40  A Short Postscript  (13:22-25)

But I urge you, brethren, bear with this word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly. Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I shall see you. Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you. Grace be with you all. (13:22-25)

EXHORTATION

The writer gives a characterization to his epistle. He calls it this word of exhortation. (Cf. Acts 13:15 where this phrase is used as the designation for a sermon.) The book of Hebrews is a great treatise preached with a pen. It is an urgent call to the readers to come to single-minded devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ and to complete satisfaction with the New Covenant. The high and lofty doctrinal themes are the foundation for this primary exhortation.

Then, almost in an apologetic manner, he encourages the readers to bear with what he has written, to receive with receptive minds and warm hearts what he has said—in contrast to those in 2 Timothy 4:3 (whom Paul describes using the same verb, anech) who do “not endure [bear with] sound doctrine.”

The epistle has been straightforward, confrontive, uncompromising, somewhat complex, and taxing to mind, emotion, and will. Yet, even so, it is written… briefly.

Brachus (briefly) means short, or in a few words. The whole letter (under 10,000 words) is shorter than Romans or 1 Corinthians and can be read in less than an hour. If the writer had dealt fully with the great themes he discusses, the letter would have been inconceivably long. But it is amazingly short in comparison to the eternal and infinite truths it contains.

FOLLOW-UP

Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I shall see you. (13:23)

They needed to know that one of God’s choice servants, our brother, Timothy (who must have been well known to them) has been released. Although the term apolu (released) has a variety of meanings, it is most frequently used in the New Testament in relation to releasing from custody prisoners who were under arrest or in prison. The historical detail of Timothy’s imprisonment is unknown. We are not surprised that he, like his teacher, Paul, was put in jail for preaching Jesus. Timothy seemed to be faltering in his faithfulness when Paul wrote his second epistle to him. Thus, in 2 Timothy 1:6—2:12 and 3:12-14, the apostle encourages him to endure persecution and not to fear it. It is likely that Hebrews was penned soon after 2 Timothy, and we see that this man of God had responded well to Paul’s previous exhortation.

The writer’s hope was that Timothy would soon join him, and that together they would visit the readers. Here we see a clear illustration of the importance of following up with personal ministry those who are taught. Such ministry was an oft-expressed desire of the apostle Paul (see Rom. 15:28-29).

GREETING

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. Those from Italy greet you.
(13:24)

The readers had already been exhorted to obey their leaders (v. 17), and now they are asked to convey greetings to them and to all the saints who were part of that fellowship in Christ. The mention of all of your leaders supports the other New Testament teachings of the plurality of elders (cf. Acts 20:17-38) who lead the people of God.

Those from Italy greet you may indicate that the group to which he wrote was in Italy, or simply that some Italian Christians were with him and sent their greetings.

BENEDICTION

Grace be with you all. (13:25)

The epistle ends with a simple, yet lovely conclusion in the form of a plea for God to grant grace to the readers (cf. Titus 3:15), as He does for all His children through the One who alone can give grace—the Lord Jesus Christ.