The Epistle to the Hebrews

12 week Bible Study

By

Chris Thornsberry

B.S., Campbellsville University, 2002

Project #2

Submitted to Dr. Eckhard Schnabel

In partial fulfillment of the requirements
For the Master of Arts
Christian Studies
At Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Indianapolis Extension Campus

April 2011
Passage Major Theme Theological Themes Current Issues

Week 1
1:1-2:18 The Superiority 1. Exaltation of Jesus Christ 1. The ways God has
of the Son of God (1:1-4) has spoken in the past
2. The divine nature of the Son and can to us speak
(1:5-14) today. (1:1-4)
3. The human nature of the Son 2. Worshipping Jesus
(2:1-18) instead of creation. (1:3-4)
3. Jesus is superior to
Moses and the angels;
further emphasis on
worshipping Jesus and not
creation. Jesus is the
authority over creation.
(1:5-14)
4. Being committed to our
faith and responsible for
what we believe. (2:1-4)
5. Focusing on Jesus
as our example of living
during difficult times.
(2:5-9)
6. Bridging the gap
between divine and
human. (2:10-18)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week 2
3:1-19 The Superiority of 1. The faithfulness of Jesus the Son 1. Christ is faithful; past,
the Son’s Faithfulness (3:1-6) present, and future. (3:1-6)
2. A warning. a. Faith is personal
(3:7-19) b. Faith is trusting in the
promises of God.
c. Faith unites believers in
a relationship with Christ.
2. Living as the body of
Christ. (3:7-19)
a. Being a community of
REAL worship.
b. Giving REVERENCE
to God.
c. Having a RADICAL
openness with Gods
Word.
 Page 2
Passage Major Theme Theological Themes Current Issues

Week 3 The Superiority of the 1. Shifting from wandering to rest. 1. Having faith in Gods
4:1-16 Son’s Faithfulness, (katapausis) (4:1-2) Word. (4:1-2)
Part II 2. What is meant by “rest”. 2. The meaning of true
(sabbatismos) (4:3-5) Sabbath rest. (4:3-5)
3. Gods promise of rest. (4:6-11) 3. Being spiritually
4. The power of Gods Word (4:12-13) stranded and getting out of
5. Be firm in faith. (4:14-15) that rut. (4:6-11)
6. Drawing near to God. (4:16) 4. Gods Word penetrating
our hearts and changing
them. (4:12-13)
5. In an age of reason,
standing firm in our faith.
(4:14-15)
6. A message of hope and
help. (4:16)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week 4 The Superiority of the 1. The work of the Son. (5:1-10) 1. Following Jesus by
5:1-6:3 Son’s Work 2. The call to maturity. (5:11-6:3) giving up control of our
lives. (5:1-10)
2. Taking off the bib and
putting on the apron; a call
to Spiritual Maturity.
(5:11-6:3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week 5 The Superiority of the 1. Harsh words of warning. (6:4-8) 1. The dangers of lazy
6:4-20 Son’s Work, Part II 2. Encouraging words. (6:9-12) faith. (6:4-8)
3. Abraham example. (6:13-15) 2. The ministry of “Now”
4. The firmness and finality of oaths. and “Not-yet”. (6:9-12)
(6:16-18) 3. God fulfills his promise
5. Being encouraged by hope. (6:13-15)
(6:19-20) 4. The hope that is given
by an unchanging God.
(6:16-18)
5. Wanting security in
life. (6:19-20)
 Page 3

Passage Major Theme Theological Themes Current Issues

Week 6 The Superiority of the 1. The superiority of His order. 1. Jesus as…(7:1-10)
7:1-10:18 Son’s Priesthood (7:1-19) a. A Royal King.
2. The superiority of His covenant. b. Righteous and peaceful.
(7:20-8:13) c. Priesthood is personal,
3. The superiority of His ministry. not hereditary.
(9:1-28) d. Priesthood is eternal,
4. The superiority of His sacrifice. not temporary.
(10:1-18) 2. God is a God of
relationships. (7:11-28)
3. Our new covenant
relationship with God.
(8:1-13)
a. Keeping the external
focused.
b. Keeping the internal
going.
4. Being Holy and Whole.
(9:1-10)
5. Viewing the cross
through the correct lenses.
(9:11-28)
6. The role of the cross
and assurance of salvation.
(10:1-18)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 7 The Superiority of the 1. Drawing near to God. (10:19-22) 1. A new path of life.
10:19-39 Son’s Priesthood, Part II 2. Holding on to hope. (10:23) (10:19-22)
3. Encouraging one another. (10:24-25) 2. Being grounded in
4. Another warning. (10:26-31) hope by our ministry and
5. Remembering the past. (10:32-34) relationship with Christ.
6. Perseverance. (10:35-39) (10:23)
3. The call to live within
an encouraging
community. (10:24-25)
4. The pathway to
destruction, committing
sin. (10:26-31)
5. When you forget where
you came from, look back
to the beginning.
(10:32-34)
6. Taking a stand for
Christ. (10:35-39)
 Page 4
Passage Major Theme Theological Themes Current Issues

Week 8 The Superiority of the 1. First examples of faith. (11:1-12) 1. Hero’s of an ordinary
11:1-40 Christian Faith 2. A promise to the first faithful. lifestyle. (11:1-12)
(11:13-16) 2. Living a bold life.
3. First examples of faith, Part II (11:13-16)
(11:17-31) 3. Hero’s of an ordinary
4. Other people of faith and their lifestyle, Part II (11:17-31)
experiences. (11:32-40) 4. Living the Christian
life not for reward, but
because we are called to.
(11:32-40)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week 9 The Superiority of the 1. Running the race. (12:1-2) 1. What things do we
12:1-2 Christian Faith, Part II need to lay down. (12:1)
2. Enduring the race.
(12:1)
3. How to keep our eyes
on Jesus. (12:2a)
4. Christ as the source of
life. (12:2b)
5. Enduring the cross.
(12:2c)
6. Christ being our
connection to the Father.
(12:2d)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Week 10 The Superiority of the 1. Discipline of Gods Children. 1. Remembering what

12:3-29 Father’s Way (12:3-13) Christ did for us. (12:3-6)
2. Discipline…(12:7-11)
a. A Father’s perspective.
b. A child’s perspective.
3. The strength that
discipline brings.
(12:12-13)
 Page 5
Passage Major Theme Theological Themes Current Issues

Week 11 The Superiority of the 1. Why it’s important to choose holiness. 1. Holiness…(12:14-17)
12:14-29 Father’s Way, Part II (12:14-17) a. The impact on
2. The peak of the Old Covenant. relationships.
(12:18-21) b. The need for an
3. The peak of the New Covenant. authentic Christian life.
(12:22-24) 2. Calling of the past.
4. The final warning. (12:18-21)
(12:25-29) 3. Calling of the present
and future. (12:22-24)
a. What are we calling
people to?
b. What are we called to
do today?
c. Giving God our future.
4. Living in light.
(12:25-29)
a. Gaining what we cannot
lose.
b. Trusting Gods grace.
c. Heeding Gods Word.
d. Living in reverent awe
of God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Week 12 The Superiority of the 1. Guidelines for living the Christian 1. Christian life
13:1-25 Christian life in the life. (13:1-6) guidelines. (13:1-6)
Church. 2. Guidelines as a Church leader and a. Love other Christians
doctrine. (13:7-19) b. Show hospitality
3. Benediction (13:20-25) c. Minister to those in
prison and the
mistreated
d. Be content with the
finances God has given
you.
2. Church leader and
doctrine guidelines.
(13:7-19)
a. Guard yourself against
false teaching.
b. Offering praise
continually to God.
c. Do good and share with
others.
d. Obey leadership.
3. Christ as our Shepherd
and Equipper. (13:20-25)
 Bibliography

Bruce, F.F., “The Epistle to the Hebrews; Revised Ed.”, The New International Commentary on
the New Testament, Edited by Gordan D. Fee, (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans,
1990.)

Goodrick, Edward W., and John R. Kohlberger III. The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance.
(Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004)

Guthrie, George H., “Hebrews”, The NIV Application Commentary, Edited by Terry C. Muck
(Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998)

Holman Christian Study Bible, “Hebrews”, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2010)

Lane, W.L., “Hebrews”, Jesus and The Gospels, (Nashville, TN.: Broadman & Holman
Publishers, 1997)

MacArthur, John Jr., “Hebrews”, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (Chicago, IL:
Moody Press, 1983)

McGee, J. Vernon, “The Epistles: Hebrews, Chapters 1-7”, Thru The Bible Commentary Series,
(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991)

McGee, J. Vernon, “The Epistles: Hebrews, Chapters 8-13”, Thru The Bible Commentary
Series, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991)

Serendipity Bible for Groups, Third Ed., “Hebrews”, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1998)