Page 7 - November 2023 - Truth & Tidings

(10:32,33). In this context, he gratefully ac- Jesus of Nazareth as both Lord and Christ
knowledges that they had “compassion” would have formed throughout Israel or
of him in his imprisonment (despite hav- in Roman or Hellenistic lands. This was
ing to suffer persecution), and “joyfully” but one of them.
allowed their goods to be plundered in The strongest argument for their He-
the process (10:34). brew origin is the sheer volume of OT
Although the letter lacks a specific references relating to God’s dealings with
greeting, there is little doubt the recipi- Israel. Such references include the seed of
ents were a company of believers. While Abraham, the fathers, Israel’s redemption
much of the letter could be taken as for a from the land of Egypt, the Red Sea, the
broader audience, the writer’s intentions covenant God made with Israel and the
“that I may be restored to you the sooner” blood of the covenant, covenant promises,
(13:19) and “I will see you” (v23) imply he experiences at Sinai, the Law of Moses, the
has a local assembly in mind. A specific tabernacle and its furniture, the Levitical
company can also be seen from the writer priesthood, the system of sacrifices, tith-
addressing them as “dull of hearing” and ing, the day of atonement, the Sabbath and
needing someone to teach them “again” its rest, Israel in the wilderness, Jericho,
(5:11,12). Consider also the three injunc- Jerusalem, Zion, the judges of Israel, the
tions concerning their attitude towards prophets, and numerous OT figures (such
their leaders in chapter 13 (vv7,17,24). as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Melchisedec,
Verse 17 says they are to “obey them.” The Moses, Joshua, David, etc.). It is indeed
reason is that “they watch for your souls, an impressive portrait of the old economy.
as they that must give account.” This References to Messiah also abound – His
injunction is not intended to transcend eternal Sonship, His creatorial power, His
beyond the autonomous government and first coming, His sufferings, His second
functioning of a local assembly. It is also coming, His judgement, His millennial
a clear reference to a group of elders who kingdom, His throne, His rule and His
are responsible for feeding and overseeing eternal being. Throughout, passages are
a specific flock (Act 20:28; 1Pe 5:2,3). But cited, either directly or abstractly, from
as to the exact location of the assembly, each book of the Pentateuch, Joshua,
we do not know. Judges, 2 Samuel, Psalms (several), Prov-
Their Pedigree in Israel erbs, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Haggai
The title pros ebraious (“To the He- and Zechariah. If the recipients were not
brews”) appears on one of the oldest Jews, what purpose would there be in
surviving Greek manuscripts, P46. Al- traversing the full landscape of Judaism
though the title isn’t part of the inspired to prove that Christ is better?
text, it succinctly describes the national Note also the writer’s reference to “signs
and religious heritage of Jews who had and wonders” (2:4). While it is possible
received Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Gentiles were among the recipients, the
Christ. When considering the salvation truth that “Jews require a sign” (1Co 1:22)
and distribution of many Jews in the book seems to underscore their Jewish heritage
of the Acts (e.g., 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1,7; 8:12; and the intention for which signs were
9:26; 10:45), one can easily see how vari- manifest by the Holy Spirit in apostolic days
ous companies of Jews who had accepted (e.g., Act 2:4,43; 3:7-8; 5:12,16,19; etc.).

327
TruthandTidings.com I November 2023 327