Everything you need to kick start your study of the Epistle to the Hebrews: maps, charts, key words, history, background, outlines, and links to help you study.
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Basics
- Author: Unknown, though probably the Apostle Paul. Other options suggested: Barnabas, Luke, Apollos, Priscilla.
- Date & occasion: debated whether before or after 70AD
- Recipients: Jewish believers who were in danger of drifting away from the faith or reverting back to Judaism.
- Genre: sermon in the form of a letter
Distinctive Literary Features
It is a single extended argument which alternates between exposition ad exhortation. For example:
- 1:1-14 – Exposition
- 2:1-4 – Exhortation (“we must pay attention, therefore…”)
- 2:5-18 – Exposition
- 3:1 – Exhortation (“therefore … fix your thoughts on Jesus”)
- 3:2-6 – Exposition
- 3:7-13 Exhortation (“so” in 3:7; “see to it” 3:12)
- 3:14-19 – Exposition
- 4:1 – Exhortation (“therefore… let us be careful”)
- 4:2-10 – Exposition
- 4:11-16 – Exhortation (“…therefore make every effort…”)
- Five Warnings: 2:1-4 – The danger of neglect; 3:7-4:13 – The danger of unbelief; 5:11-6:20 – The danger of not maturing; 10:26-39 – The danger of drawing back; 12:25-29 – The danger of refusing God
- The word “better”, “superior” or “how much more” as a structural clue: Heb 1:4; He 6:9; Heb 7:7; Heb 7:19; Heb 7:22; Heb 8:6; Heb 9:23; Heb 10:34; Heb 11:16; Heb 11:35; Heb 11:40; Heb 12:23.
Structure
- 1:1-3 – Superiority of Christ over old revelation (prophets)
- 1:4-2:18 – Superiority of Christ over angels
- 3:1-19 – Superiority of Christ over Moses
- 4:1-13 – Superiority of Christ over Joshua
- 4:14-7:28 – Superiority of Christ’s priesthood over OT priesthood
- 8:1-10:18 – Superiority of Christ’s covenant over old covenant
- THEREFORE
- 10:19-25 – A superior method of approach to God should be used
- 10:26-31 – The dangers of apostasy must be noted
- 10:32-39 – Memory of past days is an encouragement
- 11:1-40 – Examples of heroic endurance
- 12:1-11 – Greatest example of all is Jesus Christ
- 12:12-17 – Moral consistency encouraged (e.g. Esau as bad example)
- 12:18-29 – New way of worship
- 13:1-17 – Concluding exhortations
- 13:18-25 – Farewell
Genre: Understanding Epistles
Background & Outlines
- Hebrews NASB Text
- Chronology of Acts/Epistles (Blue Letter Bible)
- Ray Stedman: Overview of each Book
- John MacArthur: Author, Date, Background
- Hebrews quotes of the Old Testament
- NIV: Hebrews Introduction
- ESV: Intro to Hebrews
- ESV: The Global Message of Hebrews
- Hebrews Introduction – James Van Dine
- Hebrews Notes and Outline – J Vernon McGee
- Hebrews Theology – Leonard S. Walmark
- Synthetic Bible Studies – Hebrews – James Gray (1906)
- David Malick (Bible.org): Introduction To The Book Of Hebrews
- David Malick: Argument Of The Book Of Hebrews
- Hebrews – Hampton Keathley
- Hebrews Introduction, Argument, and Outline – Daniel Wallace
- Nathan Brown: Hebrews – Exegetical Outline
- Hebrews – Charles Swindoll
Maps from Bible-History.com
- New Testament World
- Israel in NT Times
- Kingdom of Herod the Great
- Herod’s Kingdom Divided
- New Testament Jerusalem
- New Testament Cities – Once there click on specific area
- Apostles’ Journeys
Maps from Studylight.org
Key Words in Hebrews
Occurrences are based on New American Standard Text. “4x/3v” means the word appears 4 times in 3 verses. “3x” means the word appears 3 times in 3 verses.
- angels 13/12v – Strong’s G32a in Heb 1:4; 1:5; 1:6; 1:7; 1:13; 2:2; 2:5; 2:7; 2:9; 2:16; 12:22; 13:2.
- better 13x/12v Strong’s G2909 – Heb 1:4; 6:9; 7:19; 7:22; 8:6; 9:23; 10:34; 11:4; 11:16; 11:35; 11:40; 12:24.
- blood 23x/20v – Strong’s G129 in Heb 2:14; 9:7; 9:12; 9:13; 9:14; 9:18; 9:19; 9:20; 9:21; 9:22; 9:25; 10:4; 10:19; 10:29; 11:28; 12:4; 12:24; 13:11; 13:12; 13:20.
- covenant – 21x/18v – Strong’s G1242 in Heb 7:22; 8:6; 8:7; 8:8; 8:9; 8:13; 9:1; 9:4; 9:15; 9:16; 9:17; 9:20; 10:16; 10:29; 12:24; 13:20.
- faith 33x/31v – Strong’s G4102 in Heb 4:2; 6:1, 12; 10:22, 38, 39; 11:1, 3, 4; 11:5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 33, 39; 12:2; 13:7; faithful 6x – Strong’s G4103 in Heb 2:17; 3:2; 5:6; 10:23; 11:11.
- God 71x/66v – Strong’s G2316 in Heb 1:1; Heb 1:6; Heb 1:8; Heb 1:9; Heb 2:4; Heb 2:9; Heb 2:13; Heb 2:17; Heb 3:4; Heb 3:12; Heb 4:4; Heb 4:9; Heb 4:10; Heb 4:12; Heb 4:14; Heb 5:1; Heb 5:4; Heb 5:10; Heb 5:12; Heb 6:1; Heb 6:3; Heb 6:5; Heb 6:6; Heb 6:7; Heb 6:10; Heb 6:13; Heb 6:17; Heb 6:18; Heb 7:1; Heb 7:3; Heb 7:19; Heb 7:25; Heb 8:5; Heb 8:10; Heb 9:14; Heb 9:20; Heb 9:24; Heb 10:7; Heb 10:12; Heb 10:21; Heb 10:29; Heb 10:31; Heb 10:36; Heb 11:3; Heb 11:4; Heb 11:5; Heb 11:6; Heb 11:7; Heb 11:10; Heb 11:16; Heb 11:19; Heb 11:25; Heb 11:40; Heb 12:2; Heb 12:7; Heb 12:15; Heb 12:22; Heb 12:23; Heb 12:28; Heb 12:29; Heb 13:4; Heb 13:7; Heb 13:15; Heb 13:16; Heb 13:20.
- great 8x – Strong’s G5082 in Heb 2:3; Strong’s G3173 in Heb 4:14; 10:21, 10:35; 13:20; Strong’s G4080 in Heb 7:4; Strong’s G4183 in Heb 10:32; Strong’s G5118 in 12:1; greater 6x – Strong’s G3173 in Heb 6:13, 616; 9:11; 11:26 Strong’s G2909 in Heb 7:7; Strong’s G4183 in Heb 7:23.
- Jesus – 14x – Heb 2:9; Heb 3:1; Heb 4:14; Heb 6:20; Heb 7:22; Heb 7:24; Heb 10:10; Heb 10:19; Heb 12:2; Heb 12:24; Heb 13:8; Heb 13:12; Heb 13:20; Heb 13:21.
- son (17v) – Strong’s G5207 in Heb 1:2; Heb 1:5; Heb 1:8; Heb 2:6; Heb 3:6; Heb 4:14; Heb 5:5; Heb 5:8; Heb 6:6; Heb 7:3; Heb 7:28; Heb 10:29; Heb 11:17; Heb 11:24; Heb 12:5; Heb 12:6; Heb 12:7. sons (7x) – Strong’s G5207 in Heb 2:10; Heb 7:5; Heb 11:21; Heb 11:22; Heb 12:5; Heb 12:7; Heb 12:8.
- priest 26x – Strong’s G749 in Heb 2:17; 3:1; 4:14, 4:15; 5:1, 5:5, 5:10; 6:20; 7:26; 8:1, 3; 9:7, 11, 25; 13:11; Strong’s G2409 in Heb 5:6; 7:1; 7:3; 7:11; 7:15; 7:17; 7:21; 8:4; 10:11; 10:21; Strong’s G2405 in Heb 7:5; priesthood (3x) – Strong’s G2420 in Heb 7:11; 7:12; 7:24
- sacrifice(s) (18x) – Strong’s G2378 in Heb 5:1; 5:3; 7:27; 7:3; 9:9; 9:23; 9:26; 10:1; 10:3; 10:5; 10:6; 10:8; 10:11; 10:12; 10:26; 11:4; 13:15; 13:16
- sin/sins (26x) – Strong’s G266 in Heb 1:3; 2:17 3:13; 4:15; 5:1; 5:3; 7:27; 8:12; 9:7; 9:26; 9:28; 10:2; 10:3; 10:4; 10:6; 10:8; 10;11; 10:12; 10:17; 10:18; 10:26; 11:25; 12:1; 12:4; 13:11; sinners (2x) Strong’s G268 in Heb 7:26; 12:3;
Dictionaries & Encyclopedias
- Hebrews – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Hebrews, Theology of – Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
- Hebrews, Epistle to the – International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- Hebrews – Holman Bible Dictionary
- Hebrews – Fausset Bible Dictionary
- Hebrews Epistle to the – Hastings’ Dictionary of the New Testament
- Hebrews epistle to the – Kitto’s Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature
- Hebrews, the Epistle to The – Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
- Hebrews, Epistle to – The Jewish Encyclopedia
- Hebrews – American Tract Society Bible Dictionary
- Epistle to the Hebrews – 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
- The Nuttall Encyclopedia Hebrews, Epistle to the
Commentaries
- Top 5 Commentaries on Hebrews by Keith Mathison – Ligonier.org
- Best Commentaries on Hebrews – Tim Challies
- Commentary Reviews: Hebrews
- Calvin’s Commentary on the Bible: Hebrews
- Albert Barnes Notes on the Whole Bible: Hebrews
- Alfords Exegetical Commentary: Hebrews
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Bible: Hebrews
- Geneva Study Bible: Hebrews
- Reformation Study Bible Notes: Hebrews
- The Biblical Illustrator: Hebrews
- Precept Austin Commentaries & Sermons: Hebrews
Articles
- Walter Kaiser – The Promise Theme and the Theology of Rest – Bib Sac 130:518, 1973
- T K Oberholtzer The Warning Passages in Hebrews -Pt 2- The Kingdom Rest in Hebrews 3:1-4:13 – Bib Sac 145:578 (April, 1988)
- Paul House – The God Who Gives Rest in the Land: Joshua – SBJT 2:3 (Fall 1998)
- David A deSilva – Entering God’s Rest: Eschatology And The Socio-Rhetorical Strategy Of Hebrews – TrinJ 21:1 (Spring 2000)
- Robert Owens – A Consideration of Work and Rest from the Perspectives of Justification, Creation, and Eschatology – FM 17:3 (Summer 2000)
- Randall C. Gleason – The Old Testament Background of Rest in Hebrews 3:7-4:11 – Bib Sac 157:627 (Jul 2000)
- The Psalm Quotations of Hebrews 1: A Hermeneutic-Free Zone?- Stephen Motyer
- Source and Significance – Gareth L Cockerill
- The Translation and Significance of “O Theos” in Hebrews 1:8-9 – Murray J Harris
- Hermeneutical Issues and Principles in Hebrews as Exemplified in the Second Chapter – Lanier Burns
- Christ and His People – An Exegetical and Theological Study of Hebrews 2:5-18 – Geoffrey W Grogan
- Archegos in the Salvation History of the Epistle to the Hebrews – J Julius Scott
- Scott, Brett R. “Jesus’ Superiority over Moses in Hebrews 3:1-6 Bibliotheca Sacra 155 (1998) 201-10.
- Hebrews 3:1-6 Jesus’ Superiority Over Moses in Hebrews 3:1-6 – Brett R Scott
- John Laansma – I Will Give You Rest’- The Background And Significance Of The Rest Motif In The New Testament – Tyndale Bulletin 46:2 (NA 1995)
- God’s Rest in Hebrews 4:1-11 – Andrew S Kulikovsky
- Hebrews 4:11-13 God’s Lethal Weapon – Andrew T Lincoln
- Christology and the Concept of Faith in Hebrews 5:11-6:20 – Victor Rhee
- Toussaint Stanley D. “The Eschatology of the Warning Passages in the Book of Hebrews,” Grace Theological Journal 3.1 (Spring, 1982) 67-80
- Persevering and Falling Away: A Reexamination of Hebrews 6:4-6 – Bruce Compton
- Reading Heb 6-4-6 in light of the OT- Dave Mathewson
- Hebrews 6:4-6 From an Oral Critical Perspective – Casey W Davis
- Hebrews 6:4-8: A Socio-Rhetorical Investigation (Part 1) – David A deSilva
- Hebrews 6:4-8: A Socio-Rhetorical Investigation (Part 2) – David A deSilva
- Exegesis 15: Falling Away – Hebrews 6:4-6 – Michael Plant
- Hebrews 6:19: Analysis of Some Assumptions Concerning Katapetasma – George Rice
- Inauguration or Day of Atonement?…Hebrews 6:19-20 Revisited – Richard M Davidson
- Christ’s Entry “Within the Veil” in Hebrews 6:19-20: The Old Testament Background – Richard M Davidson
- Where Jesus Has Gone as a Forerunner on our Behalf (Hebrews 6:20) – Norman H Young
- Melchizedek or “King of Righteousness” – Gareth L Cockerill
- Melchizedek – G H Lang
- Hebrews 7:3 A Crux Interpretum Historically Considered – Bruce A Demarest
- A Lawyer Looks at Hebrews 9:15-17
- Covenant, Cult and the Curse of Death diatheke in Hebrews 9:15-22 – Scott W Hahn
- A Broken Covenant and the Curse of Death: A Study of Hebrews 9:15-22 – Scott W Hahn
- THE ALTAR OF INCENSE IN HEBREWS 9-3-4 – Harold Camacho
- Covenant or Testament? Hebrews 9:16-17 Reconsidered – K M Campbell
- The Angels, Sonship and Birthright in the Letter to the Hebrews – J D Charles
- Christ’s Sacrifice as Apologetic: An Application of Hebrews 10:1-18 – William D Spencer
- The Eschatology of the Warning in Hebrews 10:26-31 – Randall Gleason
- No Sacrifice Remains: A Study of Hebrews 10:26-31 – Graham Buck
- Total Depravity – Gordon Girod
- Judgement or Vindication? Deuteronomy 32 in Hebrews 10:30 – John Proctor
- “Not Apart from Us” (Hebrews 11:40): Physical Community in the Letter of Hebrews – Stephen Motyer
- The Cloud of Witnesses in Hebrews 11 – S M Baugh
- The One Who is Speaking in Hebrews 12:25 – Gene Smillie
- Jerusalem in Hebrew 13:9-14 and the Dating of the Epistle – Peter Walker
- Covenant of Grace or New Covenant? An Exegetical Note-Richard Mayhue
- Our Brother Timothy (Author of Hebrews?) – John D Legg
- Textual Problems in the Epistle to the Hebrews – F F Bruce
- The Vocabulary of the Epistle to the Hebrews
- The Vocabulary of the Epistle to the Hebrews – Part 2
- The Atonement in the Epistle to the Hebrews – Stephen S Smalley
- Hughes, Philip E. “The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood in Hebrews: Part I: The Significance of the Blood of Jesus,” Bibliotheca Sacra 130 (April, 1973)
- Hughes, Philip E. “The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood in Hebrews: Part II: The Significance of the Blood of Jesus,” Bibliotheca Sacra 130 (July, 1973) (or Pdf)
- Hughes, Philip E. The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood in Hebrews Part III- The Meaning of “The True Tent” and “The Greater and More Perfect Tent”
- Hughes, Philip E. “The Blood of Jesus and His Heavenly Priesthood in Hebrews: Part IV: The Present Work of Christ in Heaven,” Bibliotheca Sacra 131 (Jan. 1974) 26-33. (or Pdf)
- MacLeod, David J. “The Doctrinal Center of the Book of Hebrews,” Bibliotheca Sacra 146 (July 1989) 291-300
- Miller, Merland, R. “Seven Theological Themes in Hebrews,” Grace Theological Journal 8.1 (1987) 131-140
- Doctrine of Faith in Hebrew, James and Clement of Rome – B W Bacon
- Jesus as Priest – John W Baigent
- Recent Literature on the Epistle to the Hebrews – F F Bruce
- Hebrews 6:4-6 Irretrievable Apostasy (Problem Texts) – F F Bruce
- The First Readers of Hebrews – John V Dahms
- Reading Through Hebrews 1-7 Listening Especially for the Theme of Jesus as High Priest – Paul Ellingworth
- Hebrews and the Anticipation of Completion – Paul Ellingworth
- Jesus and the Universe in Hebrews – Paul Ellingworth
- Hellenistic Influence in the Epistle to the Hebrews – Alan M Fairhurst
- The Writer of Hebrews as a Biblical Expositor – R T France
- The Function of the Warning Passages in the Structure and Argument of Hebrews – Lee Gatiss
- Riddles Around the Letter to the Hebrews – Rob Van Houwelingen
- The Epistle to the Hebrews: Faith Means Perseverance – Rob Van Houwelingen-
- Obeying and Worship a Holy, Living God – Kent Hughes
- Issues in the Interpretation of Hebrews – William G Johnsson
- The Christology of Hebrews 8-10- by Julian Kinkaid
- An Examination of the Historical-Jesus Motif in the Epistle to the Hebrews – Bertram Melbourne
- The Melchizedek Citations in the Letter to the Hebrews – A R Millard
- Seven Theological Themes in Hebrews – Merland Ray Miller
- The Heavenly Priestly Activity of Christ- by Professor John Murray
- The Christ of Hebrews and Other Religions – Grant R Osborne
- Son and High Priest: A Study in the Christology of Hebrews – Mikeal C Parsons
- A New Covenant Hermeneutic: The Use of Scripture in Hebrews 8-10 – Steven K Stanley
- The Structure of Hebrews From Three Perspectives – Steve Stanley
- The Concept of Apostasy in the Epistle to the Hebrews – D H Tongue
- Philo and the Epistle to the Hebrews – Robert W Thurston
- The Authorship and Character of the So-Called “Epistle to the Hebrews” – Charles Torrey
- Preaching Advice from the Sermon to the Hebrews – Anthony T Selvaggio
GotQuestions.org
Treat like any commentary: read carefully & thoughtfully.
- Book of Hebrews – Bible Survey
- Who wrote the Book of Hebrews? Who was the author of Hebrews?
- Who are the Hebrews?
- Hebrews 2:7 What does it mean that Jesus was a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5)?
- What is the supremacy of Christ and what are its implications?
- Hebrews 4 – How can we enter into God’s rest?
- Hebrews 4:12 What is the living Word?
- Hebrews 4:14 What does it mean that Jesus is our High Priest?
- Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?
- Hebrews 7 How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest? Who was Melchizedek?
- Does Hebrews 10:26 mean that a believer can lose salvation? What does Hebrews 10:26 mean?
- Hebrews 9 What is the meaning of the blood of Christ?
- Hebrews 9:15 What does it mean that Jesus is our mediator?
- Why did God require animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?
- Will there be animal sacrifices during the millennial kingdom?
- If God hates human sacrifice, how could Jesus’ sacrifice be the payment for our sins?
- If the Jewish people do not offer animal sacrifices, how do they believe they can receive forgiveness from God?
- What were the various sacrifices in the Old Testament?
- What does the Bible have to say that would apply to animal testing?
- Why would the aroma of a sacrifice be important to God?
- Why did the sacrificial system require a blood sacrifice?
- How do we bring blemished offerings to God (Malachi 1:8)?
- Hebrews 12:1 What does it mean to ‘run the race set before us’?
- Who are “the cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1?
- Can people in heaven look down and see us?
- Hebrews 12:2 What does it mean that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith
- Hebrews 12:15 What is a root of bitterness?
- Hebrews 13:15 What does it mean to give a sacrifice of praise?
- What does it mean that angels are ministering spirits (Hebrews 1:14)?
- What does it mean that Jesus was a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7)?
- How can we enter into God’s rest?
- What does it mean that Jesus learned obedience by the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8)?
- Does Hebrews 6:4-6 mean we can lose our salvation?
- What does it mean that Jesus is our mediator?
- What does Hebrews 10:26 mean?
- Who are “the cloud of witnesses” mentioned in Hebrews 12:1?
- What does it mean to ‘run the race set before us’ (Hebrews 12:1)?
- What is the meaning of Hebrews 12:2?
- What does it mean that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2)?
- What does it mean to give a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15)?
- What does it mean that Jesus is our High Priest?
- How is Jesus our Sabbath Rest?
- Who was Melchizedek?
- What does it mean that the marriage bed is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4)?
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