Proverbial Wisdom in Hebrews 12

New article:

 

Ch’ng, Adam. “Transposing Genre: Reading Hebrews 12:4–13 as Proverbial Wisdom.” Themelios 50.3 (2025): 512–26.

 

Abstract: 

"By citing Proverbs 3:11–12 (LXX) in Hebrews 12:5–6, the author of Hebrews transposes the wisdom genre of the proverb into his broader exposition (12:4–13). This article integrates and applies the theories of John Frow and Tremper Longman III, andargues that the strong literary connections between the proverb and Hebrews 12:4–13 indicate the incorporation of the wisdom genre. Accordingly, Hebrews 12:4–13 should be read as proverbial wisdom, and its characterisation of human suffering as divine discipline should be understood not as a universal theodicy but as a circumstantial truth."

Appropriating Hebrews's Scriptural Hermeneutic

Just published:

 

Dana M. Harris and J. David Stark. Appropriating Hebrews's Scriptural Hermeneutic for the Twenty-First Century. T&T Clark.

Description:

Twenty-first-century readers cannot interpret Israel's Scriptures identically to how the author of Hebrews did. The contours of twenty-first century worldviews are too different. That said, Hebrews invites those who “read after” it (in time) also to “reading after” it (in approach). For those who accept this invitation, this volume's essays surface four clusters in the overall mosaic of Hebrews's approach to Israel's Scriptures. First, Hebrews explicitly, if briefly and partially, states its hermeneutic orientation to Israel's Scriptures. Second, Hebrews understands history through the proclamation that the author accepts and commends about Jesus. Third, this proclamation creates numerous other implications that Hebrews may or may not explicitly state but that nonetheless shape how the author interprets his Scriptures. And fourth, Hebrews's exhortation fosters faithfulness in its audience through both encouragements and warnings drawn from Israel's Scriptures. Attention to Israel's Scriptures in light of these clusters helps readers to understand these Scriptures not identically to Hebrews's author but in the same way as that author-namely, in the way marked out by Jesus for those who would “come after” him.

 

What Is Man?

Abeneazer Urga: "What Is Man? African Traditional Religions, Christianity & Hebrews 2."

Hebrews Highlights - November 2025

Ken Schenck tries to put Hebrews into narrative form:

     Part 1: The Story of Hebrews

     Part 2: The Cast of Characters

     Part 3: Hebrews 13:22–25: The Context of Hebrews at Corinth/Ephesus

     Part 4: Hebrews Closing Clues (13:1–19) 

     Part 5: The Main Takeaway of Hebrews (4:14–16; 10:25–31) 

 

In How to Think about Hebrews's Use of Israel's Scriptures J. David Stark informs us of a forthcoming book by him and Dana M. Harris: Appropriating Hebrews's Scriptural Hermeneutic for the Twenty-First Century.

 

Cliff Kvidahl has some thoughts on Hebrews 2:17–18 in A Merciful and Faithful High Priest