General Epistles

Hebrews; As the title signifies, this book or epistle was originally addressed to Jewish Christians. In the early days following conversion through the preaching of some of Jesus’ original disciples, they became exemplary Christians and had helped supply the needs of other Christians. They had taken cheerfully the loss of their own possessions as they were persecuted for Christ's name. However, at the time this letter was written their original teachers and leaders had died (Hebrews 13:7). Now they were on the verge of slipping back from a confession of Christ into the Judaism out of which they had been converted (Hebrews 13:13-14). The writer of Hebrews encourages the readers to remain true to Christ even at the price of having to shed their own blood (Hebrews 12:3-4). What is true from the writings is that the writer was outstandingly knowledgeable of the Christian faith. It would be almost safe to surmise the writer had to have been a leader in the early Christian church. It is not known to date who the writer of the Hebrew epistle was but is generally suspected by scholars that it could have been Apostle Paul. Though the writings are similar in style to how Paul wrote it can not be conclusively confirmed to be true. From the epistle the Christians must as a matter of principle and survival of faith, draw near to God, hold unswervingly to the hope they profess, for He who promised is faithful, consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds and not give up meeting together. In deed the writer encourages the recipients in their struggle of unbelief that they keep their confidence of faith in addition to persevering in the face of persecution for the rewards are great. This addresses to a great part the challenges that were affecting the Hebrew – Jerusalem church. The attitude of perseverance is the main vein that runs through out the epistle. The writer emphasizes that this can only be gotten by faith