Book Drawing!! “Who Wrote Hebrews?” by Bob Andersen

Book Drawing!! “Who Wrote Hebrews?: The Case for Silas and His Message for Today” by Bob Andersen

I’m so excited! My friend, Bob Andersen, has written an exciting book that I loved reading. I gained so much, not just about the possible human author of the book of Hebrews, but about the background of that culture and so many other fascinating facts.

Read below how to enter the drawing. Here is a delightful taste of the fascinating ideas Bob shares in his book.

Who Wrote Hebrews and What Can You Learn from It? Be on the Jury!

by Bob Andersen

My book is not another commentary on Hebrews. It is an analysis of the setting—which shines a beacon on the message. Pinpointing the author, historical setting, and target audience makes the urgency of the message clear—not only for the ancient Hebrews but for Christians today. This argument contends that Silas, Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey, wrote Hebrews from Rome to Jerusalem in early A.D. 67.

In a jury trial, each side makes an opening statement. Chapter 1 is my opening statement. It presents facts to be addressed in chapters 2–14 which present the evidence. In the next chapters, you will see proof of the author, destination, and timing of Hebrews along with its all-important message to the first-century Jerusalem church and to us today. Place yourself on the jury but don’t draw conclusions until you evaluate the evidence. Based on this evidence, you may conclude whether a fact is true or not. I believe you will find that Silas authored the Book of Hebrews.

Many people have given serious thought to the question of the author of Hebrews. Isn’t it enough to study the book for its content without having to identify the author? After all this time, why bother trying to solve this age–old mystery? I believe the historical, political, cultural, and religious contexts and the reason for writing play a part in our understanding the message to the Hebrews, which has special significance to Christians today. Understanding the urgency and importance makes this message critical for us.

The Mount Sinai Law

Thousands of years ago, God delivered his Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. The Jews knew this was an extraordinary event and gave that Law preeminent standing among their Scriptures. The Jews were God’s chosen people. His first commandment declared that they should worship only him. His laws included the rest of the Ten Commandments, dietary restrictions, and a priestly system of animal sacrifice. In order to ensure continued fidelity to this law, Jews married only other Jews, as God commanded, and circumcised newborn males, as God had told Abraham and his descendants to do.

First Temple Destruction

More than eight hundred years after God gave the Law, he allowed Babylon to capture Jerusalem and destroy the temple because the Jews had been unfaithful to him by worshipping other gods. When they could return to their land and rebuild the temple, they wanted to make sure it never happened again. Consequently, they sought to follow the teachings of Moses strictly while under foreign rule.

Hellenization

For the next 600 years, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Jewish Hasmoneans (the Maccabees), and Romans ruled the Jews in succession. Both the Greeks and then the Romans wanted to “Hellenize” or absorb all their subjects into one larger culture while God through the Mosaic law wanted the Jews to remain uniquely devoted to him. For over 300 years, Jews living in and outside of Israel struggled with which parts of Greek culture they could accept and still remain true to God since some changes contradicted God’s instructions.

Conflict resulted. Greeks and Romans believed in many gods and didn’t agree with the Jewish sacrificial system and dietary laws. In the second century BC, the king of the Syrian Greeks ordered the Jews under penalty of death to accept idolatrous Greek practices that clearly violated the Mosaic law. This included the order to sacrifice pigs on the altar in Jerusalem and throughout Judea, inciting the Maccabean Revolt. The Jews prevailed and experienced freedom from foreign rule until the Romans took control in the first century BC. Although the Romans initially were more accommodating, they continued the process of Hellenization.

Predicted Messiah

Furthermore, Jewish Scriptures predicted a coming king called the Messiah or “anointed one.” He would be a descendant of King David and born in Bethlehem. The Jews believed this Messiah would set Israel free as predicted by Isaiah and other prophets. The Jewish prophet, Daniel, even put a timeframe on the Messiah’s appearance. By the first century, the Jews inside and outside of Jerusalem expectantly awaited the promised Messiah.

Why we should consider Silas the author of Hebrews?

Although modern commentators question the background of Silas, the first-century leaders who knew him personally credited him with authority, faithfulness, and ability. The Jerusalem Council chose him to defend Paul and Barnabas’s gospel to the Jews in the dispersion. Paul chose him to help lead the second missionary  journey throughout the Greek world. Silas proved faithful through the persecutions of that journey, preached in Corinth, Peter approved him as a faithful brother near the end of Peter’s life, and Silas played a part in writing First Peter. While his resume is impressive, the selection of Silas by the Jerusalem council and by Paul and Peter for crucial leadership and theological roles in more impressive.

Thank you, Bob, for giving us a fascinating taste of your important book.

My friends, that’s only the beginning of how Bob, as the lawyer he is, delves into examining the different people who have been suggested as the author. Would you like to enter to win this wonderful book? You can by writing a comment on my blog post. The drawing will end on the evening of Monday, June 12th. Only USA addresses can win.

Bob has been an attorney in Riverside, California for 43 years. He now practices exclusively mediation and holds an M.A. in Theological Studies from Talbot Seminary. He is married, has three daughters and five grandchildren. He and his wife have a Christian marriage ministry under the name “The Marriage Dance.”

Links for buying:
https://www.amazon.com/Who-Wrote-Hebrews-Silas-Message/dp/0990725952

Links or reaching me: www.AndersenMediations.com www.TheMarriageDance.com  www.SilasWroteHebrews.com [email protected]

Bob Andersen
Andersen Mediations
P.O. Box 375
Riverside, California 92502
[email protected]
www.AndersenMediations.com

951-224-9277; 951-505-0357