The writer of Hebrews central concern is the possibility of newly established Jewish Christians retracting from their profession and returning to their former practice of Judaism. The argument the writer posits focuses on Jesus and lays an excellent foundation for the continuation of faith. He begins his epistle with a clear statement of the superiority of Christ’s name, as well as His superiority to the angels and the Mosaic law. Elwell and Yarbrough describe the two covenantal interrelationships in that the vehicles of revelation in the Old Testament serve an essential purpose in God’s overarching redemptive plan, but none compare to the Son, who “is the radiance of God’s glory.[1]
Against this backdrop, the writer asserts that the salvation confirmed through Jesus’ words, eyewitnesses, and the Holy Spirit provides a clear position of assurance for their faith. From this strength of faith and basis of superiority, he writes clearly of the concern for these new believers holding firm in their belief and calls them to serious diligence,
For this reason, we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. (Heb 2:1-4, NASB)[2]
His concern results from increased persecution of these followers of Christ in the first century, which in the mind of the writer will require persistence in their continued pursuit of this newfound relationship with Jesus. He urges these dispersed Jewish Christians in the final chapters of Hebrews to hold fast to their new faith and to press on despite persecution. He states poignantly in chapter ten, “Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised (Heb 10:35-36).
With the rise of postmodernism and the assault on absolute truth, the relevance of Hebrews to the modern reader remains paramount. Though the drawing away is not the same as detailed to first-century Jewish Christians, today’s believers face increased pressure to recant and conform to a reimagined version of their faith. With the rise of historical-criticism and its most extreme form “deconstructionism,” the Scriptures face the possibility of losing all objective meaning for the reader.[3] Against this backdrop of skepticism the believer must guard their faith with diligence and heed the words of Hebrews, “But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul” (Heb 10:39). The commitment to the faith for the believer preserves their soul against the persecution of modern philosophy and criticism. Moreover, to that end let the modern believer continue with perseverance and faith until the end.
Bibliography
Elwell, Walter A, and Robert W. Yarbrough. Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013.
[1] Walter A. Elwell and Robert W. Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament: A Historical and Theological Survey (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013), 332.
[2] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced employ the New American Standard Bible
[3] Elwell and Yarbrough, Encountering the New Testament, 161.
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