| − | It is uncertain to whom the letter was sent, bearing only the words "to the Hebrews," and it has been variously suggested that it was sent to the church at [[Alexandria]], [[Antioch]], [[Jerusalem]] or [[Ephesus]]. Pawson<ref>Pawson, J. David op cit p.1115</ref> points to the ending of the letter but it was surely added later: "''Those ''from'' Italy send you their greetings''" (Heb 13:24) as indicating the letter was written ''to'' Italy, most likely the church in Rome. In light of its title, which was also likely added later,<ref>http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-hebrews-1-1-2-18.htm</ref> the "letter" may have been specifically meant for that portion of the church that was Jewish. This becomes even more apparent, given the date of the letter, when one considers the events that were taking place in Rome at this time. Under [[Claudius]], many Jews had been banished from Rome, including Priscilla and Aquila who had escaped to [[Corinth]]. The church in Rome became largely made up of [[Gentile]]s, and as a result, when the Jews began to return in AD 54 after Claudius' death, there was a significant tension between Jewish and Gentile believers. (''See [[Messianic Judaism]]''.) [[Nero]] ascended to the imperial throne after Claudius, and it was under his rule that the church entered a great period of suffering. The early Christians in particular were singled out for persecution, and many were executed during this time. | + | It is uncertain to whom the letter was sent, bearing only the words "to the Hebrews," and it has been variously suggested that it was sent to the church at [[Alexandria]], [[Antioch]], [[Jerusalem]] or [[Ephesus]]. Pawson<ref>Pawson, J. David op cit p.1115</ref> points to the ending of the letter (which was surely added later): "''Those ''from'' Italy send you their greetings''" (Heb 13:24) as indicating the letter was written ''to'' Italy, most likely the church in Rome. In light of its title, which was also likely added later,<ref>http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-hebrews-1-1-2-18.htm</ref> the "letter" may have been specifically meant for that portion of the church that was Jewish. This becomes even more apparent, given the date of the letter, when one considers the events that were taking place in Rome at this time. Under [[Claudius]], many Jews had been banished from Rome, including Priscilla and Aquila who had escaped to [[Corinth]]. The church in Rome became largely made up of [[Gentile]]s, and as a result, when the Jews began to return in AD 54 after Claudius' death, there was a significant tension between Jewish and Gentile believers. (''See [[Messianic Judaism]]''.) [[Nero]] ascended to the imperial throne after Claudius, and it was under his rule that the church entered a great period of suffering. The early Christians in particular were singled out for persecution, and many were executed during this time. |
| | While Paul's Epistle to the Romans makes no mention of this, the epistle to the Hebrews ''does'' discuss the persecution, including the vandalism of their homes and even imprisonment, and [[Timothy]] is mentioned as one of the believers who has been imprisoned. However, there is no mention of [[martyr]]s at this time, which further cements the epistle to a definite time around the middle of Nero's reign. The treatment being endured by the church explains the point of the epistle: those members who were Jews could easily escape from the persecution by publicly denying faith in [[Jesus Christ]] and returning to [[Judaism]], which at this time was still legal, while Christianity was not. The letter, then, seems to have been written ''from'' Jerusalem, probably by a Jewish believer who was a pupil of Paul, addressed specifically ''to'' the Jewish members of the church in Rome, as an exhortation to remain firm within the church. | | While Paul's Epistle to the Romans makes no mention of this, the epistle to the Hebrews ''does'' discuss the persecution, including the vandalism of their homes and even imprisonment, and [[Timothy]] is mentioned as one of the believers who has been imprisoned. However, there is no mention of [[martyr]]s at this time, which further cements the epistle to a definite time around the middle of Nero's reign. The treatment being endured by the church explains the point of the epistle: those members who were Jews could easily escape from the persecution by publicly denying faith in [[Jesus Christ]] and returning to [[Judaism]], which at this time was still legal, while Christianity was not. The letter, then, seems to have been written ''from'' Jerusalem, probably by a Jewish believer who was a pupil of Paul, addressed specifically ''to'' the Jewish members of the church in Rome, as an exhortation to remain firm within the church. |