David L. Allen

Dr. David Allen is the Dean of the School of Preaching, Distinguished Professor of Preaching, and Director of the Southwestern Center for Expository Preaching
at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Hebrews 12:18-29

Locate the passage. Hebrews 12:18-19 Genre Hortatory. Determine the structure of the text Verses 18–24 constitute one paragraph in the Greek text, which the NIV divides at v. 22. The unit is marked by the double use of the Greek perfect indicative verb prose... Read More »

Hebrews 12:12-17

Locate the passage. The text follows 12:4-11 and on the basis of understanding how God’s educative discipline works in our lives, we are to press on in the Christian life. Genre Hortatory. Determine the structure of the text Hebrews 12:4–11 is followed by ... Read More »

Hebrews 12:4-11

The main point of Heb 12:4–11 is to explain why the readers must endure the disciplinary/educative sufferings which God allows them to experience. One of the main points the author of Hebrews has made is that even Jesus himself must be “perfected” throug... Read More »

Hebrews 12:1-3

Locate the passage. Hebrews 12:1–17 is closely connected with the preceding chapter by the use of the strong inferential conjunction toigaroun, “therefore,” which occurs only one other time in the New Testament. The heroes of Hebrews 11 endured and overc... Read More »

Hebrews 11:1-40

Locate the passage. In Heb 10:38–39, the author prepared the way for the great hall of faith in Hebrews 11 by his quotation of Hab 2:3–4 and the reference in v. 39 to “those who believe.” Genre Expository. There is a clear shift in the discourse struct... Read More »

Hebrews 10:32-39

Locate the passage. The final paragraph in the section begun at 10:18 and before the new sub-section on faith beginning at 11:1. Genre Hortatory. Note the imperative in v. 32. Determine the structure of the text A new paragraph begins with v. 32 and continues ... Read More »

Hebrews 10:26-31

Locate the passage. Hebrews 10:26–31 is the second major paragraph of this section begun at 10:18, and also constitutes the fourth warning passage in Hebrews. The paragraph addresses the consequences of “willful sin” in the most severe tones. Genre Horta... Read More »

Hebrews 10:1-18

Locate the passage. This section concludes the expositional section begun at 7:1. Genre Expository. There are no command forms in the passage. Determine the structure of the text There are four sub-paragraphs making up this section: 10:1-4          ... Read More »

Hebrews 9:15-28

Locate the passage. The author begins a new paragraph in Heb 9:15 with the use of oun, left untranslated in the NIV. The rhetorical question in 9:14 and the use of kai and dia touto in 9:15 further serve to mark the beginning of a new paragraph at 9:15. The co... Read More »

Hebrews 9:1-14

Locate the passage. In Hebrews 8 the author emphasized the discontinuity between the old and new covenants. In Hebrews 9 the author moves to show that there yet remains some continuity between the two covenants, albeit in a typological fashion. Genre Expositor... Read More »