Hebrews - A Commentary on the Greek Text

Hebrews

Exegetical Study Notes on the Greek Text

Introduction

Hebrews is somewhat of a mystery. We know little of the writer, origin, destination and date. Even the title "To the Hebrews" is possibly not original. Tradition doesn't help us very much and so we are stuck with the text itself.

What we have is a rhetorical homily, "a word of exhortation", 13:22, an address, a speech which attempts to deal with the audiences' CROSS + understanding of Christian theology, ie., they believe that Jesus' atonement requires additional support to save, sanctify and glorify. The author of Hebrews encourages a return to fundamental belief, namely, that a believer is saved, sanctified and glorified by faith in the faithfulness of Christ. The theology of Hebrews is grounded on high Christology - Christ is the high priestly Son of God through whose atonement a believer stands holy and acceptable before God, by faith alone.

Although Hebrews presents as a letter, it is actually the script for an address delivered to a Christian congregation. In these notes, the intended recipients will be identified as the "audience / they". The reference "Hebrews" does not discount the fact that they are most likely a mixed congregation, although Jewish in orientation. As for the person who authored the book, he will be identified as the "Rhetor / he", even though he could just as easily be an educated Greek woman of Jewish background. Whoever he/she was, our author stands with John and Paul as a prominent New Testament theologian.

Introductory Notes

Introduction

Jesus is the Son of God, Lord of the universe, and his message to broken humanity has far greater value than the words of God's messengers of old, so pay attention to what he promises.

i] God speaks through his Son, 1:1-4,

ii] Scriptural Support 1:5-14

iii] Hear him, 2:1-4

Proposition

Jesus the Lord of the universe, by virtue of his sufferings, tasted death on behalf of broken humanity, and thus is the administrator of our salvation to perfection and glory.

The author of our salvation to perfection, 2:5-9

Jesus' perfect sacrifice saves, sanctifies and glorifies.

Preliminary Arguments

1. Jesus' humanity saves, 2:10-3:6

For Jesus to suffer death "for all" and so save, sanctify and glorify his people, it was necessary for him to become incarnate, one flesh with humanity in our trouble and strife.

i] Jesus, the Son who saves and sanctifies, 2:10-18

ii] Jesus, the Son who glorifies, 3:1-6

2. God's promised rest, 3:7-4:13

To enter God's promised "rest" it is necessary to persevere in faith. To this end we must be wary of a "wicked unbelieving heart", because if we end up ignoring God's promises, he will ignore us.

i] A summons to fidelity, 3:7-19

ii] Forfeiting our true rest, 4:1-11

iii] The Word of God, 4:12-13

3. Jesus our Great High Priest, 4:14-5:10

Thankfully, when we stumble and fall, Jesus, called by God as one of us, acts as our perfect High Priest. Through the perfection of his offering of himself, he became the source of eternal salvation for the broken and weary.

i] Jesus the Son, the great high priest, 4:14-16

ii] The characteristics of a high priest, 5:1-4

iii] The source of eternal salvation, 5:5-10

4. The danger of spiritual immaturity, 5:11-6:20

A drifting faith leads to damnation. Its cause is likely a failure to come to grips with the mind of Christ, a failure to progress in one's understanding of the Christian faith.

i] A warning about spiritual immaturity, 5:11-6:3

ii] A call to persevere in faith, 6:4-12

iii] God always keeps his promises, 6:13-20

The Argument Proper

1. The sufficiency of Christ's atonement, 7:1-10:25

Jesus Christ, as God's perfect High Priest, fully expedites mankind's sin, so realising our salvation, sanctification and glorification.

i] The superiority of the Melchizedekian priesthood, 7:1-10

ii] Out with the Old and in with the New, 7:11-28.

a) The old order of priesthood, 7:11-19

b) The new order of priesthood, 7:20-28

iii] The ministry of Jesus our great high priest, 8:1-10:18

a) The priesthood and promise, 8:1-6

b) The promise of a new covenant, 8:7-13

c) The earthly sanctuary, 9:1-10

d) Christ's eternal redemption, 9:11-28

e) The perfect sacrifice of Jesus once for all, 10:1-10

f) A single offering to renew the covenant, 10:11-18

iv] A call to persevere in faith, 10:19-25

Admonition

A warning renewed, 10:26-31

2. The necessity to persevere in faith, 10:32-12:17

The full appropriation of the benefits of Christ's high priestly sacrifice are realised through the perseverance in faith - an ongoing reliance on the faithfulness of Christ.

i] A call to persevere in faith, 10:32-39

ii] Faith, 11:1-3

iii] The great-ones of faith, 11:4-12

iv] The heavenly homeland, 11:13-16

v] The faith of the Patriarchs, 11:17-22

vi] Faith in the time of the Exodus, 11:23-31

vii] Examples of faith, 11:32-40

viii] Looking to Jesus, 12:1-3

ix] Suffering as a disciple, 12:4-11

x] Pursue peace and holiness, 12:12-17

Admonition

A final warning to those at Mount Zion, 12:18-29

Concluding Exhortations

1. Epilogue, 13:1-19

i] love and sanctity, 13:1-6

ii] The true Christian sacrifice, 13:7-19

2. Benediction and greetings, 13:20-25

Concluding Matters 13:20-25

English Bible Commentaries on Hebrews

Level of complexity:

1, non-technical, to 5, technical.

Identifiers:

D. Deceased: publications no longer in print.

G. Requiring some knowledge of Greek.

R. Recommended.

T. Theology.

Allen, NAC, 2010. 3GR.

Attridge, Hermeneia,1989. 5.

Brown, BST, 1974. 2.

Bruce, NICNT, 1964 (New London), revised 1996. 4R.

Barclay, DSB, 1976. 2.

Bowman, Layman's, 1976. 1D.

Buchanan, Anchor, 1972. Replaced. 4.

Caudill, Broadman, 1985. 2D

Cockerill, NICNT, 2012. 5

Davies, CBC, 1967. 1D

Dods, EGT, Hodder and Stroughton, 1897. Eerdmans 1980. 4GD.

Ellingworth, NIGTC, 1993. 5R.

France, REBC (Heb-Rev), Zondervan, 2006. 3R

Grindheim, Pillar, 2023. 4G.

Guthrie, Tyndale, 1983, Replaced. 3 / NIVABC 1998. 3R

Harris, EGGNT, B&H, Academic, 2019. G

Hewitt, Tyndale, 1960, Replaced. 3.

Hughes, Eerdmans, 1977. 4.

Johnson, NTL, 2006. 4.

Jones, Banner of Truth, 2002. 3.

Kistemaker, Baker, 1984. 4.

Koester, Anchor, 2001. 5.

Lane, Word, 1991. 5R.

Lenski, Lutheran, 1937, Dated. 5.

Lindars, NTT, 1991. T

Manson, Hodder and Stoughton, 1951, 4

Miller, Summer Institute of Linguistics, 1988. 3G.

Moffatt, ICC, 1924, Dated. 4DG.

Moo. ZECNT, 2024. 4R*.

Morris, BSC, 1983, Lamplighter (Expositors Vol 12, 1982), 1RD.

cf. also EBC (Heb-Rev), Zondervan, 1982, Replaced in REBC. 3D.

Montefiore, Black's / Harper's,1964. 3.

Nairne, CGTSC, 1917, Dated. G

Neil, Torch, 1955. 1D.

O'Brien, Pillar, 2010. 4.

Peterson D, Tyndale, 2020. 2.

Pfitzner, ChiRho & Abigdon, 1997. 2D.

Phillips, REC, 2006. 3.

Schreiner, BTCPC, Academic, 2015. T.

Stibbs, Paternoster, 1970. 2D.

Westcott, Macmillan, 1903, Dated but masterful. 5.

Wilson, NCB, 1987. 2D.

* Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. This new series of commentaries produced by Zondervan adopts a modern approach to commentary formatting. It is mid-range in complexity, incisive and to the point, and as such, is a useful aid for time-poor Pastors. Highly recommended.

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