I’ll never stop reading my Bible and neither should you if your immortal soul is important to you. I’m well aware that I need to listen to God every day if I want to maintain a strong and lasting relationship with God. This requires a commitment from all of us who seek to know God. God speaks to man through the pages of the Bible and we speak to God in prayer. That’s how our two-way communication with God is supposed to work. God is always ready, willing and able to speak to us. The problem is not with God. The problem is with man. When we don’t find God it’s entirely our fault because God has provided the Bible for that purpose. The simple truth is the vast majority of us aren’t looking for God and those who are don’t bother listening to God when they do find him. I read the Bible most days because I love it! I love God’s word and his revelations to me through the Holy Spirit. Not that I’m anything special; I’m not. God imparts his wisdom and shares his revelations with any believer who will immerse themselves in God’s word. All God’s children are equal in his eyes. Scripture confirms that God is just and impartial.
Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 – All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Genesis 14:13 – Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
Aside from prayer and witnessing for Christ, I can’t think of a better use of our time than reading God’s word, our Holy Bible, on a daily basis. I can’t think of a more worthy goal for our life than studying the Bible for knowledge, understanding and wisdom. It’s a journey that takes us a lifetime and the earlier we start the greater the wisdom and rewards. It’s always best to start reading and listening to the Bible at an early age and then never stop doing so during our lifetime. Those are the lucky ones. It’s sad that very few people ever get the opportunity to grow spiritually this way from childhood so they can reach their full fellowship potential with God. I didn’t have that opportunity but I’m at peace with where God has put me. We can’t worry about missed opportunities and what might have been. All of us live with regrets. The main thing is each of us needs to start serving the Lord wherever we find ourselves when we discover the truth of God. Begin your walk with the Lord with fear, humility and obedience to the commands of God as you understand them.
Hebrews 1:1-3 – God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
1 Timothy 2:3-4 – For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Philippians 4:19 – And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
I’m reading the New Testament now and I’ve just finished the book of Hebrews. I don’t know about you but reading the book of Hebrews always gives me a thrill. I don’t know what it is exactly. It’s just such a feeling of joy. There’s just so much spiritual meat in Hebrews it enriches my soul every time I read it. It’s well worth our time to discuss this important epistle of the New Testament. My first question is, “who wrote the book of Hebrews and why did he write it?” Biblical scholars tell us the author of Hebrews is unknown but I dispute that. I don’t believe everything that Bible scholar says just because they have a PhD and I don’t. Earthly education doesn’t impress God or me that much because it doesn’t always give us the spiritual wisdom we need. Don’t be lazy about your Christian faith and let yourself be spoon fed someone else’s spiritual wisdom when you can go to the Bible and seek God’s spiritual wisdom for yourself. I use other believers and Bible reference materials as a sounding board to help guide my study of God’s word but any spiritual understanding and wisdom I have is from the indwelt Holy Spirit of God. I’m one of those lucky believers that God has blessed by allowing me to feel the physical presence of the Holy Spirit inside me (on one occasion). I know I’m indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God by faith and also by personal experience. You have my testimony. The Holy Spirit is called our “helper” for this reason; the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth of God to believers who are ready to receive it through prayer and immersion in the Bible.
Romans 8:9 – But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
Hebrews 12:2 – Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Romans 8:11 – But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The Jewish people (Jews) are also called Hebrews. God first called Abram a Hebrew in Genesis 14:13. Hebrew means, “the one who crossed over the river (i.e., the Euphrates River),” enroute to the promised land. Hence all the descendants of Abram (whom God later renamed Abraham) are referred to as Hebrews. We know Hebrews was written some time between 64 AD and 69 AD in Rome. How do we know this? Hebrews makes no mention of the destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by the Roman general Titus in 70 AD and it surely would have if it had been written after this event. If the Temple had been destroyed at the time Hebrews was written it would have influenced the development of the author’s overall argument in the epistle. Christians in Rome were first persecuted in 60-62 AD and later on a second more severe persecution of Christians occurred under the rule of the Roman Emperor Nero who blamed Christians for the burning of Rome. Many Christians were killed during this second persecution. We know from history that Nero ruled Rome from 64 AD to 68AD and Nero’s persecution of Christians is referenced in Hebrews so we know Hebrews was written during the five year window between 64 AD and 69 AD. The writer of Hebrews makes it clear he is writing his epistle from Rome and the target audience is the Jewish Christian community in Rome.
Galatians 2:16 – Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
Galatians 1:11-12 – But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel that was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Acts 10:43 – To Him (Jesus) all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.
We know the writer of Hebrews had to be Jewish because he was very familiar with Old Testament Scriptures as well as the practices of first century Jews. A Jewish audience at that time would only have listened to a Jewish writer and the same could also be said of the Gentiles. In the first century very few people could read or write. Only the rich could afford to educate their children. The writer of Hebrews was not only well educated he was well versed in the Torah and Jewish law which suggests he was a Pharisee by training. Who do we know who fits this description? I posit that the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. Paul came from a wealthy Jewish family in Tarsus (present day Turkey). Paul was well educated and a Pharisee. The Apostle Paul was acknowledged as an expert in Jewish Law because he sat under Gamaliel, one of the greatest teachers of Jewish Law in the ancient world. The Apostle Paul was also in Rome when the book of Hebrews was written there. We know from historical records that Paul was imprisoned in Rome by the Emperor Nero starting in 64 AD and Paul remained in prison there until he was beheaded in 68 AD.
Hebrews 2:17 – Therefore, in all things He (Jesus) had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
Galatians 3:13 – Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us.
2 Timothy 4:6-7 – For I (Paul) am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
The book of Hebrews has been accepted as part of the New Testament canon since the first century because of its sound theology, eloquent presentation and other intrinsic factors. Hebrews has been described as an intricate New Testament book and it has earned the reputation of being a masterpiece. Even though Hebrews doesn’t have a declared author all the early Christians and church fathers acknowledged that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews and it remained that way for 1200 years. In fact, the original King James version of the Bible titled the book, “The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews.” So what changed? During the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s the Roman Catholic church suddenly decided that Paul didn’t write the book of Hebrews. The church decided to give credence to flimsy evidence that disputed Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews and that’s where we are today. One of the reasons given by the church was that Paul didn’t claim authorship of Hebrews at the beginning of the epistle like he did in all thirteen of his other letters. The church also claimed the book of Hebrews deviated from Paul’s normal style of writing and the purity of the Greek text was not consistent with Paul’s other letters. The church incorrectly assumed that Paul didn’t have the ability to change his writing style to fit his target audience (Jewish Christians). These were all minor differences in my mind when compared to the major considerations that I think do confirm Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews. It’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water!
Ephesians 4:10-12 – He who descended is also the One who ascended far above the heavens, that He might fill all things. And He Himself gave some to be Apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
Hebrews 6:19-20 – This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered before us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In most of Paul’s other epistles he’s in one location writing to one of the churches he has established during one of his missionary trips. Problems in the churches have come to Paul’s attention and he writes his epistles as guidance to the congregation. Paul’s letters are meant to be read before the faithful on his behalf so therefore Paul adds his name, authority and a greeting to each letter. Paul is aware each letter he writes becomes a part of the holy Scriptures from God. Paul was already in Rome when he wrote Hebrews for the Jewish Christians in Rome to argue against their apostasy; returning to the Jewish faith to avoid the persecution of Christians by the Roman authorities. Hebrews was written by a Jew to convince the Jewish Christians in Rome that the blood covenant of Jesus Christ was vastly superior to the Abrahamic covenant of the Jewish faith. The writer of Hebrews argued that Jesus Christ is our High Priest in heaven and Mediator between God and man through which man has access to God 24/7. Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the need for Temple sacrifices and an earthly High Priest because the shed blood of Jesus washed away the sins of all men, past, present and future.
Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
Galatians 3:28-29 – There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heir according to the promise.
Galatians 2:21 – I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.
Hebrews was originally a sermon from Paul to the Jewish Christian community in Rome and not a letter, therefore no introduction was needed. Paul knew them and they knew him. Paul was also in prison at the time and couldn’t deliver his sermon in person to the Jewish Christians in Rome. Paul didn’t have access to pen and paper like he did in 60-62 AD when he was only under house arrest and was able to pen many of his epistles during that time. Paul probably dictated Hebrews to a scribe so that the sermon could be delivered by someone else on his behalf. The language style and Greek of Hebrews may be that of a scribe but the contents of Hebrews could only have come from the mind of the Apostle Paul. The real clincher for me was the writer of Hebrews referred to Timothy as his brother and traveling companion. We all know Timothy was a disciple of Paul who accompanied him on many of his missionary trips. The obvious familiarity with Timothy indicates the author of Hebrews is none other than the Apostle Paul. When I read Hebrews it feels like an epilogue to Paul’s forty year ministry. It’s as though Paul is summarizing God’s dealings with man from start to finish.
Hebrews 8:6 – But now he has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also a Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Ephesians 1:11 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at this logically. God appointed Paul to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and share with them the mysteries of God as God revealed them to Paul. God doesn’t identify anyone else to do this, only Paul. Half the New testament was written by Paul. The parts of the New Testament not written by Paul were minor books written by the Apostles Peter and John or Jesus’ brothers James and Jude. I divide the New Testament into two parts. We have the four gospels and the acts of the Apostles (which was originally combined with Luke) and then we have the epistles. While Revelation is technically an epistle I put it in a separate category because it’s the end time revelation of Jesus Christ. Hebrews is the only book of the New Testament without a named author and it’s also a major book that explains the mysteries of God. Only a prophet appointed by God for this purpose would have received this information. Paul is the only prophet and Apostle God has identified who has the spiritual knowledge, understanding and wisdom to have composed the book of Hebrews.
Colossians 2:9-10 – For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 – For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
Hebrews 4:14 – Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.
Let’s don’t make this any more complicated than it has to be. If we look at the dozen or so people who supposedly could have written Hebrews not a single one of them has Paul’s pedigree nor were any of them chosen by God to receive his revelation or preach the gospel of Christ to both Jew and Gentile. Only Paul had that authority from God. If there were any others God would have said so. Only Paul had the credentials to have written Hebrews based on his education and God-given ministry to the Gentiles. Anyone who writes a New Testament book speaks for God and is, by definition, a prophet. So we’re supposed to believe the book of Hebrews, a masterpiece of spiritual wisdom from God, was written by an unnamed prophet of God? I don’t believe it one bit. God always identifies his prophets so that rules out all the individuals that other people think wrote Hebrews. Every other New Testament book except Hebrews was written by named prophets of God who were either an Apostle or one of Jesus’ two brothers. The book of Hebrews is an important epistle of the New Testament and it won’t be the exception by winding up being written by someone other than a prophet or an Apostle; and we know who they are. Hebrews stresses that those who hear the truth of God should have faith. As believers we need to have faith that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.
Hebrews 10:28-29 – Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hebrews 10:10 – By that will (of God) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
When you look at all the evidence Paul is the only person who could possibly have written the book of Hebrews because God chose him as his spokesperson, an Apostle and prophet, to share the mysteries of God with man. What a tremendous honor that was for Paul. The Apostle Paul is the greatest Christian who ever lived. Do you really think God is going to leave Paul on the sidelines while an unknown person writes the New Testament book of Hebrews? Not a chance in hell. There’s no one else even remotely qualified to write the book of Hebrews other than the Apostle Paul. Period! I also don’t put any credence in what the Roman Catholic church has to say about who wrote Hebrews. Whatever the church says I tend to go the opposite direction. What we have to remember is that Satan started corrupting the church early on it its history so that by the time of Pope Gregory the Great in 600 AD Satan owned the Roman Catholic church lock, stock, and barrel, and probably well before then. It’s to Satan’s benefit to try make us doubt Hebrews as Scripture. Satan wanted to dispute Paul’s authorship of the book of Hebrews and its inclusion in the New Testament canon but he has failed miserably on both counts in my estimation because the Lord’s will cannot be thwarted by demon, angel or man.
Hebrews 9:11-12 – But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats or calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
Hebrews 8:1-2 – Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
Hebrews 7:24-25 – But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Sharing the gospel message of Christ is difficult for most people because of the rejection they face. As a believer, wear your faith proudly and just make it known you’re available if anyone wants to hear your witness. You’d be surprised by the number of people that are dying to hear a witness for Christ but they won’t advertise it. You’ll never know who they are if you don’t cast out your line once in a while. Keep throwing your line out there in the water of life occasionally and when you do get a nibble then set your hook. That’s why Jesus called believers, “fishers of men.” Fishing and witnessing are seen as being very similar experiences. The main thing we need to do is bait our hook with knowledge about God, keep our hook in the water, and then let God do the rest. God will bring the fish to you. Jesus filled Peter’s net with fish on the Sea of Galilee as an example for us to follow. Peter fished all night and caught nothing but persevered and finally had a good harvest with God’s help. You don’t have to get in people’s faces and be pushy. That’s not my personality either. God will bring people to you when you’re ready to fish for them.
Philippians 2:9-11 – Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Corinthians 8:6 – Yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
2 Corinthians 5:18 – Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.
In previous blogs I’ve shared in detail how to share your witness using the “Roman Road” to salvation. That works great for the nonbeliever but not for the Jew. Jews already know and serve the one true God Jehovah. The Jews rejected Jesus Christ as the Messiah and for that sin they’ll go to hell along with the nonbeliever because Jesus really is the only way to heaven. The New Testament contains two books written primarily for a Jewish audience; the gospel of Matthew and the book of Hebrews. Lean on the Scriptures from both books when witnessing to a Jewish person, especially Hebrews. Jews must be shown that the blood covenant of Jesus Christ ends the Abrahamic covenant. Jews need to understand that Jesus Christ is our High Priest who is always making intercession with God on our behalf and that the new temple is the body of each believer which is indwelt by Jesus forevermore. The book of Hebrews explains things clearly so the Jews can see they erred in rejecting Jesus Christ as the Messiah. It’s not too late for the Jewish people to receive redemption through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Our job is to be the messenger who brings the truth of God to the Jews when we can. The rest is up to them.
Ephesians 1:4-5 – Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.
1 Corinthians 3:17-17 – Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
2 Corinthians 6:2 – In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.