Hebrews Lesson 01 (Text: Chapter 1)
Introduction to Hebrews
It is important to study God’s Word, the Bible. It is important to memorize verses and to think upon His Word. The Word of God never changes, even though we live in a world of constant change. Our friends and families change. Circumstances change. Our thoughts and attitudes change. And all around us we experience change every day. But the Word of God remains the same, and is sure and steadfast. We can always depend upon His Word. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” and in I Peter 1:23, we read that the Word of God lives and abides forever. In uncertain and changing times, we can always depend upon His Holy Word to give us comfort, strength, grace and power for each moment of our lives, regardless of our situations or our circumstances. The Word of God also helps newborn babies in Christ to grow spiritually. In I Peter 2:2 we read, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We, as believers in Christ, are commanded in God’s Word to grow spiritually. II Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Word of God has always existed and will always exist. In John 1:1-2 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Read the following verses from the Bible: Psalm 119: 2, 9, 11, 28, 50, 67, 71, 74, 92, 114, 130, 147, 148, 162 and 165. As you begin these study courses of God’s Word, please begin them with this thought and prayer found in Psalm 119:18 “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” And in Psalm 119:105 we read: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This tells us how to stand with God and how to go with God.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17
Hebrews Key Verse: Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”
Key Words: Better – found 13 times; Perfect – found 14 times; Heaven – found 17 times.
Theme: 1) The Priesthood of Christ 2) The Maturity of Believers
Date: Between 64 A.D. and 67 A.D.
Writer: The Apostle Paul
Written to: Group of Jewish Christians from Italy (13:24)
The Book: Number in Bible – 58th Book in the Bible. Number of Chapters – 13. Number of Verses – 303. Number in Order of Writing – 19th in the New Testament.
Purpose:1) To encourage persecuted Christians 2) To check apostasy 3) To show relationship between Jewish ordinances, covenants, and Christianity.
Divisions: Three-fold division: 1) A superior Person: Christ (1-6) 2) A superior Priesthood: Melchisedec (7-10) 3) A superior Principle: Faith (11-13)
Two-fold division: Chapters 1-10 – Doctrine, Belief, Principle, Creed Chapters 11-13 – Deportment, Behavior, Practice, Conduct
Outline:
- A Superior Person (Ch. 1-6)
1) Greater than the Prophets (1:1-3) 2) Greater than the Angels (1:4; 2:8) 3) Greater than Moses (3:1-19) 4) Greater than Joshua (4:1-16) 5) Greater than Aaron (5:1; 10:18) 6) Greater than Melchisedec (7:1, 15)
- A Superior Priesthood (Ch. 7-10)
1) A better Order: Melchisedec – not Aaron (Ch. 7) 2) A better Covenant: New – not old (Ch. 8) 3) A better Sanctuary: Heaven – not Earth (Ch. 9) 4) A better Sacrifice: God’s Son–not animals (Ch. 10) III. A Superior Principle (Ch. 11-13) 1) The example of Faith (Ch. 11) 2) The endurance of Faith (Ch. 12) 3) The evidence of Faith (Ch. 13)
Miscellaneous: Warnings of Spiritual Deterioration (2:1-4) 1) Drifting from the Word through neglect (2:3) 2) Doubting the Word through hardness of heart (3:19) 3) Dullness toward the Word through sluggishness (5:11) 4) Despising the World through willful sinning (10:26) 5) Disobeying the Word by refusing to hear (12:25)
Facts about Hebrews: 1) Hebrews is referred to as “The Fifth Gospel” 2) First four Gospels deal with earthly ministry 3) This fifth Gospel deals with heavenly ministry 4) There are 17 provoking questions in Hebrews 5) There are 270 verses of history 6) There are 9 verses of fulfilled prophecy 7) There are 24 verses of unfulfilled prophecy 8) Hebrews parallels the Old Testament book of Leviticus
Simply click the “Take the Quiz” Button to the right. Have your KJV Bible with you, and look up the answers to the questions on the quiz. You can then answer the questions from the Bible, (Open Book Test).
