The letter to the Hebrews is anonymous. So, the first question that arises is, “Who wrote it?” The answers always comes down to either Paul or someone who was a coworker of Paul. Even the early church wrestled with that question.
Given the significance of that issue for the inclusion of Hebrews in the New Testament, one should wrestle with it and then hold any conclusion without being dogmatic.
A unique feature of the letter is the fact, until Chapter 13, the contents read like something that was delivered orally, like a speech or sermon. It has all the markings of an exegetical/expositional sermon: making arguments, quoting Old Testament Scripture, then giving interpretation and application for the readers/listeners.
Extolling Jesus’ fulfillment of and superiority to all things Old Testament is clear in the content. Unclear, at least what continues to be debated, is the interpretation of the various warning passages. Each of these is tied to the larger purpose of the sermon/letter, encouraging and exhorting believers to remain faithful in the face of persecution: The Old Testament pointed to Jesus; so, stay true to him.
Commentaries should offer insight on the meaning of individual verses and should examine the structure of the argument of the sermon/letter, for the shape informs the message.
The NIV Application Commentary: Hebrews by George Guthrie
The value of this source is in the fact Guthrie takes the expositor through three stages of reading the biblical text: Original Meaning, Bridging Contexts and Contemporary Significance.
The Original Meaning section guides the reader to understanding the basic insights needed for a proper interpretation of the text. It does not delve deeply into linguistic matters. The presentation is very readable and clear. This section by itself is where most basic-level commentaries would stop. But the series in general and Guthrie specifically for Hebrews offers additional thoughts for the preacher/teacher in the next two sections.
The Bridging Contexts section helps the reader go from what the text meant in its time to draw principles for contemporary times.
The Contemporary Significance section makes suggestions for application. Preachers always are looking for examples of application. While the preacher/teacher can use the suggestions in the application section, as the series has aged, some applications may be outdated, which is true for all the volumes of the series. As a result, this section can serve better to aid the preacher/teacher in brainstorming updated contemporary applications for the audience.
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See also Guthrie’s The Structure of Hebrews: A Text-Linguistic Analysis and Grant R. Osborne’s Hebrews Verse by Verse, which Guthrie completed.
The New American Commentary: Hebrews: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of Holy Scripture by David L. Allen
Allen is a preacher’s preacher, an expert in text-driven preaching. He is well suited for writing a commentary on the sermon/letter to the Hebrews.
The New American Commentary series is uneven in its usefulness, but Allen’s work is among the top volumes. His extensive introduction is most valuable, with around 60 pages dedicated to the matter of authorship, the subject of his dissertation.
Allen demonstrates the letter’s text-driven approach to its walk through the Old Testament as it argues for the superiority and finality of Jesus with the application to the readers to remain faithful in spite of persecution. It is rich in insight.
Note: This series is transitioning to The Christian Standard Commentary. Look for this volume to be updated as well. Currently, the series uses the NIV as the text. The value is the commentary, not which translation prefaces each section.
See also Allen’s The Lukan Authorship of Hebrews.
New International Commentary on the New Testament: The Epistle to the Hebrews by Gareth Lee Cockerill.
Cockerill’s updated contribution to the New International Commentary on the New Testament series is massive. He does with Hebrews what J. Ramsey Michaels did with the volume on the Gospel of John and many others do with their treatments of other New Testament volumes in their expansion of discussion in light of recent research.
The publisher’s description states the value of this work well: “Cockerill analyzes the book’s rhetorical, chiastic shape and interprets each passage in light of this overarching structure. He also offers a new analysis of the epistle’s use of the Old Testament—continuity and fulfillment rather than continuity and discontinuity—and shows how this consistent usage is relevant for contemporary biblical interpretation.”
All this is in line with the summation above regarding the approach one should have with this written sermon. This should be a go-to volume for the preacher.
See also F.F. Bruce’s The Epistle to the Hebrews in Eerdmans Classic Biblical Commentaries, which originally was part of the New International Commentary on the New Testament series. Bruce rarely disappointed in his commentaries and studies.
Other commentaries
Others works to consider when obtainable include Amy Peeler’s volume on Hebrews in the Commentaries for Christian Formation series, Paul Ellingworth’s The Epistle to the Hebrews in the New International Greek Testament Commentary series, and William L. Lane’s two volumes on Hebrews in the Word Biblical Commentary series.
Encountering the Book of Hebrews: An Exposition by Donald Hagner
From the Encountering Biblical Studies series, this volume is designed for use in a university setting, but it is accessible enough for use in a church setting.
Whether preparing teachers to study Hebrews in an informal Bible study or as a first dive into the text for pastors preparing to preach a sermon series through the letter, Hagner offers valuable insights through the argument of the letter as well as the various thematic and theological issues that arise in it.
Online resource
A longtime Bible teacher, Bob Utley offers very helpful resources for free on his website, FreeBibleCommentary.org. Pertinent to this discussion of resources on Hebrews is his page with links to YouTube videos to commentaries on passages from the letter.
Joseph Matos is professor of biblical studies at Dallas Baptist University and graduate of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo., and of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He has taught a weekly Bible study for Gambrell Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, based on the GC2 Press Connect 360 curriculum, and he gives encouragement and guidance toward spiritual formation on his YouTube channel On Journey with Dr. Joseph Matos. The views expressed in this resource article are those of the author.
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