13 Studies in the Book of Hebrews

Here are 13 studies in the biblical book of Hebrews. I wrote these for my own small group Bible study. You’re welcome to copy them and use them however you like. I had troubles converting the numbered lists into WordPress. Please free free to fix them!  If you can keep my name attached to the studies I’d appreciate that.

Introduction to Hebrews by Tim Stafford

Hebrews offers several unique difficulties.

First, it takes up issues felt by first-century Jews—and not by modern people—such as the importance of Temple rituals and the relations between the Messiah and angels.

Second, it refers a lot to the Old Testament, sometimes to passages that are (to us at least) fairly obscure.

Third, it jumps through a series of quite different issues, and it’s not always obvious where the argument is going or how it holds together.

Nevetheless, Hebrews is a carefully argued book, which we can make sense of. In doing so, we are not trying to become merely skilled and sophisticated Bible readers. Hebrews’ aim is not so much theological as pastoral. The author’s concern is less about how we understand the relationship of the Old and New Covenants (though he is certainly interested in that) than in how weary we feel. He is concerned that the initial thrill of faith has faded, that it’s tempting to lapse back into the familiar and the comfortable, that Christians might just fade away.

Are you tired? Do you know people who are tired? Is the thrill gone? Hebrews is meant for you.

Study #1: A Hymn to the Messiah

Read Hebrews 1:1-2:4

1. Hebrews launches with a brief summary statement about the Son of God. What does it assert is his nature? (verse 3)
2. Looking at verses 1-4, list what the Son has done, is doing, or will do.   How would you explain each of these brief statements?
3. Look up the source of both quotations in verse 5, Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:4. Both have to do with the reign of Israel’s King, that is, the Messiah, or Anointed One. What is Hebrews’ point contrasting angels and the Messiah?
4. After two references in verses 6,7 contrasting the angels’ role with the Messiah’s, Hebrews cites (verse 8,9) another Messianic psalm, 45. Read that. In a poem to the king, the psalmist refers to him as God, and describes his eternal reign. What qualities is that reign to be known for? Since Israel’s kings never lived up to this exalted image, what is Hebrews’ point?
5. Verses 10-12 introduce verses from yet another psalm, 102:25-27. What does this passage compare and contrast? What does this say about the Messiah’s reign? Where do our lives fit in?
6. Verse 13 concludes this list of citations with another famous messianic psalm, 110, which Hebrews will refer to several more times. Read it. What picture do you get of the Messiah here?
7. 2:1-4 sums up the point of the preceding. What are we to do? What are we to avoid?
8. What does paying attention look like? What does drifting away look like?
9. The message “spoken by angels” (2:1) refers to the covenant of the Law, delivered at Mt. Sinai.  This reminds any Jew of a spellbinding, awesome and unforgettable event through which everlasting blessing was offered to Israel. What has topped it?

10. This salvation, announced by Jesus and confirmed by the apostles (2:3)—what other reasons do we have for believing it? (2:4)

 

Study #2: The Messiah Suffering with Us

Read Hebrews 2:5-18

Superficially, our first study was dedicated to establishing Jesus’ superiority to angels. Well, who really cares? The greater context was our salvation, however—a message that we are warned to pay close attention to. (2:1-3) Angels serve this salvation, but God’s Son, the Messiah, is its glorious King.

This next section puts us—human beings, not angels—into play. It develops our salvation from the King in a surprising way.

1. Psalm 8, quoted in Hebrews 2:6-8, considers the place of humanity in the creation. What is it?
2. What conundrum does verse 8 raise?
3. “But we see Jesus….” (verse 9) What do we see, and how does it affect our view of humanity’s place?
4. What experiences, according to verse 9, enabled Jesus to attain his glory and honor?
5. What, according to verse 10, is God’s intention for us in this process?
6. What does it mean to say that the “author of salvation” was made perfect (or complete)? What was previously lacking?
7. How did suffering complete Jesus?
8. The verse quoted in 2:12 comes from Psalm 22:22. Please read that psalm from the beginning. What is the context for “I will declare your name to my brothers?”
9. Hebrews next quotes from Isaiah 8:17,18. What is the context for trusting God, along with “the children God has given me?”

10. What does it mean that God has hidden his face from Israel? How can the Isaiah text be seen as applying to Jesus?

11. What do we get out of this, according to 2:14-18?

12.  Verse 2:17 introduces the idea of the Messiah as a merciful and faithful high priest. What qualifications would suggest the idea of priesthood?

13. What would this idea of priesthood offer to us?

14. Given this section, how would you describe “the great salvation” that we are supposed to pay close attention to?

 

Study # 3: Looking Forward, Not Back

The Israelites had their heroes. They revered Moses as the Lawgiver, who (in company with God) set all the foundations of their nation. And the first generation, who came from Egypt, were like the Pilgrims. You wanted to trace your ancestry to them, to show you were a True Jew.

Such attitudes, this chapter suggests, aren’t all bad, but since they look back, not forward, they don’t make a firm base for living as Christians. We are meant to press forward, not back! It’s the future we’re proud of, more than our heritage.

Read Hebrews 3:1-6

1. Verse one addresses us as “holy people, who share in the heavenly calling.” What kind of people are those?
2. In the same verse, we are called to “fix our thoughts on Jesus….whom we confess.” How do you fix your thoughts on him? What does it mean to confess him?
3. The word “house” has a triple meaning. It is a dwelling place, a Temple (a god’s dwelling place), and a family line. All three senses appear in this section. What is the fundamental difference between Moses and Jesus in their “faithfulness” to God’s house?
4. If “we are God’s house” (verse 6) what is our relationship to Moses and to Jesus?

 

Read Hebrews 3:7-19

5. What would you say is the overall point of this section?
6. Verses 7-11 quote from Psalm 95, which is itself a commentary on the history told in Exodus 17:1-7. What happened there, what was its significance for that generation of Israelites, and why is it an important lesson for the readers of Hebrews?
7. “Rest” is a tricky word that can be translated as “rule.” Kings and gods, after they have defeated their enemies, sit down on their thrones, at rest, to rule their realm. Thus the first generation of Israel could not enter the Promised Land, where God intended to enact his loving rule. Why?
8. How are we not to imitate them, according to verse 12?
9. Why is belief so important? What does Hebrews mean by belief and unbelief?
10. What are we meant to do for each other? How does this keep us from being hardened?
11. What is sin’s deceitfulness? How does it harden?
12. Verse 14 says we have come to “share in Christ” if we carry on in faith all through our lives. How is this different from “sharing in the heavenly calling?” (verse 1) Why does it require carrying on?
13. Verses 16-17 remind readers that the wonderful first generation actually failed miserably. Why is it important to be reminded of this?
14. Who do you know who has failed miserably? How does their performance affect you?
15. How should we practice looking forward, not back?

 

Study #4: The Place of Rest

So far, Hebrews has been adding elements, one on top of another, about the greatness of Jesus the Messiah and his gospel. First we learned that he is far above the angels, then that he shared our human suffering as he led the way to glory, and again that he is worthy of more honor than Moses because he is a son, not a servant.

At the same time, certain other elements keep resurfacing. The chief concern is: don’t drift, focus! Hebrews keeps coming back to that. I’d add four other elements that fit into the larger scheme and keep getting repeated:

A)   God’s Word. Read 1:2; 2:3-4; 3:5; 4:12. What is the basic thought?

B)   God’s Rule. Read 1:13; 2:5-9; 4:3b. What is our place in this rule?

C)   Our Obedience. Read 2:1; 3:19; 4:2. What does obedience look like?

D)   Our Atonement. Read 1:3b; 2:9; 2:17. Why is atonement necessary?

Read Hebrews 4:1-16

1. “Rest” is cited from three different contexts: the creation of the heavens and the earth, the Exodus, and a warning (attributed to David) from Psalm 95. What do you learn about it from the Genesis context? (4:3-5)
2. From the Exodus, it might seem that “rest” equals the Promised Land. How does Psalm 95 show that this is incorrect? (See Hebrews 4:8, particularly.)
3. What, then, is “rest?” Is it a psychological state, a place, or a condition?
4. How does one enter this rest? Is it a destination you can arrive at in this life?
5. How would you compare the idea of “rest” with Jesus’ preaching about the kingdom of God?
6. Why does the author immediately go on to describe the power of the word of God? (4:12-13) What does this have to do with entering the rest?
7. What does “a great high priest” (4:14-16) add to this picture?
8. Overall, what kind of portrait of the Christian life is Hebrews giving us so far? Do you find it inspiring, or depressing? Why?

 

Study #5: Why We Need a High Priest

Once before Hebrews mentioned Jesus as our great High Priest (2:17). Now we turn to his priesthood for most of the next five chapters. Obviously, the author of Hebrews thinks Jesus’ priesthood is important for us to understand, but it’s not familiar territory, especially for those of us raised Protestant.

This first section seems to come in response to a section on the biting, probing nature of the Word of God. For going through such an examination, we need priestly help!

Read Hebrews 4:14-5:10

1. According to 5:1-2, what does a high priest do? What problems in human life does he address?
2. 4:14 says that our great high priest has “gone through the heavens.” What does this mean? (Read 2 Cor 12:2 and 1 Kings 8:27 to gain some idea how ancient Israelites thought about the structure of the heavens.)
3. What does the image of the “throne of grace” (4:16) suggest to you? How does this fit with Jesus’ having “gone through the heavens?”
4. In summary, where is Jesus now? What is he doing?
5. What life experiences does Jesus have to make him a super-effective High Priest? (See 4:15, 5:2, 5:7-8.)
6. What does it mean that he “learned obedience” and was “made perfect?” If he was the Son of God, why did he need to learn and grow?
7. N.T. Wright compares this to a friend of his who took over the family business but who learned it from the bottom up. Why is that kind of learning important for a boss? Why was it necessary for Jesus?
8. Hebrews makes the point that Jesus did not appoint himself, but was named Messiah and priest by God himself. (5:5-6) What would be the implications of this for Jewish Christians working out their new relation to the Temple?
9. In summary, what kind of high priest is Jesus? Why do we need him?

 

Study #6: What It Takes to Persist

Having introduced the name of Melchizedek in 5:6 and 5:10, Hebrews takes a sudden off-road excursion. We’ll get back to Melky in 7:1, but this section gets us ready. It’s also a return to a familiar theme in Hebrews.

Read Hebrews 5:11 to 6:12.

1. What would you say is the main point of this section?
2. See how many metaphors you can find for our process of growing. (I count five, but I might have missed some.)
3. The author is obviously concerned with something. What do you think it is?
4. What does he want the Hebrews to do and not to do?
5. Thinking of your own experiences, what causes people to get stuck in their faith journey? Why do they drift away?
6. Christians differ as to whether 6:4-6 is talking about transformed believers who lose their faith, or people who have been in and around the church but never really committed themselves. The author says in 6:9 he doesn’t believe his description applies to his readers. What then is the point in saying it? Do we need this kind of warning to be verbalized today?
7. Verse 6:12 peeks ahead to the famous chapter 11. What raw material do we need in order to follow this prescription?

Read Hebrews 6:13-20.

8. What was Abraham’s promise, and how does it apply to us?

9. What is the big deal about God taking an oath?

10. What was God’s intention in doing so?

11. Verses 19-20 may set the biblical record for mixed metaphors. Can you make sense of it?

12. What is the role of hope in our lives, according to this metaphor?

13. What is the basis of our hope?

14. How does hope link us to Jesus?

15. And how does hope help us to persist in growing?

 

Study #7: The Permanent Priesthood of Jesus (from Lesley Van Dordrecht)

For a man who has only a small reference in Genesis, Melchizedek has a prominent place in Hebrews, shedding light on the priesthood of Jesus.

Read Hebrews 7:1-10

1. What do we learn about Melchizedek in this passage? ( See also Genesis 14)
2. Levi, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, was the beginning of the priestly tribe of Israel. How does 7:4-10 make the case that Melchizedek’s priesthood is superior to Levi’s?
3. How are Melchizedek and Jesus similar in these verses?
4. Being both priest and king, Melchizedek presages the view of the Messiah from Psalm 110. In what different ways or areas of your life do you gain assurance knowing that Jesus is king, but is also our high priest?

 

Read Hebrews 7:11-19

5. What further contrasts are outlined in 7:11-19 between Jesus’ priesthood and the priesthood of Levi and his descendent Aaron?

6. The word “perfection” in 11 & 19 can also be translated as  “completeness.” It is when everything has been put into place for the final great purpose to be achieved. What is this great purpose in verses11-19?

7. What was the purpose of the “old” religious system, and what makes the new system in Jesus better?

8. What examples have you seen of God, through the new system in Jesus, which bring this world to completion?

Read Hebrews 7:20-28

9. What does Jesus’ superiority to other priests mean for our salvation?

10. Some Christians face the danger of forgetting just how central and vital Jesus himself was and is to every aspect of Christian faith. How do we tend to forget the centrality of Jesus?

Response

This chapter of Hebrews should bring us to a place of gratitude and hope after we truly grasp the work of Jesus in His death and resurrection. In what ways can we express our gratitude this week?

 

Study #8: Good, Better and Best

We’re nearing the home stretch of Hebrews. So far we have followed a carefully chosen twisting path. We began with Jesus the Messiah–higher and more honorable than servant angels, worthy of worship. He is the first true human being, nominated to lead the way in ruling over all creation. We are on a journey, like Israel was, toward God’s rest, where his kingdom reigns, and we must press on in faith toward that goal. Jesus is our true High Priest, a new kind of high priest hinted at in the OT references to Melchizedek.

We’re beginning to put these pieces together in one coherent picture.

Read Hebrews 8

1. What, according to 8:1, is the main point of what the author is saying?
2. What would this “main point” mean to 1st century Jews? What does it mean to us?
3. Verse 5 says the Temple is a “copy and shadow” of the “sanctuary in heaven.” (Unlike Plato’s ideal world, heaven is a real place where people can live–Jesus already does.) What is the point of this contrast?
4. Tom Wright says there are three great contrasts in this passage: between the OT priests and Jesus our great high priest, between the Temple and the sanctuary in heaven, and between the old covenant and the new. Each one is a contrast between the good and the best. Which one means the most to you?
5. How does Hebrews describe the difference between the old covenant and the new? (verses 10-12)
6. The images of “high priest” and “sanctuary” fit together rather easily. How do they fit with the new covenant–with the Law etched on the heart, and a personal relationship with God?
7. Can you combine these three “bests” with the meaning of entering God’s rest?
8. Verse 13 says that the old covenant has become obsolete. What are the implications for 1st-century Jews? How would they feel about it? What kind of encouragement would they need?
9. Do we have anything comparable to the old covenant to hold us back from embracing the new? How does this 1st century message apply to us?

 

Study #9:  The Temple Parable

In commenting on this passage, Tom Wright compares the Temple to the temporary road system Boston endured for years while preparing for the Big Dig. It was an important and carefully built-out system, but it wasn’t meant to go on forever. It prepared for something better. Once the tunnels under Boston Harbor opened, there was no need for it any more.

Read Hebrews 9:1-10

1. This passage gives considerable detail about the tabernacle, claiming the tabernacle as a visual parable of intimacy with God. Who could go into the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place?
2. To understand what was so important about the Most Holy Place, read Exodus 25:17-22; Leviticus 16:2; and Numbers 7:89. Regarding the atonement cover read Leviticus 17:14. What does the Most Holy Place represent?
3. If only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place, what does this say about the inadequacies of the Old System?

Read Hebrews 9:11-15

4. Where does Christ the new High Priest go with his sacrificial offering? What is the sacrificial offering? What is its effect?

5. It’s possible that we are so familiar with the message that we overlook the shocker: human sacrifice is necessary.  And the High Priest is the sacrifice. What does this say to you?

6. What is “the promised eternal inheritance?” (9:15)

Read Hebrews 9:16-28

7. Verse 16 plays on the commonality of “covenant” and “will,” which are the same word in Greek.  Who are the beneficiaries of the will/covenant in the Old System, and how do they benefit? Who benefits in the New System, and how?

8. We’ve seen that the New Covenant means that God’s law is written on our hearts. How does that follow from Jesus’ going into the real Most Holy Place with a sacrifice for sins?

9. How does Jesus appear “for us?” (9:24) See 7:25; 1 John 2:1.

10. What is the impact of the fact that Jesus does his sacrifice just once? How does this impact the life of the Jewish Christians who first read this letter?

11. What does Hebrews mean by “the end of the ages?” (verse 26)

12. If Jesus has forgiven sins once and for all, what are we waiting for? (verse 28)

 

Study #10: Come to the Party

In chapter 10 the long crescendo of Hebrews begins to gather together, picking us up and carrying us forward into … life in God.

Read Hebrews 10:1-18

1. “The law is a shadow,” goes with “the tabernacle is a copy”… both having to do with what is less than full reality. The difference isn’t between physical and spiritual, or real and ideal, it’s between the present system and the coming-into-being system. (Both the temple sacrifice and Jesus’ sacrifice are bloody and fully physical). What picture do you get of the psycho-spiritual state of worshipers in the old system, versus that of the new system? (vv. 1-4)
2. Do people experience those old and new states today? How?
3. Verses 5-10 say that the law (which was never God’s desire) is supplanted by “doing your will.” Isn’t the law God’s will? What point is intended here?
4. “Sit down” (verse 12) is what you do when you are done working and at rest. (Remember “enter God’s rest?”) What does this say about Jesus, and why does it matter?
5. What is the fate of the Temple? (verse 18)

Read Hebrews 10:19-25

6. Finally! We are invited in. What qualifications do we need as we “draw near” and enter the Most Holy Place?

7. How does the author go from the individual “drawing near to God” and the emphasis on church? (verse 25) What does church have to do with it?

8. For people being persecuted, attending church is making yourself a visible target. Is there anything comparable in our environment that might deter people from attending church?

Read Hebrews 10:26-31

 9. Tom Wright notes that the Old Testament sacrifices were explicitly meant to cleanse from accidental or unavoidable sin. Intentional sin was always subject to stern punishment. This section also seems to warn against blatant, deliberate sinful rejection of the gospel. Since we hardly ever talk about God’s judgment, it’s uncomfortable. What do you think of God’s judgment? How does it shape your understanding of what’s being offered here in Hebrews 10?

Read Hebrews 10:32-39

10. How would you describe the Hebrews’ experience of faith in Christ? Why should they remember it?

11. Do you have any experiences comparable to these that you need to remember?

12. In urging the Hebrews to persevere, what does the author offer in the way of encouragement and motivation?

 

Study # 11: The Punch Line           

Read Hebrews 11

1. Hebrews begins with a definition of faith and goes on to give practical examples. By the formal definition, faith involves certainty about things yet to come, things now invisible.  Given the ten chapters leading up to this, what things do you think the author has in mind?
2. How can you be sure of such things? How do you acquire faith? How do you maintain it?
3. What, if anything, does verse 3 say about Christian debates regarding creation and evolution?
4. Hebrews emphasizes that a lifetime of faith often fails to see its goal completed. (11:13, 39) Knowing this, what does a lifetime of faith really look like? Why is this important to understand?
5. Verse 6 makes another general statement about faith. How is faith necessary to a relationship with God? How do you acquire it? How do you maintain it?
6. What is the nature of people of faith, according to verse 13?
7. Surveying the many people mentioned in verses 4-31, with whom do you most identify?
8. Are there any examples of faith that leave you puzzled? If so, explain why and let’s discuss.
9. . Given verses 32-38, would you say that faith conquers all? Why or why not?

10. In most ways, we are just like these people of faith. How are we special? (verse 40).

11. In what way is this chapter the climax of Hebrews? Do you see it relating closely to the long argument that went before? How?

12. What response are we meant to give to this climactic speech?

 

Study # 12: Invisible Realities

Read Hebrews 12:1-13

In Hebrews 11, we summoned up Israelite history in the stories of men and women of faith. Suddenly, here, they are not examples from the past. They are living witnesses, all around us. We perform in their presence.

1. This passage begins with the metaphor of a long-distance race. What are the lessons you take from this image?
2. When we focus on Jesus, the first runner of this race, what kind of difficulties do we see that he endured?
3. Comparatively, what have the Hebrews gone through?
4. Beginning at verse 5, the author interprets those difficulties as parental discipline, with God as the parent. Does that mean God is behind everything that is hard on us? Why or why not?
5. Practically speaking, what do verses 12 and 13 mean we should do in the face of adversity?

Read Hebrews 12:14 17

6. Why do you think he singles out Esau as an example to be specially avoided? What makes hapless Esau’s mistake so especially dreadful?

7. It’s easy to apply Esau’s undisciplined, appetite-driven approach to our sensual culture. Do you think it also applies to the ethos of the contemporary church? If so, how?

Read Hebrews 12:18-29

8. Regarding the destination described in verses 18-21, have you experienced religion like this? What made it so dark and fearsome?
9. What about the destination described in verses 22-24? Which of the descriptive terms speaks to you?
10. What does the blood of Abel say? (verse 24) What does Jesus’ sprinkled blood say?
11. Who speaks that word, that we are not to refuse? (verse 25) What would refusal look like? What would acceptance look like?
12. Much of Hebrews is dedicated to explaining a great transition that has taken place with the coming of Jesus. What great transition is still to take place? (verses 26-29) What will happen? How will it affect us?
13.  What are we supposed to do in response?

 

 

Study #13: The New Church

This final, concluding chapter begins by touching on some basics of the new Christian life. Then it turns to a sketch of the new church, suggesting what the result of Hebrews’ grand theological thesis will look like worked out on the ground.

Read Hebrews 13:1-6

1. Verses 1-3 begin with a general statement about love, then mention specific types of people to love. Why do strangers, prisoners, and those mistreated need special mention?
2. What does verse 3 suggest about the kind of persecution the Hebrews experienced?
3. Verses 4-6 go on to warn against two specific temptations: adultery and greed. Why these?
4. How do the Old Testament verses quoted work against these temptations?

Read Hebrews 13:7-17

5. This passage begins and ends with support for the church’s leaders, and verse 7 particularly urges the Hebrews to ponder and to imitate their faith. Compared to the great heroes of chapter 11, what do these leaders have to offer?

6. Do you feel you live up to these admonitions with your own church leaders? Why or why not?

7. Verse 9 suggests what foundation a church should build on, and what foundations not to build on. What are they, and what do they look like in action?

8. Verses 10-14 propose Christianity as an outsider religion. What makes it so?

9. What is our status in this world? Do we belong? Does Jesus?

10. How does this outsider status affect our interactions in the here and now?

11. In this new religion of Christianity, what sacrifices should be made?

Read Hebrews 13:18-25

12. Only in these final verses do we see the author as a real person who knows the Hebrews personally. What do you learn about their relationship?

13. Verses 20-21 are famous as a benediction. What does it say about God? What does it say about us?

Life of Abraham Bible Study Guide

I write questions for my home Bible study group, and I post these just in case someone else can make use of them. Feel free to copy and use as you’d like. This 8-week series is on the life of Abraham.

Life of Abraham

Study Questions by Tim Stafford

Study 1

Read  chapters 12 to 14.

Chapter 12 of Genesis represents an abrupt break. Up until this point, Genesis has been preoccupied with global issues, most of them heartbreaking. God made the world very good, but in no time violence and evil take over. God’s responses are mainly punitive—a massive flood, a breakdown in language. There seems to be no hope of redeeming his beautiful creation. But here,  God narrows his focus to one solitary individual. The world is forgotten. Abraham and God occupy the stage.

1. 12:1-3 What does God ask of Abram?

2. What does God promise to Abram?

3. 12:10-20 Is this a story about what a coward Abram is, or what a lucky duck he is?

4. Chapter 13 Why did Abram and Lot separate? What motivated Abram, and what motivated Lot?

5. How did God respond?

6. 13:18 Living out in the desert, Abram’s only “buildings” were tents and altars. Reflect on the different purpose and permanence of the two.

7. How often did Abram encounter God, and in what ways? (12:1, 7, 8, 17; 13:4, 14, 18; 14:19, 22) What did he know about God?

8. Chapter 14 What do you learn about Abram’s situation from the details of this chapter? Why does he fight?

9. 14:17-24 Why does Abraham honor Melchizedek, who offers bread and wine and a blessing, while refusing to take anything from the king of Sodom?

10. Note the contrast between Abram’s getting rich from the Egyptians (12:16, 20; 13:2) and his refusal to get rich courtesy of Sodom. What is the difference?

11. What would you say is the main drive of Abram’s life in these chapters? How does it relate to God’s promise in 12:1-3? Do you see any signs of growth?

Study 2

Read Genesis 15

1.     What is the content of Abraham’s vision in 15:1? What is he to do? What does God promise to do?

2.     Suppose you had such a vision. How do you think you would respond? (Or, if you have had such a vision, how did you respond?)

3.     How does Abraham respond? Is his response admirable? Why or why not?

4.     How does God answer his complaint?

5.     What does verse 6 mean in context? Why is it quoted in the New Testament?

6.     How does verse 7 follow? Why doesn’t Abraham believe?

7.     How does God respond to Abraham’s doubts?

8.     How do you read verse 16?

9.     What do you learn from this chapter about Abraham’s social location?

10. To what degree and in what way did God answer Abraham’s doubts?

11. What about us? What promises do we find hard to believe?

12. How does God answer our doubts?

Study 3

Read Genesis 16

1.     What are Sarai’s goals and priorities? What kind of outcome do you think she is looking for when she proposes that Abram sleep with Hagar?

2.     What kind of person do you think Sarai is?

3.     What are Abraham’s goals and priorities?

4.     Would you say Abraham is weak? Why or why not?

5.     What is Hagar’s social situation?

6.     Why did she despise Sarai after getting pregnant?

7.     Why does Sarai hold Abraham responsible?

8.     Does Abraham take responsibility? If not, why not?

9.     What is the underlying purpose in the question the angel poses to Hagar? (v. 8)

10. How would you describe Hagar’s answer?

11. How does the angel respond to her? Do you think this is helpful to her, or punitive?

12. What is the significance of Hagar giving God a name? What has happened to her?

13. What do you think of this name? What did it mean to Hagar? How does it speak to you?

14. If an angel asked you the question he asked Hagar, how would you answer?

Study 4

Read Genesis 17

This chapter carries on from chapter 15. There God made specific promises in terms of land and offspring, and these promises were ratified in a strange religious ceremony/experience. Chapter 16 reads like an interlude, in which we see the characters of Abram, Sarai, and Hagar as they attempt to work out their own salvation and (more or less without looking for him) discover God’s character. In chapter 17 we return to God’s promises and God appears to Abram again—at least 14 years after the last time.

1.     How do you imagine God’s appearance to Abram? Why did Abram fall on his face?

2.     Verses 1-8 include many promises to Abram. Which ones repeat something

3.     God has said before? Which ones offer something new?

4.     What is the overall significance of listing these “benefits?”

5.     Verses 9-14 turn to Abraham’s response. In Chapter 15 he was only to believe and to participate in the ceremony. Now we see that more is required. Of all the things that God could demand of Abraham, why circumcision?

6.     Why do you think God chose a sign that applied to men only?

7.     Why were slaves included?

8.     Why circumcise at eight days, when the more common practice is to circumcise at puberty as part of a coming of age ritual?

9.     Why no moral demands? What is circumcision that the Ten Commandments is not?

10. Regarding verses 15-16, why does God want to bless Sarah? What has she done to deserve this?

11. Verse 18 records Abraham’s only words in this chapter. What do they say about him?

12. How does God respond to Abraham’s laughter and his question? What do you learn about God and his plans?

13. Why do you think Isaac got his name? Who is laughing?

14. How do you imagine the scene in verses 23-27? What do you learn about Abraham?

15. If you were one of the slaves who got circumcised that day, what would you think?

16. When you think of your own life plans and the way God treats you, what does this chapter say to you?

Study 5

Read Genesis 18-19

Until now we have seen very little deep evil in Abraham’s world. We saw Abraham’s cowardly behavior in Egypt, the violent raid against Lot (and the rescue operation), and Sarai and Hagar’s battle for privilege. These show plenty of evidence of human weakness, but the evils seem petty (though they can do great harm). In fact, there seems to be a paired weakness in the story. Abraham, the man chosen for the world’s redemption, seems too puny for the task; but the world also doesn’t seem to be dying for redemption.  Its sins hardly seem worth God’s worrying about.

In these chapters, we begin to get a larger portrait of good and evil.

Regarding Abraham:

1.     Why do you think so much is made of his hospitality to the three strangers? (18:1-8)

2.     In explaining his relationship to Abraham (18:16-19), what does God emphasize?  What does he intend to do for Abraham, and what does he want from him? And what does this have to do with whether he should tell Abraham about Sodom?

3.     What does Abraham’s dialogue with God (18:20-33) reveal about Abraham? About God? About their relationship?

4.     Why does the author of Genesis include the brief vignette in 19:27-28?

Regarding Sarah:

5.  Why did the Lord ask Abraham where his wife Sarah was? (18:9)

6.  Everything God tells Sarah in 18:9-15 closely parallels what God had recently told Abraham in 17:15-22. Do you think Abraham had not told Sarah, or had she failed to believe what he told her? What is God’s purpose in coming back to share the same information again?

7.  What is the point of the laughter in both these accounts?

Regarding Sodom:

8.  Why did Lot insist so strenuously on bringing the visitors home? (19:1-3) What does he know about Sodom?

9.  Based on this passage, what do you think the “sin of Sodom” was?

10.  Can a city really be so bad that it lacks even ten decent people?

Regarding Lot:

11. As a man sitting in the city’s gate, Lot appears to be a prominent citizen of the town. His going out to face the mob (verse 6) suggests either that he had courage or that he thought people wouldn’t attack him personally. Considering verse 9, what do you think was the true state of his relationship?

12. What does his offer of his daughters (verse 8) tell you about Lot?

13. Why do his sons-in-law think he is joking? (verse 14) What does this suggest about Lot?

14. Overall, what idea do you get of Lot? Why the epilogue in verses 30-38?

Regarding the world:

15. What sense do you get from this passage of the wickedness of the world? Is it widespread?

16. What is God doing about the wickedness of the world, and what kind of instruments does he have at his disposal?

Study 6

Read Genesis 20, 21

1. These two chapters begin and end with Abraham and Sarah’s interactions with Abimelech. What do we learn about Abraham’s social situation? What problems does he face? What assets does he bring?

2. Twice in the last year (17:21; 18:10) God has told Abraham and Sarah that they will have a son within the year. Given that this is the long-awaited fulfillment of God’s promise, why would Abraham move into Abimelech’s territory and tell him that Sarah was his sister (20:2), practically inviting him to take her for a wife?

3. What picture do you get of Abimelech from his dream dialogue with God? (Verses 3-7)

4. What three questions does Abimilech demand of Abraham? (verses 9,10) What do they tell us about Abimelech?

5. What three answers does Abraham give? (verses 11-13)  Do any of them stand up?

6. What picture do you get of Abraham from his dialogue with Abimelech?

7. At the time Isaac was weaned (verse 8) he was perhaps about three and Ishmael would have been in his mid-teens. What would cause Ishmael to make fun of Isaac?

8. Why would it bother Sarah so?

9. Why did Abraham let Ishmael go? Is this an act of faith or an act of weakness? What makes you think so?

10. Verse 20 asserts that God was with Ishmael as he grew up. In what way? What is the difference between Isaac’s place before God and Ishmael’s?

11. Perhaps fifteen years before, Hagar had run off into the wilderness, and God had sent her back. Why do you think God is now content for her to leave?

12. When Abimelech and Abraham meet again (verse 22 and following) Abimelech asks Abraham to swear to keep the peace, Abraham lodges a complaint, and the two men end up signing a treaty. Why is all this necessary and important? What does it say about Abraham’s position in society?

13. If you had wandered into Abraham’s camp and heard of these events, where do you think you would have seen God at work? How visible was God’s activity? What were the telltale signs?

14. How about today? Is God’s work visible? What are the telltale signs?

Study 7

Read Genesis 22

People have been staring into this text for thousands of years. It’s really pretty simple, and yet we keep staring. It’s worth taking time to soak in the details and so follow Abraham’s experience closely. Then we need to ask: what does this say about Abraham, what does it say about God, and what does it say to us?

1.     In verse one, why does God call Abraham’s name? Why does Abraham respond “here I am”?  Why is this verse necessary? (Notice that the same call and response is repeated in verse 11.)

2.     In verse 2 God says to take “your only son, Isaac, whom you love.” Actually, Abraham had another son, whom he also loved. Why does God say this?

3.     Abraham obeys first thing in the morning. How quickly would you have responded?

4.     One feature of this story is that God takes Abraham to a new place of sacrifice, even though Abraham had already built altars to him in several  other locations. Why do you think this new place is indicated?

5.     In verse 8, do you think Abraham is hoping for some kind of divine alternative to sacrificing Isaac?

6.     “Now I know,” God says in verse 12. What does he know? How does he know it? What difference does it make?

7.     The mountain place is called “The Lord Will Provide,” according to verse 14, and it quotes a significant saying relating to the Temple Mount. (“On the mountain of the Lord” ) What is the deeper meaning of this saying? How does it apply to us?

8.     In verse 15 God takes an oath, on the basis of Abraham’s obedience. Is there anything new in what he promises?

9.     What do you think God is doing in this whole scene? Is he testing Abraham for his own benefit, or for Abraham’s?

10. Think about what we have seen of Abraham so far. Is there anything new revealed about him here? What do we learn?

11. What do we learn about God? Is something new revealed?

12. Does God test you? If so, how? Why do you think he does it?

13. Do you think this chapter shows God in the way he typically relates to his chosen people? Or do you think this is a one-time-only event that can never be repeated? Why do you think so?

Study 8

Read Genesis 23:1-24:10, Genesis 25:1-18

We come to the deaths of both Sarah and Abraham. The focus is on Abraham’s preparing for the future, establishing a toehold in the Promised Land and planning for his son Isaac’s marriage. Abraham is not looking back, but we can, reflecting on what Abraham and Sarah accomplished in their long lives.

1.     From Abraham’s interactions with the Hittite elders in Hebron, what do you gather about Abraham’s social status? Practically speaking, what does it mean to be an “alien and a stranger?” (23:4)

2.     What do you think is Abraham’s motive in wanting to buy land for Sarah’s burial? What is the alternative?

3.     What do you make of the elaborate courtesy shown by Ephron and Abraham? Is this genuine mutual appreciation, or a bargaining tactic?

4.     Note Genesis 50:24,25, where Joseph asks his offspring to promise to carry his bones back to this cave in the Promised Land. According to Exodus 13:19 and Joshua 24:32 that is exactly what happened hundreds of years later in Moses’ time. What is the significance of burial in Palestine for these Israelites?

5.     Abraham next focuses on Isaac’s marriage. Why did he send his servant all the way back to Mesopotamia to his brother’s family? What was the alternative?

6.     What is Abraham’s most urgent concern in what he says to his servant? Why?

7.     What hints do you get about Abraham’s relationship to God from this passage?

8.     In chapter 25 we learn more about Abraham’s extensive (and complicated) family. Notice that Ishmael came around for the burial, even though he didn’t inherit (verse 9), and that Isaac chose to live at the same place where Hagar first met God. Why do you think Isaac is singled out for inheritance and protection? What makes him special?

9.     At the end of Abraham’s long life, what has he accomplished?

10. What forces make Abraham’s legacy vulnerable?

11. Given that God has made very large promises to Abraham, do you think he died satisfied? How do you think he envisioned the future for his family?

12. How do Abraham’s accomplishments compare with yours?

13. How do Abraham’s hopes compare with yours?

Ephesians: A Bible Study

Please note: this is a rather specialized post intended for those who are in Bible study groups. I crafted these questions for my own group and am passing them on for anybody who would like to use them.

Ephesians: A Bible Study Guide by Tim Stafford

(Nine Weeks)

(Feel free to use and distribute. If you sell it, send me a royalty check.)

Study 1–Ephesians 1: 1-14

1. In this incredibly dense and tangled patch of prose, what is the main point that Paul is trying to communicate?
2. Who are the actors? What do they do? (Please list who does what.)
3. What is our role and how important is it?
4. What is the point of the whole exercise? I mean, why did God plan and operate this whole thing?
5. Note and list the words that get repeated. What do you think they mean? How is their meaning elaborated in this context?
6. What, if anything, gets you excited in this passage?
7. Go back to question 1 and answer it again.

Study 2–Ephesians 1:15-23

1. Paul introduces his first great prayer (there are two in Ephesians) with the words “for this reason.” He is explaining why he gives thanks for the Ephesians and prays for them. As you refer back to the first section of Ephesians that we studied last week, what do you think is “this reason?” What is it about God’s great plan that motivates Paul to pray?
2. What about us? Is there something in the magnificence of God’s plan that motivates you to pray?
3. Paul prays that the Ephesians would receive two gifts from God (verses 17 and 18). What are they?
4. What does it mean to pray that somebody receive “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation?”
5. What does it mean to pray that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened?”
6. What are said to be the end results of these two prayers?
7. When you pray for those you love, do you pray for these kind of results? Why or why not?
8. How would you explain “the hope to which he has called you?”
9. How would you explain “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints?”
   10. When talking about God’s power, Paul doesn’t refer to Old Testament displays such as creation or exodus (as the Psalms often do) but to Jesus’ resurrection and heavenly authority. Why does the resurrection trump those other displays of God’s power in Paul’s encouraging words to the Ephesians?
10. If this kind of power is “for us who believe” (verse 19) how does it show itself?
11. What is the church and how does it fit in all this? (verses 22-23)
12. Is this a model prayer for us? How should it influence our prayers as a Bible study group?
13. Does anybody pray for you like this?

Study 3–Ephesians 2:1-10

1. Let’s review: how would you summarize the main thrust of 1:1-14?
2. What does Paul pray constantly that the Ephesian Christians would “get?” (1:15-23)
3. In this new section (2:1-10) Paul introduces the personal history of the Ephesian Christians—past, present and future. What does he say about their past? Please write down everything you learn about them, as Paul sees them.
4. What does he say about their present?
5. What does he say about their future?
6. These verses seem paradoxical—the Ephesians were dead, yet they were living—in sin. (vv. 1-3) How could they be active and yet dead? What does Paul mean when he says they were dead?
7. Why does it matter that this new life was not produced by the Ephesians’ will but by God’s gift? (vv. 8,9) Why should it matter who is responsible so long as the end result is good?
8. Where is the dignity for humanity in this story?
9. What end does God have in mind? (v. 7) How do you picture that?
10. What does Paul want the Ephesians to do? If God is responsible for their salvation, and even for their good works (v. 10), for what are they responsible?

Study 4–Ephesians 2:11-22

This is the third time Paul has told the Ephesians’ story. In 1:3-14 he explained their lives in what you might call “the love story,” in which the Father loves and cherishes his child. After a prayer that the Ephesians would “get it” about God, Paul tells their story again in 2:1-10, this time as “rescue from death.” Now, in this passage, he tells their story a third time.

1. What was the situation of the Gentiles in Ephesus? (2:11-13)
2. How was this different from what Paul described in 2:1-3, “You were dead”?
3. Paul seems to regard the division between Jew and Gentile as very significant. Why?
4. To make peace between the two communities, what did Christ Jesus do? Why this and not a meeting to explore mutual understanding?
5. What place did the law play in creating and promulgating hostility?
6. What does Paul mean, “he himself is our peace”? (2:14)
7. Paul uses temple-language to describe the new, unified community in verse 21. What was the temple to the Jews? To the Gentiles?
8. What kind of religion is formed by these developments, and how is it different from the old?
9. In what way does this passage clarify the stories of what God has done as told in 1:1-14 and 2:1-10?
10. In the first-century social situation, this new unity between Jew and Gentile had obvious significance, perhaps like desegregation in the South. But what does it mean for us?
11. Does the church today sometimes replicate the Jew/Gentile division in another form?
12. If so, what is the answer? What creates peace?

Study 5–Ephesians 3

Having told the Ephesians’ story three times—once as a tale of loving predestination, once as a story of rescue from death, and once as a story of a lost people joined into God’s people to make a new temple for God—Paul now tells his own story as it relates to the Ephesians. He concludes with an amazing prayer and benediction. With this, he has set the stage for the rest of the book, where he will begin to lay out the practical implications for action.

1. Paul begins by saying, in paraphrase, “I’m in prison because of what I do for you Gentiles.” Why do you think he wants the Ephesians to know this?
2. Paul’s story begins with his insight into the mystery of Christ. What is that mystery? How did he come to understand it?
3. Why is that mystery so significant?
4. Given Paul’s insight into the mystery, what is Paul supposed to do with it? In other words, what is his job, as he understands it? (verses 7-9)
5. If Paul does his job, what will be the result? (verses 10-12)
6. Paul ties up this section in verse 13, suggesting that he wants to turn upside down the Ephesians’ view of his imprisonment. What does he suspect they have been thinking of it? What should they think and feel, and why does that matter?
7. Paul turns to prayer in verse 14. What does he mean that every family gets its name from the Father? Why is this significant to the Ephesians?
8. Twice in his prayer Paul mentions power. How does he pray that power will manifest itself?
9. Love is lovely stuff, but given what we have learned about the Ephesians, why do you think it is so central in Paul’s prayer for them?
10. Why is it central to you? To your loved ones? To your friends?
11. What are you asking for? What is the most you can imagine? Why is that not enough?

Study 6–Ephesians 4:1-5:2

Having set out a magnificent and inspiring story of what God is doing in the universe, and in the Ephesians, Paul now brings his letter to practical implications.

1. Paul begins by urging the Ephesians to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Go back through the first 3 chapters and list at least five things God had called them to do and to be.
2. Verses 2-6 emphasize living together in unity and peace. What about their calling makes this imperative?
3. “Unity” might be interpreted to mean uniformity and a total lack of hierarchy, but in verses 7-11 Paul acknowledges that different members of the body of Christ will look and act different. What is their “differentness” based on? What is its purpose?
4. What does a church of mature, well-taught Christians look like? What are some of its marks? (Verses 12-16)
5. Beginning at verse 17, Paul immediately tells them how not to fulfill their calling. They must not live like Gentiles, whose hopelessness he described in 2:11-13.  How does he describe the Gentiles’ lives (verse 18,19)? How might this be different from the Jews? Does this describe any group today?
6. How (by contrast) were the Ephesians taught to live? (verse 22)
7. If God has given us a calling and a life, why do we have to “put it on?”
8. List the expectations for a Christian’s life that Paul gives in verses 25-32. Do any of these seem to have particular relevance in our lives?
9. 5:1-2 closes this section with a command to imitate God, as he shows himself in Jesus. What are we to imitate, and how does that look?
10. Why do you think this section is necessary? What do you think it accomplished in the life of the Ephesians that the first 3 chapters did not?
11. What about the life of our church community? Is there something parallel that needs to be stressed?

Study 7–Ephesians 5:3-20

In this section we carry on learning how to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (4:1).  It’s practical advice mixed in with amazing asides.

1. Go over our last lesson (4:1-5:2) and make a list of the main pieces of practical advice.
2. Paul starts this section concerned with an unholy trinity of immorality, impurity and greed (verse 3 and 5). What are his reasons for being against them?
3. Verse 4 considers how we talk, as did 4:15, 25, 29. Looking at all those verses, what do you learn about what kind of talk to avoid? What talk should you pursue?
4. Twice in this section Paul refers to “the disobedient.” (verses 6, 12) Who are they? What do you think this word reveals about Paul’s basic understanding of the motivation for sin?
5. Considering verse 5, what hope is there for any of us?
6. In verses 8-14 Paul uses the metaphor of light and darkness. What does the metaphor itself reveal about the nature of good and evil?
7. What is the source of light? What does it produce?
8. If light comes from God, what is our part? Who can resist the light?  (The little ditty in verse 14 is worth pondering.)
9. The comment that “you once were darkness” (verse 8) seems to harken back to Paul’s description of the Gentiles’ way of life in 2:12 and 4:17-19. Do you think Paul is fair to the Gentiles?
10. In the next section (15-20) Paul switches from the metaphor of light to the classic Jewish contrast between wisdom and foolishness. What are the characteristics of wisdom? What are the characteristics of foolishness?
11. Paul returns to the way we talk in verse 19, this time with a musical theme. Should we take this literally?
12. In this section, what advice do you find most helpful? Most challenging?

Study 8–Ephesians 5:21-6:9

In this passage Paul continues to urge the Ephesian believers to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” In other words, there ought to be congruence between the amazing transformation that God is doing, and their actual lives. Obviously, Paul did not regard this as automatic! (Even though he was confident in the power of God to overcome all obstacles.)

Having dealt with interpersonal issues, Paul comes to relationships within households. Most homes would have a married couple, children, and slaves all living as members of the family. It’s helpful to look at this section as a unit, to notice what these different kinds of relationships have in common (and how they are distinct).

1. In Paul’s treatment of these three pairings–husband and wife, parents and children, masters and slaves—what is parallel? (For example, all three start with the subordinate partner.) What is different?
2. Why do you think Paul addresses household relationships? What’s different about this advice from what came before?
3. On the scale of radical to conservative, where does Paul fall?
4. Many people have argued that Paul is endorsing slavery. Do you think that is so? Why or why not?
5. Greco-Roman tradition would have the father as absolute ruler of the household, no questions asked. Is that what Paul is endorsing?
6. What is the difference between “submit” and “obey?”
7. Generally, what is different about the husband-wife relationship from these other relationships, in Paul’s way of thinking?
8. Since no Christian today would tell a slave to obey his/her master, why do they tell children to obey and wives to submit?
9. How do you understand the statement that “the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church?” Has your understanding changed over the years?
10. What does the parallel of Christ and the church tell you about marriage?
11. Do you have trouble living by Paul’s advice for marriage? Why or why not?
12. From a Roman perspective the most radical advice Paul offers is to the husband. Is it still radical today? In what way?
13. From today’s perspective, the most radical advice Paul offers is to the wife. Do the many changes in society and family mean that Paul’s advice must be updated? Why or why not?
14. What is the desired outcome if the Ephesians heed this passage? What does that have to do with our calling in Christ?

Study 9–Ephesians  6:10-24

We come to Paul’s last words in Ephesians, which at first glance seem somewhat detached from the rest of the book. Paul’s most urgent concern has been to portray the new life that God has given the Ephesians. He has rescued them from a godless and/or hopeless existence and placed them in a new family as part of his plan to redeem the whole world. Paul considers at some length how they should live up to that calling, both in their individual lives and in their homes. Only now does he bring in the concept of the Ephesians at war with the powers of darkness.

1. Who are our enemies?
2. Why do you think Paul only deals with them at the very end of the book?
3. From what Paul has been telling the Ephesians about their lives throughout this book, what would be the motives and goals of these enemies? (It may help to review Paul’s prayers for the Ephesians.)
4. Do you experience such enmity in your own life? How?
5. Where do we find strength to face these enemies? (Note verse 10.)
6. What, according to verse 13, can we hope to achieve by fighting them?
7. Paul says nothing about defeating the enemy. Why is that?
8. It may be helpful to distinguish between body armor, strapped to us, and armor that we actively wield. What pieces of armor become, as it were, a second skin? How do they function in your life?
9. What pieces of armor require our active use? How do they function in your life?
10. What does a Christian look like who uses this spiritual armor?
11. How are we to pray, and for what?
12. In verses 19-20, what do we learn about Paul?
13. What have you learned from our study of Ephesians? What do you want to be sure to remember?