Barnes, Nathaniel D. “An Exegetical Examination of the Humanity of Christ in Hebrews 2:5–18.” PhD diss., Moore Theological College, 2022.
Thursday, November 28, 2024
An Exegetical Examination of the Humanity of Christ
Barnes, Nathaniel D. “An Exegetical Examination of the Humanity of Christ in Hebrews 2:5–18.” PhD diss., Moore Theological College, 2022.
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
The Complementarity of Spatial and Temporal Aspects in the Eschatology of the Epistle to the Hebrews
Elena Belenkaja. Die Komplementarität räumlicher und zeitlicher Aspekte in der Eschatologie des Hebräerbriefes. (Rainer Hampp Verlag).
"The
Letter to the Hebrews presents a unique eschatology between space and
time embedded in an artful symbiosis of philosophical and theological
thoughts, with its author developing his very own eschatology within the
New Testament. Its peculiarity is expressed in the interweaving of
perfect, present and future statements. Their interpretation suffers
from the difficulty of grasping the limitations of these statements and
their relationship to each other, a challenge which this book takes up.
In an exegetical case study of the primary text (Heb. 1-13), the author
examines relevant statements on the understanding of time and space,
taking into account their complementary relationship."
Amy Peeler Podcasts
Amy Peeler. "The Barriers and Brilliance of Hebrews." Riley Heppner Podcast.
Amy Peeler. "How to Understand Hebrews!" The Center for Bible Study.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Hebrews at SBL Annual Meeting
Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Room: Indigo 204A (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Hebrews and the Pauline Tradition
For
much of Christian history the Epistle to the Hebrews was understood as a
Pauline letter. Today the overwhelming scholarly consensus is that Paul
is not the author of Hebrews. Still the connection to Paul is difficult
for Hebrews to shake. Even if Paul did not write Hebrews, there is some
connection—even if just merited by the epistle’s canonical placement
immediately after Paul’s letters—that is significant. Surprisingly, in
recent decades little scholarly attention has been devoted to
investigating this connection. This research group explores the
relationship between Hebrews and the Pauline tradition. While Hebrews
must be able to speak on its own terms, historical and canonical
imperatives call for it to be read alongside Paul’s letters.
This year we are hosting invited papers that address theological
connections between Hebrews and the Pauline tradition.
Erin M. Heim, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University
Crucifixion and Shame in Paul and Hebrews (30 min)
David M. Moffitt, University of St. Andrews
The Ascended Christ’s Ongoing Intercession as Covenant Maintenance: A Shared Soteriological Concept between Hebrews and Paul? (30 min)
Madison N. Pierce, Western Theological Seminary
Power and "Royal Messianism" in the Pauline Corpus and Hebrews (30 min)
Robert W. Wall, Seattle Pacific University
Reading Hebrews with Paul in Canonical Context (30 min)
Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
9:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Room: Indigo D (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Scripture and Church Seminar (SACS)
Hebrews: Preaching to the People of God from the Word of God (25 min)
Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Room: Indigo 204A (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Asian American Biblical Interpretation: Evangelical Voices
Reading Hebrews in a Sri Lankan Context (20 min)
Contextualizing North African Christianity
11/23/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Cobalt 501A (Fifth Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Composing Communities
Can We Compose Righteous Communities? A Comparison of the Discussions of Divine Enablement in Augustine and Hebrews (25 min)
Corpus Hellenisticum Novi Testamenti
11/24/2024
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Aqua 307 (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Suffering as Education and Athletic Training: Parallels between Epictetus and Hebrews 12:1–13 (30 min)
Hebrews
11/24/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Aqua 311A (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Hebrews and Other Early Christian Literature
Madison N. Pierce, Western Theological Seminary, PresidingBenjamin Ribbens, Trinity Christian College
The Redemption of Violations Committed under the First Covenant: Hebrews 9:15 and Rom 3:21–26 on Redemption, Forgiveness, and Passing over Sins (25 min)
Scott Shauf, Gardner-Webb University
The Covenant Sacrifice in Hebrews 9–13 and 1 Corinthians 10–12 (25 min)
Julie M. Leyva, Duke University
What Advantage Is a Mediator? Μεσίτης and Νόμος in Galatians and Hebrews (25 min)
Stephen Wunrow, Wheaton College
Cave Corpus? Human Bodies as a Potential Threat to Heavenly Space in Hebrews and Other Early Christian Traditions (25 min)
David Downs, University of Oxford
“Let Us Fix Our Eyes on the Blood of Christ” (1 Clem 7.4): Resurrection and Atonement in 1 Clement and Hebrews (25 min)
Discussion (25 min)
Hebrews
11/25/2024
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Cobalt 501A (Fifth Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Theme: Open Session on Hebrews
Madison Pierce, Western Theological Seminary, PresidingKaspars Ozolins, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Isaiah’s Third “Servant Song” as a Background to Hebrews 1:10–12 (25 min)
Tag(s): Hebrews and Catholic Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Intertextuality (Interpretive Approaches), Septuagint (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))
Timothy Bertolet, ABWE International
The High Priest as Second Adam (25 min)
Alberto Solano-Zatarain, University of Oxford
Entering Perfection: Cultic Consecration and Sinai in Hebrews (25 min)
Albert J. Coetsee, North-West University (South Africa)
Moses’ Fear during the Second Ascent: An Intertextual Study of Deuteronomy 9:19 and Hebrews 12:21 (25 min)
Naphtali S. Meshel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jesus’ Suffering “Outside the Gate” according to Hebrews 13 (25 min)
Jack Franicevich, Valparaiso University
Meal or Metaphor: Identifying the Sacrifice of Praise at Hebrews 13:15 (25 min)
Intertextuality in the New Testament
11/25/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: 11A (Upper Level West) - Convention Center
Examining Contextually Sensitive Exegesis in Conflate Citation in Hebrews 2:12–13 (30 min)
Ryan Francis, Catholic University of America
Abel's Speech in Hebrews and Philo (30 min)
Space, Place, and Lived Experience in Antiquity
11/26/2024
9:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Room: Aqua 311A (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront
Real Space, Ideal Space, and “the Mind” in Hebrews: Interpretation through the Lens of Foucault’s “Heterotopia” (25 min)
Hebrews at ETS
Larry Lichtenwalter
(Middle East University)
First, New and Eternal Covenants in the Book of Hebrews: Implications for Hermeneutics, Ethics and Nurture
New Testament
General Studies II
Kaspars Ozolins
(Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Isaiah’s Third “Servant Song” as a Background to Hebrews 1:10–12
9:20 AM - 10:00 AM
Jihyung Kim
(McMaster Divinity College)
Wilderness Memories: The key Identity Marker for the Hebrews Community
10:10 AM - 10:50 AM
Michael Kibbe
(Great Northern University)
The Chronology of Prosopology: The Timing of Jesus’ Scriptural Speeches in Hebrews
Tuesday, November 19, 2024
Monday, November 4, 2024
Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in Hebrews 9:27–28
"The general believer waiting for salvation by Jesus hopes to see him appear while living or promptly at death. Comfort during loss of life usually portrays those passing now in heaven. Conversely, the more religiously academic, the less one thinks anyone, ever, goes to heaven. Trained scholars typically choose a closed heaven with temporal delays and spatial detours in limitation of God's promises about "so great salvation." "Better" typically perceives as a resuscitated flesh on earth that lives by decay of the surrounding creation. Hearing word-meaning by mapping creation with an old first-century option for plural heavens, this project reexamines the conversation recommended by the pastor in the letter to the Hebrews about promises regarding the twofold ministry of Christ. By analysis with current study tools, the conversation both challenges the common academy views and reintroduces a first-century hearing option for God's speech concerning prompt, postmortem, Christ fulfillment into heaven. Listening includes the milk of the beginning teaching requirements for atonement and logic of resurrection to God immediately after death and judgment. Hearing senses the solid food about priestly intercession by Jesus after death at judgment to shepherd his believers for salvation into heaven a very little while after individual death and judgment."
Saturday, November 2, 2024
Reading Hebrews with Aquinas
Friday, November 1, 2024
Recent Hebrews Articles
Monday, October 28, 2024
Minor Variant of Hebrews 2:9
New article:
Clivaz, Claire. “The Minor Variant of Hebrews 2.9, with Mark 15.34 and Psalm 22.2.” New Testament Studies 70 (2024): 291–306.
Abstract
This article explores the relationship of a minor variant in Hebrews 2.9 – Jesus dead ‘apart from God’ (χωρὶς θɛοῦ) – with the minor variant of Mark 15.34 and more broadly with Psalm 22.2, as suggested by Harnack, Michel, Zuntz, Elliott, Ehrman and Rodgers. First, it highlights new elements in the file of the evidence of Heb 2.9 and compares it with the case of Mark 15.34. Secondly, it demonstrates that paying attention to the minor variants of Heb 2.9 and Mark 15.34 allows one to grasp better the diversity of Jewish and early Christian readings of Ps 22.2 or Ps 21.2 LXX: these readings provide a plausible context to explain the emergence of these two minor variants.
Majority World Perspectives on Hebrews
The volume is thus able to explore topics ranging from the authorship of Hebrews in the Ethiopian Orthodox tradition and the Batak reading of Christus Victor, to a Xhosa perception of the solidarity and sacrifice of Jesus, and intercultural readings of Christian identity in the context of persecution. With an introduction and final response by scholars from the Global North, this volume encourages awareness of how the Global South contributes to world Christianity.
A Theology of Hebrews
An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Hebrews
The book of Hebrews can be intimidating for modern-day Christians due to its connection to Old Testament text. However, once understood, this New Testament epistle offers great insights into the superiority and sufficiency of Jesus—rightly justifying his place as high priest.
In this addition to the New Testament Theology series, scholar Dennis E. Johnson highlights the main biblical-theological themes of Hebrews. Johnson explores how Jesus fulfills perfect priesthood by becoming the covenant mediator and the trailblazer who leads his people into a better inheritance. Hebrews calls Christian believers, both of the early church and today, to hold fast to their faith even when faced with persecution and exclusion. It reminds us to cling to the eternal Son who offered his body and blood as the everlasting sacrifice for our sin.
- Ideal for Anyone Wanting to Study the Bible More Deeply: Perfect for pastors, seminarians, college students, and laypeople
- Helpful Bible Study Resource: A great companion to commentaries on Hebrews
- Part of the New Testament Theology Series: Other volumes include Ministry in the New Realm and Hidden with Christ in God
Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Review Essay: On Earth as It Is in Heaven?
Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Textual Reserach on Hebrews
"For years, Martin Karrer's academic work has focused on textual criticism of the Septuagint, the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Apocalypse. Companions and colleagues have submitted articles on the textual history and reception of these writings or group of writings to honor him on his 70th birthday.
Sunday, August 25, 2024
Philo and Hebrews on the Concept of the Spiritualization of the Cult
Saturday, August 17, 2024
The Spatiotemporal Eschatology of Hebrews
Description:
There are two coexisting realities classified under New Testament eschatology: the temporal and spatial. While much scholarly attention has focused on the temporal, Luke Woo argues that the spatial aspect is either neglected or relegated to Platonic or cosmological categories. Woo thus seeks to provide a holistic understanding, by investigating these realities for believers under the heavenly tabernacle motif in the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Woo posits that the author of Hebrews presents the heavenly tabernacle and all its high priestly activity in order to eschatologically situate, orient, and ground believers; thus enabling believers to actualize their heavenly, priestly identity by serving as priests on earth. Woo uses Edward Soja's Tripartite Critical Spatiality to analyze the heavenly tabernacle's Firstspace, Secondspace, and Thirdspace features found in Hebrews 4:14; 8:1–5; 9:1–14. He suggests that Christ, in his resurrection and ascension, enters an actualized, heavenly tabernacle, which allows believers to spiritually occupy that sanctuary space in the presence of God, establishing a spatial orientation for believers who can identify as heavenly priests and be motivated to serve as such as they live on earth.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024
The True Tabernacle of Hebrews 8:2
New article:
Church, Philip. “ ‘The True Tabernacle’ of Hebrews 8:2: A Response to Nicholas J. Moore." Tyndale Bulletin 75 (20204): 1–30.
Abstract
Does Hebrews 8:5 claim that Israel’s earthly sanctuaries are ‘shadowy copies’ of a heavenly sanctuary, or do these sanctuaries anticipate an eschatological sanctuary where God will dwell with his people, as I have argued? Nicholas J. Moore has critiqued my reading of this verse on the grounds that reading the expression ὑπόδειγμα καὶ σκιά as ‘copy and shadow’ is lexically permissible, that the idea that Israel’s earthly sanctuaries are copies of the heavenly sanctuary is widespread in the Second Temple period, and that my reading involves an awkward switch between temple and tabernacle in Hebrews 8:5. This article argues that it cannot be demonstrated that ὑπόδειγμα can have the sense ‘copy’, that the idea of the temple as an anticipation of God’s eschatological dwelling with his people is present at Qumran in ways that are similar to what is found in Hebrews, and that my reading involves no awkward switch between tabernacle and temple in Hebrews 8:5. Ultimately, it can be shown that a temporal reading of ὑπόδειγμα καί σκιά in Hebrews 8:5 contributes more to its context than does a spatial reading.
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Up to Date with Hebrews
Nijay Gupta has a brief blog post on some recent Hebrews commentaries. Of course, if you have been following my blog, I try to post on all new scholarly works on Hebrews. I keep a running list of new works and upcoming works (that I know about) on my "New and Forthcoming Books" page. I try to keep the last three years up. Previous years, starting with 2010, are archived. Of course there are numerous popular-level works that come out every year that I do not bother to mention.
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
My Article in BETL Is Finally Published!
It's been three years in coming, but my article is finally published:
Brian C. Small. “The God Who Communicates: A Study in the Characterization of God in Hebrews.” Pages 209–23 in The Letter to the Hebrews. Edited by Régis Burnet. Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium 335. Leuven: Peeters, 2024.
Of course the whole collection of essays is now available for purchase from Peeters. Here is the summary for the whole volume:
"The 70th Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense was the first in the history of the colloquium to be dedicated exclusively to the Letter to the Hebrews. It indicates the growing scholarly interest in the Letter, which occupies a special place in the Pauline corpus and in the canon because of its literary sophistication and intricate and profound theology. Moving beyond the old debates about its authorship, the colloquium focused on a number of other questions, including the Letter's contextual meaning, its roots in a Jewish context, its innovative use of intertextuality, in which Scripture is used not only as divine narrative, but also as a dynamic tool for exploring and formulating new forms of theological discourse, and the political dimensions of the text playing on the contrast between imperial discourse and a vision of heavenly citizenship. In addition, one will find essays on the Letter's complex portrayal of God, its peculiar stylistic and text-critical features, the significance of the figure of Melchizedek, reflections on the balance between divine wrath and mercy, and chapters from its ancient reception history. This wide-ranging approach illustrates the Letter's historical importance in the development of earliest Christian theology and its impact on Christian theology through the ages."