The background of the letter to the Hebrews is uniquely relevant to believers throughout Christian history. The letter to the Hebrews makes it clear that some followers of Christ with a Jewish heritage wanted to revert to their previous faith, in order to avoid the growing persecution of Christians. The parallels to our time are obvious. In order not to be seen as bigoted or offensive, followers of Jesus are compromising the gospel and the Christian mandate to holiness. The letter to the ancient Hebrew Christians is a letter for our time.