Outline of Hebrews

Introduction: God Has Spoken to Us in a Son (1:1–4)

I. The Position of the Son in Relation to the Angels (1:5–2:18)

A. The Son Superior to the Angels (1:5–14)

WARNING: Do Not Reject the Word Spoken Through God’s Son! (2:1–4)

ab. The Superior Son for a Time Became Positionally Lower Than the Angels (2:5–9)

B. The Son Lower Than the Angels (i.e., among humans) to Suffer for the “Sons” (i.e., heirs) (2:10–18)

Jesus, the Supreme Example of a Faithful Son (3:1–6)

The Negative Example of Those Who Fell Through Faithlessness (3:7–19)

Transition (4:1–2)

The Promise of Rest for Those Who Are Faithful (4:3–11)

WARNING: Consider the Power of God’s Word (4:12–13)

II. The Position of the Son, Our High Priest, in Relation to the Earthly Sacrificial System (4:14–10:25)

Overlap: We Have a Sinless High Priest Who Has Gone Into Heaven (4:14–16)

A. The Appointment of the Son as a Superior High Priest (5:1–10; 7:1–28)

1. Introduction: The Son Taken From Among Humans and Appointed According to the Order of Melchizedek (5:1–10)

The Present Problem With the Hearers (5:11–6:3)

WARNING: The Danger of Falling Away from the Christian Faith (6:4–8)

Mitigation: The Author’s Confidence in and Desire for the Hearers (6:9–12)

God’s Promise Our Basis of Hope (6:13–20)

2. The Superiority of Melchizedek (7:1–10)

3. The Superiority of Our Eternal, Melchizedekan High Priest (7:11–28)

ab. We Have Such a High Priest Who Is a Minister in Heaven (8:1–2)

B. The Superior Offering of the Appointed High Priest (8:3–10:18)

1. Introduction: The More Excellent Ministry of the Heavenly High Priest (8:3–6)

2. The Superiority of the New Covenant (8:7–13)

3. The Superior New Covenant Offering (9:1–10:18) Introduction: The Pattern of Old Covenant Worship: Place, With Blood, Effect (9:1–10)

a. Christ’s Superior Blood (9:13–22)

b. A Sacrifice in Heaven (9:23–24)

c. An Eternal Sacrifice (10:1–18)

Overlap: We Have a Great Priest Who Takes Us Into Heaven (10:19–25)

WARNING: The Danger of Rejecting God’s Truth and God’s Son (10:26–31)

The Positive Example of the Hearers’ Past and an Admonition to Endure to Receive the Promise (10:32–39)

The Positive Example of the Old Testament Faithful (11:1–40)

Reject Sin and Fix Your Eyes on Jesus, Supreme Example of Endurance (12:1–2)

Endure Discipline as Sons (12:3–17)

The Blessings of the New Covenant (12:18–24)

WARNING: Do Not Reject God’s Word! (12:25–29)

Practical Exhortations (13:1–19)

Benediction (13:20–21)

Conclusion (13:22–25)