Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Dissertation Successfully Defended!

Today I successfully defended my dissertation entitled, "The Characterization of Jesus in the Book of Hebrews."

19 comments:

  1. Congratulations, Brian. Or should I say Dr. Brian. I've been reading your blog for 2 years now, so I've been somewhat tracking your progress. A great accomplishment. Now for the next chapter.

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    1. Thank you, Dennis. I think I have a lot more readers than those who actually comment here.

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  2. Congrats Brian. I would love to read your dissertation at some point.

    Also, I am in the beginning stages of trying to get Spicq's Commentary translated and Published. Shoot me an email at cliff [dot] kvidahl [at] logos [dot] com, and I can tell you more about what I am trying to do. I would love to get your input on this as well.

    Cliff

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    1. Thanks Cliff. Your project with Spicq's commentary sounds interesting. As you well know, it is somewhat dated, but it still has not been surpassed in the French language, although Bénétreau's commentary is not bad.

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  3. Congratulations, Dr. Small! The world can never have enough Hebrews scholars. :-)

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  4. Thanks, Darrell. I've seen you at SBL meetings, but haven't had the chance to meet you. Maybe in Chicago.

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  5. Mazelov Brian ! I too follow your Blog (for some years now) and look for the best and latest for this holy book from what YOU PROVIDE.

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  6. Thank you all again. Nice to hear from you Carl.

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  7. Congratulations on your accomplishment. Have you posted somewhere on your blog an extract or summary of your dissertation? The title is intriguing and I'd like to know how you think the book of Hebrews characterizes Jesus.

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    1. Mike, I have not yet posted an extract. I was waiting until I had everything cleared with the graduate school, which it now has. The abstract really doesn't mention all of the character traits of Jesus found in Hebrews. I tried to be comprehensive and identify all of the character traits of Jesus and to list all of them in a short abstract would have been impossible.

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  8. Thanks. Hebrews has always intrigued me, especially the opening chapter. Any teacher conveys new concepts by relating them to previously understood concepts. What surprises me therefore about the opening chapter is that the author expects his readers to understand things that we today don't understand, and doesn't expect them to understand things that we do understand.

    For example, he uses Scripture to prove that Jesus is greater than the angels. That point would not be an issue for believers today. Later in the chapter he ascribes Ps 102 to the Son, which I don't know that we would have read Ps 102 in that specific way.

    And so it goes seemingly throughout the letter. Whenever I read Hebrews I seem to be reminded of how different a mindset we have today from the recipients of that letter. It's neat that you have devoted an entire web site to this letter.

    Thanks again.

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    1. Thanks for your interest. I have now posted the abstract.

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    2. I just read it. Thanks.

      My favorite part: "The author depicts Jesus as a person of exemplary character who exhibits the highest of human virtues but also divine attributes as well. These traits reveal both Jesus’ greatness and moral excellence." - And, of course, the paragraph that followed this.

      He is indeed the Author of our salvation.

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