Heb 11:1-3 Notice in this chapter the record of the “men of old” who had faith to the preserving of their souls; what definition of such faith does the author give in Heb 11:1? Note: “assurance” is often translated as confidence, and is used in business documents as the basis or guarantee of business transactions;…
Heb 10:26-31 Besides the positive aspect of the better things that are available in Christ, with what negative aspect does the author warn his readers about the danger of drifting away from so great a salvation? What does it mean to “go on sinning willfully”? See also 1 Jn 3:4-10. Is this different from occasionally stumbling…
Heb 10:1-4 With what two words does the author contrast the law of Moses and the “good things to come” under the new covenant? See Heb 10: 1. How do we know that the provisions in the old covenant can not make perfect those who draw near to God? See Heb 10:2-4. Compare the Roman…
Heb 9:1-10 Describe the “regulations of divine worship” under the first covenant. What was the outer (lit. “first”) sanctuary called, and what articles relating to the divine worship were found in it? See Heb 9:2. What was the spiritual significance of each in pointing the worshipers to Christ? Cf. Jn 8:12; 2 Sam 9:6-11, Prov 9:1-6,…
Heb 8:1-5 What are the four aspects of the main point the author has now established, and why is each significant to those who were in danger of falling away into the religio licita of the Jews? See Heb 8:1-2, 7:25, and note: the author will develop the “better sanctuary” in chapter 9. What was…
Heb 7:1-3 Who was Melchizedek? See Gen 14, esp. Heb 7:17-20, Ps 110:4.[1] Where was Salem? See Ps 76:2 and note that Salem is traditionally identified as the location that would later be called Jerusalem. In what ways was Melchizedek a type of Christ? Are we to understand Heb 7:3 literally, or figuratively in the…
Heb 6:9-12 The third warning just given by the author is one of the most blunt and frightful in Scripture. Especially to those who are in danger of falling away in time of testing because they had become “dull of hearing” and lax in their faith, but even to those with the most sincere faith…
Heb 6:4-6 Consider the context of Heb 6:1-3: why is it important that as Christians we “press on to maturity” (Heb 6: 1)? In what way had the recipients of this letter failed to press on to maturity? See 5:12. What danger had befallen them as a result? See Heb 5:11, 2:1, 3:12-13, 4:1,11, 10:36-39. …
Heb 6:1-3 What six things does the author enumerate as “elementary teaching about the Christ”, and how is each foundational? What is listed first and how is it of first importance? Cf. Mat 3:2, 4:17, Acts 2:37-38, 17:30, 20:21, 26:20, Rom 2:4. In what two-fold manner are we to understand what is meant by “dead…
Heb 5:11-14 Why has the author been slow in arriving at this the central part of his message? See Heb 5:11-12 and note “dull” of hearing means sluggish, lazy, slothful. What does this teach us about the danger of sloth in our Christian walk, especially in regard to exercising due diligence to “hear” the word…