Lesson One

OVERVIEW

The Book of Hebrews

"To read it is to breathe the atmosphere of heaven itself. To study it is to partake of strong spiritual meat. To abide in its teachings is to be led from immaturity to maturity in the knowledge of Christian truth and of Christ Himself. It is to 'go on unto perfection.'"

The epistle to the Hebrews reigns unchallenged as the best New Testament commentary on the Old Testament and its relationship to Jesus Christ. It makes clear that the sacrifices and other priestly activities were but shadows pointing forward to Christ, the once-for-all sacrifice for sin, the true Priest, the one mediator between God and mankind. Indeed, Hebrews may be considered a grand portrait of Christ with the Old Testament as its background.

First impressions

If you are like most people, when you receive an important letter you probably read it straight through first to see what the writer has to say in general. After that, you may go back to examine particular sections more closely. This is just the way to study a biblical letter. In this lesson, you'll take a broad look at Hebrews to lay the groundwork for detailed study in future lessons.

Start by reading the letter through from beginning to end in one sitting. Try reading parts of it aloud, such as 12:1-3,18-29. Get a general impression of what the author is getting at. Think about questions 1 and 2 as you read.

1. Repetition is a clue to the ideas and concepts a writer considers most important to his message. What words and concepts occur over and over in this letter?

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2. What seems to be the author's attitude toward his readers? How does he feel about them? (Angry? Thrilled? Frustrated? Impersonal? Compassionate?) ____________________________________________________________

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3. How does he refer to his letter in 13:22?

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4. What do your answers to questions 1 through 3 imply about the author's reasons or aims in writing this letter?

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Contrasts

5. Briefly scan through the letter once again, this time paying attention to the contrasts the author uses in supporting his main theme.

(1:1-4) Revelation through prophets contrasted with ________ ____________________________________________________________

(1:5–2:18) Angels contrasted with ____________________

(3:1-6) Moses contrasted with ______________________________

(3:12–4:10) Canaan rest contrasted with_______________

(4:14–5:10) Aaron's priesthood contrasted with _______ ____________________________________________________________

(5:11-14) Spiritual infancy contrasted with ________________ ____________________________________________________________

(6:1-20) Apostasy contrasted with __________________________

(7:1-28) Aaron's priesthood contrasted with ________________

(8:1-13) The old covenant contrasted with___________________

(9:11-28) Sacrificial blood of animals contrasted with______ ____________________________________________________________

(10:1-18) Repeated Levitical sacrifices contrasted with_____ ____________________________________________________________

(10:19-39) Perseverance contrasted with_____________________

(11:1-40) Faith contrasted with_____________________________

6. What do these contrasts suggest to you about the author's goal in this letter?

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7. In ancient manuscripts, this letter is entitled, Pros Hebraious, "To Hebrews." This probably refers to a group of Hebrew Christians. Why do you think the approach you observed in questions 5 and 6 would have been effective with first-century Jewish Christians?

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Doctrinal and practical

8. Throughout Hebrews, the author gives theological teaching and then says, "Therefore ..." Below, summarize the theological points he makes in each doctrinal section, then summarize the practical "therefore" that should result from the doctrine.

doctrine (1:1-14)_______________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (2:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine (2:5-18)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (3:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine (3:7-19)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (4:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine (4:6-10)___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (4:11)____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine (5:11-14)__________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (6:1)_____________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine (7:1–10:18)__________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

therefore (10:19-22)________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

doctrine...