Hebrews is book 19 of the 27 books of the New Testament and belongs to the General Letters section. See how it fits with the rest in our guide to all 66 books of the Bible.
Quick facts
- Section
- New Testament · General Letters
- Genre
- Sermon in letter form (a 'word of exhortation')
- Author (traditional)
- Long associated with Paul in parts of the early church, though some early writers questioned this and suggested Barnabas, Luke or others.
- Other views on authorship
- Anonymous. Most scholars do not think Paul wrote it, citing its polished Greek and different style; Apollos, Barnabas and others are proposed, but the author remains unknown.
- Date (traditional)
- Before AD 70, while the temple sacrifices were apparently still continuing.
- Other views on dating
- Commonly dated AD 60–90, with many favouring the 60s, before the temple's destruction.
- Chapters
- 13
- Verses
- 303
- Reading time
- About 34 minutes (6,761 words in the BSB)
What is Hebrews about?
Hebrews was written to Christians, probably many of Jewish background, who had already suffered for their faith and were now growing weary. Some were tempted to drift back to familiar ways and away from Christ. The author answers with a sustained argument from the Jewish Scriptures: everything in the old system was a shadow pointing to Jesus.
The book compares Jesus with angels, with Moses, with Joshua and with the line of high priests descended from Aaron. Again and again it uses the word 'better': a better hope, a better covenant, better promises, a better sacrifice. Jesus is both the sacrifice and the priest who offers it, and he serves in the true sanctuary in heaven.
Woven into the argument are urgent warnings and warm encouragements. Chapter 11's famous roll call of faith — from Abel and Noah to Abraham, Sarah and Moses — sets up chapter 12's call to run the race with eyes fixed on Jesus.
Outline of Hebrews
| ChaptersCh. | Section |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Greater than the angels God has spoken finally in his Son, who became human to rescue us. |
| 3–4 | Greater than Moses; the promised rest Do not harden your hearts like the wilderness generation; enter God's rest. |
| 5–7 | A priest like Melchizedek Jesus is a High Priest who sympathises with us; a warning against falling away. |
| 8–10 | A better covenant and sacrifice The new covenant promised by Jeremiah, and Christ's once-for-all offering. |
| 11 | The hall of faith Old Testament believers who trusted God's promises before seeing them. |
| 12 | Run with endurance Look to Jesus, accept God's discipline, and do not refuse the one who speaks. |
| 13 | Living as God's people Love, hospitality, faithfulness in marriage, contentment and a closing blessing. |
Key themes
- The supremacy of Christ. Jesus is the exact representation of God's being and the final word God speaks. Nothing earlier — not angels, Moses or the temple — can compare.
- Priest and sacrifice. The repeated sacrifices of the old covenant could not fully clear the conscience. Jesus offered himself once, and now intercedes for his people.
- Faith as trust in unseen promises. Hebrews 11 defines faith as confidence in what God has promised, shown by people who obeyed while still waiting.
- Perseverance. The book's warnings are pastoral: keep going, encourage one another daily, and do not drift away from so great a salvation.
- A sympathetic High Priest. Because Jesus was tempted in every way yet without sin, believers can approach God's throne of grace with confidence.
Key people and places
- Jesus — The Son, the great High Priest and the mediator of a new covenant.
- Moses — A faithful servant in God's house; Jesus is the Son over it.
- Melchizedek — The priest-king of Genesis 14, a pattern for Christ's priesthood.
- Abraham — Example of faith who left home and offered Isaac.
- Noah — Built the ark in reverent faith.
- Sarah — Received power to conceive because she trusted God's faithfulness.
- Timothy — Mentioned at the end as recently released.
Places: Mount Sinai, Mount Zion (the heavenly Jerusalem), the wilderness, Italy.
Key verses in Hebrews
Quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
“On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
“Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.”
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
How Hebrews fits the big story
Hebrews is the New Testament's great bridge back to the Old. It reads the tabernacle and priesthood of Exodus and Leviticus, the wilderness failure in Numbers, Melchizedek from Genesis, and the new covenant promised in Jeremiah as pointing forward to Jesus. It also looks ahead to the city to come, which Revelation pictures as the new Jerusalem. If you have ever wondered why Christians no longer offer animal sacrifices, Hebrews gives the answer.
How to read Hebrews
At 2 chapters a day you can read Hebrews in 7 days. Keep Leviticus 16 (the Day of Atonement) nearby when you read chapters 8–10. Then read chapter 11 slowly and look up the stories it mentions.