Hebrews Imagine being a Jewish Christian in the city of Rome in the time of Nero. You’ve been waiting on God’s promises of forgiveness and release from oppression, and have found your Messiah: Jesus. But as the years go by, rather than release from oppression, it only gets worse. You had suffered at the hands of emperor Claudius, but now it has intensified under Nero. You begin to wonder about this Jesus, whether he might not just be a false Messiah like many others. After all, you haven’t seen any sign of freedom from oppression or a peaceable kingdom. Now you’re tempted to return to Judaism, not only to look for another Messiah, but because your fellow Jews are not being persecuted like Christians are. Then a letter arrives … 

Scripture:  Hebrews