HEBREWS · STEP BY STEP · ITS SHAPE · SIDE BY SIDE · SIDE BY SIDE

The argument

How the sermon makes its case: Christ better at every step, read against the Law it fulfils.

STEP BY STEP

Better than…

Each step of the argument, and what it is better than.

a Son, God's last word — God spoke in many ways through the prophets; in these last days he has spoken by his Son. Hebrews 1:1–2

a more excellent name — "So much better than the angels." The first "better" of the letter. Hebrews 1:4 Hebrews 1:5–14 Hebrews 2:5–9

more glory: the builder, not the house — Moses was faithful as a servant in God's house; Christ as a Son over it. Hebrews 3:3 Hebrews 3:5–6

the rest Joshua did not give — The KJV reads "Jesus" in 4:8, the Greek form of the name Joshua. Hebrews 4:8–9

a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek — Many priests died in turn; he continues for ever. "The less is blessed of the better." Hebrews 5:4–6 Hebrews 7:7 Hebrews 7:11 Hebrews 7:19 Hebrews 7:23–25

a better covenant, on better promises — 8:6 uses "better" twice. Hebrews 7:22 Hebrews 8:6–13

the true tabernacle, in heaven itself — "A greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands." Hebrews 8:2 Hebrews 9:11 Hebrews 9:24

better sacrifices: his own blood, once for all — "How much more shall the blood of Christ…" Hebrews 9:12–14 Hebrews 9:23 Hebrews 10:10–14

a better possession, country and resurrection — A better and lasting substance, a heavenly country, a better resurrection, "some better thing for us". Hebrews 10:34 Hebrews 11:16 Hebrews 11:35 Hebrews 11:40

the blood that speaks better things — Abel's blood cried out from the ground (Gen 4:10); Jesus' blood speaks better things. Hebrews 12:24

The Greek word for "better" (kreittōn) appears 13 times in 12 verses, and other comparisons ("more excellent", "more glory", "how much more") carry the same idea. The ladder follows the order of the argument, from the prophets to the blood of Jesus. Davidson and Dods describe the same sequence. Hebrews 1:4 Hebrews 12:24 [7][11]

ITS SHAPE

How it is built

The sermon cut into its parts, coloured by teaching, warning and encouragement; beneath, each part beside the Bible's section headings inside it.

Hebrews in 22 parts, each as long as it is, in our own words. Click a part to keep it.

  • The Supremacy of the SonHebrews 1:1–14
  • Salvation ConfirmedHebrews 2:1–4
  • Jesus like His BrothersHebrews 2:5–18
  • Jesus Our Apostle and High PriestHebrews 3:1–6
  • Do Not Harden Your HeartsHebrews 3:7–11
  • The Peril of UnbeliefHebrews 3:12–19
  • The Sabbath RestHebrews 4:1–11
  • The Living WordHebrews 4:12–16
  • The Perfect High PriestHebrews 5:1–10
  • Milk and Solid FoodHebrews 5:11–14
  • A Call to MaturityHebrews 6:1–12
  • God’s Unchangeable PromiseHebrews 6:13–20
  • Melchizedek and AbrahamHebrews 7:1–10
  • A Superior PriesthoodHebrews 7:11–28
  • Christ’s Eternal PriesthoodHebrews 8:1–5
  • The New CovenantHebrews 8:6–13
  • The Earthly TabernacleHebrews 9:1–10
  • Redemption through His BloodHebrews 9:11–28
  • Christ’s Perfect SacrificeHebrews 10:1–18
  • A Call to PersevereHebrews 10:19–39
  • Faith and AssuranceHebrews 11:1–3
  • The Faith of Abel, Enoch, NoahHebrews 11:4–7
  • The Faith of Abraham and SarahHebrews 11:8–19
  • The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and JosephHebrews 11:20–22
  • The Faith of MosesHebrews 11:23–29
  • The Faith of Many (Joshua–Malachi)Hebrews 11:30–40
  • A Call to EnduranceHebrews 12:1–3
  • God Disciplines His SonsHebrews 12:4–13
  • A Call to HolinessHebrews 12:14–17
  • An Unshakable KingdomHebrews 12:18–29
  • Brotherly LoveHebrews 13:1–4
  • Christ’s Unchanging NatureHebrews 13:5–14
  • Sacrifice, Obedience, and PrayerHebrews 13:15–19
  • Benediction and FarewellHebrews 13:20–25

SIDE BY SIDE

The Day of Atonement and Hebrews 9

Leviticus 16 beside Hebrews 9. Click a ribbon to keep it.

Hebrews 9 reads Christ's work through the Day of Atonement. The yearly entry of the high priest, alone and with animal blood, is set against Christ's single entry with his own blood. The carcasses burned "without the camp" in Lev 16:27 return in Heb 13:11–13, where Jesus suffers outside the gate. Leviticus 16:27 Hebrews 13:11–13

SIDE BY SIDE

Melchizedek

Genesis 14 beside Hebrews 7. Click a ribbon to keep it.

Hebrews draws on two passages: the meeting in Genesis 14 and the oath of Psalm 110:4, "Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek", quoted at 5:6, 7:17 and 7:21. Westcott notes that the writer reads the record of Scripture, including its silences, rather than the historical man. He passes over the bread and wine, presenting Melchizedek as a priest who blesses rather than one who sacrifices. Psalms 110:4 Hebrews 5:6 Hebrews 7:17 Hebrews 7:21 Genesis 14:18 [4]

WHERE THIS PAGE COMES FROM

  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Introduction, "History and Authorship", pp. lxxiv–lxxix.
  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Introduction §§IV–VII (language, destination, date, place of writing), pp. xxxiv–xliv.
  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Introduction §IX "The Plan", pp. xlviii–li.
  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Additional note on 7:1, "The significance of Melchizedek", pp. 199–202.
  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), Notes on 11:32–40, pp. 376–382.
  • Brooke Foss Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Greek Text with Notes and Essays (2nd ed.) (1892), "On the use of the Old Testament in the Epistle", pp. 469–473.
  • A. B. Davidson, The Epistle to the Hebrews, with Introduction and Notes (1882), Introduction, chs. I–III and introductory note, pp. 9–37.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: history, pp. 221–224.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: authorship, pp. 224–229.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: destination, pp. 230–234.
  • Marcus Dods, "The Epistle to the Hebrews", in The Expositor's Greek Testament, vol. IV (1897 (1910 printing)), Introduction: aim, argument and date, pp. 235–243.
  • John Calvin, tr. John Owen, Commentaries on the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews (1549 (tr. 1853)), "The Argument".
  • Thomas Rees, "Hebrews, Epistle to the", in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (1915), Sections I–VI.
  • James Vernon Bartlet, "Hebrews, Epistle to the", in Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., vol. 13 (1911).
  • M. G. Easton, "Hebrews, Epistle to", in Illustrated Bible Dictionary (3rd ed.) (1897).
  • William Smith (ed.), "Hebrews, Epistle to the", in Smith's Bible Dictionary (abridged) (1863 (abridged edition)).
  • Eusebius, tr. A. C. McGiffert, Church History, Book III (1890), 3.3.5; 3.38.1–3.
  • Eusebius, tr. A. C. McGiffert, Church History, Book V (1890), 5.26.
  • Eusebius, tr. A. C. McGiffert, Church History, Book VI (1890), 6.14.2–4; 6.20.3; 6.25.11–14.
  • Tertullian, tr. S. Thelwall, On Modesty (De Pudicitia) (1885), ch. 20.
  • Clement of Rome, tr. John Keith, First Epistle to the Corinthians (1896), ch. 36.
  • Athanasius, tr. R. Payne-Smith, Festal Letter 39 (1892), §5.
  • Jerome, tr. E. C. Richardson, Lives of Illustrious Men (De Viris Illustribus) (1892), chs. 5–6.

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