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The book of Hebrews - authorship

“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures... he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”

Acts 18:24, 28

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“The most that can be said is that nothing we know of Apollos excludes him from authorship of Hebrews. His name is perhaps the least unlikely of the conjectures which have been put forward”

Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews

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The book of Hebrews – audience, genre

  • ‘Hebrews’ is a title given later on (doesn’t appear in the text itself)

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  • Definitely written to Christians, likely majority-Jewish

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  • When written? No mention of 70AD temple destruction…

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  • Genre – sermon or letter?
    • “Brothers & sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation… I have written to you quite briefly” 13:22

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Polumeros kai polutpopos palai ho theos

At many times and in many ways in the past the God

Lalesas tois patrasin en tois prophetais

spoke to the fathers by the prophets

Hebrews 1:1

Preacher’s P’s a-Plenty

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Psalms 2:7

Psalms 2:7

Deuteronomy 17:6

Genesis 48:15

Proverbs 3:11, 12

2 Samuel 7:14

Psalms 110:4

Deuteronomy 32:35, 36

Genesis 50:24

Numbers 27:16

Psalms 97:7

Genesis 22:16, 17

Habakkuk 2:3, 4

Exodus 2:2

Isaiah 35:3

Psalms 104:4

Genesis 14:18

Genesis 1:1

Exodus 2:11

Proverbs 4:26

Psalms 45:6, 7

Psalms 110:4

Genesis 4:4

Exodus 2:15

Deuteronomy 29:18

Psalms 102:25, 26, 27

Exodus 25:40

Genesis 5:24

Exodus 12:11, 18

Genesis 25:31

Psalms 110:1

Jeremiah 31:31-34

Genesis 6:8, 14

Exodus 14:22

Exodus 19:16

Psalms 8:4-6

Exodus 25:1-40

Genesis 12:1, 2

Joshua 6:20

Exodus 19:12, 13

Psalms 22:22

Exodus 26:36

Genesis 12:5

Joshua 2:1

Deuteronomy 9:19

Isaiah 8:18

Exodus 40:3

Genesis 27:11, 12, 14

Joshua 6:17, 23

Haggai 2:6

Psalms 18:2

Numbers 17:10

Genesis 18:1-33

Judges 6:4, 11, 15

Deuteronomy 4:24

2 Samuel 22:2

Exodus 30:10

Genesis 22:17

1 Samuel 7:1-17

Genesis 18:2

Numbers 12:7

Leviticus 16:14

Genesis 47:9

2 Samuel 2:1-32

Deuteronomy 31:8

Psalms 95:7-11

Numbers 14:36

Psalms 39:13

2 Samuel 8:1-18

Joshua 1:5

Psalms 95:7-11

Exodus 24:8

Genesis 23:4

Judges 14:1-20

Psalms 118:6

Numbers 14:35, 36

Psalms 40:6-8

Hosea 14:2

Daniel 6:1-28

Leviticus 4:12, 21

Psalms 95:11

Exodus 29:38

Genesis 22:1

Daniel 3:1-30

Leviticus 16:27

Genesis 2:2, 3

Psalms 110:1

Genesis 22:12

2 Kings 4:20

Numbers 19:3

Psalms 95:7, 8

Jeremiah 31:33, 34

Genesis 27:28

1 Kings 17:1-24

Micah 2:10

1 Chronicles 23:13

Isaiah 64:1

Genesis 47:31

1 Kings 19:1

 

Hebrews’ use of Old Testament

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Whom he appointed heir of all things

Through whom he made the universe

And the exact representation of God’s being

Sustaining all through his powerful word

Sat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven

God has spoken by his Son Heb 1:1-3

Who is the radiance of God’s glory

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The Superior Son

  • v5 only to this one does God say 'you are my Son’

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  • v6 the angels worship him!

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  • v8 the great God

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  • v10-12 the one who made, and will end, creation

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  • v13 the one who will have all enemies under his feet

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God has spoken through his Superior Son