HELPS FROM HEBREWS
BIBLE STUDY TEXTBOOK
A NEW
Commentary
Workbook
Teaching Manual
DON EARL BOATMAN
President of
Ozark Bible College
Joplin, Missouri
Paraphrase by James MacKnight
Summary by T. R. Applebury
College Press, Joplin, Missouri
Copyright 1960
Don Earl Boatman
First PrintingJune 1960
Second PrintingMay 1963
Third PrintingDecember 1969
Fourth PrintingOctober 1974
Fifth PrintingOctober 1979
Sixth PrintingMay 1984
Drawings by Daniel DeWelt
after Horace Knowles
ISBN 0-89900-044-4
DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to my wife with affection, and with appreciation for her labors of love in typing my three college theses as she assisted me in furthering my education.
I likewise dedicate this book to my children, Dona and Roger, who of necessity were denied my attention in the hours which were required to prepare the notes which now form this book.
PREFACE
It is my sincere hope that Preaching and Teaching Helps from Hebrews will indeed be to many what the title suggests. The verse-by-verse commentary, given in outline form, should prove useful both in the classroom and in the pulpit. In addition to the exegetical analysis of the book of Hebrews, a great number of expository sermon outlines have been correlated into the comments.
Being very zealous for expository preaching, I have used this approach often in the classroom of Minnesota Bible College where I formerly taught, and more recently in Ozark Bible College.
With sincere gratitude the author wishes to express appreciation to many friends whose work helped to make this book possible.
The outline for the book of Hebrews was gleaned from Professor Victor Hoven's classroom lectures in Eugene Bible College.
It is an honor to have Professor Ralph Applebury contribute his chapter summaries.
Esther (Mrs. Daniel) Burris volunteered to type and mimeograph my notes making them available to my students while I was teaching several years ago in Minnesota Bible College.
Edeana White, a student in Ozark Bible College, prepared my class discussion questions, incorporating them into the manuscript.
Professor Don DeWelt recently urged me to make the notes available for this book, and with the assistance of Professor Woodrow Phillips planned for its production.
Marjorie (Mrs. Woodrow) Phillips did the proof reading, and has contributed much to the original manuscript with her ability to improve sentence structure.
I believe this book will prove to be very helpful to those who desire a practical application to life from the Word of God. Only one Book is inspired, and as I have prepared these notes I have sought diligently to teach and to write in full accord with the will of God as found in His Book.
Don Earl Boatman
INTRODUCTION
I do not believe there is a textbook in print, or an older one which may be reprinted, which deals with the book of Hebrews more adequately and accurately than this one.
In the first place, Don Earl Boatman, president of Ozark Bible College, believes that Godthrough His Holy Spiritis the ultimate author of Hebrews, and of all the Bible. Therefore, Helps from Hebrews is a labor of love, permeated by reverence and faith.
Following a rich educational preparation and several years of successful preaching ministry, the author became a Bible college teacher. Assigned the class in Hebrews, he approached it with the most thoroughgoing preparation possibleas he did all of his classes. Then, each year was made the occasion and opportunity for further research and prayerful meditation.
The present volume is the outgrowth of mimeographed class notes, which, in turn, were the outgrowth of this teaching experience. For several years, when I have had occasion to restudy some section of Hebrews, these class notes have had high priority among my reference materials. I have found them most helpful.
I anticipate for Helps from Hebrews an enthusiastic reception and a widespread and long continued use. It is sufficiently scholarly and complete to be highly acceptable as a college textbook. As do all of the College PressBible Study Textbook Club publications, it incorporates several features which make it especially valuable for such use.
The simplicity of the book, together with its thoughtful questions and other textbook techniques will make it quite practical for study groups in the local church.
Every preacher, elder, deacon, Bible School teacherin fact, every Bible studentwill want to give it a place among his easiest to reach and most frequently to be used reference and study volumes. And the fact that it is prepared with textbook use particularly in mind makes its factual content the more easily accessible, and adds to its suggestive and stimulative value.
Chester A. Williamson
GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS
1.
The people addressedThe letter to the Hebrews was evidently addressed to Jewish Christians who were in danger of apostatizing from Christ and returning to Judaism. They were subjected to persecution by their own race and treated as apostates and unclean because they had left Moses and accepted Christ.
2.
The purpose of the epistle.
a.
To exhibit the unsurpassed glory of the new covenant in contrast with the old.
b.
To exhort the Hebrew Christians to steadfastness in Christ. cf. Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 4:14; Hebrews 6:4-8; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 13:22.
3.
Authorship.
a.
Tradition of the church in the East, where the epistle was first received, is unanimous in ascribing authorship to the Apostle Paul, as did also the council of Carthage, 397 A.D., and Clement of Alexandria, 165 to 220 A.D.
4.
Internal evidence as to Paul's authorship.
a.
Figures of speech are similar to those used in his other letters. cf. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25; Galatians 2:2; Galatians 5:7; Philippians 3:13-14; 2 Timothy 4:7-8 with Hebrews 12:1-2.
b.
Paul's view of the law as expressed in his other letters is the same view expressed in Hebrews. cf. Acts 13:39; Romans 7:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:20-21; 2 Corinthians 3:6-13; Galatians 3:16 to Galatians 4:31; Ephesians 2:14-18; Colossians 2:13-17 with Hebrews 8:7 to Hebrews 10:18.
c.
The word mediator is used by Paul only. cf. Galatians 3:19-20; 1 Timothy 2:5 with Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 12:24
d.
Conditions in the life of Paul are true to those of the writer of the Hebrew letter.
1)
The writer was a prisoner in Italy. Hebrews 13:19-24.
2)
The writer was a friend of Timothy. Hebrews 13:23.
3)
The writer asks for prayers of brethren that he might be set free. Hebrews 13:18-19.
e.
The word covenant is found only seven times in the New Testament outside of Paul's writings. Paul uses it nine times in other writings. It is used seventeen times in Hebrews.
f.
No other writer invokes grace upon readers.
5.
Date.
Though much is said of the worship and sacrifice in the temple, there is an entire absence of any intimation that the temple had been destroyed. cf. Hebrews 8:4; Hebrews 10:11. Since the temple was destroyed in A.D. 70, the letter must have been written before that date. From Hebrews 13:24 it seems to have been written in Italy.
6.
Place (supposition).
According to the references in Hebrews 13:24 to the prayers, it must have been written during his first imprisonment from 61-63 A.D. in Rome, Italy.
ANALYSIS:
1.
The great proposition of this epistle is: The superiority of Christianity to Judaism is seen in its Founder and Mediator, Jesus Christ.
2.
The Book Has Three Divisions.
Part I.
The superiority of Christ as Founder of ChristianityHebrews 1:1 to Hebrews 4:13.
Part II.
The superiority of Christ as High PriestHebrews 4:14 to Hebrews 10:39.
Part III.
The nature, development and duties of faithHebrews 11:1 to Hebrews 13:25
3.
In this letter, Christ is shown to be superior to: Prophets Hebrews 1:1-3; Angels Hebrews 1:4 to Hebrews 2:18; Moses Hebrews 3:1 to Hebrews 4:13.
4.
Alexander Campbell's estimation of this letter and also of Romans:
The epistle to Romans and Hebrews contains the most comprehensive and complete exposition of all that enters into Christian faith and worship ever spoken or written.
QUESTIONS ON THE OUTLINE
I.
On the introduction.
1.
Is the epistle addressed to a specific area, or to a person?
2.
What nationality seems to be in the mind of the author?
3.
What can we judge their spiritual condition to be?
4.
What seems to be the purpose of the epistle?
5.
What bearing has tradition upon ascribing the authorship to Paul?
6.
What authorities ascribe Paul's authorship?
7.
Who else is suggested?
8.
V/hat is meant by internal evidence of authorship?
9.
What is the evidence of internal authorship in regard to figures of speech?
10.
If you feel that Paul wrote this letter, how do you explain Hebrews 2:3? (See my notes.)
11.
Do you feel that Paul's view of the law is a strong argument for authorship? Why?
12.
Explain the value of the argument from the word mediator.
13.
Are the conditions in the life of the author true to Paul? Name three.
14.
A prisoner in Italy is suggested as one condition. Could this be true of others?
15.
Could others have been a friend of Timothy?
16.
Do you feel that his prayer for deliverance to be with them carries much evidence?
17.
Was Paul primarily a missionary to the Jews, therefore making this a strong argument?
18.
Tell of the use of the word covenant in New Testament writings.
19.
What can be said of the date of the authorship?
20.
What is the evidence for the place where it was written?
21.
Do we have any other evidence from other epistles that Paul may have been the author?
22.
What does the salutation or benediction at the close indicate as to authorship?
II.
On the analysis.
1.
What seems to be the great proposition of the book?
2.
Is the entire book given over to this?
3.
If not, what is the nature of the balance of the book?
4.
Name the three divisions of the book.
a.
Superiority of Christ as the Founder of ChristianityHebrews 1:1 to Hebrews 4:13.
b.
Superiority of Christ as High PriestHebrews 4:14 to Hebrews 10:39.
c.
Nature, development and duties of faithHebrews 11:1 to Hebrews 13:25.
5.
According to this letter, to whom is Christ superior?
a.
ProphetsHebrews 1:1-3.
b.
AngelsHebrews 1:4 to Hebrews 2:18.
c.
MosesHebrews 3:1 to Hebrews 4:13.