Hebrews

 

For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, 

and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,

how shall we escape [perdition] if we neglect such a great salvation?

(Heb 2:2-3)

By Stephen W. Hiemstra

The strongest statement of Christology—the theology of the person, nature, and role of Christ—in the New Testament is found in the Book of Hebrews. A focus on Christology makes sense because the new covenant in Christ is a person (Heb 7:22-24), not a treaty or a set of rules and regulations. It is accordingly important to understand what makes this person unique—their family, their upbringing, their habits, how they think, and what they feel. On Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a child—a time in life when a person is most vulnerable, in total need of care and protection.

The subtext in the nativity scene is that Jesus is one of us—complete with dirty diapers. Jesus entered the world in the usual way. His vulnerability being the product of an unwanted pregnancy underscores his humble origins. Being from a small village, not an urban center, gives his street credibility among ordinary people. Being an ethnic Jew means that he is likely mixed race (Num 12:1) because Israel stands between continents—land disputed among empires as longs as there have been any. Jesus’ language abilities are unrecorded, although he was likely fluent in Aramaic, Hebrew, and Greek based on various New Testament situations and citations. In America today, Jesus might appear most like a brown-eyed, kinky-haired, Pentecostal pastor from Central America who works in construction during the week and has the physique to prove it.

Origins of the Book of Hebrews

The Book of Hebrews is a sermon taken from the mid 60s AD written to what was probably a Jewish house church in the city of Rome. The author is unknown, but Martin Luther believed the author to have been Apollo—an educated Jew from Alexandria (Acts 18:24-28) who worked closely with the Apostle Paul. Others, such as Calvin, believed the author to have been Paul (Calvin 2007, 3).

The Book of Hebrews argues the superiority of Christ to angels, Moses, Aaron, and the prophets, which is an argument that appeals to biblical Jews. It exhorts its audience to remain true to the faith in the face of persecution (Guthrie 1998, 13-35). Hebrews cautions that many followed Moses out of Egypt, but few followed Joshua into the Promised Land (Heb 3:16-19).  For Christians, Jesus is the new Joshua who leads us out of sin and into the heavenly kingdom (Murray 1996, 157-158).

Great High Priest

A key verse in the Book of Hebrews is: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15) A priest serves as an intermediary between God and human beings. 

If the priest were merely divine, then the priest, not having any weakness, could not sympathize with mere human beings. If that priest were then also a judge, the judgments would likely be harsh untempered with an understanding of the limitations and temptations that human being face.

If the priest were merely human, then how could the priest have standing with God because God is immortal. The priest could only relate to God during a mortal life being a creature created by God himself—at best a plaything in the hands of immortal God.

Thus, author of Hebrews argues that the divine and human attributes coexisting in a holy person makes Christ Jesus a suitable candidate to being a great high priest, someone fitting and just and available. The Book of Hebrews therefore serves to grant us a better understanding of the role and provisions of our great high priest.

References

Calvin, John. 2007. Calvin’s Bible Commentaries: Hebrews (Orig pub 1847). Translated by John King. London, UK: Forgotten Books.

Guthrie, George H. 1998. The NIV Application Commentary: Hebrews. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Murray, Andrew. 1996. The Holiest of All. Update Version. New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House.

Hebrews

Also see:

The Face of God in the Parables
The Who Question
Preface to a Life in Tension
Other ways to engage online:



Author site: http://www.StephenWHiemstra.net
Publisher site: http://www.T2Pneuma.com

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