Hebrews

The Epistle of St. Paul to the Hebrews

St. Paul wrote this Epistle to the Christians in Palestine, the most part of whom being Jews before their conversion, they were called Hebrews. He exhorts them to be thoroughly converted and confirmed in the faith of Christ, clearly showing them the preeminence of Christ's priesthood above the Levitical, and also the excellence of the new law above the old. He commends faith by the example of the ancient fathers: and exhorts them to patience and perseverance and to remain in fraternal charity. It appears from Chapter 13 that this Epistle was written in Italy, and probably at Rome, about twenty-nine years after our Lord's Ascension. (For more information, see the article EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS in the Catholic Encyclopedia.)

Chapter 1. God spoke of old by the prophets, but now by his Son, who is incomparably greater than the angels.
Chapter 2. The transgression of the precepts of the Son of God is far more condemnable than of those of the Old Testament given by angels.
Chapter 3. Christ is more excellent than Moses. Wherefore we must adhere to him by faith and obedience.
Chapter 4. The Christian's rest. We are to enter into it through Jesus Christ.
Chapter 5. The office of a high priest. Christ is our high priest.
Chapter 6. He warns them of the danger of falling by apostasy and exhorts them to patience and perseverance.
Chapter 7. The priesthood of Christ according to the order of Melchisedech excels the Levitical priesthood and puts an end both to that and to the law.
Chapter 8. More of the excellence of the priesthood of Christ and of the New Testament.
Chapter 9. The sacrifices of the law were far inferior to that of Christ.
Chapter 10. Because of the insufficiency of the sacrifices of the law, Christ our high priest shed his own blood for us, offering up once for all the sacrifice of our redemption. He exhorts them to perseverance.
Chapter 11. What faith is. Its wonderful fruits and efficacy demonstrated in the fathers.
Chapter 12. Exhortation to constancy under their crosses. The danger of abusing the graces of the New Testament.
Chapter 13. Divers admonitions and exhortations.