Original translation from the Latin text of the Commentary of Cornelius aLapide on Titus, Philemon, and Hebrews by Michael Miller - 498 pages Sewn Hardcover

Hebrews is one of Saint Paul's most important epistles and is theologically complex. Even though he was the Apostle to the Gentiles, he penned this for his Hebrew Christians in order to strengthen their knowledge and resolve in the face of persecution from their fellow unconverted Hebrews.

Titus was of Gentile and Greek descent on both sides and, if we are
to believe Chrysostom in his first homily, came from Corinth. Hence
the Apostle, writing the second time to the Corinthians, repeatedly
mentions Titus, and used him as an administrator among his own people
for collecting alms and other church matters. This Titus, having been
converted to Christ and baptized by Paul, was one of his disciples. And
he was an outstanding helper and interpreter in Paul’s preaching. Hence
in 2 Corinthians 12:13 Paul calls Titus his brother.

Philemon, not a Jew but a Gentile, was a citizen of Colossus, a nobleman
among his people, a remarkable man by his life, morals, and profession of
the Christian faith. His house in Colossus still stood intact at the time of
Theodoret, as he relates, and likewise that it started to be a church in S. Paul’s
time, so that Paul might congregate the faithful there. Thus also, Archippus,
the Bishop of the Colossians, lived there, as Paul implies in verse 2. this house,
now dedicated to God as a Church, remained for many centuries.

Paul wrote this epistle in chains in Rome before the year 60
A.D., although he now hoped to be liberated from them shortly, as is clear
from verse 22. He sent this Epistle through Onesimus himself together with
the Epistle to the Colossians.

Hebrews

Paul here proposes and proves to the Hebrews: First,
the divinity and dignity of Christ; Second, that his priesthood, i.e., Christ’s
once-and-for-all sacrifice on the cross foreshadowed by all the old sacrifices,
was alone sufficient to accomplish the redemption of us all; Third, he shows
that Christ’s office was to be the expiator of all sins by His own blood, our
redeemer, mediator, and pontiff who opens the gates of Heaven; Fourth,
he shows the difference of the New Testament and its superiority over the
Old; Fifth, he consoles those who were despoiled as apostates and harassed
in various ways by the Jewish authorities, with the permission of their
Roman overlords, on account of their faith in Christ and their defection
from the law of Moses. Indeed, if we are to believe S. Chrysostom, the
purpose of the entire Epistle is to console and strengthen these same
Christians. Finally, as was Paul’s custom, he concludes the Epistle with
moral instruction and ethical precepts.