Who Wrote Hebrews, and Does it Have a Structure?

—Hebrews Part 10

Andrew Fountain – Feb 2, 2025

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My theory (this is just an example of what might have happened!)
- The church in Rome wanted to run a conference, so they contacted Apollos, who was maybe in Corinth at the time.
  - They had been really blessed by his understanding of how the O.T. related to us today.
  - They asked him to give three messages on this theme at the conference.
- It was a great success and lots of people wanted a copy of it (no audio or video)
  - So they asked Apollos if he would write the messages out for them.
  - He agreed on condition it was anonymous, because of all the trouble with factions at Corinth.
- When he did so, he did quite a bit of work polishing it and organizing the content.
- He then sent them a copy with a note attached to the end ([13:22–24]).
So what do we know about the author?
- Amazingly talented writer (at the level of the most polished Greek literature—Attic)
- Hangs out with Paul’s group (Timothy: [Heb 13:22,23])
- Some ideas are very similar to Paul’s but there are some new insights
- Knows the O.T. Scriptures very well

Why Apollos?

Acts 18:24 “Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures (O.T.)…”
eloquent
from Alexandria, Egypt (the most sophisticated Greek)
“mighty” in the Old Testament
Acts 18:28 “he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures (O.T.) that Jesus is the Christ.”
The only one in Paul’s circle of friends who fits.
Good reason to make it anonymous

When? Where? To Whom?

Date:
before 70AD when the temple was destroyed

Place:
13:24 Greetings to all your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy send you greetings.

Recipients
Any church in Greek speaking world (most of the Roman Empire)

Must be Greek-speaking because of the complexity of the language (High-Greek)
- The term “Hebrews” was reserved for Jews still living in Palestine, who wouldn’t have Greek as a first language
- Some suggest it could be Jewish converts who were tempted to return to Judaism
But there is actually no reason to restrict it to Jews
- So it could have been to any church in Greek speaking world (most of the Roman Empire)
- The Gentiles were just as likely to be interested in the Scriptures
- They were even more likely to want to know how the O.T. related to themselves
- This is one of the main purposes of the book
Form
- Not an Epistle (letter)
- Most people suggest it was a sermon/sermons that was later written down
No opening section (from / to / grace / prayer of thanksgiving)
- 3 verses on the end show that it was written to be sent
Paul’s epistles are full of “I write to you...”
- Whereas this is full of expressions such as [11:32 “what more shall I say? For time will fail me...”]
- Frequent references to running out of time
- [5:11 “say... hearing”]
Most people suggest it was a sermon that was later written down
- two problems
- very long for a sermon
- very complex
- many of the intricate literary features would be lost in a sermon
Some Christians react to the idea that something can be Scripture and art at the same time
- Some of the Psalms are intricate Hebrew poetry
- Other books as well, such as Song of Solomon
- This book is Art.
- My Greek tutor once made me translate some of it... (after working through Paul)
- unfortunately I can’t show you the beauty of the Greek, since you would have to be fairly advanced Greek students to really appreciate it.
- A good reason for it to be anonymous
  - Can you imagine a songwriter “this song is so good, I’m going to make it anonymous”

Structure

Why I believe it is so important
History of attempts to find a structure
- Historically there were several ideas,but it is generally recognized that this fits very badly
- A second view is the “Patchwork”
  - In effect gives up on any structure
- In the last 100 years, there has been a lot of success in identifying literary features in the book which help us determine the structure.
- In 1963 a French scholar, Albert Vanhoye, made a breakthrough
1991 George Guthrie did his Ph.D. simply focused on how the book is put together
2010 a book by John Heil was published
2011 The best work to date has come from the Theological College of Northern Nigeria, a man called David Heath did his Ph.D. on this
When I preach a series in a book, I usually like to start with an overview of how it is structured.
- This has been so much work, that 2 months later...

Structural Markers in Hebrews

2:1,3 Initial motivation to pay attention
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away…

how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

3:1 Focus on Jesus
Therefore brothers and sisters…

fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,

4:15–16 Core Teaching of Hebrews
For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are

Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.

8:1 “Now the main point of what we are saying is this:”
The New Covenant—better promises

10:22,23 Core Teaching of Hebrews
Therefore… Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

12:1,2 Focus on Jesus
Therefore… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

12:25 Closing motivation to pay attention
Take care not to refuse him who is speaking.

For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we turn away from him who warns from heaven.

The Structure of Hebrews

1:1–4	Intro
1:5–14	Jesus is higher than the angels, his throne is forever and ever
2:1–4	Therefore we must pay much closer attention
2:5–18	Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers & sisters and we live in his victory
3:1	Therefore: fix your thoughts on Jesus
3:2–4:13	Old Testament—avoid following negative examples
4:14–16	Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace
5–7:28	New High Priest after the order of Melchizedek — Pay attention, don’t reject the teaching that is coming!
8	“The point of what we are saying is this:” The New Covenant
9:1-10-18	9:1–14 Old sacrificial replaced with new that completely forgives sin
10:19–25	let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith: hearts cleansed & bodies washed
10:26–39,11	Old Testament—be inspired by positive examples
12:1–2	Therefore: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
12:3–24	Being disciplined is a sign of being sons and daughters in the New Covenant
12:25–29	Take care not to refuse the one who is speaking!
13:1–20	Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!
13:20–25	Closing

The Message of Hebrews

4:15–16 For we do not have a high priest unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are
Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
10:22,23 Therefore… Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Heb 13 – Conclusion

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep,
by the blood of the eternal covenant,
equip you with everything good
that you may do his will,
working in us that which is pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.