The Letter Of The Hebrews

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible has provided me with a critical analysis of the Hebrew Bible and introduced a wide variety of interpretive strategies, including African American, anthropological, feminist, historical-critical, Jewish, and literary perspectives. These approaches were presented by our author’s, L. Juliana M. Claassens, Peter Enns, Walter Brueggemann, and John L. Collins. Each author provides a unique interpretation to help us comprehend how the text is an expression of one’s interpretive understanding. Having said that, the biggest influence has been how I will seek to present Old Testament scriptures more effectively while remembering the context and the audience in which I am presenting. For example, I believe the greatest lessons that I have been reminded of are, the Old Testaments Scriptures from my childhood, which have become a big part of my relationship with God and are based on a childlike faith, which must now grow in the richness of the different interpretations, it is this message that I can apply to life.

The Old Testament is the largest part of the bible nestled behind the leather binding in the front of the book. Unlike most books, told from one-person or even two this is comprised of multiple, some stories even having two different versions in another point of view; over time it has become a large collection of ancient texts written and re-written by different authors and editors over the many years. The stories show the ancient Israelites, they show the laws, and rituals, which make up their religion and the small embers, which will one day, turn to a flame that is Christianity. The Jewish people view these stories as collected in what they call the Torah, is the collection for what makes up their history and the promise that God gave to them, as well as their laws and what they worship today. For the Christians the Old Testament is still seen as sacred, but most place a stronger importance to the New Testament.

As stated there are many letters said to be written (ascribed) Paul, but were not. There are two major categories: the undisputed letters of Paul and the disputed pseudonymous letters. Scholars look at the style of the letter to determine if Paul wrote it. In order to decide whether the letter was written by Paul or not you must look at history during the time of Paul’s letters and compare letters ascribed to Paul with letters written by others of the same time. According to our class lecture, The Jewish War happened just as the letters of Paul were beginning to circulate and the gospels were being written down.

Having identified this problem, the Hebrew letter was an attempt to solve this problem. By reminding these “babes” of these basic doctrines of the church of Christ, he hoped to be able to move on to discuss greater things. It remains to be seen whether this will actually solve the problem.

Therefore, one question remains: how does one endure suffering? How does the author of Hebrews expect a community, which has been ridiculed and rejected to the point they are tempted to abandon Christ, to endure suffering? The author claims that faith is the means by which the community will endure. The author spends the last section of the book of Hebrews (10:32-13:25) exhorting the readers to remain steadfast and faithful amidst their suffering (Thompson 200). A powerful rhetoric occurs in chapter 11 of Hebrews, as the author uses examples of faith and endurance to urge the audience towards faithfulness, beginning with the statement: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1), and thus setting the stage for an exposition depicting people, whom throughout history, remained faithful to God without seeing a world in subjection to Him. F.F. Bruce states that the people listed, in what is often referred to as the

The passage Hebrews 10:32-34 exemplifies the troubling reality of the Christian audience of Hebrews who live in a world that does not “. . . yet see everything in subjection to Christ” (Hebrews 2:8b), or find Christ in control of everything as they believed (Hebrews 2:8). Instead, they live in a world that rejects them, mistreats them, and ridicules them. They are “people of faith who were not vindicated in this life and for whom faith did not mean they escaped suffering and death” (Longman and Garland 51). Does this mean that faith in Christ sometimes fails those in the midst of suffering? Or did Christ fail the audience of Hebrews because they did not see a reality of him completely in control as the author of Hebrews claimed in Hebrews 1? By no means! Faith, as shown in The Letter to the Hebrews, provides those suffering, the endurance to continue “. . . looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith. . . “(Hebrews 12:2a), that they may reach the perfection that Jesus

In some other books of the Bible it states who the author is in the beginning of the book, but in Hebrews the author is not stated. One argument says that Paul is the author and other argument says otherwise. The 4 arguments that Paul could be the authorship of Hebrews is, “Paul’s rabbinical training under Gamliel, knowledge of Judaism, Paul’s close relationship to Timothy, Peters reference to the writing of Paul,” (Peretti et al.2004, 34).

The Hebrew Bible contains contradictory and inadequate information, which impacts my views about what the Hebrew Bible, says and what the Bible means. It has multiple significances. It is evident that various scriptures in the Hebrew Bible do not say what it means, nor does it mean what it says. “Ultimately, it 's going to take some detective work in an effort to enhance interpretation further.”[pg. 6].

For many, the Hebrew bible is read and accepted without question. It plays a significant role in the practice of many religions and yet not many dare to wonder who wrote such sacred writings that would still be read to this very day. For generations, it was almost unheard of to ask or even fathom the identity of the author. Richard Elliot Friedman, a biblical scholar and graduate from Harvard University, explores, studies, and analyzes the bible to discover who wrote it. Having earned a master degree in theology, B.A degree in Philosophy, and master degree in Hebrew literature, Friedman proves to be a knowledgeable expert in his field of studies. From the years of work he invested into, Friedman aims to provide convincing evidence that the book is written by four persons through historical, archaeological, logical proof.

This book in the bible was written about 48 A.D. and the audiences for this book were Jewish Christians. James purpose for writing his letter was to show Christians how to practice their faith in God ( James Richards p.1352).

In the book of Hebrews, no, one really knows who is or are the authors. However, it is inclined that due to the references it makes to the letters that Apostle Paul that he was the author. Jesus ' preexistence and creatorship (Hebrews 1:1–4; Colossians 1:15–17). The giving of gifts by the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 2:4; 1 Corinthians 12:11). The humiliation of Christ (Hebrews 2:14–17; Philippians 2:5–8). The new covenant (Hebrews 8:6; 2 Corinthians 3:4–11). Later it would be challenged because Apostle Paul had a writing style that Hebrews did not have. The book of Hebrews was anonymous, had no greeting, didn 't use Jesus Christ, and the writing style was different. Hebrews was written some time before 70 A.D., because sacrificial ritual is described in the present tense and the temple, was still being used so that meant that the time frame was before the temple was destroyed.

Although disputed by the majority of scholars, some believe that Paul was indeed the author of the letter to the Colossians.  Those that agree that Paul was the author note the similarities.  Paul addresses Timothy in the salutation to both letters.  He probably wrote the letter about the same time he composed the letter to Philemon when he was imprisoned.  He also greets many of the same people in both Philemon and Colossians.

Where, when, why, and by whom Galatians was written as well as the issue, of Paul's authority, addressed by him in his letter and the primary themes are all important in order to understand this book. "The Letter of Paul to the Galatians" is the ninth book of the New Testament in the Bible. It is one of the ten Pauline books, and there are three more books that are possibly Pauline. Galatians is one the Pauline letters that has little debate of authorship

Paul claims to be the author of Ephesians. In fact, the letter was spread around the world recognizing Paul as the author, early in the church history. However “Since the nineteenth century Pauline authorship of Ephesians has been doubted”(The Baker Bible Handbook, 835).This is because notable differences in language and style have been found between Ephesians and other letters claimed to be written by Paul such us Colossians. Anyways, those who believe it was written while Paul , have concluded that he wrote

The first 39 books of the larger work called the Bible, is called the Old Testament. The Bible itself is arguably the best selling and most read book of all time, yet it’s well known to be quite challenging to read through and understand. The Old Testament portion of the Bible, notably the most difficult portion of the Bible for most to study and follow, yields 39 books from multiple authors, and spans over 4000 years of crucial world and church history. If that were not enough to take on, the Old Testament comes our way through multiple styles of authorship and formats, including but not limited to, books of history, law, proverbs, ethics,