To be added
Hebrews: Main Argument
Occasion – Christians were turning back from Christianity to Judaism.
Thesis – Christianity is superior to Judaism, so do not turn back to Judaism.
Purpose – The writer sought to show that Christianity is superior because of the person of Christ.
- Christ is superior to the angels through whom Judaism was established (1:1-2:4).
- He is the Son of God, but angels are servants (1:1-2:4).
- Being made lower than the angels aided His superiority rather than diminishing it (2:5-18).
- Jesus is superior to Moses and the prophets (3:1-4:13).
- As builder and Son He is superior to Moses who is a servant in the house.
- A warning from history (3:7- 4:13)
III. Jesus is superior to the priests of the Levitical order (4:14-8:5)
- Christ maintains the strengths and eliminates the weaknesses of the Levitical order (4:14-5:10).
- Admonition and warning (5:11- 6:20).
- Christ a priest after the order of Melchizedek (7:1-28).
- The main point is that we have a perfect priesthood (8:1-5).
- Christianity provides a superior covenant (8:6-10:18)
- It is a perfect covenant with better benefits (8:6-13).
- It provides the real things (9:1-10:18).
- Exhortations and warnings based on the superiority of Christ (10:19-13:25)
- Exhort one another to avoid the judgment (10:19-39).
- Faith has sustaining power (11:1- 40).
- In Christ, we can have confidence and exercise perseverance (12:1-28).
- This superior religion should lead to a superior way of life (13:1-25).
William T. (Bill) Lambert, Ed D
Professor Emeritus, New Testament Literature and Interpretation
Harding University