An Analysis of the Book of Hebrews
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The Apostle Paul wrote this letter from his imprisonment in Rome. The Epistle is doctrinal and the author was well versed in Hebrew history, temple worship and especially the Priesthood. No one but a well educated Hebrew could have composed such a letter. The purpose of the Epistle is not to give an account of the Jewish temple rituals and priesthood, but to liken them to Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Hebrews who were well informed about the Jewish religion in which they had been brought up. He did not need to explain such things to them, such as the temple rituals and priesthood. The aim of the Epistle is to convince the Jewish Christians that the temple and the priesthood had served their purpose till the time of Jesus Christ, but that henceforth, they were a thing of the past. Paul wished to warn the Jewish Christians against teachers who were preaching that salvation could be attained by means of the Mosaic Law and customs. He declared that these ancient Jewish institutions had served as a shadow pointing to the coming of Jesus Christ. The same warning was made to the Galatians and other churches where converts were falling away and some of them were turning to Judaism. Paul uses a good, analogy in comparing Jesus Christ’s priesthood to that of Melchisedec. Jesus Christ’s priesthood is superior to that of Aaron and He Himself (Jesus Christ) is greater than Moses. Of all the New Testament books, Hebrews is most consciously a work of literature. Not only does this author study to express himself in rich and formable language, but he has laid out his work on a regular plan, in which all the parts are clearly articulated. He undertakes to show that the new covenant is “better” than the old, better in the since that it has brought to fulfillment all that the old covenant has merely foreshadowed. This he does by means of three main contrasts: (1) Christ is higher than the angels, through whom, according to Jewish Tradition, the Law as given (1,2); (2) Christ is higher than Moses, who was the mediator of the Law (3,4); and (3) Christ is the true High Priest, in contrast to the Levitical high priests through whom the Law became effectual (5-10).
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After the superiority of the new covenant has thus been established, the writer dwells on the obligations which it lays on those who have received it. If God’s servants in ancient days lived by faith, a far stronger and more living faith is now required of Christians (11). If the Law imposed a solemn responsibility, this is true in a far higher degree of those who profess the religion of Christ (12). With a few practical admonitions, the Epistle closes (13). In writing to Hebrew Christians it is natural that the author of Hebrews would form a common ground by declaring the fact of divine revelation and by recognizing Judaism as the fruit of such. Furthermore, it is to be expected that, in keeping with his thesis, he would point beyond that which was good to something which is better. If Judaism was the result of a good revelation, Christianity is the fruit of a better one.