Welcome to Bible study on Hebrews

Reasons for sharing with others what you personally have learned from God’s Word But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 2:13)

Reasons for sharing with others what you personally have learned from God’s Word But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 2:13) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Heb. 10:25)

Growth requires effort; admonishment Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered… (Heb 5:11)

Growth requires effort; admonishment Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered seeing ye are dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11)

Growth requires effort; admonishment Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (Heb. 6:1)

What can you expect from me? To help you understand the themes

What can you expect from me? To help you understand the themes To exposit the text

What can you expect from me? To help you understand the themes To exposit the text To make what we learn relevant for us

What can you expect from me? To help you understand the themes To exposit the text To make what we learn relevant for us Answer your requests for clarification

General background Who is the author?

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him (Heb. 2:3) For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:12)

Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. (13:24) Grace be with you all. Amen (13:25) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen (II Thes. 3:18) Grace be with you all. Amen (Tit. 3:15)

General background Who is the author? Who is the audience?

Addressed to Christians from Jewish background God … spake …unto the fathers by the prophets (Heb. 1:1) When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years (Heb. 3:9)

At risk of departing from the faith Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Heb. 10:38) See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven (Heb. 12:25)

General background Who is the author? Who is the audience? What is the purpose of the letter?

Issues At risk from backsliding/falling away from the faith (10:38) Being persecuted (10:3) Clinging to OT ceremonies (implicated by chapters 8-10)

General background Who is the author? Who is the audience? What is the purpose of the letter? Outline of Hebrews

Several themes, e.g. Sin (1:3; 2:17) Christ as High Priest (Ch. 2, 4, 7) Covenants (Ch. 7, 8)

Outline of Hebrews PART SECTION THEME SUBJECTS CHAPTER I 1 The pre-eminence of Christ (1–2:14) Manner of God’s speaking to us 1:1-2 Supremacy of Jesus compared with the angels 1:2-14 Admonition to hear and submit to Jesus’ message 2:1-4 2 The pre-eminence of Christ’s priesthood (2:15–10:18) Jesus becoming man; necessity and profit of His suffering and death 2:5-18 Christ superior to Moses 3:1-6 Unbelieving Israel 3:7-19 Admonition to heed the gospel message and enter into His rest 4:1-13 A sympathetic High Priest 4:14-5:2 Work and calling of the High Priest 5:3-4 Christ’s Priesthood - Characteristics 5:5-10 Admonition against spiritual dullness/immaturity 5:11-6:3 Admonition against turning away from Christ 6:4-8 Commendation for labour of love 6:9-10 Admonition to remain faithful 6:11-12 The certainty and profit of God’s promises 6:13-20 The priesthood of Melchisedec, a type of Christ’s 7:1-14 Christ’s priesthood surpasses Melchisedec’s 7:15-28 The new (and better) covenant (1) Christ’s priesthood superior to that of the Levitical Priesthood 8:1-13 The new (and better) covenant (2) The Levitical sacrifices and Priesthood typifying Christ’s sacrifice and Priesthood; Christ’s sacrifice being perfect 9:1-10:18 II Practical teachings and exhortations (10:19–13:25) Privilege of drawing near unto God 10:19-21 Exhortation regarding using the means and mutual encouragement 10:22-25 Warning against backsliding 10:26-31 Encouragement to remain faithful as they had been in the past 10:32-39 The substance of faith as seen in the Bible saints 11:1-40 Admonition to run with patience the race set before us 12:1-29 Exhortation to Christian duties 13:1-17 Concluding words 13:18-25

The pre-eminence of Christ – Manner of God’s speaking to us [1] God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, [2] Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

No room for escape regarding your responsibility: See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven (12:25)

God spoke in various ways Face to face - Moses (Ex. 33:11; Deut. 34:10) Urim and Thummin (Numb. 27:21) Dreams and visions (Numb 12:6) Audibly – Samuel and other prophets (1 Sam 3) Directly through Angel of God (Jud. 13:9)

Dreadful if: God did not speak through these means (1 Sam 28:6) God did speak but the people refused to listen (Jer. 29:17-19)

Contrast God speaking: Old Testament New Testament Unto the fathers Divers manners At sundry times; in shadows To us One manner: His Son, the Word Full & complete message

Why the focus on Christ? Risk of falling back into Jewish shadow worship For the law having a shadow of good things to come (10:1) In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. (8:13)