The Epistle to the Hebrews
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The Epistle to the

HEBREWS

F. F. Bruce

Emeritus Professor
University of Manchester

William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Copyright © 1990 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

255 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Mich. 49503

All rights reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Bruce, F. F. (Frederick Fyvie), 1910–

The Epistle to the Hebrews / by F. F. Bruce.—Rev. ed.

p. cm. —

(The New international commentary on the New Testament)

ISBN 0-8028-2316-5

1. Bible. N.T. Hebrews—Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series.

BS2775.3.B7 1990

227´.8707—dc20 90–32826 CIP

To the Memory
of
NED BERNARD STONEHOUSE

Contents

Preface to the First Edition

Preface to the Revised Edition

Abbreviations

Argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews

Introduction

i. The People Addressed

ii. Destination

iii. Authorship

iv. Date

v. Canonicity

vi. Hebrews and the Old Testament

vii. Hebrews and the Gospel

viii. Select Bibliography

Text, Exposition, and Notes

i. The Finality of Christianity (1:1–2:18)

A. GOD’S FINAL REVELATION IN HIS SON (1:1–4)

B. CHRIST BETTER THAN ANGELS (1:5–14)

C. FIRST ADMONITION: THE GOSPEL AND THE LAW (2:1–4)

D. THE HUMILIATION AND GLORY OF THE SON OF MAN (2:5–9)

E. THE SON OF MAN THE SAVIOR AND HIGH PRIEST OF HIS PEOPLE (2:10–18)

ii. The True Home of the People of God (3:1–4:13)

A. JESUS GREATER THAN MOSES (3:1–6)

B. SECOND ADMONITION: THE REJECTION OF JESUS MORE SERIOUS THAN THE REJECTION OF MOSES (3:7–19)

C. THE TRUE REST OF GOD MAY BE FORFEITED (4:1–10)

D. EXHORTATION TO ATTAIN GOD’S REST (4:11–13)

iii. The High Priesthood of Christ (4:14–6:20)

A. CHRIST’S HIGH PRIESTHOOD AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO HIS PEOPLE (4:14–16)

B. QUALIFICATIONS FOR HIGH PRIESTHOOD (5:1–4)

C. CHRIST’S QUALIFICATIONS FOR HIGH PRIESTHOOD (5:5–10)

D. THIRD ADMONITION: SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY (5:11–14)

E. NO SECOND BEGINNING POSSIBLE (6:1–8)

F. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PERSEVERE (6:9–12)

G. THE STEADFASTNESS OF GOD’S PROMISE (6:13–20)

iv. The Order of Melchizedek (7:1–28)

A. MELCHIZEDEK THE PRIEST-KING (7:1–3)

B. THE GREATNESS OF MELCHIZEDEK (7:4–10)

C. IMPERFECTION OF THE AARONIC PREISTHOOD (7:11–14)

D. SUPERIORITY OF THE NEW PRIESTHOOD (7:15–19)

E. SUPERIOR BECAUSE OF THE DIVINE OATH (7:20–22)

F. SUPERIOR BECAUSE OF ITS PERMANENCE (7:23–25)

G. SUPERIOR BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER OF JESUS (7:26–28)

v. Covenant, Sanctuary, and Sacrifice (8:1–10:18)

A. PRIESTHOOD AND PROMISE (8:1–7)

B. THE OLD COVENANT SUPERSEDED (8:8–13)

C. THE SANCTUARY UNDER THE OLD COVENANT (9:1–5)

D. A TEMPORARY RITUAL (9:6–10)

E. CHRIST’S ETERNAL REDEMPTION (9:11–14)

F. THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT (9:15–22)

G. THE PERFECT SACRIFICE (9:23–28)

H. THE OLD ORDER A SHADOW OF THE REALITY (10:1–4)

I. THE NEW ORDER THE REALITY (10:5–10)

J. THE ENTHRONED HIGH PRIEST (10:11–18)

vi. Call to Worship, Faith, and Perseverance (10:19–12:29)

A. ACCESS TO GOD THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST (10:19–25)

B. FOURTH ADMONITION: THE WILFUL SIN OF APOSTASY (10:26–31)

C. CALL TO PERSEVERANCE ...

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About The Epistle to the Hebrews

For many readers the Epistle to the Hebrews is among the most difficult books of the New Testament. Understanding its message calls for a great familiarity with its Old Testament background and a good knowledge of certain phases of first-century biblical exegesis. When first published in 1964, this commentary on Hebrews by F.F. Bruce received critical praise for providing the expertise needed on both these fronts.

The last volume on which Bruce was able to complete revisions before his death in 1990, this edition of The Epistle to the Hebrews evidences twenty-five years of further study on Bruce’s part—especially through thoroughly updated and embellished footnotes that take into account the numerous publications on Hebrews that have appeared in the intervening years. Bruce also replaced the commentary’s use of the American Standard Version of 1901 with his own translation of the original Greek text to make his verse-by-verse exposition as clear as possible.

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