"The great weight of testimony favors the opinion that Paul was the author (though probably Luke was the writer) of this Epistle. It was probably composed by the former when in very strict custody, either at Caesarea, or at Rome (A. D. 62-64), just before his martyrdom (II Timothy iv: 26), when denied writing materials, and dictated by him to Luke, who then committed it to writing from memory. Some think we have only a Greek translation of an original Hebrew text. It was addressed specially to those Aramaic Christians of Palestine, who were exposed to severe persecution from their fellow-countrymen, who adhered to the expected return of visible glory to Israel. Brought up in fond reminiscence of the glories of the past, they seemed in Christianity to be receding from their peculiar privileges of intercommunion with God, as a favored people, Angels, Moses, the High Priest, were superseded by Jesus, the peasant of Nazareth; the Sabbath of the Lord's Day, the Old Covenant by the New; while temple and sacrifices were obsolete What, they asked, did Christianity give in their place? And Paul answers, Christ; i. e., God for their Mediator and Intercessor: superior to Angels, because nearer to the Father; to Moses, because a Son, not a servant; more sympathizing than the High Priest, and more powerful in intercession, because he pleads his own blood. The Sabbath is but a type of rest in heaven, the New Covenant is the fulfillment of the Old." (Oxford Bible Helps, p. 28.) LESSON VIII. SCRIPTURE READING EXERCISE. _BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT (Concluded)._ ANALYSIS. REFERENCES. _I. Paul's Pastoral Epistles._[1] Note 1. 1. General Character. I and II Timothy Titus; 2. I Timothy. Bible Helps and Dictionaries 3. II Timothy. previously cited. 4. Titus. Articles, the Epistles of this lesson. _II. Special Epistle._ Notes. Philemon, and 1. Philemon. Note 6. _III. The Catholic Epistles._ All the Epistles named 1. James. in the Analysis. Notes 2. I and II Peter. and Bible Helps and Dictionaries. 3. I, II and III John. 4. Jude. _IV. The Apocalypse._ The Book of Revelation. 1. The Name and Author. Doc. & Cov., Sec. 77: 1-2. Y. M. I. A. Manual.