Reading Hebrews 12:4–13 as Proverbial Wisdom

New article:

Ch’ng, Adam. “Transposing Genre: Reading Hebrews 12:4–13 as Proverbial Wisdom.” Themelios 50.3 (2026): 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, and argues 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."

Hebrews Highlights - December 2025 - February 2026

I am catching up on blog posts. Here are the Hebrews Highlights for December 2025 through mid-February 2026:

 

Ken Schenck continues his narrative journey through Hebrews:

          Remember the Good Times (Hebrews 6, 10)

          The Impossibility of Repentance (Heb. 6:3-8; 10:26-31)

          The Rhetorical Strategy of Hebrews

          An Eternal Priest (Hebrews 5, 7)

          The New Covenant (Hebrews 8)

          A Better Sacrifice and Sanctuary (Hebrews 9 and 10)

          The Cheering Witnesses (chapter 11)

          The Discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12)

          Celebrating the Enthroned Christ (Hebrews 1)

          The Logic of Salvation (Hebrews 2)

Brian Davidson argues that Reading the OT Figurally Is Desperately Important and this is what Hebrews does.

He also sees a four-pattern match between Melchizedek and Jesus.

Phil Cecil and Ryan Meyer discusses The Use of Psalm 8 in Hebrews 2 in the Theologically Driven podcast

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."

The End Game

Gary Cockerill recently preached in Hughes Auditorium at Asbury University on Hebrews 12:1–4, "The End Game." 

Here is Gary's blog post.

Here is the Asbury podcast page.

Hebrews Highlights - July 2022

Ken Schenck has completed his Explanatory Notes on Hebrews 11:23–40, Hebrews 12:1–11, and Hebrews 12:12–29. Ken says he is going to self-publish his notes soon.

Hebrews Highlights August 2020

Chris Ritter completed his sermon series on Hebrews with a sermon on chapter 13: Greater Than: What to Tell Yourself.

Amy Peeler and David Capes discuss Jesus as the author and perfecter of faith in Hebrews 12:1–2.

Hebrews Highlights - July 2020

Nijay Gupta make recommendations for 5 Books Every Pastor Should Read on Hebrews.

Chris Ritter continues his sermon series on Hebrews:
What Can Wash Away My Sins?

Called to Encouragement.

The Hall of Heroes.

Running Well.

David Pallmann has a Critique of Eternal Security based on the warning passages in Hebrews.

Peter Goeman attempts to answer the question: Where was the Altar of Incense Located? (I.e., is Hebrews 9:3–4 wrong?).

Andrew Perriman offers a novel interpretation of Hebrews 1:6 in his post about Jesus and the empire to come.

Hebrews Highlights January 2019

Brief studies by Ken Schenck:
Believing God's Promises (Hebrews 11).
When Heaven Celebrates (Hebrews 12).

Hebrews Highlights February 2018

Phillip Long continues his series on Hebrews:
     Hebrews 7:1–3 – Who Was Melchizedek?
     Hebrews 8–9 – Old Israel, New Church?
     Hebrews 9:11–22 – The Christ, the Unblemished Sacrifice
     Hebrews 10:32–39 – Recall the Former Days
     Hebrews 10:39 – We Are Not of Those Who Shrink Back
     Hebrews 12:1–3 – Running the Race
     Hebrews 12:18–29 – Marching to Zion
    
Ken Schenck has completed his series on Concentrated Hebrews:
     Hebrews 4:14–5:11
     Hebrews 5:12–6:20
     Hebrews 7:1–28
     Hebrews 8:1–10:18
     Hebrews 10:19–11:40
     Hebrews 12:1–29
     Hebrews 13:1–25

Mike Heiser answers questions about the book of Hebrews:
     Hebrews Q&A Part 1
     Hebrews Q&A Part 2

David deSilva preaches a sermon on Hebrews 12:28–13:16: "Going to Serve Christ"
He preaches another sermon on Matthew 4:1–11 and Hebrews 4:12–16: "The Divine Source Code"

Austin Duncan explains how you can Preach Like Hebrews.

Stephen Rankin preaches a sermon on The Peaceful Fruit of Righteousness based on Hebrews 12:7, 11.

Henry Neufeld offers A Brief Note on Hebrews and Structure.

Hebrews Highlights January 2018

Mike Heiser has finished his series on Hebrews in his Naked Bible:
     Hebrews 11
     Hebrews 12
     Hebrews 13

Ken Schenck offers his notes on "Concentrated Hebrews":
     Hebrews 1:1–4
     Hebrews 1:5–14
     Hebrews 2:1–18
     Hebrews 3:1–4:13

Phillip Long has begun a new series on Hebrews:
     Hebrews 1 – Worship Jesus, the Firstborn
     Hebrews 1 – Jesus and the Angels
     Hebrews 2:1–4 – Do Not Drift Away
     Hebrews 3:1–6 – Moses, the Servant
     Hebrews 3:7–19 – An Exhortation to Righteousness
     Hebrews 4:14–16 – Jesus as High Priest
     Hebrews 4:16 – Boldly, Before the Throne of Grace   
     Hebrews 5:5–10 – Why Does Hebrews Call Jesus a Priest?    
     Hebrews 5:1–10 – The Great High Priesthood
     Hebrews 6:1–3 – Leaving Elementary Teachings Behind
     Hebrews 6:4–12 – It Is Impossible (Part 1)
     Hebrews 6:4–12 – It Is Impossible (Part 2)

Hebrews Highlights November 2017

Mike Heiser continues his podcast series on Hebrews. Episode 184 is on Hebrews 5:1–6:20. Episode 185 is on Hebrews 7.

David deSilva preaches a sermon on Hebrews 12:1–3: Who's Watching You Run?

Spencer Robinson comments on The "Firstborn" Enrolled in Mount Zion with the Consuming Fire (Hebrews 12:18–29).

Hebrews Highlights - February 2016

Phillip Long (it was nice to meet him in person at the most recent midwest regional) continues his series on Hebrews:
Leaving  Elementary Teachings Behind - Hebrews 6:1–3
Hebrews 6 and Eternal Security
Is It Really Impossible? - Hebrews 6
The Christ, the Unblemished Sacrifice - Hebrews 9:11–22
Running the Race - Hebrews 12:1–3

Ken Schenck muses about Hebrews and Works and the possible impact that the "new perspective" might have on the study of Hebrews.

Christian Brady announces that  he has received the digital offprint of his article, “What Shall We Remember, the Deeds or the Faith of Our Ancestors? A Comparison of 1 Maccabees 2 and Hebrews11,” which will appear in the forthcoming volume, Earliest Christianity within the Boundaries of Judaism: Essays in Honor of Bruce Chilton, published with Brill.

Hebrews Highlights November 2014

Chuck Grantham continues to assemble antique commentary quotes: Hebrews 11:1–7, Hebrews 12:1–7, 12:18–24, 13:1–8.

Henry Neufeld has been active this month as he is revising his book on Hebrews. He has Some Thoughts on the Christ of Faith after Reading Hebrews. He also muses about whether the best reading is Chwris or Chariti in Hebrews 2:9. He then discusses A Gender Neutral Example in Hebrews 2:6–8. He then offers a Quick Follow-up on Hebrews 2:6–8. Then he has a lengthy post on Hebrews Background. He comments on Yet More Hebrews and Old Testament-New Testament Continuity. He then explains How and Why Ezekiel, Hebrews, and Leviticus Shaped [His] Theology.

Mark Beuving distinguishes between Discipline vs. Punishment in his discussion of Hebrews 12:5–11.

Steve Walton summarizes Ross Wagner's paper at IBR on Hebrews and its usage of Psalms 8 and 40.

Ken Schenck has some thoughts on Hebrews and the New Perspective.

Hebrews Highlights September 2014

Durham University has announced a conference on Neglected Texts and Early Christian Identities. These texts include Hebrews.

Chuck Grantham has assembled antique commentary quotes on Hebrews 1:1–4, Hebrews 2:1–4, and Hebrews 2:14–18, Hebrews 3:7–15.

Denny Burk comments on What the Bible teaches about spanking. The discussion includes seven propositions about discipline from Hebrews 12:4–11.

Hebrews Highlights February 2014

The Hebrews Highlights for the month of February:

Phillip Long continues his series on Hebrews:
Hebrews 6:4–12 - "It is Impossible . . ." (Part 1)
Hebrews 6:4–12 - "It is Impossible . . ." (Part 2)
Hebrews 7:1–3 - The Priesthood of Melchizedek
Hebrews 7 - Melchizedek and Typology
Hebrews 12:18–29 - Marching to Zion

Peter Head discusses a textual variant in Hebrews 5.6 in P46. He makes a convincing case that in this instance the more difficult reading is NOT to be accepted.

Hebrews Carnival September 2013

Clifford Kvidahl reminds us that Ceslas Spicq's two-volume commentary, L'Épître aux Hébreux, is being translated into English and is available for prepublication purchase at Logos Bible Software.  Spicq' commentary is still the most important French commentary on Hebrews, Samuel Bénétreau's two-volume commentary notwithstanding, even though it was published in 1952–1953.

Abram Kielsmeier-Jones posted his sermon on hospitality based on Hebrews 13:1–5: "A Ministry of Interruptions."

Andy Naselli posted an outline of his sermon, "Training Children for Their Good," partially based on Hebrews 12:4–11.  The full article appears in The Journal of Discipleship and Family Ministry 3.2 (Spring/Summer 2013): 48–64.  The audio file of his sermon can be found here.

Matthew Montonini announces that Gary Cockerill delivered the Scripture and Ministry Lecture at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School entitled "Do not Refuse the One Who Is Speaking (Heb 12:25): Hebrews and Contemporary Preaching."  A video of the lecture is available for streaming.

Henry Neufeld announces that David Alan Black's new book, The Authorship of Hebrews: The Case for Paul, is off to the printer.  He has created a new blog/book site to generate discussion about The Authorship of Hebrews.  I will include a link to this new site on the sidebar.

Kevin Jackson queries, Who Was the Author of Hebrews?  He then enumerates the usual candidates for authorship.

Hebrews Carnival December 2012

William Burch explains what "holiness" means in Hebrews 12:14.

Michael Barber reports that John Paul the Great Catholic University is hosting James Swetnam, a leading Catholic interpreter of Hebrews, as Distinguished Visiting Faculty.  He is lecturing on Hebrews.  His extensive bibliography can be found here.

William Varner discusses the "Story" of Christmas in the Letter to the Hebrews.

David deSilva has started blogging and he begins with a post on Translating Hebrews 10:24.

Hebrews Carnival March 2012

Dirk Jongkind points out the problem generated by scriptio continua in Codex Sinaiticus at Hebrews 9:26.

Cliff Kvidahl tells about his efforts to get Ceslas Spicq’s L’Épitre aux Hébreux translated into English.

William Mounce discusses the meaning of "as a father disciplines his son" in Hebrews 12:5.

Tim Gombis quotes James Thompson's contention about Reading the Hebrews Warning Passages in Context, but he questions his take that the warning passages are only hypothetical.  He also discusses Hebrews' Threatening Christology and the Quasi-Platonic Cosmology of Hebrews.  He argues that Jewish & Christian Identities are Not Incompatible, but that Hebrews 7–10 was written because a crisis arose that compelled the audience to "choose between their identity as Christians as their identity as Jews."  He also has a post on The Quest for Certainty and Jesus' Humanity.

Hebrews Carnival February 2012

Phillip Long responds to Peter O'Brien's and Scot McKnight's views on the warning passage of Hebrews 6:4–12.  He also comments on the statements "recall the former days" in  Hebrews 10:32–39 and "We are not of those who shrink back" in Hebrews 10:39.  He notes that "faith is being sure" and not "wishful thinking" in Hebrews 11:1–3 and that believers are "marching to Zion" in Hebrews 12:18–29.

Jared Calaway discusses The Beauty of Moses in Acts 7:20 and Hebrews 11:23.

Tim Gombis highlights a quote from James Thompson's commentary on The Use of Scripture in Hebrews.

Matthew Montonini informs us that Harold Attridge's, Essays on John and Hebrews, originally published by Mohr Siebeck in the WUNT series, will be reissued by Baker at a more inexpensive price.

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).