Notes for this podcast series are available on the Study Notes page.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 1
Some introductory matters to the Book of Hebrews. This study begins by going to the end of Hebrews (13:18-25) where the critical matter of the audience (the recipients of this letter) is discussed. The author, date and purpose of this letter are dealt with.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 2
An understanding of the “warning passages” in Hebrews is greatly influenced by the issue of the security of the believer in Christ. This study focuses on the biblical evidence for the eternal security of the person who has placed their faith in Jesus Christ alone for their justification.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 3
This study concludes the discussion on eternal security and begins in Hebrews 1. The letter begins with a proclamation of the absolute superiority of Jesus Christ. The revelation that came through Him (and His Apostles) is the capstone of God’s revelation and must therefore be taken seriously. He is God, the heir of all things and is far superior to the exalted world of angels.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 4
Hebrews 1:4-6. Hebrews quotes often from the O.T. scriptures. Psalm 2 and Psalm 110 are favorites of the author of Hebrews and those psalms are studied here as they contribute to the message of this book.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 5
Hebrews 1:6-14. The superiority of Christ over the angels is given, emphasizing that Jesus is the One who is worshipped and the One who will fulfill the Davidic covenant. 1:14 leads into the first of the five warning sections of Hebrews.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 6
Hebrews 1:14-2:4. The first warning passage found in Hebrews is analyzed which includes a discussion of the concept of “salvation” as it is found in Hebrews.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 7
Hebrews 2:5-16. The author specifically declares that the subject he has been discussing is the truth about future “salvation” (reward/blessing in Messiah’s Kingdom). And it is this truth that we must not “drift” from since disregarding OT truth brought negative consequences in the past. Jesus is then described in various roles as: Author (leader/captain) Initiator of our restoration back to God’s purpose for man. Brother: Our older brother who teaches and models truth for us. High Priest: Cared for our sin problem and who intercedes for us.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 8
Hebrew 2:9-18. Jesus is viewed as Author, Brother and High Priest. In these roles He is invaluable to believers as they faithfully follow and serve Him. Since we frequently fail in our Christian walk we have a great High Priest who understands experientially what it is like to be human and can help us.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 9
Hebrews 3:1-6. Jesus is the One believers (holy brethren) are to focus on, especially in His roles of Apostle and High Priest. Jesus faithfully functioned in those roles as did Moses who faithfully functioned in his work concerning the Tabernacle. Practically and experientially, believers are to faithfully function in the church. If they do so then they will achieve the goal of faithfulness which is entering God’s “rest.”
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 10
Hebrews 3:6-4:1. We are to faithfully function as believer priests in the Body of Christ following the positive examples of Jesus and Moses. We are not to be like the “Exodus generation” which, in spite of their spiritual privileges, failed to enter God’s “rest”. This study includes the quote from Psalm 95 and Paul’s similar use of the “Exodus generation” in 1Corinthians 9 and 10.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 11
Hebrews 4:1-16. The offer is presently ours (4:1) to enter rest (reward) which is obtained by our diligence (4:11). As believers, we are not to neglect our “good news” in the same way that the “Exodus generation” neglected their good news. Heb 4:2&6 “Good News” (evangelizo). “To have good tiding proclaimed to one.” Usually about Christ’s work on the cross and the provision of eternal life but in the OT it is used of good news generally and of messianic blessing (Isa 40:9-10).
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 12
Hebrews 5:1-14. Jesus is our great High Priest who dispenses grace and mercy to help us. The two basic requirements of being a priest are seen in Jesus who is of the order of Melchizedek. If we are to mature spiritually we must come to understand the highly significant truth of Jesus being of the order of Melchizedek. We must not continue to be spiritual babies but must press on towards spiritual maturity. James speaks of the “Doer” of the Word which is the same as the one who is Mature (Hebrews). This refers to the believer who is applying the truth and is continually working towards Stage 3. (Steps in becoming a mature believer).
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 13
Hebrews 6 (Part 1). This chapter is one of the more challenging portions of the New Testament. The subject of the chapter is the need to press on towards spiritual maturity and the consequences when a believer does not do so. The study deals with “falling away”, “enlightened” and other key words and phrases that are part of this important discussion.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 14
Hebrews 6 (Part 2). This study covers 6:6-9 and includes a review of Part 1. The study looks at some key phrases such as “crucifying to themselves the Son of God”, as well as investigating the key illustration of the ground and the rain that the author uses.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 15
Hebrews 6 (Part 3). This study concludes the sixth chapter as the author gives a word of encouragement, being convinced that his readers have not yet “crossed the line” that he has been warning about. The hope is that they will “inherit the promises.”
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 16
In Hebrews 7, the subject returns (from 5:10) to the point that Jesus is of the priestly order of Melchizedek; a King-Priest. This study begins with the historic account of Melchzedek in Genesis and then proceeds to the author’s contrasts of this priesthood of Jesus with the Levitical priesthood. A particularly important point is made that there has been a change of priesthood and this means a change of the underlying law which governs the priesthood. And unlike the OT priests, Jesus is alive and is there always to make intercession for us.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 17
Hebrews 8 brings the spotlight onto the New Covenant as the eternal replacement for the Old (Mosaic) covenant. This study begins with a brief look at Jeremiah 31. This is the first part of an investigation into the critical New Covenant.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 18
Part 2 on the New Covenant. Hebrews 8:13 states that the New Covenant has made the Mosaic covenant obsolete. This is an amazing statement which is developed further by the Apostle Paul in Galatians 3. This study’s focus is on Paul’s profound explanation of the relationships of the Abrahamic, New and Mosaic covenants.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 19
Hebrews 10:1-25 continues the significant discussion on the absolute superiority of the new covenant to the old covenant. In this section, there is the emphasis on the totally sufficient, once for all sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The realities of the finished work of Christ carries with it important obligations for the believer, as revealed in the “let us” section.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 20
Hebrews 10:26-38 contains the severe fourth warning passage that is found in this book. It reveals that the stakes are high as far as godly living, or not, are concerned. There is great reward for faithfulness to the Lord but great discipline for those believers who continue on a path of willful sinning.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 21
Hebrews 11:1-16
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 22
Hebrews 11:17-40 continues the record of those people who pleased God because they believed Him; that is, they were people of faith. This study begins with the amazing record of Abraham’s faith in his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac and continues with the record of many unnamed saints of old. All these become examples to us today as we see the kind of person that pleases the Lord.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 23
Hebrews 12:1-17 reminds believers that there have been many others who have faithfully endured for the Lord even in the most difficult of circumstances; and they form a great “cloud of witnesses.” Jesus Himself is, of course, the greatest example of faithfully enduring. This section also includes an important emphasis on the role of the Father as He lovingly but faithfully deals with His children.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 24
Hebrews 12:18-28 gives the fifth, and final, warning found in Hebrews. It resembles in several ways the first warning (2:1-4) and sets forth the stark contrast between Mount Sinai and Mount Zion; that is, the amazing difference between the old covenant and the new covenant which finds its final and complete fulfillment with the King ruling from Zion.
Dr. Paul Benware – Book of Hebrews – Study 25
Hebrews 13.