CHRIST IN THE LETTERS · HIS NAMES · HIS PERSON · STEP BY STEP · SIDE BY SIDE

Who he is

The names the letters give him, who they say he is, and how Hebrews sets him above all.

HIS NAMES

His titles in the letters

Each title, with the passages in the letters that give it.

  • Christ the High Priest 39
  • Titles and Names of Christ 34
  • Christ the Head of the Church 11
  • Christ the King 7
  • Christ the Mediator 7
  • Christ the Prophet 5
  • Christ the Shepherd 2

Christ the High Priest

  • Appointed and called by God Hebrews 3:1 Hebrews 3:2 Hebrews 5:4 Hebrews 5:5
  • After the order of Melchizedek Hebrews 5:6 Hebrews 6:20 Hebrews 7:15 Hebrews 7:17
  • Superior to Aaron and the Levitical priests Hebrews 7:11 Hebrews 7:16 Hebrews 7:22 Hebrews 8:1 Hebrews 8:2 Hebrews 8:6
  • Consecrated with an oath Hebrews 7:20 Hebrews 7:21
  • Has an unchangeable priesthood Hebrews 7:23 Hebrews 7:28
  • Is of unblemished purity Hebrews 7:26 Hebrews 7:28
  • Faithful Hebrews 3:2
  • Needed no sacrifice for himself Hebrews 7:27
  • Offered himself a sacrifice Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:26
  • His sacrifice superior to all others Hebrews 9:13 Hebrews 9:14 Hebrews 9:23
  • Offered sacrifice but once Hebrews 7:27 Hebrews 9:25 Hebrews 9:26
  • Made reconciliation Hebrews 2:17
  • Obtained redemption for us Hebrews 9:12
  • Entered into heaven Hebrews 4:14 Hebrews 10:12
  • Sympathises with those who are tempted Hebrews 2:18 Hebrews 4:15
  • Intercedes Hebrews 7:25 Hebrews 9:24
  • Appointment of, and encouragement to steadfastness Hebrews 4:14

From Torrey's New Topical Textbook (public domain), "Titles & offices", keeping only the passages in the twenty-one letters.

HIS PERSON

The person of Christ

Who the letters say he is.

  • The Excellency and Glory of Christ 31
  • The Power of Christ 26
  • The Human Nature of Christ 25
  • The Example of Christ 21
  • Character of Christ 12
  • The Humility of Christ 12
  • The Love of Christ 11
  • The Compassion and Sympathy of Christ 4

The Excellency and Glory of Christ

  • As God Philippians 2:6 Philippians 2:9 Philippians 2:10
  • As the Son of God Hebrews 1:6 Hebrews 1:8
  • As the First-born Colossians 1:15 Colossians 1:18
  • As the First-begotten Hebrews 1:6
  • As the image of God Colossians 1:15 Hebrews 1:3
  • As creator Colossians 1:16 Hebrews 1:2
  • As Mediator 1 Timothy 2:5 Hebrews 8:6
  • As Priest Hebrews 4:15
  • As Head of the Church Ephesians 1:22
  • As the way Hebrews 10:19 Hebrews 10:20
  • As the truth 1 John 5:20
  • As the life Colossians 3:4 1 John 5:11
  • In his sinless perfection Hebrews 7:26–28
  • In his transfiguration 2 Peter 1:16–18
  • In his exaltation Ephesians 1:21
  • Followed his sufferings 1 Peter 1:10 1 Peter 1:11
  • Followed his resurrection 1 Peter 1:21
  • Is unchangeable Hebrews 1:10–12
  • Is incomparable Philippians 2:9
  • Imparted to saints 2 Corinthians 3:18
  • Saints shall rejoice at the revelation of 1 Peter 4:13

From Torrey's New Topical Textbook (public domain), "The person of Christ", keeping only the passages in the twenty-one letters.

STEP BY STEP

Better than…

Each step of Hebrews' argument, and what Christ is better than.

a Son, God's last word — God spoke in many ways through the prophets; in these last days he has spoken by his Son. Hebrews 1:1–2

a more excellent name — "So much better than the angels." The first "better" of the letter. Hebrews 1:4 Hebrews 1:5–14 Hebrews 2:5–9

more glory: the builder, not the house — Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house; Christ as a Son over it. Hebrews 3:3 Hebrews 3:5–6

the rest Joshua did not give — The KJV reads "Jesus" in 4:8, the Greek form of the name Joshua. Hebrews 4:8–9

a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek — Many priests died in turn; he continues for ever. "The less is blessed of the better." Hebrews 5:4–6 Hebrews 7:7 Hebrews 7:11 Hebrews 7:19 Hebrews 7:23–25

a better covenant, on better promises — 8:6 uses "better" twice. Hebrews 7:22 Hebrews 8:6–13

the true tabernacle, in heaven itself — "A greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands." Hebrews 8:2 Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 9:24

better sacrifices: his own blood, once for all — "How much more shall the blood of Christ…" Hebrews 9:12–14 Hebrews 9:23 Hebrews 10:10–14

a better possession, country and resurrection — A better and lasting substance, a heavenly country, a better resurrection, "some better thing for us". Hebrews 10:34 Hebrews 11:16 Hebrews 11:35 Hebrews 11:40

the blood that speaks better things — Abel's blood cried out from the ground (Gen 4:10); Jesus' blood speaks better things. Hebrews 12:24

The Greek word for "better" (kreittōn) appears 13 times in 12 verses, and other comparisons ("more excellent", "more glory", "how much more") carry the same idea. The ladder follows the order of the argument, from the prophets to the blood of Jesus. Davidson and Dods describe the same sequence. Hebrews 1:4 Hebrews 12:24 [28]

SIDE BY SIDE

A priest like Melchizedek

Genesis 14 beside Hebrews 7. Click a ribbon to keep it.

Hebrews draws on two passages: the meeting in Genesis 14 and the oath of Psalm 110:4, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek", quoted at 5:6, 7:17 and 7:21. Westcott notes that the writer reads the record of Scripture, including its silences, rather than the historical man. He passes over the bread and wine, presenting Melchizedek as a priest who blesses rather than one who sacrifices. Psalms 110:4 Hebrews 5:6 Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:21 Genesis 14:18

WHERE THIS PAGE COMES FROM

  • Adolf Deissmann (trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan), Light from the Ancient East (1910), ch. III, the twenty-one ancient letters: pp. 147-149 (address and salutation), 153 n. 2 (dictation and the autograph close), 158-159 (letters of commendation; closing in one's own hand), 167-172 (Apion's letters: health-wish, thanks, intercession, greetings, farewell), 176-178 notes ("I would have you know").
  • Adolf Deissmann (trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan), Light from the Ancient East (1910), ch. III, §§4-8: pp. 218-224 (letter and epistle; pseudonymous epistles), 225-234 (Paul's letters and 2-3 John as real letters; letter copy-books, pp. 227-228), 234-237 (catholic epistles, Hebrews, 1 John), 239 (Acts and Paul's letters), 244 (the canon).
  • Adolf Deissmann (trans. Lionel R. M. Strachan), Light from the Ancient East (1910), ch. IV, pp. 372-373 (parousia).
  • Adolf Deissmann (trans. Alexander Grieve), Bible Studies: "Prolegomena to the Biblical Letters and Epistles" (1901), pp. 3-59, especially 14-15 (pseudonymity), 50-51 ("catholic"), 55-56 (the collection of Paul's letters).
  • Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, vol. 1: Apostolic Christianity (revised ed.) (1890), §76 (order of the books, with notes 868-870), §86 (The Epistles), §87 (The Catholic Epistles), §88 (The Epistles of Paul).
  • B. F. Westcott, A General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament (7th ed.) (1896), pp. 248-249 (Peshitta), 377 with n. 2 (place of Hebrews in the manuscripts), 400-401 (the seven catholic epistles and Euthalius), 488-491 (Luther's prefaces).
  • W. J. Conybeare and J. S. Howson, The Life and Epistles of St. Paul, new edition (first published 1852) (1891), p. 319 n. 1 (letters written by an amanuensis with an autograph postscript), p. 321 (the stages of an apostolic letter), p. 498 n. 1 (Tertius), p. 499 n. (Phoebe the bearer).
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians (1865), note on Gal 6:11, pp. 220-221.
  • J. B. Lightfoot, Saint Paul's Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (1875), detached note "The Epistle from Laodicea", pp. 340-366.
  • W. M. Ramsay, St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen (1895), ch. VII, §6, "The Separation of Paul and Barnabas" (Silas and Silvanus).
  • Dwight M. Pratt, "Epistle", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (1915), §§1-2, 5, 7, 9; checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Dwight M. Pratt, "Catholic Epistles", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • J. S. Riggs, "Canon of the New Testament", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (1915), §II.1-3; checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • William G. Moorehead, "Peter, the Second Epistle of", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (1915), §§I-II; checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, "Corinthians, First Epistle to the", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • R. Dykes Shaw, "Corinthians, Second Epistle to the", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • A. T. Robertson, "Paul, the Apostle", International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), part 1, Sources; checked against CrossWire's digital ISBE (1915), 2026-10-07.
  • Robert Law, "John, the Epistles of", International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, ed. James Orr (1915), vol. III pp. 1711-1720 (checked against the 1915 scan).
  • M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.) (1897), "Corinthians, First Epistle to the"; "Thessalonians, Epistles to the".
  • Charles Bigg, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Peter and St. Jude (1901), pp. 246-247 (secretaries; Zahn on 2 Peter).
  • Joseph B. Mayor, The Epistle of St. James (1892), Introduction, ch. VI (date).
  • Joseph B. Mayor, The Epistle of St. Jude and the Second Epistle of St. Peter (1907), Introduction, pp. lxviii, cxxxv, cxliv.
  • John Calvin (trans. John Owen), Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles (1551) (1855), Argument to 2 Peter.
  • John Calvin (trans. William Pringle), Commentary on Galatians (1548) (1854), on Gal 2:1.
  • A. Plummer, The Epistles of S. John (Cambridge Bible) (1886 (1890 reprint used)), notes on 1 John 2:12-14, pp. 97-99; Introduction p. 61 (Demetrius).
  • A. E. Brooke, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Johannine Epistles (1912), Introduction p. lxxxiii.
  • B. F. Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Introduction, "History and Authorship", pp. lxxiv-lxxix.
  • A. B. Davidson, The Epistle to the Hebrews (1882), Introduction ch. III, p. 34.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: history, pp. 221-224.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: authorship, pp. 228-229 (Harnack on Priscilla).
  • R. H. Charles, The Book of Enoch, or 1 Enoch (1912), 1 Enoch 1:9 with note, pp. 8-9.
  • Eusebius (trans. A. C. McGiffert, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1), Church History (1890), 2.15; 2.23.25 with McGiffert's note 528; 3.3.5; 3.25; 3.39.16; 4.14.9; 5.8.7; 5.26; 6.14; 6.20; 6.25; 7.25.
  • Athanasius (trans. R. Payne-Smith, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 4), Festal Letter 39 (1892), §§5-6.
  • Henry R. Percival (ed.), Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 14, The Code of Canons of the African Church (Carthage, 419) (1900), canon 24 (Greek 27), with the editor's note that it is canon 36 of Hippo, 393.
  • Unknown (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 5), The Muratorian Fragment (Canon Muratorianus) (1886), §§3-4.
  • Tertullian (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 3), Against Marcion, book 5; On Baptism (1885), Against Marcion 5.2-21; On Baptism 17.
  • Tertullian (trans. S. Thelwall, Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 4), On Modesty (De Pudicitia) (1885), ch. 20.
  • Clement of Rome (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), First Epistle to the Corinthians (1885), ch. 47.
  • Ignatius (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), To the Ephesians (1885), chs. 12 and 18.
  • Polycarp (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), Epistle to the Philippians (1885), chs. 7, 12 and 13 (13: the letters of Ignatius).
  • Polycarp (trans. J. B. Lightfoot), To the Philippians (1891), 3:2-3; 5:1; 6:2; 7:1; 11:2-4; 12:1.
  • Irenaeus (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1), Against Heresies (1885), preface to book 1; 3.13-16 (3.16.5 and 3.16.8 on 1 and 2 John); 5.2.3.
  • Clement of Alexandria (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2), Stromata; Fragments (Comments on the Second Epistle of John) (1885), Stromata 1.14 and 2.15; Comments on 2 John.
  • Jerome (trans. E. C. Richardson, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 3), Lives of Illustrious Men (1892), chs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 18.

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