who wrote the letter to the Hebrews only God knows for certain

Oregenes Adamantius 

It is entirely fitting that this book should remain anonymous

Frédéric Louis Godet 

Author.

It rests upon the authority of the Old Testament. The writer assumes the Old Testament to be authoritative, and all the institutions of sacrifice and priesthood as ordained of God to be types and shadows, of which Christ is the fulfilment. The key verse could be "He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second", 10. 9.

Authority.

Internal evidence is our only guide in this matter. • The readers were the second generation of Christians, 2. 3, • not new to the faith, 5. 12, • persecuted, 10. 32-34; 12. 4, • and some of their leaders had died, 13. 7. • It must have been written before the destruction of

Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans in A.D. 70.

Date.

• Internal evidence points to Hebrew Chris tians who were members of some definite community, 13. 7, 17-19, 22-24.

• Their state (become dull of hearing.) and needs (need someone to teach you again) were known to the writer, for there is a personal note throughout, 5. 11,12; 6. 9, 10; 10. 32-34; 12. 4.

• They had not fully perceived the finality of Christianity and were still clinging to Judaism (old ways)

Destination. 

• to lead believers from a rudimentary to a mature knowledge of Christian truth, 5. 11-12; 6. 1-3, 11.

• They had not made progress and there was profession and professors among them, so they are encouraged not to go back to the things of the past, 6.1-3.

• One of its key words is perfection, which refers to a mature Christian experience in contrast with a rudimentary one, see 7. 11,19; 10. 14; 12. 1-2.

Design and Purpose.

Its central theme is the Person and Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Message.

1. The Supremacy of the Person of Christ, 1 to 4. 12.a. Greater than the prophets in His Revelation, 1. 1-3. The past was multiform,

fragmentary, partial. The present is uniform, full, perfect,b. Greater than angels in His Recognition, 1. 4-13. They are His servants,

creatures, subjects. He is the Son, Creator, Sovereign.c. Greater than Adam in His Rule, 2. 5-18. Dominion forfeited by Adam.

Dominion fulfilled in Christ, by incarnation, 14; by redemption, 15.d. Greater than Joshua in His Rest, 4. 1-13. The rest of Creation, 4; The rest of

Canaan, 8; The rest of the Christian, 3; The rest of Christ, 9; The rest of Consecration, 10.

Exhortations   and   Warnings. About Drifting, 2. 1-3; about Departing, 3. 7; 4. 7; about Diligence, 4. 11.

2. The Superiority of the Priesthood of Christ, 4. 13 to 8. 13.a. The God-Appointed Man, 4. 13 to 7. 28. Christ Suited for

Priesthood, 4. 11 to 5. 10. Christ Successful in Priesthood, 6. 13-17. Christ Superior in Priesthood, 7. 1-28; the comparison, 1-10; the change, 11-18; the constitution, 19-25; the character of Christ, 26-28.

b. The God-Given Ministry, ch. 8. The Beauty of the New Sanctuary, 1-6; a better ministry, covenant, promises. The Blessings of the New Covenant, 7-13; required, promised, assured.

Exhortations and Warnings. About Dulness, 5. 11-14; about Declension, 6. 1-8; about Diligence, 6. 9-12.

3. The Satisfaction of the Propitiation of Christ, 9. 1 to 10. 37.a. The Passing of the Old, ch. 9. The Foreshadowing of His

Work, 1-9; its Fulness, 10-22; the Fact of His Coming, 23-26; Fruitfulness of His Work; 27-28.

b. The Perfection of the New, ch. 10. Failure of Past Offerings, 1-2; Frequency of Sacrifices, 3-6; Fulfil ment of God's will, 7-10; Finality of His Work, 11-14; Forgiveness of Sins, 15-18; Freedom of Access, 19-20; Fitness for Worship, 21-23; Fellowship of Saints, 24-25; Folly of Wilful Sin, 26-31.

Exhortations and Warnings. • About Despising, 26-31; • about Devotion, 32-37.

4. The Sufficiency of the Pattern and Power of Christ, 10. 38 to 13. 21.a. The Example of Faith, ch. 11. The Value of Faith, 1-7; Its Visions, 8-

22; Its Vigilance, 23-29; The Victories of Faith, 30-40. Faith and Invisibilities, 8-16; Faith and Improbabilities, 17-22; Faith and Impossibilities, 23-29; Faith's Exploits, 30-34; Faith's Endurance, 35-40.

b. The Education of Faith, 12. 1-17. Diligence in the Race, 1-3; Discipline in the School, 4-17.

c. The Experiences of Faith, 12.18-29. Exhortations, 12-17; Encouragement, 18-24; Enjoyment, 25-29.

d. The Expression of Faith, 13. 1-21. Love for Christians, 1-7; Loyalty to Christ, 8-16; Lowliness of Mind, 17-21.

e. Conclusion, 13. 22-25. Information, 23; Salutation, 24; Benediction, 25. Weigh prayerfully the expressions used of Christ: "Thou art my Son"; "Thou art the Same"; "Thou art a Priest".