Kress Biblical Resources :: Introductory Matters

Introductory Matters

Jesus, the Son of God, is the final and full expression of God’s redemptive program—therefore hold fast your confession and draw near to God through Him, rather than returning to the Old Covenant expressions of God’s redemptive plan.¹

1. The Author
   1. The human author
      1. He is unnamed
      2. He wrote to those who knew him, and accepted his authority (Heb 13:17-19, 22- 25 [note Heb 13:24, he was either writing to Italy or from Italy, cf. Acts 18:2])
      3. He was an expert in the Old Testament Scriptures, and their relationship to Christ’s Person and work
      4. He was not one of the Twelve (Heb 2:3-4)
   2. The divine author (2Ti 3:16-17)
2. The Audience
   1. The original audience
      1. Professing believers in Christ, facing persecution (Heb 1:1-2; Heb 2:1-4; Heb 3:1, 12; Heb 4:2; Heb 13:22)—but they were immature and some perhaps in danger of apostasy (Heb 5:11-6:9; Heb 10:26-39; Heb 12:3-4)
      2. Professing believers who were most likely Jewish or Jewish proselytes. They were quite familiar with the Old Testament and particularly concerned with the priestly functions (Heb 1:3; Heb 2:17; Heb 3:1; Heb 4:14-15; Heb 5:1-6; Heb 6:19-20; Heb 7:11-12, 23-28; Heb 8:1-6; Heb 9:6-8, 11-14, 23-28; Heb 10:1-4, 11-14, 19-23; Heb 12:24, 28; Heb 13:9-16)
   2. The current audience [21st century professing believers]
3. The Aim
   1. Exaltation of Christ’s Person and work—to emphatically show that Jesus, the Son of God, is the final and full expression of God’s redemptive program [He is superior to all Old Testament expressions of God’s plan, because the Son is the greater Person, Prophet, Priest, Propitiaion, and Provider of God’s Salvation]
      1. He is the better Word from God (Heb 1:1-4)
      2. He is the better guardian of God’s Word than angels—since He is God come in the flesh (Heb 1:6, 8, 10-12; Heb 2:1-4, 14-15)
      3. He is the better minister over God’s people than Moses—Moses was a servant of God, but Jesus is the Son of God, who has authority over God’s work (Heb 3:2-6)
      4. He is the better minister of God’s rest than Joshua—He is our Sabbath rest (Heb 4:8-10)
      5. He is the better High Priest (Heb 5:1-7:28)
      6. He is the Priest of the better covenant (Heb 8:1-6)
      7. He ratified that covenant in the better sanctuary—heaven (Heb 9:11)
      8. He ratified that covenant with a better sacrifice (Heb 9:12-14, 23-24)
      9. Faith in Christ is the better, and now only way to draw near to God (Heb 10:14, 18, 19-23; Heb 11:1, 6; Heb 13:12-15)
   2. Endurance of believers in their confession of faith—to emphatically warn and exhort professing Jewish believers to go on to maturity in their faith, holding fast their confession and drawing near to God through Christ rather than turning back in faithlessness to the Old Covenant expressions of worship which are passing away (Heb 13:22; cf. Heb 2:1-4; Heb 3:7-9; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 5:11-6:9; Heb 10:26-31; Heb 12:14-17, 25 [for “hold fast” and “draw near,” see Heb 4:14, 16; Heb 10:22, 23; cf. Heb 3:1, 6, 14; Heb 6:18; Heb 7:25; Heb 10:1; Heb 11:6; Heb 12:18, 22])
   3. Encouragement of those persecuted for their faith in Christ— to comfort believers in their persecutions (Heb 11:1-12:13; Heb 13:12-14 [cf. Heb 10:32-34; Heb 12:4])
   4. Edification of those faced with false teaching—to alert believers of doctrinal and practical error (Heb 13:7-10, 17)
   5. Entreaty—to ask for prayer, to foster fellowship, and to express future plans (Heb 13:18-19, 23-24)