Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion you should be able to:

• Explain the cosmic significance of Jesus’ role as high priest

• Understand the warning passages in Heb 6:4–8 and 10:26–31

• Describe important cultural features such as patronage, reciprocity, and honor and shame

• Recognize the debt of gratitude you owe God for the gifts He has given you

• Encourage other Christians to persevere in the face of difficult circumstances

• Learn five strategies for preaching an effective sermon

Course Outline

Introduction

• Introducing the Speaker and the Course

Unit 1: “To the Hebrews” and the Art of Preaching

• Always Give Them Jesus

• Shape the Moment with Scripture

• Hold Them Accountable

• Make It Meaty

• Release Their Passion for Excellence

• Don’t Lose Sight of Life’s Top Priority

• Don’t Lose Sight of What You Have in Christ: Part 1

• Don’t Lose Sight of What You Have in Christ: Part 2

• Don’t Lose Sight of What Is Due God

• Don’t Lose Sight of One Another

Unit 2: Themes and Background of Hebrews

• Main Themes and Challenges of Hebrews

• The Question of Pauline Authorship

• Signs of Author’s Education: Part 1

• Signs of Author’s Education: Part 2

• Author’s Cultural Location: Part 1

• Author’s Cultural Location: Part 2

• Jews, Jewish Christians, or Gentile Christians?

• Congregation in Italy?

• Social Level, Conversion, and Socialization

• History of Tension and Harassment

• Challenges to Community and Author’s Goals

• Author’s Pursuit of Pastoral Goals

• Encouraging One Another

• When Was Hebrews Written?

Unit 3: Hebrews 1:1–2:4

• Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 1:1–2:4

• Wisdom and Early Christianity

• Encomium on the Son: Part 1

• Encomium on the Son: Part 2

• Why Focus on Angels?

• The Son’s Superiority to Angels: Part 1

• The Son’s Superiority to Angels: Part 2

• Argumentative Goal and Rhetorical Force

• Perennial and Particular Challenges and Contributions

Unit 4: Hebrews 2:5–18

• Christological Reading of Psalm 8

• Why a Suffering Messiah?

• The Son’s Solidarity with Many Sons and Daughters

• Jesus’ Qualifications and Our Freedom from Fear

• Priestly Messiahs in Early Judaism

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 2:5–18

Unit 5: Hebrews 3:1–4:13

• Christ, Moses, and the Congregation in God’s House: Part 1

• Christ, Moses, and the Congregation in God’s House: Part 2

• Reading Psalm 95:7–11 in the Septuagint

• Analyzing and Applying the Episode of Numbers 14

• Entering God’s Rest

• Concluding Appeal and Reinforcement

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 3:1–4:13

Unit 6: Hebrews 4:14–5:10

• Core Appeal Based on Jesus’ Priestly Mediation

• Demonstration of Christ’s Appointment to High Priesthood

• Manner of Christ’s Appointment to High Priesthood

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 4:14–5:10

Unit 7: Hebrews 5:11–6:20

• Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 5:11–6:20

• Shaming the Congregation

• Path to Recovery and Solemn Warning

• Argument from Analogy in Support of Warning

• Way Forward to Deliverance Instead of Disaster

• Reasons to Move Forward with Confidence

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 5:11–6:20

Unit 8: Hebrews 7:1–8:13

• Overview of Hebrews 7:1–8:13

• Melchizedek and the Son of God

• Melchizedek’s Elevation above Levi

• Wanted: A Priest in Melchizedek’s Line

• Jesus’ Mediation: More Reliable in Every Respect

• Voluntary Death on Behalf of Others in Early Judaism

• Superior Venue for Priestly Mediation: Part 1

• Superior Venue for Priestly Mediation: Part 2

• Reading and Applying Jeremiah 31:31–34

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 7:1–8:13

Unit 9: Hebrews 9:1–10:18

• Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 9:1–10:18

• Arrangement of the Earthly Tabernacle

• Interpretation and Evaluation of the Earthly Tabernacle

• Jesus’ Death as Cosmic Day of Atonement

• Cosmic and Ritual Significance of Jesus’ Ascension

• Establishing the Need for a Better Sacrifice

• Reading Psalm 40:6–8 in the Septuagint

• Conclusion to the Central Argument

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 9:1–10:18

Unit 10: Hebrews 10:19–39

• Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 10:19–39

• Resumption of Core Appeal Based on Jesus’ Priestly Mediation

• A Solemn Warning Revisited

• Encouragement to Persevere: Part 1

• Encouragement to Persevere: Part 2

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 10:19–39

Unit 11: Hebrews 11:1–12:3

• Overview and Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 11:1–12:3

• “Faith” in Hebrews

• Faith Exhibited before the Flood

• Faith Exhibited by Abraham and Sarah

• Summary Statement about Faith in Action

• Faith Exhibited by the Patriarchs

• Faith Exhibited by Moses and Joshua’s Generation: Part 1

• Faith Exhibited by Moses and Joshua’s Generation: Part 2

• Faith Exhibited by Too Many to Name: Part 1

• Faith Exhibited by Too Many to Name: Part 2

• Best Example of Faith in Action: Jesus (Part 1)

• Best Example of Faith in Action: Jesus (Part 2)

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 11:1–12:3

Unit 12: Hebrews 12:4–29

• Argumentative Flow of Hebrews 12:4–29

• Embracing the Situation as Formative Discipline: Part 1

• Embracing the Situation as Formative Discipline: Part 2

• Further Encouragement and an Anti-Example: Part 1

• Further Encouragement and an Anti-Example: Part 2

• Incomparable Advantages of Approaching God through Jesus

• Positive and Negative Incentives to Show Gratitude

• Rhetorical Force, Challenges, and Contributions of Hebrews 12:4–29

Unit 13: Hebrews 13:1–25

• Overview of Hebrews 13:1–25

• Key Behavioral and Attitudinal Orientations: Part 1

• Key Behavioral and Attitudinal Orientations: Part 2

• Finding Stability in the Midst of the Storm

• Proper Responses to Jesus’ Self-Giving and God’s Promises

• Closing Instructions and Remarks: Part 1

• Closing Instructions and Remarks: Part 2

• Rhetorical Force and Challenges

• Sacredness of Christian Life

Conclusion

• Love, Discipleship, and Gratitude

Details

• Title: NT362 Exegetical Study: Letter to the Hebrews

• Instructor: David A. deSilva

• Publisher: Lexham Press

• Publication Date: 2017

• Product Type: Logos Mobile Education

• Resource Type: Courseware, including transcripts, audio, and video resources

• Courses: 1

• Video Hours: 15