PAUL AND THE 39 HEBREW EPISTLES

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

April 18, 2018

We have all heard for years that the book of Hebrews is not for us today because it is written to the Hebrews and we are not Hebrews. They say we cannot base doctrine on the book of Hebrews for it is not written to us gentiles. But what these folks ignore are the other Hebrew epistles that Paul quotes and based his doctrines on in his epistles. I am referring to the books of Genesis through Malachi. All of these epistles or books are written to the Hebrews also. The book of Hebrews is not the only epistle or book written to the Hebrews in the Bible. The 39 books of the Old Testament are also Hebrew epistles. But even though they are Hebrew epistles Paul quotes them nearly 200 times in his epistles and bases at least 60 church doctrines on these Hebrew epistles.

For example the following doctrines in Paul’s epistles are based upon the Old Testament Hebrew epistles; The gospel of Christ, justification by faith, righteousness by faith, the indwelling Spirit of God and even our hope of resurrection. These are 5 major doctrines in Paul’s epistles that we believe and preach today, that are all based upon the Old Testament Hebrew epistles. If so, how can anyone say that the book of Hebrews does not contain doctrine for us today?

Keep in mind also that the Jews to whom the book of Hebrews was written were saved Jews who were in Christ and Christ was in them. They were members of the same church as us gentiles. The book of Hebrews was written to get them to move away from the Old Covenant Law into the spiritual blessings of the New Covenant, especially the one all sufficient sacrifice of Christ.