# The book of Hebrews

> Hebrews is a long sermon in letter form for believers tempted to give up. It shows Jesus as greater than angels, Moses, and the priests, the final sacrifice and the one high priest. Then it points to the long line of the faithful and calls readers to run their race.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/about
Section: General letters · 13 chapters

## Who wrote Hebrews?

The author is unknown. Paul, Barnabas, Apollos, and Priscilla have all been suggested. Origen, around AD 230, said that only God knows who wrote it.

## When was it written?

Likely before AD 70, since it speaks of sacrifices as still going on; some date it to the 80s.

## Main themes

- **Jesus is greater.** He is God’s final word and the exact image of his nature.
- **Our high priest.** He knows our weakness and offered himself once for all.
- **Faith that endures.** Chapter 11 lists those who trusted God without seeing the promise.

## Outline

- Chapters 1–4: [Jesus greater than angels and Moses](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/1)
- Chapters 5–10: [Jesus the high priest and his once-for-all sacrifice](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/5)
- Chapter 11: [The faithful who went before](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/11)
- Chapters 12–13: [Run the race and live it out](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/12)

## Key verses

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

> For our high priest is not someone who cannot feel for us in our weaknesses; he has been tested in every way in the same manner we are, yet without sin. So let us approach the throne of grace boldly, to obtain mercy and find grace that brings help at just the right time.
> — [Hebrews 4:15-16](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/4#15)

> Now faith is the firm foundation of what we hope for, the proof of what we do not see.
> — [Hebrews 11:1](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/11#1)

> So then, with so vast a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, we too must strip off every burden and the sin that so readily wraps itself around us, and keep running with endurance the race that lies ahead of us, keeping our gaze on Jesus, the originator and completer of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay ahead of him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and he has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
> — [Hebrews 12:1-2](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/12#1)

> Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
> — [Hebrews 13:8](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/13#8)

## Where to start

Read chapter 11, then 12:1–3. Go back to chapter 1 after. [Read Hebrews 11](https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/11.md)

Read the whole book: https://www.lumin.faith/read/hebrews/1.md
Ask about it: https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md