Hebrews: The Superiority of Christ
A thorough, chapter-by-chapter exposition of the letter to the Hebrews - a sustained argument for Christ's absolute superiority over every aspect of the old covenant system: superior to angels, superior to Moses, superior as a high priest, mediator of a superior covenant, and offering a superior, once-for-all sacrifice. This course walks through all thirteen chapters in genuine depth, including the letter's five urgent warning passages and its climactic call to persevering faith in chapter 11.
Learning Objectives
- Trace the author's sustained argument for Christ's superiority across all thirteen chapters of Hebrews
- Understand Christ's superiority to angels, to Moses, and to the Levitical priesthood
- Understand the meaning and significance of the new covenant established through Christ
- Understand Christ's once-for-all sacrifice in contrast to the old covenant's repeated animal sacrifices
- Identify and understand the letter's five major warning passages
- Apply the letter's climactic call to persevering faith, especially chapter 11's roll call of the faithful
Syllabus
Overview
This course walks through the entire letter to the Hebrews, chapter by chapter, tracing its sustained argument for Christ's absolute superiority over angels, Moses, the Levitical priesthood, and the old covenant sacrificial system, alongside the letter's five urgent warning passages and its climactic call to persevering faith.
Reading Plan
Week 1: Introduction to Hebrews. Weeks 2-14: Hebrews chapters 1 through 13, one chapter per week. Week 15: Concluding synthesis of the whole letter.
Required Materials
A personal Bible in one of the following standard translations: ESV, NIV, NASB 1995, CSB, LSB, or NLT; a notebook for tracing the author's argument chapter by chapter.
Grading & Completion
Assessment focuses on engagement with the text of Hebrews itself and demonstration of comprehension. Students complete weekly reading assignments and a short weekly quiz covering that week's chapter. A final exam covering the entire letter is available once every week has been passed.
Course Outcomes
- Upon completion, students will be able to explain Hebrews' argument chapter by chapter, in its own logical sequence
- Upon completion, students will be able to articulate Christ's superiority to angels, Moses, and the Levitical priesthood with biblical precision
- Upon completion, students will be able to explain the new covenant's relationship to the old covenant it fulfills and replaces
- Upon completion, students will be able to identify each of the letter's five warning passages and their pastoral purpose
Weekly Lessons
- Wk 1 Introduction to Hebrews
- Wk 2 Hebrews 1: God's Final Word, Superior to Angels
- Wk 3 Hebrews 2: The First Warning, and Why the Son Became Fully Human
- Wk 4 Hebrews 3: Superior to Moses, and a Warning Against Hardened Hearts
- Wk 5 Hebrews 4: Entering God's Rest, the Living Word, and Our Sympathetic High Priest
- Wk 6 Hebrews 5: Christ's Qualification as High Priest, and a Warning About Spiritual Immaturity
- Wk 7 Hebrews 6: The Danger of Falling Away, and God's Unbreakable Promise
- Wk 8 Hebrews 7: Melchizedek and Christ's Superior, Permanent Priesthood
- Wk 9 Hebrews 8: A Better Covenant, Founded on Better Promises
- Wk 10 Hebrews 9: The Earthly Sanctuary and Christ's Once-for-All Sacrifice
- Wk 11 Hebrews 10: One Sacrifice Forever, and the Fourth Warning
- Wk 12 Hebrews 11: The Great Hall of Faith
- Wk 13 Hebrews 12: Running the Race, God's Discipline, and the Fifth Warning
- Wk 14 Hebrews 13: Practical Instructions and the Closing Benediction
- Wk 15 Concluding Synthesis: Christ, Genuinely and Comprehensively Better
Midterm & Final Exams
Final Exam: Final Quiz 45 ptsThe Final Exam stays locked until every week above is passed.