Hebrews
Old letters can have value. I have sold letters on EBay. WWII Letters written home from the war front sold well. I once sold letters written by the first black nurse to graduate from the Ohio school of nursing. I sold the letters to collectors, and to historical researchers. Collectors wanted to own a part of history. Researchers were seeking a unique view of historical events. Hebrews is a letter contained in the New Testament. Some people treat it like a collector’s item. They own it, but they never study it. For others it is an opportunity to read theology from a unique viewpoint.

We do not know who wrote the letter. We do know a man wrote it, and he used a very educated classical Greek writing style. He wrote it sometime between AD 60 and AD 70. He was writing to Jewish Christians and intended to encourage them to remain steadfast in their faith. Israel entered full rebellion against Rome in this decade. Rome was scattering Hebrews, both Jewish and Christian throughout the empire. In AD 70, Rome destroyed the temple. Rome allowed its citizens to have any of hundreds of recognized religions. Judaism was one of the accepted religions. As long as the Romans believed Christianity was a sect of Judaism, Christianity was safe. Rome did not allow new religions. Once Jewish leaders convinced Rome that Christianity was not Jewish, the Romans outlawed Christianity. Hebrew Christians were facing immense pressure in this time. They were under pressure to return to the Jewish faith, or to change Christianity enough that it could pass as the Jewish religion. The writer of Hebrews is seeking to convince his readers that Christianity is far superior to Judaism. Much of his argument will consist of contrasting and comparing Judaism and Christianity. Most of us reading this letter today do not have a Jewish background. To understand the truth he is presenting, we will have to learn the Jewish perspective as well as the Christian. As we learn the truth that encouraged his readers to stand firm, we can apply that truth to our lives today. Theological truth is timeless.