The book of Hebrews is the bridge that connects the Old Testament and the New. These covenants are completely different and yet many Christians approach God on the basis of Old Testament Law instead of New Testament faith. The entire book is about Jesus and how He is the guarantee of a new and better covenant. It is essential for every Christian to understand.

2. who wrote the letter to
the Hebrews only God knows for certain
Oregenes Adamantius
It is entirely fitting that this book should
remain anonymous
Frédéric Louis Godet
Author.

3. It rests upon the authority of the Old Testament. The
writer assumes the Old Testament to be authoritative,
and all the institutions of sacrifice and priesthood as
ordained of God to be types and shadows, of
which Christ is the fulfilment. The key
verse could be "He taketh away the first, that he may
establish the second", 10. 9.
Authority.

4. Internal evidence is our only guide in this matter.
• The readers were the second generation of Christians, 2. 3,
• not new to the faith, 5. 12,
• persecuted, 10. 32-34; 12. 4,
• and some of their leaders had died, 13. 7.
• It must have been written before the destruction of
Jerusalem and the Temple by the Romans in A.D. 70.
Date.

5. • Internal evidence points to Hebrew Christians who were
members of some definite community, 13. 7, 17-19, 22-24.
• Their state (become dull of hearing.) and needs
(need someone to teach you again) were known to the
writer, for there is a personal note throughout, 5. 11,12; 6.
9, 10; 10. 32-34; 12. 4.
• They had not fully perceived the finality of Christianity and
were still clinging to Judaism (old ways)
Destination.

6. • to lead believers from a rudimentary to a mature
knowledge of Christian truth, 5. 11-12; 6. 1-3, 11.
• They had not made progress and there was profession and
professors among them, so they are encouraged not to go
back to the things of the past, 6.1-3.
• One of its key words is perfection, which refers to a mature
Christian experience in contrast with a rudimentary one,
see 7. 11,19; 10. 14; 12. 1-2.
Design and Purpose.

7. Its central theme is the Person and Priesthood of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Message.

8. 1. The Supremacy of the Person of Christ, 1 to 4. 12.
a. Greater than the prophets in His Revelation, 1. 1-3. The past was multiform,
fragmentary, partial. The present is uniform, full, perfect,
b. Greater than angels in His Recognition, 1. 4-13. They are His servants,
creatures, subjects. He is the Son, Creator, Sovereign.
c. Greater than Adam in His Rule, 2. 5-18. Dominion forfeited by Adam.
Dominion fulfilled in Christ, by incarnation, 14; by redemption, 15.
d. Greater than Joshua in His Rest, 4. 1-13. The rest of Creation, 4; The rest of
Canaan, 8; The rest of the Christian, 3; The rest of Christ, 9; The rest of
Consecration, 10.
Exhortations and Warnings. About Drifting, 2. 1-3;
about Departing, 3. 7; 4. 7; about Diligence, 4. 11.

9. 2. The Superiority of the Priesthood of Christ, 4. 13 to 8. 13.
a. The God-Appointed Man, 4. 13 to 7. 28. Christ Suited for
Priesthood, 4. 11 to 5. 10. Christ Successful in Priesthood, 6. 13-17.
Christ Superior in Priesthood, 7. 1-28; the comparison, 1-10; the
change, 11-18; the constitution, 19-25; the character of Christ, 26-
28.
b. The God-Given Ministry, ch. 8. The Beauty of the New Sanctuary, 1-
6; a better ministry, covenant, promises. The Blessings of the New
Covenant, 7-13; required, promised, assured.
Exhortations and Warnings. About Dulness, 5. 11-14;
about Declension, 6. 1-8; about Diligence, 6. 9-12.

10. 3. The Satisfaction of the Propitiation of Christ, 9. 1 to 10. 37.
a. The Passing of the Old, ch. 9. The Foreshadowing of His
Work, 1-9; its Fulness, 10-22; the Fact of His Coming, 23-26;
Fruitfulness of His Work; 27-28.
b. The Perfection of the New, ch. 10. Failure of Past Offerings,
1-2; Frequency of Sacrifices, 3-6; Fulfilment of God's will, 7-10;
Finality of His Work, 11-14; Forgiveness of Sins, 15-18;
Freedom of Access, 19-20; Fitness for Worship, 21-23;
Fellowship of Saints, 24-25; Folly of Wilful Sin, 26-31.
Exhortations and Warnings.
• About Despising, 26-31;
• about Devotion, 32-37.

11. 4. The Sufficiency of the Pattern and Power of Christ, 10. 38 to 13. 21.
a. The Example of Faith, ch. 11. The Value of Faith, 1-7; Its Visions, 8-
22; Its Vigilance, 23-29; The Victories of Faith, 30-40. Faith and
Invisibilities, 8-16; Faith and Improbabilities, 17-22; Faith and
Impossibilities, 23-29; Faith's Exploits, 30-34; Faith's Endurance, 35-
40.
b. The Education of Faith, 12. 1-17. Diligence in the Race, 1-3;
Discipline in the School, 4-17.
c. The Experiences of Faith, 12.18-29. Exhortations, 12-17;
Encouragement, 18-24; Enjoyment, 25-29.
d. The Expression of Faith, 13. 1-21. Love for Christians, 1-7; Loyalty
to Christ, 8-16; Lowliness of Mind, 17-21.
e. Conclusion, 13. 22-25. Information, 23; Salutation, 24; Benediction,
25. Weigh prayerfully the expressions used of Christ: "Thou art my
Son"; "Thou art the Same"; "Thou art a Priest".