What might it have been like for those first and second-generation Christians to feel so overwhelmed by the stress of bearing the label “Christian” that they considered abandoning their faith? Had the weight of the faith they maintained become too burdensome to carry?
 
The ultimate purpose of Hebrews was to encourage and restore those who were once faithful. In its form, however, Hebrews is a unique book. It is generally designated as a letter and is placed among a number of similar New Testament books. Yet, it stands out from those around it like a Sunday morning necktie at a Saturday night contemporary worship service. It is stately and polished in the midst of nitty-gritty letters full of busy instructions.
 
Despite a rocky beginning, Hebrews found a place in the New Testament collection. It often played an important role in theological controversies at a time when a traditional path of Christian belief and thinking was beginning to emerge from the early streams of practice. The book’s distinctive portrayal of Jesus’ nature was influential during early debates about Christ’s divinity and humanity. And its use of the Old Testament helped pave the way for centuries of biblical interpretation based allegory and typology.
 
Simply put, Hebrews is like a multimedia presentation intended to inspire and encourage its audience. The author of Hebrews was a holy artist, communicating good news to a particular community of believers and addressing their needs in their context. Nonetheless, the images are timeless and their inspiration may be new again as God works in our own imaginations.

Reading Hebrews and James
A Literary and Theological Commentary
Marie Isaacs