Why was The Book of Hebrews Written?

The Book of Hebrews is unique in the New Testament because it presents an understanding of Jesus from an Old Testament perspective. While the entire New Testament, from the first verse to the last, serves as a testimony to Jesus, Christians believe that even the Old Testament ultimately points to him. A significant aspect of Jesus’ ministry was revealing that he, though perceived by many as a local rabbi, was foretold in the ancient scriptures.

The Book of Hebrews dedicates its 13 chapters to this singular theme, utilising various Old Testament references to demonstrate that Jesus is precisely what God had always promised to His people. The letter particularly addresses Jews in the early Church who had come to recognise Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

What about readers today?

The book of Hebrews remains true and extremely important to Christians today, even though most do not come from a Jewish background. It is filled with memorable quotes, allowing countless Gentile Christians to strengthen their faith and ministries with its powerful verses, often without considering that it was originally intended for a Jewish audience.

Like any book of the Bible, Hebrews was not primarily written for us. However, its resonance with us is remarkable. Understanding the reasons behind its writing can help us apply the central issues it addresses to our present circumstances.

The Book of Hebrews was written to persecuted Jewish Christians.

The exact recipients of the letter to the Hebrews are unknown, but its focus on the Old Testament suggests that it was addressed to Jewish Christians. Some translations, such as J.B. Phillips’ “New Testament in Modern English,” even prefer the term “Jewish Christians” over “Hebrews” for clarity and accuracy. The general title “Hebrews,” which is not mentioned within the letter itself, symbolically connects the recipients to their ancestors, reaching back to Abraham, as the author intends. The author’s tone indicates that these Jewish Christians are facing significant challenges.

The key point is that individuals are not just facing difficulties without any visible way out. In Chapter 1, the core argument is presented: Jesus is part of the Old Testament and is superior to it as a more direct revelation of God. The author then challenges the reader with a thought-provoking question: “How, then, shall we escape if we pay no attention to such a great salvation?” (2:3, GNB). This salvation, which comes from their acceptance of Jesus, is the very issue that troubles the Jewish Christians, as it represents a greater salvation than what their ancestors experienced. However, the challenges they face tempt them to revert to that lesser salvation, which the book of Hebrews warns is ultimately no real escape.

Some Jews were hostile to Jewish Christians.

As Jews and Christians, the letter’s original readers found themselves between a rock and a hard place. Most Jews hadn’t accepted Jesus, whose death made him, to anyone rejecting the claims of his resurrection, a failed messiah, an executed criminal and possibly a blasphemer. A Jew taking the non-mainstream view that Jesus had, in fact, risen from the dead and ascended to heaven to reign with God, his Father, would have seemed, at the very least, a bit crazy.

Throughout the Book of Acts, the New Testament’s history of the early Church, the Church’s leaders and the Apostles are in trouble with the Jewish leadership. Although they are considered apostates to some extent for welcoming Gentiles without requiring conversion, they never consider themselves apostates and persist in identifying as Jews. So, as far as the Jewish leadership is concerned, they are rogue members of the community.

The Gentile authorities were hostile to Jewish Christians.

On the other hand, Jewish Christians faced persecution from the Romans. The opposition that Jesus encountered originated from within his own community. The Jewish establishment aimed to discredit him by portraying him as a threat to Roman authority. The accusation was that, while the majority of Jews remained loyal to Rome, Jesus was seen as a rebel—an impression solidified by his crucifixion. His followers, who bizarrely continued to uphold their beliefs despite his death, were consequently viewed as untrustworthy.

Initially, the Romans viewed Christianity as a sect of Judaism. When Emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome (as mentioned in Acts 18:2), this included both those who accepted Jesus and those who did not. The presence of differing beliefs among the Jews may have led the emperor to see the entire community as problematic. However, by the time of Claudius’ successor, Nero, Christianity had emerged as a distinct religion separate from Judaism, leading to intense persecution of Christians. The Roman Empire found this new religion unacceptable.

Persecution tempts converts to deconvert.

In that situation, both groups of persecutors—the Jews and the Romans—might accept deconversion as a way to avoid conviction. Jewish Christians could say, “I’m not really into the whole Jesus thing. I’m just a regular Jew.” The Letter to the Hebrews was written to address this misconception, emphasizing that such a claim is false. The Scriptures support the beliefs of Jewish Christians who have converted to Jesus. What Jesus offers is so great and completely superior to everything else that there is no good reason to reject it.

An evangelist aims to persuade everyone they preach to that salvation in Christ is essential for all. They strive to eliminate any doubt that their message does not apply to the listener. While it’s true that any Christian can begin to backslide, the message of Hebrews is relevant to everyone on the surface. However, there is a deeper level of meaning directed specifically at the first-century Jewish Christians for whom the letter was originally written.

What does Hebrews mean for your church?

The book of Hebrews is not merely about a general rejection of salvation or abandoning the teachings of the New Testament; it focuses on the concept of deconversion. In this context, a person who has converted to Christianity is contemplating publicly undoing their conversion and returning to their previous faith or community. For someone coming from an irreligious or nominally Christian background, the idea of salvation might seem more like an unusual choice than a genuine transformation. However, when an individual from another religious tradition chooses to follow Jesus, that decision is viewed as a significant change of allegiance. This can lead to being ostracized from their community and even from family, which can be more painful than those who haven’t experienced a similar conversion might realize. Therefore, the prospect of being offered a way back can be extremely tempting.

The letter’s initial readers were taken on an astonishing journey that elevated Jesus, aiming to convince them that no matter the agony they were enduring, it wasn’t worth succumbing to the temptation to abandon their faith. Two thousand years later, this letter prompts you to consider what your church is doing to share this same uplifting message. Is your community welcoming and capable of fostering a deep and meaningful relationship with Jesus? Can it provide the support needed to help those who have faced difficult conversions resist the temptation to return to their original community? Does your practical application of the gospel nurture the kind of transformational experience that the first readers of Hebrews underwent?

Author: James Howard-Smith, Edited by Robert Irvine.

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