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Analysis Of Hebrews Theology Essay

Theology: Analysis of Hebrews Analysis of Hebrews: Theology

The Book of Hebrews is one of the most complicated and obscure books in the New Testament. It is believed that the book was addressed to Jewish converts in Palestine to warn them against apostasy. The central message is that Christians need to preserve in the face of adversity so that they do not perish. This text reviews what the book of Hebrews says about Christ as the High Priest, and the concept of apostasy.

Christ the Better Savior

Chapter 7 of the Book of Hebrews teaches that Christ is the High Priest who sits at the right hand of God on the heavenly throne, and represents humanity before God. There are multiple passages in the book of Hebrews that support Christ's work as a high priest: He made atonement for sin (Heb 2: 7); He represents humanity before God just as the Old Testament priests did (Heb 5: 1); He entered the most holy place (heaven) upon offering Himself as sacrifice, just as the O.T priests entered the Sanctuary on the Day of Atonement (Heb 9: 24); He intercedes continually for His people (Heb 7: 24-25); He helps those being tempted (Heb 2: 18); and He brings...

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However, His ministry was superior to that of the Old Testament priests (Jobes, 2011). Christ was a superior savior, a better savior compared to the priests in the Old Testament (Jobes, 2011). Here is why. First, Christ serves in the True tabernacle (heaven), set up by God Himself, and not by man as was the case with the Old Testament priests (Heb 8: 1-2). This passage portrays the sanctuary in heaven as the true sanctuary; the Old Testament temple was just a shadow of the true sanctuary built by God Himself in the creation story (Jobes, 2011). The fact that Christ entered this true sanctuary makes his ministry superior to that of the priests in the Old Covenant. Secondly, Jesus' Covenant is founded on better promises than those of the Old Covenant (Heb 8: 6). He brought salvation to humanity through the sacrifice of His own blood, with the promise of a heavenly kingdom, and not an earthly inheritance (Jobes, 2011). Thirdly, Christ is a better savior because He is pure and without sin. The Old Testament priests had to offer gifts and sacrifices…

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References

Ellingworth, P. (1993). The Epistle to the Hebrews: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W. B. Eeerdmans Publishing.

Harrison, E. F. (1964). The Theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews. Bibliotheca Sacra, 12(1963), 333-340.

Jobes, K. H. (2011). Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Tongue, DH (1960). The Concept of Apostasy in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Tyndale Bulletin, 5-6(1960), 19-27.
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