HEBREWS, LETTER TO THE

New Testament letter traditionally attributed to Paul but now widely believed to be the work of a Jewish Christian, perhaps one of Paul's associates. The letter was composed sometime during the latter half of the 1st century. To judge from its contents, the letter was addressed to a Christian community whose faith was faltering because of strong Jewish influences. To fortify Christian beliefs, the author describes the perfect priesthood of Christ, who, unlike the Jewish high priest, offered but one sacrifice as God's own Son, thereby redeeming all of mankind once and for all. The office of the Jewish high priest, by contrast, was filled by a temporary appointee whose imperfect sacrifice had to be repeated over and over. The author concludes that Christianity is consequently superior to Judaism. The Christians are then warned against apostasy and the "fearful prospect of judgment" (10:27) that awaits "the man who has spurned the Son of God" (10:29). They are urged to persevere in their faith following the heroic example of others well known to them. The emphasis on Christ's priestly mediation and statements on faith and the Mosaic Law are not typical of other Pauline writings; other parts of the letter, however, clearly reflect Pauline influences.