Hebrews Chapter Thirteen, Cautions & Greetings

Hebrews 13:22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words. [23] Know that our brother Timothy has been set free, with whom I shall see you if he comes shortly. [24] Greet all those who rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. [25] Grace be with you all. Amen.

The author pleads with his readership to bear with his exhortation, claiming that what was written is smaller than what he desires to share with them. This is reminiscent of something Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe,” Philippians 3:1.

Isaiah recorded much of the same concept when it came to matters of sound doctrine. He writes, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little,” Isaiah 28:10. Paul apparently sometimes taught sound doctrine for hours upon end, if given opportunity, Acts 20:7, 11. The tedium of sound doctrine, which some men will no longer tolerate (2 Timothy 4:3), is how God chooses to teach us, according to His prophet. Like the progressive revelation of Scripture itself, God reveals to us a little at a time, as we can take it. Jesus explained this simply to His apostles when He told them, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now,” John 16:12. Although our Lord promised them (and us) that the Holy Spirit would come to dwell in them and lead them into all truth.

Doctrine and truth are synonymous in Christianity. Orthodox doctrine is true, because it is derived from the entire tenor of Scripture. Heterodox doctrine is false, because it grossly magnifies certain portions of Scripture that validate a contrary point, while refusing to harmonize the view with the rest of the book it was taken from. To prevent doctrinal error (a misunderstanding about the person of Jesus) resulting in apostasy and moral decay, the writer wrote to them about the sufficiency of the Lord. Further, the Hebrew Christians were taught that those whose trust rested solely in Him lived victorious, spiritually powerful lives.

Verse 23 is another indication that the author of Hebrews, while clearly aware of Timothy, considered the man more of a peer, calling him their brother. Yet when the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, he addressed him thus: “To Timothy, a true son in the faith,” 1 Timothy 1:2. In his second epistle to Timothy we find the same greeting, “To Timothy, a beloved son,” 2 Timothy 1:2. Addressing the Corinthians, Paul writes of Timothy, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 4:17.  It seems to me unlikely at least that Paul would refer to Timothy, whom he treated like an adopted son, as his brother. I acknowledge that he does do this in 1 Thessalonians 3:2, referring to the younger man as “our brother.” But typically Paul addresses Timothy as his son in the faith.

It is revealed in this epistle, however, that Timothy was recently released from prison for his faith, and that the writer in question was waiting for his arrival before they come together to speak to the Hebrew Christians face to face. If this epistle was in fact written after Paul’s execution, it is certainly heartening to hear that Timothy was still fervently serving the Lord after his adoptive father’s death.

The writer frames verse 24 to suggest not a pastor, but a plurality of elders governing the local church, as is indicative throughout the New Testament. When Paul instructs Timothy on the qualifications of governing the church, he shares the qualities of an elder, bishop, or presbyter, also known as a shepherd by virtue of euphemism. He also defines the qualities of a deacon, a helper for the elders that was established in Acts chapter 6, where the apostles were recognized as the eldership, while the deacons were selected to help with matters of church organization. The word “pastor” appears but once in the New Testament KJV, in Ephesians 4:11. The Greek term is, “poimen,” and translates into “shepherd,” indicating that the term is synonymous with elder of bishop. It was not meant to be a singular role, but the responsibility of a plurality of spiritually gifted men. Much is made of the concept of a pastor, but it is difficult to justify it from Scripture, no matter how heavily entrenched in our religious thinking it has become.

The writer extends both greetings and grace to the eldership and all the Christians in this body. Those who are with the author while writing Hebrews join in his farewell greeting, which was apparently from Italy. The gospel had spread far and wide across Asia by this point, extending into Europe, Africa, and beyond. He commends grace to all believers, because it is by grace that one is saved, preserved, and glorified, no matter the era or individual. God’s grace, His condescending love for fallen mankind, made a church out of sinful men and women, living stones in whom the Spirit of Christ dwells. We are the ransomed body, purchased back from sin, set free both by God and for God, to be His slaves to spread the knowledge of Christ to every corner of the world, so that all may hear and believe the good news of salvation. And to that I whole-heartedly concur when he finishes with, “Amen.”