A Commentary on the Epistle of Paul: The Apostle to the Hebrews

By Dr. John Thomas Wylie

The purpose of this book, A Commentary on the Epistle of Paul: The Apostle to The Hebrews is to provide an inspiring, systematic, devotional, biblical study for laypersons and clergy alike. Like Paul, Dr. Wylie intends to show the superiority and finality of Gods Revelation to men through Jesus Christ as over against Judaism or any other previous revelation of God.

Another purpose for this book is to inform discouraged Christians and to render spiritual support from the epistle to the Hebrews and by innumerable examples both of Christ and those who had successfully live by faith. Central to the purpose of this writing is the necessity to look away from our trials, tribulations, and life circumstances and look unto Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, who reigns as the Supreme Example above all and over all in heaven and earth forever. Like Paul, Dr. Wylies reasoning in behalf of the readers is that this is what the New Testament church needs above all else to make us all strong (and keep us strong) in the Christian faith.

Central to the heart of this commentary as that of Hebrews is the concept of Christ as the perfect example and perfect high priest of God, who establishes the new covenant both by his priestly work and his sacrificial death.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 5, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504927758

Dr. John Thomas Wylie

The Reverend Dr. John Thomas Wylie is one who has dedicated his life to the work of God’s Service, the service of others; and being a powerful witness for the Gospel of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Dr. Wylie was called into the Gospel Ministry June 1979, whereby in that same year he entered The American Baptist College of the American Baptist Theological Seminary, Nashville, Tennessee. As a young Seminarian, he read every book available to him that would help him better his understanding of God as well as God’s plan of Salvation and the Christian Faith. He made a commitment as a promising student that he would inspire others as God inspires him. He understood early in his ministry that we live in times where people question not only who God is; but whether miracles are real, whether or not man can make a change, and who the enemy is or if the enemy truly exists. Dr. Wylie carried out his commitment to God, which has been one of excellence which led to his earning his Bachelors of Arts in Bible/Theology/Pastoral Studies. Faithful and obedient to the call of God, he continued to matriculate in his studies earning his Masters of Ministry from Emmanuel Bible College, Nashville, Tennessee & Emmanuel Bible College, Rossville, Georgia. Still, inspired to please the Lord and do that which is well – pleasing in the Lord’s sight, Dr. Wylie recently on March 2006, completed his Masters of Education degree with a concentration in Instructional Technology earned at The American Intercontinental University, Holloman Estates, Illinois. Dr. Wylie also previous to this, earned his Education Specialist Degree from Jones International University, Centennial, Colorado and his Doctorate of Theology from The Holy Trinity College and Seminary, St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Wylie has served in the capacity of pastor at two congregations in Middle Tennessee and Southern Tennessee, as well as served as an Evangelistic Preacher, Teacher, Chaplain, Christian Educator, and finally a published author, writer of many great inspirational Christian Publications such as his first publication: 112 “Only One God: Who Is He?” – published August 2002 via formally 1st books library (which is now AuthorHouse Book Publishers located in Bloomington, Indiana & Milton Keynes, United Kingdom) which caught the attention of The Atlanta Journal Constitution Newspaper. Dr. Wylie is happily married to Angel G. Wylie, a retired Dekalb Elementary School teacher who loves to work with the very young children and who always encourages her husband to move forward in the Name of Jesus Christ. They have Four children, 11 grand-children and one great-grandson all of whom they are very proud. Both Dr. Wylie and Angela Wylie serve as members of the Salem Baptist Church, located in Lilburn, Georgia, where the Reverend Dr. Richard B. Haynes is Senior pastor. Dr. Wylie has stated of his wife: “she knows the charm and beauty of sincerity, goodness, and purity through Jesus Christ. Yes, she is a Christian and realizes the true meaning of loveliness as the reflection as her life of holy living gives new meaning, hope, and purpose to that of her husband, her children, others may say of her, “Behold the handmaiden of the Lord.” A Servant of Jesus Christ!

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© 2015 Dr. John Thomas Wylie. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/04/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-2780-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-2775-8 (e)

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Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. [Biblica]

Scripture quotations marked RSV are taken from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations taken from the New English Bible, copyright © Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press 1961, 1970. All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Hebrews One

Authorship: By Whom Written

Purpose Of The Writings

God Has Spoken In His Son

a. The person of the Son

The Supremacy Of The Son

The Person of Christ Superior to Angels

Christ: The Same Forever, Unchangeable

Jesus Sits At God’s Side

Hebrews Two

The Greater Salvation and Warning Against Neglect

The World To Come: Subject to Christ, Not Angels

Hebrews Three

The Superior Apostle

Warning Against Disobedience

Hebrews Four

The Promise of A Greater Rest

The Searching Word of God

Characteristics of the Word

Our Great High Priest

Hebrews Five

Qualifications for the Office of high priest presented

The Immaturity of the People

Hebrews Six

The Failure to Go on to Perfection (Christian Maturity)

Hebrews Seven

The Priesthood of Melchisedek

Hebrews Eight

The Excellency of Christ’s Priesthood

Superior Excellency of the Priesthood of Christ

Hebrews Nine

A New Way to Praise God

The Blood of Christ

The Perfect Sacrifice

Hebrews Ten

Repeated Animal Sacrifices Inadequate

Christ’s Supreme Sacrifices

The New Covenant Complete:

Description of The Faith Life

Warning Against Willful Sin (Hopeless Apostasy)

Hebrews Eleven

Examples of The Life of Faith

Examples of Faith: Abel to Noah

The Supreme Test

Faith Looks ahead

Moses Exemplified The Life of Faith

Faith That Conquers All Odds

A Faith of Achievement and Endurance

Hebrews Twelve

Jesus Christ, The Supreme and Ultimate Example of the Faith Life

The Father’s Love Known Through Chastisement.

Exhortation to Peace and Holiness

Do Not Reject the Voice of Christ which speaks through the Gospel

Hebrews Thirteen

Christian Life in Daily Practice

Following the Changeless Christ

Personal Epilogue

Concluding Remarks

Bibliography

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

Though occasionally associated with the name of Paul, this anonymous tract is a profound exegetical study of portions of the Scriptures (Old Testament) deemed relevant by the ancient Church to its proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ), and that its faith is that of old (King James Version, 1960, 1963, 1965).

Though scholars and theologians have debated over who the author of the book is, Hebrews is widely attributed to the Apostle Paul. This book was written to show how the Christian faith is superior to the faith of Old Testament times. The Book of Hebrews is written as a letter to Jewish Christians. It was written probably about A.D. 68 (New International Version, 1983).

The author wrote to show the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, to people who were tempted to give up their faith and return to Jewish beliefs and practices in a time of persecution and false teachings. The book is a careful and well – organized discussion, which makes three points: (1) Jesus Christ is superior to the prophets (1:1-3), the angels (1:5 – 2:18), and Moses (3:1-6); (2) his priesthood is superior to the Levitical priesthood, since he belongs to the eternal order of Melchizedek (4:14-7:28); and (3) Christ’s sacrifice offered in the heavenly sanctuary is superior to the numerous animal sacrifices offered by the priests on earth, so that he is the mediator of a new covenant (8:1 – 10:39). Interspersed with these arguments are sections of admonition or warning, often beginning with Therefore, which exhort the readers to give attention to these teachings, accept them, and live as Christians should, particularly in a time of affliction (Hyatt, 1977).

HEBREWS

ONE

Authorship: By Whom Written

Who wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews still remains the greatest single problem for the student of this book. The suggested authors are many, and opinions favoring on possible author over another are also many. The Apostle Paul, Apollos, Barnabas, Luke, Timothy, Aquilla and Priscilla, Silas, Aristion, and Philip the Deacon have all been proposed for authorship, with supporting arguments. Examination of the tradition of the early church and the church Fathers, both East and West, proves only that opinions vary.

The epistle itself does not name an author or even hint at one (Wycliff Bible Commentary, 1968). The Pauline authorship. The argument supporting this view is also expanded to include a possible unknown writer who had been instructed and influenced by the Apostle Paul, and so gave Hebrews a distinctly Pauline cast.

The Pauline authorship argument rests strongly upon the last chapter (13) of the epistle. The personal quality of this chapter is typical of the Apostle Paul, as is the epistolary style. The references to Timothy and to Italy (13:23, 24) are seemingly direct links to the apostle. In addition, there is marked similarity between the language of this book and that of recognized Pauline letters (e.g., 1:4; 2:2; 7:18; 12:22); and the Christological argument is like that of Paul elsewhere. Much of this argument is inferential, and the same similarities could be noted of any Christian teacher of the early days of Christianity. In support of the Pauline authorship perhaps no work surpasses the definitive work of William Leonard in his Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews: Critical Problem and Use of the Old Testament (Leonard, 1939).

The authorship of this writing was not attributed to Paul until the end of the 2nd century. In A.D. 225 Origen thought that Paul was the author of the material, but that someone else – who he was God only knows - put the material into written form (Harper’s Bible Dictionary, 1961).

Purpose Of The Writings

Hebrews appears to have been written for readers who had become Christians, not by contact with Christ in the days of his flesh, but through the witness of others (2:3). The early days of Christianity were now far behind. Evidences of this lapse of time can be seen: (1) In the reference to former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions (10:32); (2) In the absence of reference to the Parousia; and (3) in the separation of the leaders from the rest of the saints (13:24). A date between A.D. 85 and 110 would fit these conditions.

The purpose of this writing was to rekindle the faith of those who were drifting away from their Christian convictions (2:1). The author undertook to prove by closely reasoned argument that Christianity is the perfect form of religion, while Judaism, fine though it is, is only an imperfect form. The angels, Moses, and the high priests were all mediators between God and man, but Jesus is greater than them all and is the true high priest (8:1, 9:11). By virtue of his earthly life and his sympathy with human suffering Jesus became the final mediator between God and man (2:5-8, 4:14-16). Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people (2:17). Except in the Gospels, the New Testament nowhere, else emphasizes the human life of Jesus. Instead of a daily sacrifice of the blood of animals, Christ, the great high priest, poured out his own blood once for all.