The character of the Epistle to
the Hebrews differs greatly from all other letters included in the New
Testament. It is actually a sermon interpreting numerous biblical verses with
the aim to substantiate its unique claim for Jesus' heavenly priesthood. The
reliance on biblical proof-texts enables the writer to establish his innovative
claims vis-a-vis both the broader Jewish tradition and the competing outlooks
existing within the Jesus movement itself.
The eight conversations in the book
discuss the Epistle's interpretative strategies in order to unearth the
worldview of its author and the nature of its target audience.