THEOLOGY OF HEBREWS -BY.Thrisa M

TABEL OF CONTENT

INTRODUCTION

THE THOLOGY OF HEBREWS

 Historical Background of Hebrews

The Nature of the Book

The author

The date

 THEOLOGY PROPER

The idea of god

THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE CHRISTOLOGY OF HEBREWS

The name and titles of Christ

The pre-Existence of Christ

The Deity of Christ

The humanity of Jesus

THE PRIETHOOD OF CHRIST

The order of the priesthood of Christ

THE NEW COVENANT

THE HIGH PRIESTLY WORK OF CHRIST

CONCUUSION

BIBLOGRAPHY

INTRODUCTION

         This is my great privilege to write a term paper about “The theology of Hebrews” to the subject new testament biblical theology. The book of Hebrews mainly deals with the theologies concerning God, Jesus and the priesthood of Jesus Christ. This book is a good Theological book, it gives a great Theological ideas. The doctrines of Christology and high priesthood are vitally interrelated in the epistle to the Hebrews.

Undoubtedly the Christology of Hebrews is one of the central theological themes of the book. the doctrine of priest hood Christ is the outstanding doctrine of the epistle. The author of this epistle clearly explains this priesthood by giving Old Testament background about priestly functions. The author gives a great teaching about hash priestly work. This epistle deals with the Christian life too. A dusting wishing characteristic of Hebrews is the prominence which it gives to the Christian life as a practical out working of the bather covenant relationship with God as well as with fellow believers.

In this Assignment we are going to discuss about some of the important theology that is theology proper and Christology and also the priesthood of Christ and about the Christian life. Really the author developed these doctrines very well in this epistle. So I hope that these discussions concerning theology of Hebrews in this assignment will useful forever.

THE THOLOGY OF HEBREWS

Historical background

I. The nature of the book:

         It is a letter addressed to a particular community of people. It is a sermon with a particular group or community in mind. The book of Hebrews is definitely not a theoretical essay to be read just anywhere, while “the subjects themselves are of universal interest, the discussion is directed by special circumstances.” the fore, one prefers to say that we are dealing with a latter.

         The use of the Septuagint in Old Testament quotation seems hardly consistent with Hebrew readers; the readers of this epistle were not poor, as the saints in Jerusalem were. All things considered, this writer leans toward Rome as the destination, but whichever it was the author of Hebrews definitely had a specific church or several house- churches had a specific church or several house-churches in mind when he wrote.

THE AUTHOR: Inspire of its divergences from the standard of Pauline authorship, the book has manifest Pauline affinities, and can hardly have originated beyond the Pauline circle , to which it is referred, not only by the authors friendship with timothy, but also by many unquestionable echoes of the Pauline theology.

THE DATE: The tradition date is early- between 64 and 67 AD.

THEOLOGY PROPER

I. The idea of god

A. He is a living God. (3:12.9:14, 19:31, 12:22).

         The four refines is emphasizing the character of God as one who is living. People may back off from Him, serve Him, FALL INTO His hands or come unto Him city.

B. He is enthroned in the highest (1:3; 8:1)

         In both references “Majesty” seems to be a synonymous name for God and as such He is enthroned in heaven.

C. He is holy energy (12:29, 4:12-13; 12:14)

         Five is not used in the figure as a picture of the way God manifests Himself, but to describe Him very nature. As such the burns up all that are unworthy in those who serve Him.

D. He is lord (8:2, 11)

         The Old Testament idea expressed by atonal, a possessive plural, is reiterated here. Majesty and ownership are the two ideas conveyed by this word.

E. He is an absolutely righteous: 

              As the writer to the Hebrews employs this concept it includes the ideas of          punishment (2:2) reward (6:7, 10) and faithfulness (10:23, 11:11).

F. He is a God of peace (13:20)

         He becomes the author and giver of peace when the way of access to him is opened through the blood. The unapproachable God generally speaking- of the Old Testament has opened the way through the gift of Him son and brought peace to man.

G. He is love (12:5)

         This aspect of God’s character is spoken of in connection with the believer’s chastening.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

A. His deity

   The deity of the Holy Spirit is seen in the following ways.

               He is called God

In 4:4 the same words attributed to God are those which were ascribed to the spirit God are those which were ascribed to the spirit in 3:7. Thus the Holy Spirit must be God.

           He performs the works of God

The spirit was the one who gave the scriptures (3:7, 9:8) and he indwells believers (6:4).

1.                       It is possible to blaspheme the spirit (10:29)

B. His work

          He gives gifts (2:4)

First generation Christians were given gift from the Holy Spirit, which enabled them to perform extra ordinary acts.

       He is the authors of scripture (3:7, 9:8, 10:15)

   This is the most frequently mentioned work of the holy spirit in Hebrews, and it is characteristic of the book that the origin of scripture is ascribed to the divine author and the human authors.

      He indwells believers (6:4)

Since the word partaker is the same as used in 12:8 it means more than simply “going along with it brings out the fact of a personal character gained ,and that gained in a vital development” to partake of the spirit is to possess  Him.

          He gives grace (10:29)

The holy spirit is in the background in Hebrews and the son is in the foreground conviction of sin which elsewhere in the new testament is particularly ascribed to the spirit is in Hebrews made a matter of relationship of the simmer to a living God this is true of both unbelievers and believers sanctification, which is generally thought of in relation to the spirit is in Hebrews primarily the separation unto God effected by the death of Christ 10:10.

THE CHRISTOLOGY OF HEBREWS

The Christology of Hebrew- one of the central thanes of the book- is more incidentally them systematically developed as a result of the warning of the book against drifting and the statement of the glories of the new covenant.

The name and titles of Christ

1.                       His names

a.           Christ-This is the most frequently used name of the lord in Hebrews. when used without the article it is a proper name 3:6, while the presence of the article generally incorporated the idea of His office as messiah 3:14,5:5.

b.           Jesus-The human name is used eight times in the epistle for instance in 2:9 we are told that men’s lost dominion will be regained in Jesus the son of men. In other instances it is related to his priesthood and the necessity for perfect and glorified humanity

c.            Other names-of Christ used in Hebrews in common with the rest of the New Testament are Lord Jesus 13:20, Jesus Christ 10:10, Jesus the son of God 4:14, and Lord 2:3, 7:14.

d.           Especially distinctive of this Epistle, however, are three names of Christ.

1.                       Son 1:2- always without the article

2.                       Son of God 6:6- this is a formal designation of the second person.

3.                       Priest and high priest 5:6- the frequency of this name stands from the systematic treatment of the doctrine of the priesthood of Christ.

C. Titles

The distinctive titles of Hebrews are all stereological. They are mediator of the new covenant  8:6, ground of eternal salvation 5:9, author of eternal salvation 2:10, forerunner 6:20, apostle and high priest of our confession 3:1,great shepherd of the sheep 13:20 and first born 1:6.

The pre-Existence of Christ

The doctrine of pre-existence is related to that of the deity of Christ which in turn is vitally connected with the doctrine of priesthood, which is so important finds an important place in the writers theology.

1.                       Proved by Christ’s works

Before the incarnation of Christ was working, therefore, he was pre-existent. He was the one who made the ages 1:2 and who is the continuous support of all things 1:3.

2.                       Proved by Christ’s eternal generation 1:5-6

Eternal generation is not in view but rather appoints mint to son ship by resurrection V-6, the Melchizedek priesthood however; the emphasis of the passage is on the one who appoints, God for he is God, who declared the eternal generation of the son is the same one who appointed that son as priest.

3.                       Proved by Christ’s heavenly origin 10:5-7

The author considered the son to be pre-existent or eternally generated.

C. The Deity of Christ

   If pre-existence is the first strewed, deity is the second step which leads to the important doctrine of the priesthood of Christ.

1.                       Proved by His names

The names the son’s of God are, first born, Lord, author of eternal salvation, and great shepherd of the sheep.

2.                       Proved by His attributes and characteristics

a. Effulgence of glory 4:3- The glory of God is the manifestation of God’s attributes, and since Christ manifests them in and of Himself, He must be God.

b. Image 1:3- The son is the express image of God’s essence

c. Omni potency –All things supported by Him

d. mpeccability-4:15 Christ was Holy ,sinless stainless, and separate from contact with sinners.

e. Immutability- and entering 1:12- All change but He is the same forever

3. Proved by His works are also attributed to the son who can only be done by God.

4. Proved by the worship give to Him Both men and angel worship the son

D. the humanity of Jesus

 For a book which is generally through of as stressing the deity of Christ there is a great deal said about His humanity.

1.                       His human nature was real

The reality of the humanity of Christ is displayed by the author in His many references to human traits which were exhibited in Christ. He was dependent on God 2:13, He was humble 5:5; He was reverent 5:7, His prayer in dependence on God 5:7, He was obedient, He developed into maturing. He partook of flesh and blood 2:14 and he was the epitome of the life of faith 12:2. In all these characteristics He reflects real humanity.

2.      His human nature was shared in common with men:

3.       He was human he shared certain things with all of mankind. Only grace can account for His taking the nature of man and sharing, the resultant consequences.

             3. His human nature was perfect:

Christ was human but not as we are for. His humanity was perfect. The Lord’s perfect human nature was demonstrated so through His suffer and discipline 2:10.

E. The superiority of Christ:

All that the author says about Christ has as its presupposition His Divine son ship first he shows how Christ is superior to the prophets of the Old Testament 1:1-3. Second, he shows the superiority of the son over angels 1:4-2. Third, he shows the superiority of Christ to moses3:1. Finally, the Contrasts Christ with the priests of the Old Testament. In all of these contrasts the writer is seeking to fortify his reader’s loyalty to Christ the mediator of the new covenant.

F. The offices of Christ:

The prophetic and Kingly offices are mentioned but briefly. As prophet1:2 the son speaks in this present period of history. As king He shall be worshiped by the angels when He comes again 1:6.

G. The Exaltation of Christ:

The resurrection is mentioned specifically in only one place 13:20. The ascension is mentioned with some frequency because it is the gateway to the present high priestly ministry. It involved passing through the lower heavens into heaven itself 4:14.

Since biblical theology is concerned with discovering the threw of the writer concerned it must be apparent that the writer of Hebrews held the same “higher Christology” as it has been called- as Paul and john. That is he beloved that the Love was both human and divine and had no Jesus titles which were perfectly familiar to him as designations of deity. This was the evident thought of the author and to discover that, not the opinion of interpreters is the task of Biblical Theology.

THE PRIETHOOD OF CHRIST

The doctrines of Christology and high priesthood are vitally interrelated in the epistle to the Hebrews. Nowhere else in the New Testament is the title priest or high priest applied to Christ? The teaching concerning the person of the high priest is found mainly in the section from 4:14 to 7:28. However, references to his work are scattered throughout the whole epistle.

1. The qualifications for the office of high priest 5:1-10

a. He had to be a man v.1

Christ’s incarnation qualified him to serve, for in it he took upon himself the nature of man.

b. He had to be compassionate v.2

In this the priest had to have gentle consideration because he was compassed about with weakness.

c. He had to be chosen by God v.4-6

Christ qualified because the God who eternally begat Him also chose Him a priest forever.

They had to be prepared v.7-8

Since men suffer, they mend a stmpathizicy high priest and since sympathy can only be genuinely exercised by one who has suffered himself, our lord had to learn of suffering and obedience. There in these verses is one of the several mentions of his weeping.

4.                       The order of the priesthood of Christ

a.           The point of the melcizedek priesthood

The point is simply that this priesthood of Christ is a melchizedekan one, not a aerobic one. Psalm 110 was the sufficient evidence for these Jewish readers. This fact enables him to say that Christ is another kind of priest 7:15. The emphasis is on the personality of the priest and not on the factions performed. This relation of a different order of priesthood has two ramifications.

1.                       It explain why only contain things are said about melchizedek

2.                       It obliterates the artificial distinctions usually raised concerning the aerobic and melchizedekan priesthood.

3.                       It is not that Christ was a priest in his person after the order of Melchizedek and in his work after rhea order of Aaron.

b.           The portraiture of Melchizedek 7:1-3 Gen 14.

The writer sets forth contain facts concerning Melchizedek’s life and then says that he was “made like unto the son of God “v. 3. The comparison is between Christ and the limited revelation give concerning Melchizedek, the specifics of which concern the manner of Melchizedek’s appearing in the priesthood and not the manner or nature of birth or life. The portraiture is a limited one in order that the resemblance may be extensive

THE NEW COVENANT

The symbol of covenant is frequently mentioned in the epistle. the old covenant eighth Israel, the mosaic law , figures in the discussion concerning the tabernacle 31:31-34 is prominent is the discussion of chapter 8. The new covenant Jesus is the mediator 9:15, became of the shedding of his blood by which he ratified it 9:16-20.

The new covenant with the church is that better covenant of which the author speaks. In any case, the prophecy of Jeremiah is quoted in chapter 8 in order to emphasize that even the Old Testament predicted the end of the mosaic covenant. The new covenant under which the church is blessed is not the yet to be fulfilled to the house of I sale and the house of Judah as prophesied.  

THE HIGH PRIESTLY WORK OF CHRIST

Priestly function of the Aaronic could and do foreshadow in type those things which Christ, the Melchizedek on priest, also perfumed. Christ can and does fulfill Aaronic type, but he has fulfilled has no other relationship of the work of the Aaronic priests, Christ’s work was different for he did not offer anything for himself and his offering of himself was once for all.

CONCUUSION

In conclusion I observed that the theology of Hebrews is essentially the theology of the priesthood of Christ in relation to the better covenantal promise for the Christian in this age. The writer hoped that understanding the truth of what this reads has in Christ would be the two nice which would cure their ills and stop their drifting course of life. The logical order of the development of the theology is very convincing first; the writer introduces Christ in all of the essential dignity of his person overshadowing all other. Then he develops the theme of his priesthood and finally he shows the ethical and marl implications of the lives of believers. The Christology of Hebrews is preparatory: the priesthood is central, the Christian life is consequent.

   Through writing of this assignment I learned May things in the book of Hebrews. I should say the book of Hebrews is treasure of New Testament. This book gives clear picture about Jesus Christ and his authority over human binges and this entire world. I enjoyed much by writing these theology of Hebrews it is really very useful at present as well as in future.

BIBLOGRAPHY

Bruce F.F. The Epistle to the Hebrew. U.S.A. 1990.

Brooke foss west coh. The Epistle to the Hebrews. U.S.A. 1980.

Charles Caldwell Ryrie, biblical theology of the New Testament. Moody press Chicago. 1959.

 Donald Guthrie. New Testament Theology. U.S.A. 1961.

G.B. Stevens, The theology of the new testament.Londan.

Thomas D.Lea. The New Testament and Its background and message.U.S.A.1961