Before starting this study, take a moment to read Hebrews 1:1-4. Although I’ll primarily be using the NIV and NRSVue versions for the preparation of this study, you can read from whichever version you prefer.
Over the next several months, my Friday devotional studies will focus on working through Hebrews. Unlike some other New Testament books, which focus a lot more on the practical ins and outs of Christian living, Hebrews starts and ends with big picture theology.
In its original form, Hebrews was a sermon. Just like modern sermons often follow a template of sorts, this sermon follows the template for a philosophical argument. The expertise that the writer of Hebrews uses in crafting this message indicates a high level of education.
While there is much debate over who wrote Hebrews, it’s important for us to remember that the who writing it is far less important than the Who inspiring it.
A Sort of Table of Contents
These opening lines serve as not only an introduction to the main ideas in Hebrews, but an outline of the sermon (book) as a whole.
We have a tendency to gloss over wordy introductions sometimes, but it’s important to remember that they are there for a reason. All too often, Christians cherry-pick verses from a book like Hebrews without looking at the whole of what it’s trying to say.
This opening passage is a reminder of the big ideas that drive all the smaller ones in the letter: God is mighty, God speaks to us, and the ultimate revelation to us was through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Our Theology Matters
Christianity, especially in our postmodern world, has a tendency to put a lot more emphasis on orthopraxis (right practice) than orthodoxy (right belief). This happens for the same reason we’re drawn to the more “practical” epistles in the New Testament. It’s often much easier to change and correct behavior than it is to change beliefs.
Hebrews stands as a strong reminder that what we believe about God matters. It drives and shapes everything else. If we’ve watered down our beliefs so much that God is no longer above all things (as the Creator who made those things), then the theological underpinnings of our faith are quickly eroded.
As a fascinating side note, Hebrews provides us with some of the strongest material in support of trinitarian theology. While some try to argue that God works in three different ways (“modalism”) or that God is three completely separate gods (polytheism), Hebrews provides arguments that help shape our understanding of God as three in one.
How? Throughout the book, we will see how God the Father and Jesus Christ are described as distinctive from one another, reminding us that Jesus wasn’t just God the Father in “human clothes.” While these distinctions may tempt us to think of them as completely separate, Hebrews also makes clear that Father and Son are one.
Application
What does any of that mean for us today, though? It may be tempting to write off the words of this introduction because there is no clear “application” to our lives today. After all, this passage doesn’t tell us what to do or what to avoid.
However, it’s important to remember that Scripture is not merely instructional. Taking time to marvel at the greatness of God is not a wasted effort. While the changes in our lives may not be immediately apparent (where a major change in behavior would be), taking time to learn theology is vital groundwork that shapes our lives.
Today, take some time to marvel at what you know about God. Consider the worship songs you sing on Sunday mornings and how they serve as reminders of who God is (and not just what God has done). May those songs, as well as our continued study of Hebrews, remind you of the importance of theology.
Prayer for Today
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for loving me enough to reveal yourself and your heart to me. May I never forget how great you are. Help incline my heart to worship because of who you are, not what I’ve felt or experienced.
Amen