The book of hebrews boldly proclaims the superiority of jesus christ and christianity over other religions, including judaism. There are a number of helpful commentaries on the book of hebrews, and the following are five of the best. In this next chapter there is more than one truth important to notice. There has been a lot of controversy over who wrote the book of hebrews, however the reason for the controversy is just plain unbelief. We are pleased to announce the release of the first volume to appear in the byu new testament commentary series. The exhortations are as simple as they are weighty, and require but few remarks. The view of the hebrews theory was examined in detail by b. The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the hebrews. Hebrews 7 commentary, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary, by the leading authority in the church of christ, presents a verse level look at the bible. Originally published in the mid1960s, this commentary was completely revised and republished in 1990, the year of professor bruces death. Hebrews commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Macleod dean of the graduate program emmaus bible college, dubuque, iowa the question of emphasis or the doctrinal center of hebrews, is a vital one.
This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. Click the commentary tab or pulldown menu for a full selection of commentaries over any bible passage you are researching. And of necessity of faith in christ, and of stedfastly following him. It is demonstrably erroneous here, for it is expressly said by the author of the epistle that at the time he wrote it, timothy was absent. Gordon ascribes the authorship of hebrews to priscilla, writing that it is evident that the holy spirit. Thus says the author of the epistle to the hebrews 11. Adolf harnack thought priscilla with her husband aquilla wrote hebrews, and it remained anonymous to hide its controversial female authorship. Hebrews an introduction today we will briefly examine the text of the book of hebrews in the new testament and what we think is going on this text. As our advantages, with the better things god has provided for us, are so much beyond theirs, so should our obedience of faith, patience of hope, and labour of love, be greater. Lukan authorship of hebrews new american commentary studies in bible and theology. The reason for bringing all this up at the time our author wrote is plain, as lenski said. It is possible luke worked with paul and penned it but that is the only thing in doubt.
In his preface to this commentary, lane writes that his work has been an act of love and devotion to god and to the church. Its purpose was to present the lord jesus christ as perfect and superior in comparison to anything. The book of hebrews is a general epistle apostolic letter. Because early christians were uncertain about the authorship of hebrews. In addition to joseph smith, the lord provided for eleven others to see the gold plates for themselves and to be special witnesses of the truth and. The author of hebrews stresses how eternal salvation comes only through jesus. With its myriad references to hebrew customs and the old testament, the book was likely sent to a jewish christian community, possibly in rome.
Commentary on the book of hebrews by matthew henry new. Book of mormonauthorship theoriesview of the hebrews. May 30, 2014 the book of hebrews is thought of as more elaborate and refined than all of the books in the new testament. Johnson is also the author of numerous books, many of which, nowadays, are still widely used in academic and ecclesiastical settings around the worldthe present volume on hebrews being one of those contributions. In hebrews 7, the apostle paul continued to emphasize the preeminent role of jesus christ in the plan of salvation, focusing particularly on the superiority of the saviors priesthood, atoning sacrifice, and ministry. Hebrews 1 commentary the superior worth and dignity of. View of the hebrews is an 1823 book written by ethan smith, a congregationalist minister in vermont, who argued that native americans were descended from the ten lost tribes of israel, a relatively common view during the early nineteenth century. We will look at who we think wrote hebrews, when it was written, etc.
The byu new testament commentary series is a twopronged project that seeks to 1 make a new, more accessible rendition of ancient greek texts of the new testament available to latterday saints, and to 2 provide an indepth commentary of each book of the new testament. God spake to his ancient people at sundry times, through successive generations, and in divers manners, as he thought proper. It is obvious that there are certain lessons in the epistle to the hebrews that are found nowhere else in the bible. What is the latest scholarly opinion on who wrote hebrews. And hebrews presents christ and his service in the heavens as antitype and fulfilment of the old testament instructions of service. We have just added many new sources, including the expositors bible commentary, bengels gnomon, langes commentary, hastings great texts and many more. Hebrews 7 the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Hebrews 1 commentary new testament matthew henry st. Following are some important ideas to look for in the book of hebrews.
The purpose of this paper is to show how lds church leaders have used. This commentary presents a comprehensive analysis of johns book through the lens of the lds doctrine and mormon experience. Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible, who published his works in 1706, sixvolume exposition of the old and new testaments 17081710 or complete commentary, provides an exhaustive verse by verse study of the bible, covering the whole of the old testament, and the gospels and acts in the new testament. Church tradition teaches that paul wrote the book of hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. In a logical argument, the author demonstrates christs superiority, then adds practical instructions for following jesus. Donald guthries commentary the letter to the hebrews 1983 mentions priscilla by name as a suggested author. The revelation of john the apostle byu new testament. The teachings and practices of the old testament are fulfilled in the life and mission of jesus christ. This section of the bible has been titled as a masterpiece and immensely complex. Bruce wrote a number of fine commentaries during his lifetime. The view of the hebrews theory of book of mormon authorship.
Matthew henry 18 october 1662 22 june 1714 was an english commentator on the bible. However, as vogel himself writes as commentary in a footnote to this letter. Commentary conference, new mormon ideas about mark and hebrews, 29. Hebrews with book summary versebyverse bible commentary.
Numerous commentators on mormon history, from lds church general authority b. God speaks through his son hebrews one hebrews one is designed to cause us to understand the greatness of jesus. For students, pastors, and teachers, check out the list of s top 50 bestselling commentaries. Book of hebrews overview insight for living ministries. Clement of alexandria suggests that paul wrote the book originally in hebrew and that luke translated it into greek, though the greek of hebrews bears no resemblance to translation greek e. Study the bible online using commentary on hebrews and more. In other words, if we would take the epistle to the hebrews out of the bible, what would this do to our understanding of the truth of god or of the gospel. Hebrews is one of the most significant books in the new testament for understanding the relationship between the old and new covenants. Hebrews 7 commentary james burton coffman commentaries.
The apostle tells the hebrews, that god had provided some better things for them, therefore they might be sure that he expected as good things from them. Hebrews differs in some respect with the other epistles of the nt. When you consider the wide agreement among biblical scholars about who wrote every other book of the new testament, its a little mysterious that we dont know who wrote hebrews. From the first records of the christian church, its origins and who wrote it have been contemplated.
Roberts conducted an exhaustive comparison and analysis of these two books and concluded there is merit to this criticism. As you carefully read and try to understand hebrews, the old testament will make more sense to. He clement of alexandria says that the epistle to the hebrews is the work of paul, and that it was written to the hebrews in the hebrew language. Since each of the four new testament gospels contains an account of the suffering and death of jesus christ, it is perplexing that they receive so little attention in discussions of the atonement. Commentary on the book of romans by matthew henry new. Although obrien is more readable at times, lanes scholarship is unmatched in contemporary commentaries on hebrews. The text does not mention the name of its author, but was traditionally attributed to paul the apostle. Hebrews commentary john darbys synopsis of the new.
The epistle to the hebrews, or letter to the hebrews, or in the greek manuscripts, simply to the. Jul 10, 2012 i taught through the book of hebrews in my evening bible study in the fall of 2009, and i must agree with this assessment. Some mormons view the changes as restoring the bible text to its original wording. The book of mormon prophet jacob taught, he cometh into the world that he may save all men if they will.
When the internal evidence is examined, it overcomes easily issues of style. The book of hebrews and the joseph smith translation mormons. The superior worth and dignity of christ above moses is shown. Formats available are reading online html, amazon kindle, deseret book. Lds church leaders use of hebrews 8 byu new testament. As paul wrote, all those who are ordained unto this priesthood are made like unto the son of god. In fact, hebrews and pauls writings hold many concepts and teachings in common. Significantly, the book makes no reference to the destruction of the temple at jerusalem in ad 70, and the author wrote as if the sacrificial system were still in existence hebrews 10. Hebrews 1 to 6 jesus christ, the author of eternal salvation. One of the things which struck me about hebrews commentaries when i was preparing for those sermons is that the sorts of questions and problems one encounters in hebrews are unlike anything found in the synoptic gospels of. The most reasonable explanation, recognized early in church history, is paul wrote hebrews. Roberts took the position of examining the book of mormon from a critical perspective in order to alert the general authorities to possible future avenues of attack by critics. The subscription at the close of the epistle written to the hebrews from italy by timothy, like the other subscriptions, is of no authority.
It is worth noting that the lds bible dictionary says paul was the author, although the controversy of authorship is mentioned. Joseph smiths commentary on the bible salt lake city. The content of hebrews does not contradict what paul has written. Examples from joseph smiths revisions of the book of hebrews are. However, though a vast majority of christiansboth and scholars and the laitystill believe paul wrote the book, there are some tempting reasons to think otherwise. A commentary is firmly positioned as one of the most notable volumes within the acclaimed new testament library ntl series. Faith has been defined in many ways, but the most classic definition was given by the author of the letter to the hebrews in these. The author is anonymous, although either paul or barnabas was traditionally accepted as the author. God is not called father of the believers hebrews 12. Jan 02, 2020 church tradition teaches that paul wrote the book of hebrews, and until the 1800s, that issue was closed. Lanes commentary is, indeed, the best commentary on hebrews.
This is one of those posts where i would love to get input from the collective knowledge of the mormon blog world. Hebrews is one of the greatest commentaries we have on the old testament. Ethan smiths view of the hebrews, published seven years before the book of mormon is thought to be source material for joseph smiths book of mormon. Read hebrews commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. If you believe the authorized king james bible is the perfect, preserved word of god, then there should be no question about who wrote hebrews, because the book title tells you who wrote it.
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