OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

The New and Better Covenant

I. Christ the Surety of the New Covenant, Hebrews 1:1-5:10

1. He Is a Divine Redeemer, Heb_1:1-4

2. He Is Superior to Angels, Heb_1:5-14

3. He Has Accomplished Redemption through Suffering, Heb_2:1-18

4. He Is Greater than Moses, Heb_3:1-19; Heb_4:1-13

5. He Is a Great High Priest, Heb_4:14-16; Heb_5:1-10

(Comment on the Argument and Direct Appeal to Readers, Heb_5:11-14; Heb_6:1-12)

II. The Relation of the Two Covenants, Hebrews 6:13-10:39

1. The Promise to Abraham, Heb_6:13-15

2. Its Realization by Us, Heb_6:16-20

3. The Unchanging Priesthood, Heb_7:1-17

4. The Covenants Contrasted, Heb_7:18-28; Heb_8:1-13

5. The Institutions of the Old Covenant Fulfilled in the Person and Work of Christ, Heb_9:1-28; Heb_10:1-18

6. The Greater Privileges and Responsibilities of the New Covenant, Heb_10:19-39

III. Faith, the Common Factor of the Two Covenants, Heb_11:1-40; Heb_12:1-29

1. The Achievements of Faith under the Old Covenant, Heb_11:1-40

2. The Summons to Faith under the New Covenant, Heb_12:1-29

IV. Practical Admonitions, Heb_13:1-21

Conclusion, Heb_13:22-25

INTRODUCTION

This Epistle was evidently written as the ancient Hebrew economy was passing away in the growing glory of the Christian Church. Perhaps Jerusalem had already fallen under the arms of Titus. It was addressed to Hebrew Christians, who were settled in a definite locality. See Heb_13:23. The writer is not certainly known. Luther thought that it was written by Apollos, and this view has had several learned advocates. But many ascribe it to the Apostle Paul, which was the opinion of the early Fathers. The object of this noble treatise is to counsel those to whom it was addressed to bear their persecutions with equanimity, and to forego, with contentment, the external attractions of the Temple service, because of the transcendent glories of Christianity surpassing those of the Mosaic ritual. The penalties of apostasy would therefore be the more terrible as the claims of Christianity were the more compelling.

{e-Sword Note: The following material was presented at the end of Hebrews in the printed edition}



REVIEW QUESTIONS ON THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

Outline

(a) What is the theme of this Epistle?

(b) What are the two parts of the third division?



Introduction

(c) When was this Epistle written?

(d) To whom was it addressed?

(e) What was the writer’s purpose?



Hebrews 1-13

Each question applies to the paragraph of corresponding number in the Comments.

1. Who is God’s final and supreme messenger?

2. For whom is Christ’s saving work intended?

3. How is Christ able to help those who are tempted?

4. Why is Christ counted worthy of more glory than Moses?

5. Why were the children of Israel denied entrance to the Land of Promise? What is the application to us?

6. What is the rest which Christ affords?

7. What encouragement have we to come to the throne of grace?

8. Of what order is Christ’s priesthood? How did He learn obedience?

9. What are the stages of growth in Christian discipleship? What is the penalty of falling away?

10. By what two immutable things have we strong consolation?

11. Who was Melchizedek? How is he a type of Christ?

12. How is Christ able to save to the uttermost?

13. How did the New Covenant take the place of the Old?

14. What was the furniture of the Tabernacle?

15. How is the sacrifice of Christ related to the sacrifices under the Old Covenant?

16. What is the present work of Christ?

17. How is the Christian sanctified?

18. To what does the blood of Christ secure an entrance for us?

19. What will be the reward of patience and steadfastness?

20. What is faith? How was it exemplified by Abel? By Enoch? by Noah?

21. What was the supreme trial of Abraham’s faith?

22. How was the faith of Moses exhibited?

23. In what does the victory of faith consist?

24. How may the Christian life be compared to a race?

25. What are the benefits of chastisement?

26. What are the present privileges of the Christian?

27. What is our duty toward strangers and captives?

28. Give the benediction in the closing section of the Epistle.