ep. 14 - Hebrews 1:1-2 | Who Wrote Hebrews, Why It Matters, and What God Is Saying to You Right Now

7/6/20266 min read

A Study Through the Book of Hebrews | Episode 1

EPISODE OVERVIEW

We are officially diving into the book of Hebrews together and y'all, I am so excited about this series. In this first episode we're laying the groundwork — who wrote Hebrews, who it was written to, when it was written, and why it matters for us today. Then we jump right into Hebrews 1:1-2 and start unpacking what it means that God has spoken to us through His Son. Whether you're knee deep in laundry or cooking dinner, pull up a chair — this one is for you.

BACKGROUND: WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS?

Here's the honest answer: we don't know — and we probably won't know until we get to heaven. The author never identified themselves in the text, which makes Hebrews unique among the New Testament letters. Traditionally, many people (myself included, up until recently) have assumed Paul wrote it. But scholars have found some interesting clues that complicate that assumption.

According to commentary by Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary:

The author was a second-generation Christian — meaning he received the gospel from those who heard Jesus directly, not from Jesus Himself. Paul, on the other hand, claimed his gospel was revealed to him directly by the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:12), which makes it unlikely Paul was the author.
The author refers to Timothy as "our brother" (Hebrews 13:23) rather than "a true son in the faith" — which is how Paul consistently referred to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2).

Other possible authors scholars have suggested include Luke, Apollos, and Barnabas. At the end of the day, what matters most is that the early church accepted Hebrews as divinely inspired Word of God — and when you walk through it, you'll see why.

WHO WAS IT WRITTEN TO?

The recipients are addressed as "brethren" and "beloved" — language used for fellow believers in Christ. Scholars have proposed a few different theories about the specific audience:

A breakaway house church that had separated from the main congregation
Former Jewish priests who had converted to Christianity and were considering returning to certain Jewish practices to avoid persecution
A mixed group of Jewish and Gentile Christians who all revered the Old Testament as Scripture

WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN?

The book was likely written between 64–68 AD — before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Here's why that timing matters: the destruction of the temple in 70 AD was something Jesus Himself had prophesied (Matthew 24), and it marked the definitive end of the old covenant system of sacrifices. The fact that Hebrews doesn't mention this event as having already happened suggests it was written before it occurred. This also lines up with the reign of Nero, who was actively persecuting the church during this period.

THE PURPOSE OF HEBREWS

Hebrews was written to anchor believers in sound doctrine so they wouldn't be tossed around by every wind of teaching. Specifically it addresses:

Jesus is God — His deity, His nature, and why that changes everything
The old covenant was not sufficient — it was always pointing to Jesus as its fulfillment
What it truly means to be a Christian
What biblical faith actually looks like — not a feeling, but a foundation

THE PASSAGE

Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."

UNPACKING THE PASSAGE

"Long ago, at many times and in many ways..."

For the original audience reading this in the mid-60s AD, long ago was literally long ago. God had spoken through the prophets for thousands of years — and then went silent for 400 years between Malachi and the birth of Jesus. No major or minor prophet. No national word from God to Israel. Just silence.

And yet even in that silence, the prophets had already done their work. From the very first messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 — where God tells the serpent that the offspring of the woman will crush his head — all the way through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Daniel, and every prophet in between, God was painting a picture of the One who was coming. That's how the Jewish people knew to look for a Messiah at all.

A few examples of how God spoke "at many times and in many ways":

Daniel — prophesying to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, outside of Israel entirely
Jonah — sent to Nineveh, where the people repented, put on sackcloth and ashes, and turned to God

"But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..."

We've been living in the last days since Jesus ascended to heaven. This isn't a reference to a specific future moment — it's a reference to this entire age we're currently in, the age of the church, before Jesus returns. God is outside of time entirely. A day is like a thousand years to Him (2 Peter 3:8). So "these last days" really means this last age — and in it, God speaks to us through His Son and through the completed Word of Scripture.

"Whom he appointed the heir of all things..."

This isn't saying Jesus had to earn His position as heir. He wasn't appointed because He worked His way up. He is the heir because He is the begotten Son of God. In Jewish culture, the firstborn inherited everything — the land, the animals, the possessions. We see the weight of this in the story of Jacob and Esau, where Esau was so devastated by losing his blessing to Jacob that he was willing to kill his own brother over it (Genesis 27). That's how much inheritance mattered.

Now take that understanding into the New Testament: Jesus is the firstborn of many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29). He is the heir of all things — and He shares that inheritance with us. New body. New Jerusalem. New heavens and new earth. All of it.

"Through whom also he created the world..."

This one is echoed beautifully in Colossians:

"For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." — Colossians 1:16-17 ESV

The one by whom God speaks today is the same one through whom everything was created. That's who we're studying in this book.

COMING UP NEXT WEEK

Next week we're diving into Hebrews 1:3-4 — the radiance of God's glory, how Jesus made purification for sins, and why He is superior to angels. There's some really solid apologetics coming, so don't miss it.

DOWNLOADABLE POST CARD FROM HEBREWS

DOWNLOAD Episode 14 Companion Guide here]

Want something to put on your fridge from this episode? I put together a free downloadable post card for this episode that you can print out or pull up on your phone. It includes the passage, key points, a reflection question, and the closing prayer written out just for you. Grab it below!

APPLICATION FOR ANCHORED WOMEN

You don't need a prophet to bring you a word. You don't need to wait for Sunday morning to access God. You have the completed Word of God and the Holy Spirit living inside of you — and that means you have direct access to the Father right now, in the middle of the carpool line, in the middle of the hard marriage season, in the middle of the exhausting Tuesday.

Live like a daughter who actually believes that.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, I thank You for who You are. You are good and Your mercy endures forever. For every woman listening to this study, I pray that this Word would settle so deeply in her heart that she would live like someone who no longer has to wait for a prophet, who no longer has to go through another person to get to You because You have spoken through Your Son and we have direct access to You. Let that become so real in us that we are not moved by fear, not moved by the stress and distractions of this world, but anchored in the truth that we are daughters with access to the King. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that helps us study and understand Your Word. We bless Your holy name. In Jesus' name. Amen.

SCRIPTURES REFERENCED

Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV — "Long ago, at many times and in many ways..."
Hebrews 13:23 — Timothy referred to as "our brother"
1 Corinthians 15:8 — Paul's direct revelation of the gospel
Galatians 1:12 — Paul's gospel received directly from the Lord
1 Timothy 1:2 — Timothy called "a true son in the faith"
Jeremiah 31:31 — God's promise of a new covenant
Genesis 3:15 — The first messianic prophecy (the protoevangelium)
Genesis 27 — Jacob, Esau, and the stolen blessing
Matthew 24 — Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple and the end of the age
Romans 8:29 — Jesus as the firstborn among many brothers
Colossians 1:16-17 ESV — All things created through Him and for Him
2 Peter 3:8 — A day is like a thousand years to the Lord

RESOURCES REFERENCED

Logos Bible Software - used for study and cross-referencing translations
Commentary by Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Episode 8 - Who Wrote the Bible? how we know Scripture is inspired, preserved, and accurate
📥 Episode 1 Study Guide - [download link]

LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOING

What's one thing from today's study that you didn't know before or one question it stirred up in you? Drop it in the comments! And if this episode blessed you, share it with a friend who's been wanting to go deeper in the Word. Reviews help this show reach more busy wives and mamas who need it. 🤍

Do you have a testimony you'd love to share on the podcast? Send me a quick overview at mcgarrypodcast@gmail.com and let's get you on the show.

This is Miki with In Case I Forget — theology and testimony for busy wives and moms. I'll see you next Friday. Peace. ✌🏽