THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS - PART I

THE BACKGROUND, THEMES, STRUCTURE,

AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LETTER

I. The Letter to the Hebrews is a theological treatise on the theme that Christ fulfills all of the promises, worship and law of the Jewish people and, in so doing, joins us to the court of heaven.

II. The overall style is something like that of a written sermon, with the form of a letter, but in much more general language that the typical letter. A modern papal encyclical would be along similar lines.

III. The letter to the Hebrews stands in the tradition and thought of St. Paul, although its authorship has been heavily debated from an early time.

B. The authorship of the letter has been much debated.

C. The letter was probably shortly before or after St. Paul's death in 67 A.D.