Waraka kwa Waebrania

Miaka ya 60 B.K. Mkristo mwenye asili ya Kiyahudi na elimu ya Kiyunani, aliwaandikia Wakristo wa Kiyahudi wenzake si barua hasa, bali hotuba kamili iliyoambatanishwa na kipande cha barua.

Hali iliyosababisha uandishi ni baadhi yao kuvutiwa tena na dini yao asili na ibada zake hekaluni: kishawishi kilikuwa kikubwa hasa kwa sababu Kanisa lilikuwa bado mwanzoni, bila mahali maalumu pa kusali wala ibada za fahari.

Mwandishi aliwaonya kuwa wakimuasi Yesu hawamrudii Mungu aliye hai, aliyejifunua hasa katika Mwanae, bali wanamsulubisha tena kwa makusudi mazima na kustahili tu moto wa milele.

Ingawa Waraka huu umehusianishwa na zile za Mtume Paulo, toka zamani ilijulikana kuwa mwandishi wake si yeye, ila mtu aliyeshirikiana naye. Kati ya wanaotajwa zaidi kuna Barnaba na Apolo.

Sehemu kubwa ya maandishi hayo inalinganisha Yesu Kristo na ukuhani wake katika hekalu la mbinguni upande mmoja, na ukuhani wa Agano la Kale huko Yerusalemu upande mwingine.

Hivyo mwandishi alielekeza safari ya kiroho katika imani inayofanana na ile ya watakatifu wa Agano la Kale.

Kwa kuwa lengo halikuwa la kinadharia, bali kuhimiza uaminifu, kila baada ya kuchambua ukweli fulani aliongeza mawaidha ya kufaa.

Ubora wake ni kulinganisha mambo ya kale na utimilifu wake katika Agano Jipya, pia kuthibitisha ukuu wa Kristo kama kuhani wa milele (Eb 1:1-2:4; 4:11-5:10; 7:1-8:13; 10:19-11:40; 13:22-25). Hiyo inaendana na ufasaha wa lugha.

• Attridge, Harold W. Hebrews. Philadelphia, PA: Fortress Press, 1989.
• Bruce, Frederick F. The Epistle to the Hebrews. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1964. Rev Ed 1990.
• Guthrie, Donald The Letter to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983
• Hagen, Kenneth. Hebrews Commenting from Erasmus to Beze. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck), 1981.
• Heen, Erik M. and Krey, Philip D.W., eds. Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: Hebrews. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 2005.
• Hughes, P.E. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977.
• Hurst, L. D. The Epistle to the Hebrews: Its Background of Thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
• Koester, Craig R. "Hebrews". Anchor Bible 36. New York: Doubleday, 2001.
• Lane, William L. Hebrews 1–8. Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 47A. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1991.
• Lane, William L. Hebrews 9–13. Word Biblical Commentary Vol. 47B. Dallas, TX: Word Books, 1991.
• O'Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Hebrews. Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans / Nottingham: Apollos, 2010.
• Paul Ellingworth Reading through Hebrews 1–7, Listening especially for the theme of Jesus as high priest. Epworth Review 12.1 (Jan. 1985): 80–88.
• Paul Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews. New International Greek Testament Commentary, Eerdmans, 1993

• [1] Agano Jipya kwa lugha ya Kiswahili

• The letter to the Hebrews in "biblical literature", Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
• Goodspeed's introductory analysis of Hebrews, 1908 at earlychristianwritings.com
• Catholic Encyclopedia: Epistle to the Hebrews
• Easton's Bible Dictionary 1897: Epistle to the Hebrews
• Holiness in Hebrews – Wayne G. McCown Archived 4 Aprili 2012 at the Wayback Machine. page 58
• Eusebius' Church History 3.3.5 includes comment by Eusebius on canonicity of Hebrews and also extensive note by Philip Schaff on topic
• Encyclopædia Britannica: Hebrews, Epistle to the Archived 20 Novemba 2018 at the Wayback Machine., 1911 version