Audience of the Book of Hebrews

Dr. Couch, to whom was the book of Hebrews written? Was it to Christian Jews who were about to go back to Judaism, or to Jews who had not believed at all? ANSWER:  I've pondered this for years but came up with the conclusion long ago that the book was written to unsaved Jews who admired Christ, and thought He was a good prophet, but who had not trusted Him as their Savior and Messiah. Some of the early church fathers thought the same. And, one of the greatest Greek teachers of the past century agreed, Dr. Kenneth Wuest. He wrote:    "These Jews,while making a profession, had no faith, and under the pressure of persecution, were in danger of renouncing the intellectual assent which they gave to the NT and then be returning to the first Testament, the law. The writer exhorts the first century Jew to enter, not the Holy of Holies of the temple on earth, but the Holy of Holies of heaven. These unsaved Jews were under the stress of persecution, and in danger of renouncing their 'profession' and returning to the abrogated sacrifices of the Levitical system."    Wuest said much more but space is limited here. Just read the book carefully and notice the warning passages, that warn about having no faith at all. They were then urged to "trust" in Christ because they had not done so from the beginning. Put all preconceived notions aside and just read the text. After translating the entire book in graduate school, I realized that my position was correct. But many just can't get out of their minds that the book was addressing Christians. While it is true that the book was turned over to believers to use as a witnessing tool, and as an evangelic writing, the main thrust was aimed at the unbelieving Jews!    There are some Jewish Christians who are well-known today who are not critical in their studies and who hold that the book was written to believing Jews who were about to fall back into the law. But there is not one verse that would say that. The author of Hebrews points out that he was with those Jews who had faith in Christ and was not with the unbelievers. He says "But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul" (10:39). He also says "Take care, brother (Jews), lest there should be in any one of you an evil, UNBELIEVING heart, in falling away from the living God" (3:12). The OT saints were an example of not having faith. They "hardened their hearts" (3:15). They were those to whom God swore that they should "not enter His rest, but to those who were DISOBEDIENT (DISBELIEVING)" (vv. 18-19).    "So we see that they were not able to enter 'God's rest' because of UNBELIEF" (v. 19). Finally, the "word that they heard did not profit them, because it was not united BY FAITH in those who heard" (4:1-2). Read all of 3:7-4:8.    Thanks for asking, and be sure and THINK before you make a statement about the book of Hebrews!    Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)