greek language fluency and powerful rhetorical technique, soaked with the inspiration of the spirit of God, created the perfect combination for the birth of a message always current for the eyes and ears of the Church of Christ throughout the ages. The authorship of Hebrews has been attributed to the Apostle Paul, more than any other person known in the New Testament, from the earliest commentators, and the antiquity of this tradition is the biggest argument in favour of this great apostle.

However, there are specific differences between Jews and the letters that Paul wrote, for example: start each letter giving your name, sign at the end, they contain personal testimonies, claim his apostolic authority and reveal the vibrant emotions. any of your favourite themes such as justification by faith, the distinction between Jews and Gentiles, the freedom of the saved or the resurrection of believers, are mentioned in Hebrews. On the other hand, the major themes of this book, as the Day of Atonement, the high priesthood of Jesus Christ, and the rituals of Leviticus are not addressed in the letters of Paul.

For these reasons, there is no absolute certainty that Paul was the author. Lucas, Barnabas and many others already have been considered, but none of them fit better than Paul. Therefore, we think it advisable to simply accept the fact that the author must remain anonymous, as we received the book. More important is knowing that the book may have been inspired by the Holy Spirit, like all the other books of the Bible.

Its first recipients

The first recipients of the book also are not specified, but the author reveals some circumstances indicative of their identity:

1. Came to faith in Christ through the personal testimony of the Apostles, and other people who had seen and heard in person (2:3).
2. They suffered a variety of persecution because of their faith. Although these have not yet reached the martyrdom (12:4), included public defamation, abuse, prison and confiscation of personal property (10:32 -35). Martyrdom was already planned (13:12 -14).
3. Were sincere believers who had left a group in a particular city (10:25, 13:17 .24) that contained non-believers and apostates, and by inference formed a smaller Church, composed only of true believers are identified by their works and love for the name of Christ (6:9 to 11).
4. The author was possibly in Italy but had a special relationship and had been with them, expressing in his book hope to be refunded (13:19). In addition, declared his interest in the release of their colleague Timothy (13:23).

Among the main groups to whom the book could be originally written (Gentile Christians, Jews, Christians, a church containing Jews and Gentiles), the content of the book and those circumstances seem to point to a group of Jewish Christians. This group may be even more precisely identified as Hellenistic.

The Hellenistic lived in dispersion, outside of Judea, in communities scattered throughout the Roman Empire (Acts 2:9-11). Keeping your badges Israelis, were immersed in the Greco-Roman culture, of which they were part. They spoke Greek even in their synagogues, in contrast to the conventional synagogues of Judea that drove their cults in Hebrew. Indeed, such was the widespread influence of the surrounding culture that many of the Hellenistic barely could speak Hebrew, the original language of the Israelites or Aramaic, the common vernacular in Judaea. Therefore, the version of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), used by Hellenistic, was a Greek translation, the Septuagint, compiled in the second century b.c. in Alexandria (Egypt), considered the Hellenistic dispersion Centre (diaspora). The exclusive use of the Septuagint in Hebrews allows us to conclude, with some security, that the book to the Hebrews was intended originally to one or more Hellenistic Christian congregations.

General destination

Assuming that Hebrews was written by Paul or someone in his circle, several scholars believe that it was intended to be read in Rome, Jerusalem or another city of Judea able to gather larger assemblies of believers, but others suggest any city where there would be a greater congregation of Hellenistic Jews. Still other commentators consider that it was intended for believers everywhere that the author had visited.

After all, we see the reality: this book identifies itself with all the other books and letters written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as part of the "Foundation of the Apostles and the prophets" (Ephesians 2:20), and so we find it in the Bible, the word of God, to be read, understood and observed by all who are saved through faith in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

R David Jones

(This is an automatic translation from the Portuguese original text - revision pending)