Lesson 1 - Introduction

Question 1

What approximate date do most Biblical scholars suggest for the writing of the book of Hebrews? Provide evidence to support your claim.

Answer 1

Before 70 A.D. (60-65 AD)

• Temple is still standing (70 AD) - sacrifices are still going on. Hebrew author warns them not to go back.
• Hebrews 13:23 - Timothy is mentioned
• Lack of violent persecution (12:4)
• 1 Clement (95-96 AD) quotes from Hebrews extensively.

Question 2

What are the arguments for Paul as the author of Hebrews?

Answer 2

• Earliest manuscripts (P46) includes Hebrews with Pauline letters
• Clement of Alexandra & Origin - Paul wrote in Hebrew, Luke translated in Greek
• Jerome and Augustus pushed for Paul

Question 3

What are the arguments against Paul as the author of Hebrews?

Answer 3

1. ) Muratorian Canon - earliest canonical list (180 AD)
   - - Doesn’t put Hebrews with pauline corpus
2. ) Letter is anyonymous (unlike all of Paul’s other letters)
3. ) Early church was split (Iraeneus was against him)
4. ) Why Kruger doesn’t think Paul wrote it?
   - - No self-identification (unlike Paul)
   - - Very different Greek writing style
   - - Not many Pauline themes in Hebrew (cf. High Priest)
   - - Hebrews 2:3 - author separates himself from apostles and Jesus (very different Gal. 1 - Paul got it from Jesus)

Question 4

Explain the concept of type and anti-type in the Bible. How does the book of Hebrews provide its own angle?

Answer 4

Type and Anti-type (Horizontal)

• OT gives you a pattern and NT gives fulfillment
• shadow and reality
• Examples: 9:6-10 (temple, sacrificial system, find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ); 10:1-4 (sacrificial system); 7:17 (Melchizedek)
• Every part of the OT prefigures Christ

Hebrew (Vertical)

• OT doesn’t just give pattern that NT fulfills, but OT is an anti-type pattern after Heavenly reality
• 9:11 - Jesus entered into heavenly tabernacle (OT tabernacle is patterned after heavenly one)
• Melchizedek (Melchizedek is not just a pattern that Jesus fulfills, but Melchizedek is pattern after the divine son of God in the heavenly place)
• Jesus is primary, not the OT

Question 5

Explain shadow vs. reality concept.

Answer 5

• Biggest theme in Hebrews
• Hebrews is one big contrast: old/new; shadow/reality
• OT prefigues NT (fuller sense, not just predictions and prophecies, but all of it)
• • Continuity and Discontinuity
• • shadows have continuity with reality (capture the truth, just not full picture; shadows are consistent, they don’t contradict, but they are limited)
• Horizontal (OT as the type, NT as the anti-type)
• Vertical (OT is anti-type of Heaven)

Question 6

How does Jesus fulfill the qualifications for a priest?

Answer 6

3 Qualifications:

1. ) Human male (flesh & blood) - humanity of Jesus
   - - priests were human beings that intercede between God and man
   - - Hebrews 2:14-16 - If Jesus is going to represent/mediate between god and man, he has to be man
2. ) Endure suffering
   - - Hebrews 2:17-18 - to suffer and to be tempted, allows you to have compassion and relate to those who are tempted and suffering.
3. ) Called by God - Priests don’t call themselves
   - - Hebrews 1 - Jesus is confirmed/called by God the Father