The Strand Study Bible

HEBREWS Author: Possibly Paul (the Chester Beatty Biblical Papyri) or Apollos (Acts 18:24-28) Theme: The Superiority of CHRIST

About the Book: The purpose behind the writing of Hebrews was to establish the superiority of Christ over all others (e.g., OT prophets, angels, Moses, OT Priesthood, and the OT laws and sacrifices) and to prevent the readers of the epistle (Jewish Christians) from reverting back to Judaism. Helpful Background: Whoever wrote this letter knew Timothy had just been released from prison and had hoped to join him soon (Heb 13:23). Written c. AD 61, we are not certain as to who delivered the Hebrews epistle. Notes of Interest: 1. Hebrews quotes the OT 36 times. 15 of those 36 quotes refer directly to CHRIST . Note - 9 of the 36 OT quotations come directly from the Pentateuch. Note - Psalms is the OT book most often quoted in the book of Hebrews ( 19 quotations). 2. Prophecies are referred to 24 times in Hebrews . 3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are referred to 13 of those 24 times. 4. There are 28 different OT characters referred to in Hebrews : Cain, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Melchisedec, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Levi, Judah, Joseph, Ephraim, Manasseh, Amram, Jochebed, Aaron, Moses, Pharoah’s daughter, Joshua, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, Samuel, and David Note - Abraham and Moses are the OT characters most often referred to in the book of Hebrews ( 16 times each) 5. There are no inset maps used in the book of Hebrews . Outline of Hebrews : 1. Christ is superior to the OT prophets and the angels (Heb 1-2) 2. Christ is superior to Moses (Heb 3-4) 3. Christ is superior to the Priesthood (Heb 5-8)

4. Christ is superior to the OT Laws and the sacrifices (Heb 9-10) 5. Those who by faith have lived for Christ, the Superior One (Heb 11) 6. The believer’s race and way of life (Heb 12-13) Hebrews 1 CHRIST is superior to the OT prophets Date Written - c. AD 61

at any time, 10 Thou art my SON , this day have I begotten THEE ? And again, 11 I will be to him a FATHER , and he shall be to me a SON ? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, 12 And let all the angels of God worship 13 HIM . 7 And of the angels he saith, 14 Who ma- keth his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire. The promise of a Kingdom where 8 But unto the Son he saith, 15 THY throne, O 16 GOD , is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of 17 THY KINGDOM . P 9 15 THOU hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore GOD , 18 even thy GOD , hath anointed 19 THEE with the 20 OIL OF GLADNESS above thy fellows. CHRIST will rule (Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6)

1. or, “God the Father” - Heb 8:1 2. or, “different” 3. that is, “the Jews” 4. Psa 2:7 5. Psa 2:8 & Mt 21:38 6. Jn 1:3,10 & Colo 1:16-17 7. Jn 1:14 8. Isa 53:4-12 9. Psa 110:1 10. Quoted from the OT - Psa 2:7 11. Quoted from the OT - II Sam 7:14 & I Chro 17:13 12. Quoted from the OT - Psa 97:7 13. Lk 2:13 14. Quoted from the OT - Psa 104:4 15. Quoted from the OT - Psa 45:6-7 16. “Elohim” 17. Fulfilled - Rev 20:4,6 (Christ’s Kingdom) 18. Jn 20:17 b 19. Isa 61:1 20. or, “the Holy Spirit” - Psa 133

1 1 GOD , who at 2 sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto 3 the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his 4 SON , whom he hath appointed 5 HEIR of all things, by 6 WHOM also he made the worlds; 3 7 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 8 HE had by himself purged our sins, 9 sat down on the right hand of the 1 MAJESTY ON HIGH ; CHRIST is superior to the angels 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. 5 For unto which of the angels said 1 HE

1:2 God has never left Himself without a witness, saving His best living WITNESS for last. His “last best Word” proving His existence was the testimony of CHRIST (His appearance as the LIGHT – Gen 1:3; the LIVING WORD – Jn 1:1,14). Before He gave us the SON , however, God proved His existence via three other reasonable evidences: 1. The testimony of creation ( Acts 14: 15- 17 , Rom 1:18-20 and Psa 19:1-6) 2056