I am really sorry you feel that way Jasher. I am not sure if you have read all the posts, from page one onward. I believe that if you would, you would then see that the questions have been answered. I agree, it is a very needful thing to answer these questions before grasping the true intent of the writer. But we cannot just keep studying that aspect or we will never move forward. I hope you understand.
I don’t know what you are sorry about as I was just stating a fact. And no - it doesn’t come across anywhere in this thread of what the historical purpose of Hebrews is really directed to.
Who wrote it?
Hebrews smacks of the thinking of Paul. Best info is that Paul wrote this originally in Hebrew (which was lost to history) and the letter extant that we have was translated into Greek by Luke who wrote for the Disciples and Apostles. Thus the thinking was crafted by Paul, but the style was that of Luke. But there is no documented proof of this.
To whom was the letter written?
Specifically to the Messianic Hebrew Christians in Rome.
When was it written?
Some time after the burning of Rome in July of 64AD and the Spring of 65AD. It was written in that 10 month interval. After the fire, Nero was fomenting hatred against the Christians via the Roman citizens who had lost everything in the fire of Rome, which consumed 10 out of 14 precincts in the city: the fire burned for 9 days. Roman citizens lost their homes, possessions, businesses, and they were highly susceptible to Nero’s accusations toward the Christians. History believes that it was Nero himself that caused the fire to clear an area for his new building projects. The book of Hebrews says that they had not yet come to resist unto blood. This happened later in the spring of 65AD when Nero started to cruelly kill Christians. Over the next three years he killed an estimated 5,000 Christians. The Christians in that era were suffering harassment and persecution from the Roman populace. It was a very grave and serious time in history. You wouldn't know this after sensing the flippant attitudes on forums like this.
Why was it written?
The Messianic Christians were reverting back to Judaism to escape persecution. At this particular time it was only the Christians and not the Jews who were being persecuted.
What was the historical context?
The book of Hebrews was written to the Messianic Christian Jews to convince them that they should not go back to Judaism, but to contend for their Christian New Covenant faith. The book is a review of Jewish history and a comparison of the Old and New Covenants. The great theme of the book is that the New Covenant is a better covenant (Than the Old to which they were returning to - to escape persecution.)
Here is just one example of what I am speaking of…
Under the Old Covenant there was no sacrifice for willful and deliberate sins. The best example that I can think of is when The Israelite was gathering sticks for a fire when he knew this was against the Old Covenant Law.
Numbers 15:27-36 (KJV)
And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. [28] And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. [29] Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
[30] But the soul that doeth ought
presumptuously, [willfully] whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. [31] Because he hath despised the word of the Lord, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
[32] And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. [33] And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. [34] And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. [35] And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. [36] And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the Lord commanded Moses.
There was no sacrifice for willful sin under the Old Covenant - only for sins done in ignorance. Proven willful sinning was punishable by death. In this case stoning.
Under the New Covenant, which is a better covenant - there is forgiveness for willful and deliberate sinning. Big Improvement.
1 John 2:1 (NASB)
My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
No differentiation between willful and un-willful.
Another reference.
Acts 2:36-38 (NASB)
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ-- this Jesus whom you crucified."
[37] Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" [38] And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
What Peter basically said was that God had surreptitiously brought about the cross and now that his purposes had been fulfilled in the sacrifice of his son - everyone could come and receive forgiveness. Is that grace or what? Don’t tell me that there was not willful sin on the part of the religious leaders of that day. They may not have repented, but they were offered the opportunity.
Under the new covenant there was forgiveness through our advocate for willful sin.
Hebrews 10:26-31 (NASB)
For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
This is not the New Covenant that he is speaking about but rather the Old Covenant. Remember the Hebrews were reverting back to Judaism and the Old Covenant.
[27] but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries. [28] Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Still speaking of the Old Covenant - good example of the guy picking up sticks.
29] How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." [31] It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
You trample underfoot the Son of God by ignoring the cross and going back to Judaism. All of the Old Testament symbols, types and shadows in the OT were pointing forward to the crucifixion. God offered us the Grace of the New Covenant - to go back to Judaism is an insult to the spirit of Grace - isn’t it?
You have to hold in mind all of these things as you read the book of Hebrews. It's not what you think.
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Matt. 4:4 & 2 Tim. 3:16 is just meaning a fraction of Christ's Word, and the falling away