early tradition, in the main, attributed this text to Saint Paul, the western church did not accept Pauline authorship until the 4th century
it was included in the canon by the Council of Trent (April 8, 1546) among the other writings of Saint Paul, although the council chose not to state categorically that it was written by Paul.
the Hebrews, the basic teaching centers on showing the superiority of the Christian religion over Judaism
arrangement is developed in three stages: 1) Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Son of God, the King of the universe “reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature” and is superior to the angels. 2) Christ is also superior to Moses “as the builder of a house has more honor than the house.” 3) Jesus, the Son of God, is the greatest high priest who has passed through the 3 heavens; His priesthood is of the order of Melchizadek, superior to the priesthood of Aaron, from which the Levitical priesthood derived.
Faith, he says, is the full assurance that is had with things that are seen.
Neither is it possible to disbelieve in things that are seen, nor again is it possible for there to be faith unless one is as fully persuaded about things invisible as he is about things most clearly seen.
Abraham’s faith is exemplified by his obedience to God’s command to migrate to Canaan (note it is not by faith alone, but by living out that faith that Abraham is declared righteous) and by his confidence that his descendants would possess the land, although he would only be a wanderer in it
Abraham’s stay in Canaan is an indication of his realization that his permanent dwelling was not to be anywhere on earth, but in the heavenly city (the heavenly Jerusalem).
All the patriarchs acknowledged that their homeland was in heaven.
The author sees Isaac’s deliverance from death as a symbol of the resurrection of Christ.
The servant who is faithful during the time of fulfillment before the parousia will share in the banquet in the end times.
The angel, therefore, fell irreparably, because more is demanded of him to whom more is given... Adam, the first man, was of such an excellent nature, because that nature was not yet weakened, that his sin was much greater by far than are the sins of other men
It had been in Adam’s power not to die; but now he was immediately bound by the necessity of dying, and he was immediately sent away from the place of such great happiness; and he was immediately barred from access to the tree of life. But when this was done, the human race was still in his loins. ... Thus all the sons of Adam were infected through him with the contagion of sin and were subjected to the state of death.”
