This is a phrase-by-phrase commentary and exposition of the New Testament book of Hebrews. This commentary is in use as a college textbook, yet is suitable for lay church members.
Hebrews is one of the great sources for instruction in Christian faith, and for exhortations to faithfulness to Christ and His message. From start to finish, the author of Hebrews demonstrates the superiority of Jesus Christ, His message, and His covenant. For those of us living under this New Covenant, our desire to be faithful to Jesus Christ is based on the Son of God's superiority as a messenger, on the superior priestly line from which He comes, and on the once-for-all efficacy of the sacrifices and work which the Son of God has offered on our behalf. From start to finish, the exhortations and warnings in Hebrews point us to Jesus Christ Himself; He is the superior source and object of our desire to live "by faith."
This commentary is conservative and evangelical Christian in its outlook, yet skillfully examines the Scriptures from multiple theological viewpoints. Introductory Studies cover canonicity, authorship and attestation, original audience to whom the letter was addressed, the place and date of writing, and the original author's purpose for writing. The Introductory Studies also discuss special questions raised about Hebrews by form critics - i.e., literary and rhetorical analysts of Biblical literature - regarding the structure of the book, in order to answer the question, Is Hebrews a treatise, a sermon, or an epistle? The topic of covenants and covenant theology is addressed in a special Appendix. Finally, this commentary provides a unique and compelling outline for the book, based on the exposition of key Old Testament passages central to each section of Hebrews and the summary explanations provided by the Hebrews writer himself at 8:1 and 13:22.
Since this commentary presumes the God-inspired nature of all Biblical writing, the author seeks to harmonize the teachings of Hebrews with other relevant Scriptures, and also helpfully examines the original language in which the book was written. A fully annotated bibliography of other commentaries on Hebrews is included to encourage readers to extend their own studies.
This volume continues the author's commentary series on the books of the New Testament, and is written from the unique standpoint of the Restoration Movement, a position which allows him to approach Scripture with no special theological doctrine or dogma to defend and explicate. This approach provides an unhindered freedom to listen to what the Holy Spirit would tell us within the pages of the sacred Scriptures. By deliberately employing the grammatico-historical method of interpretation, the Word of God is allowed to impress upon our minds the intent the Divine Author had in mind.
In past generations, Restoration Movement preachers preached regularly from Hebrews; their audiences committed great portions of this book to memory and sought to live daily in light of what they had heard and learned. They did this because Hebrews provides a striking source of hope, boldness, grace, assurance, mercy, and motivation for staying true to Jesus Christ. The letter is an encouragement to remain faithful, for He alone provides the only real, working, efficacious, propitiatory sacrifice for sins that will ever be offered. It is for us to "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (10:23), so that God will not be ashamed to be called our God (11:16) and we who have believed may enter the rest He offers (4:3).
The author is Professor Emeritus of the New Testament at Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, MO).