The book of Hebrews

At a glance

Chapters

13

Author

Unknown; the letter never says, and no early consensus formed

Written

Before 70 AD on most reckonings

Written for

Jewish Christians under pressure to go back

Themes

better, priesthood, faith, perseverance

What it is about

Hebrews is not really a letter; it calls itself a word of exhortation and reads like a sermon. Its author is unknown, which was already true in the second century — proposals have included Paul, Barnabas, Apollos and Priscilla, and none has ever settled.

The argument runs through a series of comparisons: better than angels, than Moses, than the priesthood, than the sacrifices. The audience appears to be Jewish Christians under enough pressure to consider returning to a safer, legally recognised practice.

Chapter 11 is the famous one, a roll call of people who acted on things they could not see, and it is careful to note that many of them did not receive what was promised.

Where to start

Chapter 11, then chapter 12 verses 1 to 3, which is where the roll call is applied to the reader.

The chapters worth knowing

• Hebrews 4 — The sabbath rest that remains, and the word described as sharper than a two-edged sword.
• Hebrews 11 — The roll call of people who acted on what they could not see, several of whom died without receiving it.
• Hebrews 12 — The cloud of witnesses, and the instruction to lay aside every weight and run.

What people get wrong about it

That chapter 11 is a list of successes. It includes people who were sawn in two, wandered in deserts and died without receiving what was promised, and it says so explicitly near the end.

Questions