Hebrews - Introduction

The letter written to the Hebrews is often one of the most mysterious books in the bible to westerners. We Americans as a whole are rather biblically illiterate, rather ironic since we also have the most "bible onlyist" churches in the world. So let's take a look at Hebrews.

What better place to start than at the beginning? Well perhaps before the beginning? The author of this book is not explicitly or even implicitly known. Some in the past have suggested Pauline authorship however since this book does not follow the Pauline framework found in his other epistles this is most likely not the case. However whoever wrote this letter probably did have direct contact with Paul and was familiar with his teaching style. (A comparison of Hebrews and Romans shows us this much.) They also had an intimate knowledge of the Old Testament since it is quoted, alluded to, made reference to, and summarized far more extensively than most other biblical books. (Matthew references the Old Testament more but is also twice as long.) So we can say with some confidence that this letter was written by a learned in both the Old Testament and Pauline Theology and was perhaps written by Apollos. (Acts 18:24ff)

The book was likely written to Jewish believers, though it may have been to the Hellenic Jews. The concepts that this book speaks to would suggest this since the Greco-Judaic mind loved issues such as the veneration of Moses, Mediation of angles, the Old Covenant Law, and the role of Wisdom in creation. Further this book was addressing those who were seeking to return to the synagogue or temple system, which Gentile Christians wouldn't be returning to but coming to the first time. (See also Galatians) Furthermore this was letter was very likely addressed to the Jews of Rome, since in the farewell the author mentions greeting from those in Rome who are not of Rome.(13:24) Finally the concept of "leaders" (hegoumenoi) is mentioned a concept subsequent church leaders from Rome will pick up on and use. So to recap this letter was probably written to a community of Jewish Believers in Rome who were struggling with Christianity and remaining within Christianity.

The overarching goal of the book of Hebrews is to encourage the believers to endure in the faith. The author does this by moving back and forth from a theological concept to how we ought to live in light of such a concept, with the basic point as Jesus is the best(only) basis for relating to God and enduring in a relationship with Him. Those who reject Jesus are in trouble!!!

Finally this Book was probably written before the fall of the temple in Jerusalem but after Christianity had been well established in Rome. This is because there is no mention of the temple falling, which would have been another key that the writer assuredly would have picked up on. At the same time there had been Christians there for some time so (5:11-6:3) therefore we can safely assume that this letter was probably written sometime in the mid 60's.

Hopefully that helps. Next time we dive into Chapter 1.

What is "that"?

τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι διὰ πίστεως: καὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐξ ὑμῶν, θεοῦ τὸ δῶρον: οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων, ἵνα μή τις καυχήσηται. - Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

In these words, the Apostle Paul destroys all notions of salvation by works. We are saved by the grace of God which is received through faith, and works play no part at all. As the next verse (v.10) makes clear, God has indeed planned for believers to do good works, but as this and many other passages in scripture would affirm, the works are the fruit and not the root of our salvation. True believers do good works, but works play no role at all in how we receive salvation, for it is "not as a result of works."

This much is clear, but questions have arisen as to what exactly is meant by the one word "that" in Ephesians 2:8. We know that whatever it is, it is the gift of God, but can we determine exactly what this gift is?

Some say that the gift is "faith" while others say it is "grace" and still others say it is "salvation." What may be a point of dispute from the reading of the English translations becomes settled when looking into the original Greek text.

Putting it in terms we can hopefully all understand, the Greek word for "that" is transliterated into English as touto (τοῦτο) and is in a neuter form. The way to determine what it refers to is to look for the other neuter in the immediate context. That's how the issue would normally be resolved, except that in this particular case, there isn't one. "Grace" is feminine; "have been saved" is masculine, and "faith" is also in a feminine form. In this case then, what the "that" refers to is all in the preceding clause. The grace, the salvation and the faith - all of these things - is the gift of God.

Paul is making it clear that nothing in our salvation comes from ourselves. Salvation, grace and faith - from start to finish, all of this is the gift of God, not as a result of works. God has designed salvation in this way for the very purpose of eliminating all grounds for human boasting. Boasting is not merely discouraged, or kept to a minimum, it is completely removed. That is because the entire work of salvation is God's work from start to finish - "this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God" as the ESV renders it. The grace by which we are saved and the faith that is the mechanism through which we receive it - yes, even this faith - is the gift of God. Salvation is of the Lord and all the glory for it goes to God alone.

HT : Reformation Theology

Bible Study Tip.

How to Learn:

The learner, who wishes to try the question fairly, whether this
little book does, or does not, supply the materials for a most
interesting mental recreation, is earnestly advised to adopt the
following Rules:

1. Begin at the beginning, and do not allow yourself to gratify
   mere idle curiosity by dipping into the book, here and there. This
   would very likely lead to your throwing it aside, with the remark
   `This is much too hard for me!', and thus losing the chance of
   adding a very large item to your stock of mental delights . . .
   
2. Don't begin any fresh Chapter, or Section, until you are certain
   that you thoroughly understand the whole book up to that point
   and that you have worked, correctly, most if not all of the
   examples which have been set . . . Otherwise, you will find
   your state of puzzlement get worse and worse as you proceed
   till you give up the whole thing in utter disgust.
   
3. When you come to a passage you don't understand, read it
   again: if you still don't understand it,
   read it again: if you fail, even after three readings,
   very likely your brain is getting a little tired
   In that case, put the book away, and take to other occupations,
   and next day, when you come to it fresh, you will very likely
   find that it is quite easy.
   
4. If possible, find some genial friend, who will read the book along
   with you, and will talk over the difficulties with you. Talking is
   a wonderful smoother-over of difficulties. When I come upon
   anything—in Logic or in any other hard subject—that entirely puzzles
   me, I find it a capital plan to talk it over, aloud, even when I am
   all alone. One can explain things so clearly to one's self! And then
   you know, one is so patient with one's self: one never gets irritated
   at one's own stupidity!
   

If, dear Reader, you will faithfully observe these Rules, and
give my little book a really fair trial, I promise you, most
confidently, that you will find Symbolic Logic to be one of the most,
not the most, fascinating of mental recreations! In this First Part
I have carefully avoided all difficulties which seemed to me to
beyond the grasp of an intelligent child of (say) twelve or fourteen
years of age. I have myself taught most of its contents, viva voce,
to many children, and have found them take a real intelligent
interest in the subject. For those, who succeeded in mastering
Part I, and who begin, like Oliver, `asking for more,' I hope to
provide, in Part II, some tolerably hard nuts to crack—nuts that
will require all the nut-crackers they happen to possess!

Mental recreation is a thing that we all of us need for our mental
health. Symbolic Logic will give you clearness of thought—the
ability to see your way through a puzzle—the habit of arranging
your ideas in an orderly and get-at-able form—and, more valuable
than all, the power to detect fallacies, and to tear to pieces the
flimsy illogical arguments, which you will continually encounter
in books, in newspapers, in speeches, and even in sermons, and
which so easily delude those who have never taken the trouble
to master this fascinating Art. Try it. That is all I ask of you!

Carroll, Lewis. The complete works of Lewis Carroll (New York: Random House, 1939), 1116-19.

This method might also be applied to the study of a book of Scripture.