Index of Outlines
This outline reflects my understanding of the book of Hebrews which places the first several verses of chapter 6 at the very center of the book. I see the theme as the need for endurance and the possibility of failure--stick to the course. This outline is used in my study guide Hebrews: A Participatory Study Guide.
I. Introduction (Hebrews 1:1 - 4)
II. Who is Jesus? (Hebrews 1:5 - 5:10)
A. Jesus is Greater than the Angels (Hebrews 1:5 - 2:18)
1. Evidences Jesus is Greater than Angels (Hebrews 1:5 - 7)
a. Jesus is called "Son" (Hebrews 1:5)
b. Jesus receives worship (Hebrews 1:6 - 7)
2. Jesus is eternal and creator (Hebrews 1:8 - 12)
a. Eternal throne (Hebrews 1:8)
b. Anointed (Hebrews 1:9)
c. Creator (Hebrews 1:10)
d. Distinct from creation (Hebrews 1:11 - 12)
e. Ruler over all (Hebrews 1:13)
f. Angels are ministering spirits for us (Hebrews 1:14)
3. Greater message needs greater heed (Hebrews 2:1 - 4)
4. World subjected to Jesus (Hebrews 2:5 - 9)
a. Not everything is now subject (Hebrews 2:8)
b. Necessity of redemption (Hebrews 2:9)
c. Defeat of death (Hebrews 2:9)
5. Jesus claims a place among people (Hebrews 2:10 - 13)
6. Jesus is a merciful and faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:14 - 18)
a. Shares flesh and blood with people (Hebrews 2:14)
b. Through death conquers death (Hebrews 2:15)
c. Redemption for humans, not angels (Hebrews 2:16)
d. Must be like people in all ways to minister to them (Hebrews 2:17 - 18)
B. Jesus is Faithful to his Calling as was Moses (Hebrews 3:1 - 6)
1. Comparison (Hebrews 3:1 - 6)
a. Completely faithful (Hebrews 3:1 - 2)
b. Worthy of much greater glory (Hebrews 3:3)
c. Rules as Son rather than as servant (Hebrews 3:4 - 6)
C. Faithfulness Needed to Enter God's Rest (Hebrews 3:7 - 4:13)
1. Comparison of Exodus generation with Christians (Hebrews 3:7 - 15)
a. Don't harden hearts (Hebrews 3:7 - 8)
b. Saw God's works (Hebrews 3:9 - 10)
c. God's anger follows rejection (Hebrews 3:11)
d. Hold fast (Hebrews 3:12 - 15)
2. Entering the rest (Hebrews 3:16 - 4:13)
a. Moses' generation did not enter due to unfaithfulness (Hebrews 3:16 - 19)
b. Those who believe must enter rest (Hebrews 4:1 - 3)
c. This rest is for people (Hebrews 4:4 - 7)
d. The Israelites didn't enter it (Hebrews 4:8)
e. The rest still remains! Don't be disobedient! (Hebrews 4:9 - 11)
f. Don't fake it - God knows! (Hebrews 4:12 - 13)
D. Jesus, the High Priest (Hebrews 4:14 - 5:10)
1. Character of the heavenly priest (Hebrews 4:14 - 16)
a. Passed through heavens (Hebrews 4:14)
b. Sympathizes with weakness (Hebrews 4:15)
c. Approach boldly (Hebrews 4:16)
2. Appointment as a Priest (Hebrews 5:1 - 11)
a. Earthly priests have weaknesses like other humans (Hebrews 5:1 - 4)
b. God glorified Jesus (Hebrews 5:5 - 6)
c. Learned obedience as a son (Hebrews 5:7 - 10)
d. Introduce priestly order of Melchisedek (Hebrews 5:10)
III. Warning Against Apostasy (Hebrews 5:11 - 6:12)
A. Readers not Ready for Solid Food (Hebrews 5:11 - 14)
B. Going on Toward Perfection (Hebrews 6:1 - 12)
1. We're going on anyhow! (Hebrews 6:1 - 3)
a. Press on to maturity (Hebrews 6:1)
b. Leave aside basic teachings (Hebrews 6:2 - 3)
2. Enlightened can't fall and then repent (Hebrews 6:4 - 8)
a. Falls from the faith (Hebrews 6:4 - 6)
b. Illustration from the hard ground (Hebrews 6:7 - 8)
3. Readers are in a better state (Hebrews 6:9 - 12)
a. God won't forget former works (Hebrews 6:9 - 10)
b. Show zeal up to the fulfillment of your hope (Hebrews 6:11)
c. Don't become dull (Hebrews 6:12)
IV. The Better and More Permanent Covenant (Hebrews 6:13 - 10:18)
A. God's Sure Promise Confirmed by an Oath (Hebrews 6:13 - 20)
B. Permanent Priestly Order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:1 - 25)
C. Our Great and Appropriate High Priest (Hebrews 7:26 - 8:13)
1. Summary of our High Priest from the divine side (Hebrews 7:26 - 28)
a. Our high priest is pure and set aside (Hebrews 7:26)
b. He does not need constant sacrifice (Hebrews 7:27)
c. He is a son rather than a priest (Hebrews 7:28)
2. He mediates a new and better covenant (Hebrews 8:1 - 13)
a. His service is in a heavenly sanctuary (Hebrews 8:1 - 6)
b. His service us under a new covenant (Hebrews 8:7 - 13)
D. Sacrifice and Priesthood of Jesus (Hebrews 9:1 - 10:18)
1. Comparing the earthly and heavenly sanctuaries (Hebrews 9:1 - 10:18)
a. Description of earthly tabernacle (Hebrews 9:1 - 5)
b. The earthly service is temporary, not perfection (Hebrews 9:6 - 10)
c. Jesus provides permanent service that brings cleansing (Hebrews 9:11 - 14)
d. Jesus' sacrificial death necessary for cleansing (Hebrews 9:15 - 22)
e. Jesus once and for all death carried away sins (Hebrews 9:23 - 28)
2. Sacrifice of Jesus cleanses conscience fully (Hebrews 10:1 - 18)
a. Old sacrifices were repeated, not permanent (Hebrews 10:1 - 4)
b. Rather than animal sacrifices obedience is desired (Hebrews 10:5 - 10)
c. Jesus' sacrifice perfected everyone in one sacrifice (Hebrews 10:11 - 14)
d. Total forgiveness eliminates need for sacrifice (Hebrews 10:15 - 18)
V. Steadfast Faith in a Steady Covenant (Hebrews 10:19 - 13:17)
A. Assurance gives boldness (Hebrews 10:19 - 39)
1. Full assurance and trust (Hebrews 10:19 - 25)
a. Way opened through the curtain (Hebrews 10:19 - 20)
b. Great high priest (Hebrews 10:21)
c. Washed with water (Hebrews 10:22 - 23)
d. Arouse and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24 - 25)
2. No more sacrifice if we deliberately persist in sin (Hebrews 10:26 - 31)
a. Terrifying expectation of judgment (Hebrews 10:26 - 28)
b. Greater penalty for trampling Son of God (Hebrews 10:29)
c. Judgment belongs to living God (Hebrews 10:30 - 31)
3. Remember previous experience and endure (Hebrews 10:32 - 39)
a. Cheerfully endured (Hebrews 10:32 - 34)
b. Keep confidence (Hebrews 10:35)
c. Endure (Hebrews 10:36)
d. Delay will end (Hebrews 10:37)
e. God's pleasure comes with not shrinking (Hebrews 10:38)
f. Who are among faithful (Hebrews 10:39)
B. Past Witnesses (Hebrews 11:1 - 40)
1. Faith is substance of hopes (Hebrews 11:1 - 40)
2. Faithful people through Abraham (Hebrews 11:4 - 12)
a. Abel (Hebrews 11:4)
b. Enoch (Hebrews 11:5 - 6)
c. Noah (Hebrews 11:7)
d. Abraham (Hebrews 11:8 - 10)
e. Sarah (Hebrews 11:11 - 12)
3. Faithful even though promises were far ahead (Hebrews 11:13 - 16)
a. Don't hold to past or present (Hebrews 11:13 - 15)
b. Look for heavenly country (Hebrews 11:16)
4. Abraham and onward (Hebrews 11:17 - 31)
a. Abraham offering Isaac (Hebrews 11:17 - 19)
b. Isaac and Jacob (Hebrews 11:20 - 21)
c. Joseph (Hebrews 11:22)
d. Moses (Hebrews 11:23 - 29)
e. Joshua, Rahab and others (Hebrews 11:30 - 31)
5. Too many to tell (Hebrews 11:32 - 40)
a. Judges, kings, and prophets (Hebrews 11:32)
b. Miraculous signs (Hebrews 11:33 - 35)
c. Persecution (Hebrews 11:35 - 38)
d. Won approval but not fulfillment (Hebrews 11:39 - 40)
C. Hardship and the Holy Life (Hebrews 12:1 - 13:17)
1. Response of faith to hardship (Hebrews 12:1 - 13)
a. Cloud of witnesses behind (Hebrews 12:1 - 2)
b. Submission of Christ (Hebrews 12:3)
c. God's discipline (Hebrews 12:4 - 11)
d. Buck up! (Hebrews 12:12 - 13)
2. Sinai and Zion (Hebrews 12:18 - 24)
a. Sinai (Hebrews 12:18 - 21)
b. Zion (Hebrews 12:22 - 24)
D. Fruit of righteousness (Hebrews 12:14 - 13:17)
1. Holy life - holy community (Hebrews 12:14 - 24)
2. Hearing the voice (Hebrews 12:25 - 29)
a. Speaks from heaven (Hebrews 12:25)
b. Voice shakes earth (Hebrews 12:26 - 27)
c. Kingdom unshakable (Hebrews 12:28)
d. Worship with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28 - 29)
3. Admonition to righteous living (Hebrews 13:1 - 17)
a. Love and hospitality (Hebrews 13:1 - 3)
b. Marriage (Hebrews 13:4)
c. Depend on God, not money (Hebrews 13:5)
d. Follow examples (Hebrews 13:6 - 9)
e. The new altar/sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:10 - 16)
f. Obedience to leaders (Hebrews 13:17)
VI. Conclusion (Hebrews 13:18 - 25)
Plaid Power I support Unity in Diversity
