Discussion of the Purpose and Meaning of Hebrews, according to its Rhetorical Composition

[Guido]

I have almost no insight to offer about this, except that, from what I know, Hebrews encourages readers to hold fast their profession in obedience to Christ, lest they get judged in this life and forfeit eternal rewards.

My questions concerns the purpose, structure, and meaning of Hebrews from a rhetorical perpective. Does Hebrews contain elements such as exordium, narratio, propositio, confirmatio, refutatio, conclusio, etc? Where are they and are there repeating structures of them?

Please go into much detail as possible in this discussion. I don't know much about this subject, so I probably won't say much if anything.

In brief, the Catholics seem to think that the proposition begins in chapter 2 after the first warning, and that the rest of the book contains three supporting arguments before the conclusio. This seems to makes sense, but then salvation is entirely by faith plus works, in my opinion, which is a concept alien to scripture and Pauline theology contained in scripture.

 

[kyredneck]

lest they get judged in this life

K. I agree with that.

and forfeit eternal rewards.

Scripture please.

 

[Aaron]

The main theme of Hebrews is the supremacy of Christ, and the superiority of the New Testament over the old. Jewish believers were constantly under pressure from judaizers and, likely, from their own doubts and fears, to return to the deeds of the law for their salvation.

The Apostle, most likely Paul, contrasts the eternal priesthood of Christ with the temporal Levitical priesthood, and presents Christ's effectual sacrifice once for all as the end of the law of sacrifices.

We no longer look for Jerusalem on earth, because in Christ we have come to the Heavenly Jerusalem.

That's Hebrews in a nut shell.

 

[Crimson12]

Strongly agree.

But one problem Christian seem to have is from misreading Hebrews 6:1-10 into you can lose your salvation. The writer is just stating the difference between the three bad soils/grounds mention in Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20 and Luke 8:4-15 and the one good soil/ground Hebrews 6:7-8 speaks of these soils/grounds. For we find a great connection between Luke 8:15 and Hebrews 6:10 of what fruits/works true Believers produce.

Hebrews 10:26-29 is another passage that is also misunderstood but looking carefully at Matthew 7:13-23 along with Matthew 12:31-33 we not only see is this again a fruit/work thing, but speaking against speaking blasphemy against the Spirit of Grace. Because it is not our own works but Christ working in us thru His Spirit that we are commanded to walk in, Ephesians 2:8-10. By someone speaking great blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost can not be received into their hearts so that he/she might become God’s child, Romans 8:14-17; Galatians 4:4-8; 6:10; Ephesians 2:19.