Two New RBL Reviews

Scott Mackie reviews Psalms and Hebrews: Studies in Reception by Gert J. Steyn and Dirk J. Human.

Craig Koester reviews Solidarity Perfected: Beneficent Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews by Kevin B. McCruden.

Hebrews Carnival January 2012

The new year has started off with considerable blog activity on the book of Hebrews:

Leon Mauldin illustrates the racing metaphor of Hebrews 12:1 with a picture of the stadium at Aphrodisias.

David Stark offers an interpretation of Melchizedek's Bread and Wine.

Collin Hansen interviews Peter O'Brien about the Warning Passages.  Scot McKnight offers a Brief Response.

William Varner explores the relationship between Hebrews, Angels, and Us.  He also highlights a couple of rhetorical devices that reveal the main message of Hebrews (First; Second).  He also shares about the time he saw the oldest copy of the letter To Hebrews, the Chester Beatty Papyrus, in Dublin.  He provides a picture of the first page of P46.  He also reiterates his argument that Jude is the author of Hebrews.  He then explores the question of the Pauline Authorship of Hebrews.

Justin Mihoc summarizes a paper by Mark Elliott entitled, "The Promise and Threat of  Reception, with Reference to Patristic Interpretation of Texts in Hebrews and Ephesians."

Phillip Long sets forth The Purpose of Hebrews.  He also examines the tradition about Paul as The Author of Hebrews.  He then identifies four things about what we can know about the author.  He also tries to give an explanation as to why the author chose to remain anonymous.  He then discusses Jesus and the Angels in Hebrews 1, Jesus and Moses in Hebrews 3, An Exhortation to Righteousness in Hebrews 3:12-19, Jesus, the Great High Priesthood (Part 1) in Hebrews 4:14-16 and 5:1-10 (Part 2), and Who Melchizedek Was in Hebrews 7:1-3.  He also has a two-part post on Hebrews 6:4-12 (Part 1; Part 2).

Some Book News

Four items of interest pertaining to books on Hebrews came up in the blogs today:

Mike Kibbe provides a brief review on David Moffitt's new book, Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in Hebrews (he will have a more extensive review in an upcoming issue of Themelios).  He raises questions about the implications of Moffitt's thesis on atonement theology in the rest of the NT.  Whether or not Moffitt's book changes views on the atonement in the rest of the NT, it could change the discussion on Hebrews for years to come.  Put simply, if Moffitt is right, then he has solved the long–standing problem in Hebrews' scholarship of when Jesus became high priest.

The T & T Clark blog announces that next month will see the publication of Christology, Hermeneutics, and Hebrews.  Here is the description of the book:

"Christology and Hermeneutics discusses the history of the interpretation of the Letter to the Hebrews. Contributors assess the study and interpretation of Hebrews across the last two millennia. Beginning with the Patristic period, the book goes on to examine the responses of Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, as well as more recent figures such as Karl Barth and contemporary global interpreters.

The premise behind the work is to move study of Hebrews away from the perennial arguments about its authorship and provenance and to instead engage with it from a theological perspective, focusing upon the text's reception history. Consequently the issue of the Christological message in Hebrews is at the forefront and is considered both in terms of the interpreter's context and historical setting. At the end of the book the investigations are summarised and responded to by leading scholar Harold Attridge, providing a fitting conclusion to a radical academic project."

Matthew Miller for the Christianbook.com blog informs us that Eerdmans is planning to discontinue the publication of F. F. Bruce's commentary The Epistle to the Hebrews in the NICNT series and replace it this Spring with the forthcoming commentary of the same name by Gary Cockerill.

Finally, Matthew Montonini announces that Wipf and Stock have just released a festschrift for I. Howard Marshall entitled, New Testament Theology in Light of the Church's Mission.  Here is the description of the book:

"This book offers important new case studies in understanding the theology and praxis of mission in the New Testament and in reading the New Testament for mission. Significant scholars from around the world explore aspects of the missional theology of the Gospels, Acts, Paul, Hebrews, and Revelation. The essays are offered as a fitting tribute to I. Howard Marshall—one of the most outstanding evangelical New Testament scholars of his generation."

Of interest for this blog is the chapter on Hebrews entitled, "Hebrews and the Mission of the Earliest Church" by Jon Laansma.

New Resources Added

In addition to the resources mentioned in the last four posts, I have just added the following resources:

Dissertations/Theses:

Hentschel, Christoph. “Lebendiges Gotteswort: Die Rezeption des Hebräerbriefs im Ersten Clemensbrief und im Hirten des Hermas.” Ph.D. diss., Ludwig-Maximilians University, 2008.

Wilson, Andrew J. "Warnings within the Argument of Hebrews." M.A. thesis, Brunel University, 2005.

Articles:

Haraguchi, Takaaki. “Hebrews 1–2 in the Light of Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice (4QShirShabb; 11QShirShabb; MasShirShabb).” Theological Forum 46 (2006): 81–98.

Oestreich, Bernhard. “Volk Gottes im Hebräerbrief.” Spes Christiana 21 (2010): 25–42.

Oestreich, Bernhard. “Worttheologie und Schriftauslegung im Hebräerbrief.” Spes Christiana 7–8 (1996–1997): 70–92.

Wider, David. “Christliche Identität im Hebräerbrief: Beobachtungen zum Aufbau der Paränese.” Theological Studies 50 (2003): 157-70. 

Woude, A. S. van der. “Melchisedek als himmlische Erlösergestalt in den neugefundenen eschatologischen Midraschim aus Qumran Höhle XI.” Pages 354–73 in hk: 1940–1965. Oudtestamentische Studiën: Names het oudtestamentisch Werkgezelschap in Nederland 14. Leiden: Brill, 1965.

Ruth Hoppin Article Available Online

Ruth Hoppin's article is now available online:

Hoppin, Ruth. "Priscilla and Plausibility: Responding to Questions about Priscilla as Author of Hebrews." Priscilla Papers 25.2 (Spring 2011): 26-28.

Matthew Easter Dissertation

Matt Easter informed me that he has recently completed his dissertation and it is available online:

Matthew Charles Easter. "'Let Us Go to Him': The Story of Faith and the Faithfulness of Jesus in Hebrews." Ph.D. diss., University of Otago (Dunedin, New Zealand), 2011.

Thanks Matt!

Douglas Moo Sermons

In March 2008 Douglas Moo preached a five-part sermon series on Hebrews entitled, "Call to Faith and Endurance" for the Denver Sound Church in Lakeland, CO.

HT: Matthew Montonini (again!)

Gary Cockerill Lectures

Gary Cockerill gave the Chamberlain Holiness Lectures at Wesley Biblical Seminary in October 2011.  Videos and mp3 files of the lectures can be found as follows:

#1 Such a Great Salvation  (mp3 download)

#2 For We Have Such a High Priest  (mp3 download)

#3 Pioneer and Perfecter of the Faith  (mp3 download)

#4 Gratitude and Godly Fear  (mp3 download)

The four lectures can also be found at the WBS Chapels iTunes webpage.  They give an overview of the book of Hebrews.

HT: Matthew Montonini

Hebrews Carnival December 2011

Ken Schenck offers a Targum of Hebrews 13:9-16.  He also gives a meditation on Hebrews 11 for the second Sunday of Advent, and an excerpt on Hebrews and the Temple.  Ken also give a preview of an article he wrote in which he argues that "Christ's death was an atonement for all the sins of the Jews in the past who ever lived and were in right relationship with God."

Scott McKnight is doing a series on how he changed his mind about Calvinism based on the warning passages in Hebrews. Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.  Derek Ouellette provides a summary of McKnight's argument.

Rod Decker offers an interpretation of the temporal reference in Hebrews 2:5.

David M. Allen does a guest book review on Chris Tilling's blog on David Moffitt's new book, Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews.

New Article in Affirmation & Critique

I just stumbled across this new article in the journal Affirmation & Critique.  The website only gives a preview of the first page:

Pester, John. "The Scope, Content, Judgment, and Goal of the Gospel in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Affirmation & Critique 16.2 (Fall 2011): 49ff. [Links directly to a PDF]

New Articles in Tyndale Bulletin & Restoration Quarterly

The most recent issue of the Tyndale Bulletin has a new article on Hebrews:

Andrew J. Wilson
Hebrews 3:6b and 3:14 Revisited
Hebrews 3:6b and 3:14 have been central to Reformed interpretations of the warnings in Hebrews for several centuries. Today, however, there is something of an impasse in scholarship: on one side, there are those who see these verses as an interpretive key to the letter, and thus understand the warnings to refer to spurious or false believers; on the other, there are those who argue that since Hebrews warns real believers away from real apostasy, these two verses cannot mean what, at a grammatical level, they appear to mean. In this paper, I appraise the scholarly discussion so far, identify three key issues relating to grammar and context, and then propose a way through the impasse that has not been considered in modern scholarship.

I should also draw attention to the new article by James Thompson in the Restoration Quarterly (see previous post).

2011 Articles on Hebrews (Updated)

Here are the articles on Hebrews that have appeared in 2011:

Allen, David L. "The Authorship of Hebrews: Historical Survey of the Lukan Theory." Criswell Theological Review ns 8.2 (2011): 3-18.

Bénétreau, Samuel . "L'espérance chrétienne selon l'épître aux Hébreux : une spécificité?" Biblica 92 (2011): 97-111.

Beyer, Andrea, and Delia Klingler. "Ps 95 und die Ruhe in Hebr 3-4." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 1-26.

Compton, Jared. "The Origin of sōma in Heb 10:5: Another Look at a Recent Proposal." Trinity Journal 32 (2011): 19-29.

Dewey, Joanna. "Sacrifice No More." Biblical Theology Bulletin 41 (2011): 68-75.

Dochhorn, Jan. "Eine Konjektur zu Hebr 3,16." Biblische Zeitschrift 55 (2011): 115-121.

Doré, Joseph. "Secundum ordinem Melchisedech : le sacerdoce du Christ en He 7,11-28." Revue des sciences religieuses 85 (2011): 1-26.

Ernst, Michael. "Eucharistie im Hebräerbrief?" Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 51-65.

Gelardini, Gabriella. "Melchisedeks (Opfer-)Gabe: der Priesterkönig im Alten Testament, Frühjudentum und im Neuen Testament." Bibel und Kirche 66 (2011): 40-44.

Gruber, Christian J. "Neues zur Einordnung von Hebr 13,20-21 hinsichtlich der Gattung und der Funktion." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 67-79.

Holsteen, Nathaniel D. "The Trinity in the Book of Hebrews." Bibliotheca sacra 168 (2011): 334-346.

Hoppin, Ruth. "Priscilla and Plausibility: Responding to Questions about Priscilla as Author of Hebrews." Priscilla Papers 25.2 (Spring 2011): 26-28.

Levin, Christoph. "Lebenszeugnis für Christus : Predigt über Hebräer 13,5b-15 am 18. Januar 2010 in der Erlöserkirche in München-Schwabing im Gedenkgottesdienst für Erzbischof Prof. D. Georg Kretschmar." Lutherische Kirche in der Welt 58 (2011): 69-73.

Mackie, Scott D. "Ancient Jewish Mystical Motifs in Hebrews' Theology of Access and Entry Exhortations." New Testament Studies 58 (2011): 88-104.

Mackie, Scott D. "Heavenly Sanctuary Mysticism in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Journal of Theological Studies 62 (2011): 77-117.

Martin, Michael W., and Jason A. Whitlark. "The Encomiastic Topics of Syncrisis as the Key to the Structure and Argument of Hebrews." New Testament Studies 57 (2011): 415-439.

Oropeza, B. J. "The Warning Passages in Hebrews: Revised Theologies and New Methods of Interpretation." Currents in Biblical Research 10 (2011): 81–100.

Pester, John. "The Scope, Content, Judgment, and Goal of the Gospel in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Affirmation & Critique 16.2 (Fall 2011): 49ff.

Richir, David. "Le repos du Roi : l'épître aux Hébreux à la lumière du royaume." Théologie évangélique 10 (2011): 133-157.

Spellman, Ched E. "When Hope Screams: Learning How to Suffer as Sons from the Book of Hebrews." Southwestern Journal of theology 53 (2011): 112-134.

Thompson, James W. "Insider Ethics for Outsiders: Ethics for Aliens in Hebrews." Restoration Quarterly 53 (2011): 207-19.

Thompson, James W. "The New Is Better: A Neglected Aspect of the Hermeneutics of Hebrews." Catholic Biblical Quarterly 73 (2011): 547-561.

Ueberschaer, Frank. "Mit gutem Glauben und vorbildlicher Weisheit : zwei Ahnentafeln im Vergleich (Sir 44f. und Hebr 11)." Protokolle zur Bibel 20 (2011): 27-50.

Wilson, Andrew J. "Hebrews 3:6B and 3:14 Revisited." Tyndale Bulletin 62.2 (2011): 247-67.

This listing was compiled with the help of a online search engine that I have recently discovered: The Index Theologicus of the University of Tübingen.

New Mackie Article on Hebrews

Scott Mackie informed me that he has a new article out on Hebrews:

Mackie, Scott D. "Ancient Jewish Mystical Motifs in Hebrews' Theology of Access and Entry Exhortations." New Testament Studies 58 (2011): 88-104.

Hebrews Carnival November 2011

William Varner proposes that Jude is the author of Hebrews.

Frederik Mulder spotlights David Moffitt's new dissertation on Hebrews, which argues that Jesus' resurrection is central to the author's argument, while Matthew Montonini draws attention to Gary Cockerill's forthcoming commentary in the NICNT series.  Although these authors take different perspectives on what is going on in Hebrews, both will be excellent works that should shape the discussion on Hebrews for years to come.

Ken Schenck reflects on the meaning of "resting from his works" in Hebrews 4:10.  Ken also notes that the author of Hebrews does use allegory, despite the fact that many scholars are adverse to this idea.  Ken also offers excerpts on Hebrews 13:9-14 and on the Date of Hebrews.

Peter Leithart offers a Eucharistic meditation on Hebrews 12:22-23.

New Hoppin Article on the Authorship of Hebrews

Ruth Hoppin has informed me that the following article has been published:

"Priscilla and Plausibility: Responding to Questions about Priscilla as
Author of Hebrews." Priscilla Papers 25.2 (Spring 2011): 26-28.

She says, "It deals in part with Heb. 11:32!"

Jordi Cevera Articles (Update)

Last year about this time I mentioned that I met Jordi Cevera, a professor with the Facultat de Teologia de Catalunya in Barcelona, at SBL.  I had discovered some of his articles online.  Jordi has just sent me a listing of all his articles on Hebrews.  I list here only those that are fully accessible online.  Some of his other articles are also available through such sites as Google Books, but these are only partial previews.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Una aliança millor, un poble millor?" Revista Catalana de Teologia 23.1 (2004): 19-33.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Ancient Targumic Tradition in Heb 8:2." Revista Catalana de Teologia 34.2 (2010), 509-523.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Hebreus, una exhortació a perseverar." Revista Catalana de Teologia 23.3 (1998): 299-328.

Cervera i Valls, Jordi. "Jesús, gran sacerdot i víctima, a Hebreus. Una teologia judeocristiana de la mediació i de l’expiació." Revista Catalana de Teologia 34.2 (2009): 477-502. [Article is found here also]

Oropeza on the Warning Passages in Hebrews

A new article has appeared in Currents in Biblical Research:

B. J. Oropeza, "The Warning Passages in Hebrews: Revised Theologies and New Methods of Interpretation." Currents in Biblical Research 10 (2011): 81–100.

Abstract:

"The interpretation of the warning passages in Hebrews has long been disputed, especially 6.4-6. Discussions on the issue over the last several decades frequently remain in dialogue with the theologies of Calvinist-Reformed and Arminian traditions, and intrigue about the passages often centers on whether or not the recipients of the message are ‘genuine’ believers and able to abandon their salvation because of apostasy. Recent methods of interpretation have opened up new ways of looking at the warnings and bring them into sharper relief. Such methods include historical-critical, socio-rhetorical, social-scientific, intertextual, and oral-critical methods. This article addresses studies of the warnings in Hebrews relevant to such approaches, and it also surveys recent interpretations that integrate Calvinist or Arminian viewpoints."

New Dissertations Added

The following dissertations have been added:

Fernandes, Celso Eronides. “A liturgia de Hebreus: Uma análise de como as mudanças sociais influenciam as formas de culto.” M.A. thesis, Universidade Metodista de São Paulo, 2006.

Jang, Jae Young. "Communicative Preaching: A Homiletical Study in the Light of Hebrews." Ph.D. diss., North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Jong, Adam de. “The Writer of Hebrews as a Reader of Hebrew: An Inquiry into the Linguistic and Hermeneutical Use of the Old Testament Quotations in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” M.Th. thesis, University of Glasgow, 2011.

Laughton, Lance Craig. “The Hermeneutic of the Author of Hebrews as Manifest in the Introductory Formulae and Its Implication for Modern Hermeneutics.” M.A. thesis, University of Pretoria, 2005.

Mvunabandi, Shadrack. “The Communicative Power of Blood Sacrifices: A Predominantly SouthAfrican Perspective with Special Reference to the Epistle to the Hebrews.” Ph.D. diss., University of Pretoria, 2008.

Nel, Pieter. “Die rol van Psalm 110 in Hebreërs.” M.A. thesis, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Van der Walt, Sarel Petrus. “‘Ons weet omdat ons glo!’: 'neksegeties-openbaringshistoriese studie vanuit Hebreërs 10:38-11:3 toegepas opdie problematiek van die verhouding tussen geloof en kennis.” Ph.D. diss., North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.

Hebrews Group at SBL Annual Meeting

I received the following announcement from Gabriella Gelardini today:

Dear participants of past Hebrews Group sessions

As the annual meeting is approaching quickly, we would like to warmly invite you to the two sessions that the Hebrews Group sponsors or co-sponsor this year (see the program in detail below). We are particularly proud about the triple-joint session, in which we aim to introduce new methodologies to Hebrews scholarship. Furthermore we were able to interest Daniel Boyarin to read Hebrews with us. And finally, we have scheduled a business meeting particularly designed to get into conversation with you about the future of the Hebrews Group at SBL. All papers and responses should be available through our website after the meeting (<http://www.hebrews.unibas.ch/Program2011.html>).

Hope to see you in San Francisco,
Gabriella Gelardini
Co-chair Hebrews Group, SBL AM

Hebrews at the SBL Annual Meeting

S19-302

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African-American Biblical Hermeneutics
11/19/2011
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Room: Sierra J - Marriott Marquis

Jennifer T. Kaalund, Drew University
Neither Here Nor There: Black Migrant Workers and “Strangers and Foreigners” in Hebrews (20 min) 

S19-341

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Scripture in Early Judaism and Christianity
11/19/2011
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Sierra H - Marriott Marquis
Theme: Scripture in the Synoptic Gospels

Kevin B. McCruden, Gonzaga University
The Eloquent Blood of Abel: How Does Abel Speak in the Epistle to the Hebrews? (30 min) 

S20-119

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Hebrews
Joint Session With: Hebrews, Space, Place, and Lived Experience in Antiquity, Sacrifice, Cult, and Atonement
11/20/2011
9:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Room: Cyril Magnin II - Renaissance Parc 55
Theme: Simultaneous Cults: The Intersection of Sacred Space, Time, and Practice
Ellen Aitken, McGill University, Presiding

Jon Berquist, Disciples Seminary Foundation
Critical Spatiality and the Book of Hebrews (30 min)

Jorunn Økland, Universitetet i Oslo, Respondent (15 min)

Kathryn McClymond, Georgia State University
Space and Sacrifice in Leviticus: Implications for Sacrificial Theory (30 min)

Christian Eberhart, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon, Respondent (15 min)

Gabriella Gelardini, Universität Basel, Respondent (15 min)

Discussion (30 min)
Business Meeting (15 min) 

S20-224a

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Greek Bible
11/20/2011
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Walnut - Marriott MarquisTheme: Greek Bible and New Testament

Gert J. Steyn, University of Pretoria
Septuagint Torah Quotations Common to Philo of Alexandria and Luke-Acts (30 min) 

S21-315

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Hebrews
11/21/2011
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: 3011 - Convention CenterCraig Koester, Luther Seminary, Presiding

Daniel Boyarin, University of California-Berkeley
The Stammbaum of MalkiZedek: The Christology of Hebrew in Jewish Context (25 min)

Susan Docherty, Newman University College Birmingham UK
Analysing the Interpretation of the Old Testament in Hebrews: Towards a New Methodology (25 min)

Harold Attridge, Yale University, Respondent (13 min)

Luke Timothy Johnson, Emory University
Suffering as Means of Moral Transformation: Hebrews in Philosophical Context (25 min)

Alan C. Mitchell, Georgetown University
The Death of Jesus in Hebrews: A Contribution to a Developing Tradition (25 min)

Ellen Aitken, McGill University, Respondent (13 min)

Discussion (24 min)