1. A Study of the Book of Hebrews
Christ, Our Priest
A Study of the Book of Hebrews

2. Thanks to Rev. Jonathon Bakker for Much of the Work in this Study!

3. Introduction Who wrote Hebrews? When was Hebrews written?
To whom was Hebrews written?
What are the key themes of the Epistle to the Hebrews?

4. Outlines of Hebrews Traditional: I 1:1-10:18 Dogma
II 10:19-13:25 Moral
Problems?
False separation – both are blatantly present throughout the epistle
Ignores the overarching literary nature of the whole document

5. Outlines of Hebrews Slightly More Modern, Less Common
I 1:1-4:13 The Word of God
II 4:14-10:18 The priesthood of Christ
III 10:19-13:25 Appeal to live as Christians
Problems?
Not all that different from the earlier two-fold outline, prone to similar categorization and exclusivity
Again, ignores the literary nature of the whole document

6. A Structural and Literary Outline (A. Vanhoye)
a: 1:1-4 Exordium
I 1:5-2:18 A name so different from the name of the angels
II A 3:1-4:14 Jesus, high-priest worthy of faith
B 4:15-5:10 Jesus, compassionate high-priest
- 5:11-6:20 Preliminary exhortation
A 7:1-28 Jesus, high-priest according to the order of Melchizedek
III B 8:1-9:28 Come to fulfillment [Made perfect]
C 10:1-18 Cause of an eternal salvation
- 10:19-39 Final exhortation
IV A 11:1-40 The faith of the men of old
B 12:1-13 The endurance required
V 12:14-13:18 Straight courses
z: 13:20-21 Peroration

7. a: 1:1-4 Exordium(1)
I 1:5-2:18 A name so different from the name of the angels
II A 3:1-4:14 Jesus, high-priest worthy of faith
B 4:15-5:10 Jesus, compassionate high-priest
- 5:11-6:20 Preliminary exhortation
A 7:1-28 Jesus, high-priest according to the order of Melchizedek
III B 8:1-9:28 Come to fulfillment [Made perfect]
C 10:1-18 Cause of an eternal salvation
- 10: Final exhortation
IV A 11:1-40 The faith of the men of old
B 12:1-13 The endurance required
V 12:14-13:18 Straight courses
z: 13:20-21 Peroration (2)

8. (1) Exordium:
A beginning or introduction especially to a discourse or composition. From the Latin. (Merriam-Webster)

9. (2) Peroration:
The concluding part of a discourse and especially an oration. From the Latin. (Merriam-Webster)

10. Problems? Assumes advanced literary character of the document
Extremely complex, especially when placed beside outlines for other NT documents

11. Classical Rhetorical Elements
Announcements of the subjects to be discussed
Inclusions/Chiasms which indicate the boundaries of the developments
Variation of literary genre: exposition or paraenesis (3)
Words which characterize a development
Transition by immediate repetition of an expression or of a word, which is termed a “hook word”
Symmetric arrangements

12. (3) Paraenesis
The persuasion or dissuasion of a person to do or believe or not to do or believe one thing or another. From the Greek, translation mine.

13. Example of Inclusion/Chiasm – Hebrews 12:1-2

14. Hebrews 12:1-2
A 1 Consequently, we also, having been surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
B let us throw off every burden and even the besetting sin and
C with endurance let us run our race; the one lying before us
D fixing our eyes on the creator/author and perfector of our faith
E Jesus
D1 who for the joy set before him
C1 endured the cross
B1 having regarded its shame with contempt
A1 is seated in the right hand of the throne of God.

15. A 1 Consequently, we also, having been surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
B let us throw off every burden and even the besetting sin and
C with endurance let us run our race; the one lying before us
D fixing our eyes on the creator/author and perfecter of our faith
E Jesus
D1 who for the joy set before him
C1 endured the cross
B1 having regarded its shame with contempt
A1 is seated in the right hand of the throne of God.

16. Example of Symmetric Arrangement Hebrews 1:1-2a

17. Example of Symmetric arrangement – Hebrews 1:1-2a
God 2
having spoken
has spoken
of old
in these final days
by the prophets
by his Son
to the fathers
to us

18. 1:1-1:4 Christ: Word of God and Action of God
Heb. 1:1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

19. Questions on 1:1-4
What distinctions are made in the first two verses of Hebrews that immediately set the tone for the rest of the letter?
With what is Jesus compared in the fourth verse?
Why is it significant

20. Finis