Hebrews 

AUTHORSHIP AND DATE UNCERTAIN.
The epistle is anonymous and has been ascribed to Paul, Barnabas, Luke, Apollos and various other persons. The most that can be said is that the weight of opinion seems to favour the Pauline authorship.

PURPOSE. The epistle was apparently written primarily to Hebrew Christians. These converts were in constant danger of relapsing into Judaism, or at least of attaching too much importance to ceremonial
observances. The chief doctrinal purpose of the writer was to show the transcendent glory of the Christian dispensation, as compared with that of the Old Testament.

KEY WORD, "Better." By following this word the reader will discover the main current of thought. 
Other recurrent words and phrases: "Sat down," referring to Christ's finished work
 Heb 1:3 10:12 12:2

"Heavenly," calling
 Heb 3:1

priest
 Heb 4:14

gift
 Heb 6:4

substance
 Heb 10:34

country
 Heb 11:16

city
 Heb 12:22

"Let Us," a series of eleven exhortations:
"Fear"
 Heb 4:1

"Labour"
 Heb 4:11

"Come boldly to the throne of grace"
 Heb 4:16

"Go on"
 Heb 6:1

"Draw near"
 Heb 10:22

"Hold fast"
 Heb 10:23

"Consider one another"
 Heb 10:24

"Lay aside every weight and run with patience"
 Heb 12:1

"Have grace"
 Heb 12:28

"Go forth"
 Heb 13:13

"Offer the sacrifice of praise"
 Heb 13:15

The epistle may be divided into two parts. Part I, chiefly doctrinal; Part II, chiefly practical.

SYNOPSIS.

PART I. SECTION I. THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST
Ch. 1.
(1) Over the prophets, because of his divine glory
 Heb 1:1-3

(2) Over the angels.
(a) Having a better name
 Heb 1:4
(b) Acknowledged as the only begotten son by the Father
 Heb 1:5
(c) Angels commanded to worship him
 Heb 1:6
(d) Exalted above the angels to the eternal throne at the right hand of God
 Heb 1:8-14

Ch. 2.
(e) His message is transcendent in importance, and it is perilous to disregard it
 Heb 2:1-4
(f) Jesus made a little lower than the angels, dies for mankind that he may bring many sons into his own glory with the Father, and destroy him who had the power of death
 Heb 2:9-14

SECTION II. THE PREEMINENCE OF CHRIST'S PRIESTHOOD

Ch. 2. (cont.)
(1) He assumed human nature.
(a) Preparatory for his work of reconciliation
 Heb 2:16,17
(b) His temptation prepared him to succour the tempted
 Heb 2:18

Ch. 3.
(2) An appeal to consider Christ's priesthood
 Heb 3:1

(3) His preëminence over Moses as a servant, Christ being a son
 Heb 3:2-6

(4) Parenthesis, The failure of Israel.
(a) To enter in to the Canaan-rest
 Heb 3:7-11
(b) They were excluded because of unbelief
 Heb 3:12-19

Ch. 4.
(c) A warning to the church not to follow the example of unbelieving Israel, but to enter into the rest of faith
 Heb 4:1-8
(d) The believer rests in the work of redemption and ceases trusting in his own works
 Heb 4:9-11
(e) The power of The Word of God
 Heb 4:12,13
The Subject of the Priesthood of Christ, resumed.
(1) The sympathetic priesthood of Christ as an encouragement to steadfastness and prayer
 Heb 4:14-16

Ch. 5.
(2) The high priest, his office and work:
(a) Taken from among men
 Heb 5:1
(b) Sympathetic because of his own weaknesses
 Heb 5:2
(c) Presents an offering for himself, as well as for the people
 Heb 5:3
(d) Divinely chosen
 Heb 5:4

(3) Characteristics of Christ's priesthood.
(a) Divinely chosen after a new order
 Heb 5:5,6
(b) He offered up earnest prayers for deliverance in a submissive spirit
 Heb 5:7,8
(c) Became author of eternal salvation
 Heb 5:9,10

(4) Parenthetic rebuke, appeal, warning, and commendation.
(d) Rebuke, for dullness and immaturity
 Heb 5:11-14

Ch. 6.
(e) An appeal for progress in doctrinal truth
 Heb 6:1-3
(f) A warning respecting those who, having enjoyed the higher privileges of the new dispensation, turn away from Christ
 Heb 6:4-8
(g) A commendation of the church, and a confidence that believers will continue faithful and inherit the promises
 Heb 6:9-12
The subject of Christ's priesthood again resumed.
(5) The certainty of the fulfillment of the divine promises.
(a) Illustrated in the life of Abraham
 Heb 6:13-15
(b) Confirmed by an oath
 Heb 6:16,17
(c) Like an anchor to the soul
 Heb 6:18,19
(d) Assured by our heavenly high priest
 Heb 6:20

Ch. 7.
(6) The priesthood of Melchisedec a type of Christ's.
(a) Having a great name and belonging to an eternal order
 Heb 7:1-3
(b) Honoured with tithes by Abraham, and superior to the Aaronic priesthood
 Heb 7:4-10

(7) The summary of the preëminent qualities of Christ's priesthood:
(a) Like that of Melchisedec, it belonged to an eternal order, and was confirmed by a divine oath
 Heb 7:11-22
(b) Is unchangeable and infinite in power
 Heb 7:23-25
(c) Was sinless and perfect, and made one complete sacrifice
 Heb 7:26-28

Ch. 8. 
(d) is now exercised in the heavenly sanctuary
 Heb 8:1-5
(e) Mediates through a better covenant
 Heb 8:6-13

Ch. 9.
(f) The ancient rites and ceremonies, and the sacrifices performed by the priests were only types
 Heb 9:1-10
(g) The redemptive work of Christ and his blood cleansing from sin, are sublime realities
 Heb 9:11-15
(h) The institutes of the old covenant prefigured the perfect sacrificial work of Christ in the new
 Heb 9:16-28

Ch. 10.
(i) The oft-repeated Jewish sacrifices were not effectual to take away sin. While Christ, by his one great sacrifice, completed the redemptive work for mankind, and "sat down at the right hand of God," awaiting the consummation of the divine plan.
 Heb 10:1-18

PART II. CHIEFLY PRACTICAL TEACHINGS AND EXHORTATIONS.
(1) The privilege of entering into the divine presence through the sacrifice and priesthood of Christ
 Heb 10:19-21

(2) Exhortations.
(a) To draw near in worship with full assurance, having prepared the heart
 Heb 10:22
(b) To steadfastness, mutual encouragement, and faithful attendance upon the means of grace
 Heb 10:23-25

(3) Warnings respecting the perils of backsliding.
(a) The penalty visited upon despisers, under the Mosaic law
 Heb 10:26-28
(b) The worse fate of those who dishonour Christ's sacrifice and the gracious spirit of God
 Heb 10:29-31

(4) A reminder to the Hebrew believers, of their previous fortitude in enduring afflictions and an exhortation to patience and perseverance
 Heb 10:32-39

Ch.11.
(5) A roll call of the heroes and heroines of faith.
(a) the sphere of faith
 Heb 11:1-3
(b) Notable examples of faith:
Abel
 Heb 11:4
Enoch
 Heb 11:5,6
Noah
 Heb 11:7
Abraham and Sara
 Heb 11:8-19
Isaac, Jacob and Joseph
 Heb 11:20-22
Moses and his parents
 Heb 11:23-29
Joshua and Israel
 Heb 11:30
Rahab
 Heb 11:31
Other worthies
 Heb 11:32-40

Ch. 12.
(6) Spiritual athletics, the Christian race.
(a) The audience, the preparation, and how to run
 Heb 12:1
(b) Eyes upon the Master at the goal, remembering his victory
 Heb 12:2
(c) The inspiration when weary
 Heb 12:3,4
(d) The value of hardship and correction in training
 Heb 12:5-10
(e) The good results of hardship and chastening
 Heb 12:11
(f) An exhortation to sturdiness and straightforwardness
 Heb 12:12,13

(7) Exhortations respecting peaceableness, purity, and
watchfulness against evil influences
 Heb 12:14,15

(8) Warnings concerning selling out life's blessings
 Heb 12:16,17

(9) A contrast between Mount Sinai of the Old Testament and Mount Sion of the New.
(a) Mount Sinai with its awful manifestations of divine power
 Heb 12:18-21
(b) Mount Sion with the glorious company within the heavenly Jerusalem
 Heb 12:22-24

(10) Solemn warning respecting the heeding of the heavenly message in regard to the mutability of earthly things and the permanence of God's kingdom
 Heb 12:25-28

Ch. 13.
(1) Final exhortations respecting Christian Duties.
(a) Social duties
 Heb 13:1-6
(b) Duty to religious leaders
 Heb 13:7
(c) An unchangeable Christ should inspire steadfastness in Christian doctrine
 Heb 13:8,9
(d) The duty of Christian separation
 Heb 13:10-14
(e) The duty of thanksgiving, benevolence and obedience to rulers
 Heb 13:15-17

(2) Concluding Words
(a) A request for prayers, and a blessing pronounced
 Heb 13:18-21
(b) Final salutation and benediction
 Heb 13:22-25

CHOICE SELECTIONS.
Suffering, a preparation for priesthood
 Heb 2:9-18
The rest of faith
 Heb 4:1-11
Spiritual maturity
 Heb 5:12 - 6:2
The new covenant
 Heb 8:8-13
"The Faith Chapter"--The roll call of heroes, ch. 11
 Heb 11:1
The chapter on "Spiritual Athletics and the Christian Race." Hardship, correction and chastening, as a preparation for victory.
 Heb 12:1-13

(Outline from Thompson’s Chain Reference Bible)

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