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Teaching Helps with John Hilton | Hebrews 1-6 | |
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Resources and Insights about this Week's Lesson
Dr Matthew Gray provides a fantastic overview for the Book of Hebrews on Follow Him podcast. He frames the historical and literary context of this book beautifully, and outlines these chapters in a way that makes them very approachable and very powerful. In opening his discussion, Dr. Gray begins with the following statement, which is a very helpful perspective when one begins to study this book.
It's really fun to work through Hebrew scholarship and interact with scholars who spend a lot of their career studying this book. Speaking of the complexity of the background and how much we do or don't know, one of my favorite common sayings in Hebrew scholarship, the more you study the epistle of Paul to the Hebrews, the more you come away with three certainties.
One is that it's not an epistle.
Two, that it was not written by Paul, and
Three, that it was not written to the Hebrews.
With that in mind there are a lot of different theories in circulation about who the author of Hebrews actually was and we simply do not know. The following resource discuss some of those theories, and can be helpful. “Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews”
Condescension of God
I am a visual learner, and it helps me to see things mapped out, and I believe that is what the author of Hebrews is doing in their summary. In previous lessons, we discussed the principles of Justification through the Grace of Jesus Christ and Sanctification.
Justification is offered through the Grace of God, it is a gift that only He can provide through the Power of His Atonement, which he performed as part of His Condescension. This was the process of Jesus Christ "coming down" from the Throne of Heaven in steps and stages, to descend below all things, to rescue us, to be with us, so he can help to lift us up. The word condescension literally means to descend together with (synapago, yarad, katavaino). The English word comes from the Latin root skala, and the Greek root klino which is where we get the English words scale, escalator, ascend, descend, climb. The Greeks borrowed this word from Latin to indicate a stair, staircase, ladder, rungs, and even a stumbling block or scandal. These are concepts indicative of falling, bowing, bending, being made low, laying down, and becoming humble.
Sanctification is the process of an individual's ascension from Earth to the Heavenly throne on High. This also comes in steps and stages, like a ladder, as one learn to become spiritually mature and apply the blessings of God's Laws to their life as they learn to Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is indicative of the process of Ascending the Mountain of the Lord that is found all throughout Scripture. This topic is introduced in Chapters 5 and 6, and is the primary topic for next week's lesson.
In this week's lesson we are examining Chapters 1-5, which primarily focus on Christ's Condescension, and we see the author demonstrate the concept of descension by outlining the hierarchical steps of Christ's gradual descension from his throne on high to his descension below all things, into Hell itself, to rescue the sinner from both spiritual and physical death, those who want/choose to be saved. One can observe this visually from the authors description in Hebrews.
Overview:
Hebrews 1
The Book of Hebrews addresses a Christian audience, emphasizing the preeminence of Jesus Christ, especially for believers from Jewish backgrounds who might be tempted to revert to their former religious practices or doubt Christ's significance.
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
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Verses 1-4: | Supremacy of Christ |
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Verses 5-14: | Christ as the Son of God, the Eternal King, Supremacy to Angels |
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Hebrews 2
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
Hebrews 2 | | INT | |
Verses 1-18 | Jesus descends below the Angels and takes a Human Form in His Role as Savior and Redeemer |
| (Hebrews 2:6-8) Psalm 8:4-6 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: |
Hebrews 3
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
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| Jesus as the Superior to Moses, the Prophet, Apostles, and High Priest |
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| Warning to heed the lessons of the Rebellious Israelites |
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Hebrews 4
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
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| Entering God's Rest through Faith, a Parallel to the Sabbath (7th) Day |
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| Jesus as the Great High Priest |
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Hebrews 5
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
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Verses 1-10 | Jesus as the High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek |
| Psalm 2:7: I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Psalm 110:4: The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. |
Verses 11-14 | Warning against Spiritual Immaturity |
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Hebrews 6
Scripture | Major Topics/ Themes | Summary | Cross-References, Videos & Resources |
Hebrews 6 | | | |
Verses 1-12 | Nutrition: The Sustaining Power of Meat in Preventing the Believers from Deception and Apostasy |
| Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives "Brothers and sisters, how can we become the men and women—the Christlike servants—the Lord needs us to be? How can we find answers to questions that perplex us? If Joseph Smith’s transcendent experience in the Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is that the heavens are open and that God speaks to His children...I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”12 Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!”... Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. |
Verses 13-20 | God's Unchanging Promise |
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Church Videos & Resources
Scripture Central
Reading Guide
Hebrews 1–6
Lynne Hilton Wilson, "Hebrews 1-6," Come Follow Me: The New Testament, 2019.
John Hilton III. "Teaching the Scriptural Emphasis on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ." Religious Educator, 20 (3): 133-153 (2019).
Authorship, Context, and Themes:
Lincoln H. Blumell, Frank F. Judd Jr., and George A. Pierce, “Hebrews and the General Epistles: Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, and Jude,” in New Testament History, Culture, and Society: A Background to the Texts of the New Testament, ed. Lincoln H. Blumell (Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2019), 446-465.
Terrence L. Szink, “Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews” in How the New Testament Came to Be: The Thirty-fifth Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium, ed. Kent P. Jackson and Frank F. Judd Jr. (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2006), 243–259.
Hopkin, Shon D. “Latter-Day Saint Liturgical Practice: The Psalms and the Day of Atonement.” Latter-day Saint Liturgical Practice: The Psalms and the Day of Atonement. from Understanding Covenants and Communities: Jews and Latter-Day Saints in Dialogue. https://rsc.byu.edu/understanding-covenants-communities/latter-day-saint-liturgical-practicepsalms-day-atonement.
Hopkin, Shon D., and J. Arden Hopkin. “The Psalms Sung: The Power of Music in Sacred Worship.” The Psalms Sung. Approaching Holiness: Exploring the History and Teachings of the Old Testament https://rsc.byu.edu/approachingholiness/psalms-sung.
Lane, Jennifer C. “The Whole Meaning of the Law.” The Whole Meaning of the Law." (from Approaching Holiness listed above.)
Millet, Robert L. “Prophets and Priesthood in The Old Testament.” Prophets and Priesthood in the Old Testament . Accessed October 11, 2023. https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-oldtestament/prophets-priesthood-old-testament.
“Jesus Christ Is ‘the Express Image’ of Heavenly Father”
Margaret Barker, “The Lord is One,” BYU Studies 56, no. 1.
Craig J. Ostler, “The Divine Nature of Jesus Christ during Mortality,” in Jesus Christ: Son of God, Savior, ed. Paul H. Peterson, Gary L. Hatch, and Laura D. Card (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2002), 207–24.
Jeffrey R. Holland, “The Grandeur of God,” General Conference October 2003.
“Jesus Christ Suffered Temptation and Infirmities so that He Can Understand and Help Me”
Elder Bruce C. and Marie K. Hafen, “‘Fear Not I Am With Thee’: The Redeeming, Strengthening, and Perfect Blessings of Christ's Atonement,” Religious Educator 16, no.1 (2015): 10–31.
Gene R. Cook, “The Love of God: Suffering Tribulation in the Redeemer’s Name,” BYU Speeches February 2005.
Jeffrey R. Holland and Patricia T. Holland, “The Inconvenient Messiah,” BYU Speeches February 1982.
Bednar, David A. “‘In the Strength of the Lord.’” BYU Speeches, March 10, 2023. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/david-a-bednar/strength-lord/.
Melchizedek
Judd, Frank F. “Melchizedek.” Melchizedek . Accessed October 11, 2023. https://rsc.byu.edu/sperry-symposium-classics-old-testament/melchizedek.
Madsen, Ann N. Melchizedek at Qumran and Nag Hammadi. Accessed October 11, 2023. https://rsc.byu.edu/apocryphal-writings-latter-day-saints/melchizedek-qumran-nag-hammadi.
Harden Not Your Heart
Gaye Strathearn, “Let Us Therefore Come Boldly to the Throne of Grace,” BYU Women’s Conferences May 2014.
The Bible Project
BYU’s RSC
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