Hebrews at the ETS

The 2011 Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society has the following sessions on Hebrews:

Thursday, November 17

8:30-11:40 am
Marriott – Nob Hill A & B
Hebrews, Letter to the

Moderator: Herbert W. Bateman IV
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)

8:30-9:10 am
Authorial Commentary Overviews
David L. Allen
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Review of Hebrews in the New American Commentary Series

Gareth Lee Cockerill
(Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS)
A New Volume on Hebrews in the NICNT—Distinct Emphasis and Contributions

9:20-10:00 am
Reviewer
Buist Fanning
(Dallas Theological Seminary)
Review of Two Recent Commentaries on Hebrews

10:10-10:50 am
Reviewer
Michael Allen
(Knox Theological Seminary)
Recent Commentaries on Hebrews: A Theological Reply

11:00-11:40 am
Responses
David L. Allen
(Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Gareth Lee Cockerill (Wesley Biblical Seminary, Jackson, MS)
Panel and Audience Discussion

8:30-11:40 am
Marriott – Foothill D
Patristics and Medieval History
Eastern Patristics/Early Medieval

Moderator: Paul Hartog
(Faith Baptist Theological Seminary)

9:20-10:00 am
Ashish J. Naidu
(Talbot School of Theology, Biola University)
Assisting Grace or Transforming Grace? An Investigation of the Motifs of Grace in John Chrysostom‘s Exposition of Hebrews

Friday, November 18

Marriott – Yerba Buena 1
Hebrews, Letter to the

Moderator: Jon C. Laansma
(Wheaton College)

9:45-10:25 am
Thomas Keene
(Westminster Theological Seminary)
I’m Glad I Don’t Know: The Literary Function of Anonymous Authorship in the Epistle to the Hebrews

10:35-11:15 am
Benjamin J. Ribbens
(Wheaton College)
Conceptual Backgrounds and Sacrifice Theology in Hebrews

11:25 am-12:05 pm
Jacob Rosenberg
(Trinity Evangelical Divinity School)
The Sin of Esau as Anti-Type to the Character and Position of Jesus in Hebrews 12:16

12:15-12:55 pm
Barry Joslin
(Boyce College of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary)
Whose Name? A Comparison of Hebrews 1 and Philippians 2 and Christ‘s Inheritance of the Name

George Guthrie Course on Hebrews

BiblicalTraining.org is now offering a course on Hebrews taught by George Guthrie.

Description of the course: "An exegetical study of Hebrews.  As Dr. Guthrie interacts with each verse, he explores not only the meaning of the text, but how we apply the theology of the text in our daily lives and ministries."

HT: Charles Savelle

Worship in the Book of Hebrews

I have just become aware of a new book out on Hebrews:

John Paul Heil. Worship in the Letter to the Hebrews. Cascade Books.

Blurb from the Wipf & Stock website:

"This book seeks a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the Letter to the Hebrews by examining it from the viewpoint of its prominent theme of worship. It aims to demonstrate the topic of worship in all of its rich and varied dimensions provides the major concern and thrust that embraces Hebrews from start to finish. The author of Hebrews encourages his audience to hold on to the letter he has written to them as "the word of the encouragement" (Heb 13:22). In a very carefully concerted and masterfully artistic way, the letter persistently encourages the members of its audience with regard to their worship. Indeed, Hebrews was intended to be presented orally in a public performance as a liturgical or homiletic letter, an act of worship in itself, heard by its audience gathered together as a worshiping assembly. Hebrews exhorts the members of its audience not only with regard to their liturgical worship in which they engage during their communal gatherings, but also with regard to their ethical or moral worship in which they engage by the way they conduct themselves outside of their communal gatherings. This close examination of Hebrews through the lens of worship is intended to inform and enrich the worship of Christians today. Hebrews presents important and unique points about worship not found in any other New Testament writing. The goal is to illustrate and illuminate these points for the benefit of those who desire to deepen their worship as Christians by deepening their understanding of the magnificent literary masterpiece that the poetically lively letter to the Hebrews articulates for all Christians."

Cockerill on Melchizedek

The following article is now available online:

Cockerill, Gareth Lee. "Melchizedek or 'King of Righteousness.'" Evangelical Quarterly 63.4 (1991): 305-12.

On a related note, I noticed today that Cockerill's commentary on Hebrews in the NICNT series now has an expected publication date of June 2012.

Hebrews Carnival October 2011

The biblioblog activity on the book of Hebrews for the month of October:

Kevin Brown explores When did Jesus become a Priest?

Dirk Jongkind discusses a variant of Hebrews 5:6 in P46.

Ken Schenck offers his Outline of Hebrews that will be a part of the study notes for the CEB Study Bible.

Daniel Streett explains that the Sabbath Rest in Hebrews is based upon the author's interpretation of the LXX text, and not the Hebrew.

Michael Bird Introduces the Book of Hebrews.

Hebrews Recited

Joey Shorey of Covenant Fellowship Church recites the entire book of Hebrews from memory.  A video like this reminds us that the original audience would have heard the book orally; they would not have read it.  This video gives us a sense of what it would been like to have heard it orally for the first time.

New Articles Added

The following articles have been added:

Anonymous. "A Lawyer Looks at Hebrews 9:15-17." Evangelical Quarterly 40.3 (1968): 151-56.

Legg, John D. "Our Brother Timothy: A Suggested Solution to the Problem of the Authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews." Evangelical Quarterly 40.4 (1968): 220-223.

Rendall, Robert. "The Method of the Writer to the Hebrews in Using Old Testament Quotations." Evangelical Quarterly 27.4 (1955): 214-220.

Thurston, Robert W. "Philo and the Epistle to the Hebrews." Evangelical Quarterly 58.2 (1986): 133-43.

Trudinger, L. Paul. "The Gospel Meaning of the Secular: Reflections on Hebrews 10:10-13." Evangelical Quarterly, 54.4 (1982): 235-37.

Hebrews Dinner at SBL in San Francisco

Last year, after one of the sessions on Hebrews, we had an impromptu gathering of several Hebrews specialists who had a meal together.  This year Scott Mackie and I would like to be more intentional about organizing a dinner together with other Hebrews specialists.  Scott has told me that there is already some interest in having such a gathering.

We think the best time for the dinner would be right after the Monday session which meets from 4:00-6:30.

If you are going to be in San Francisco for the SBL meeting and would like to join us for dinner, please leave a comment.

". . . not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some . . ." (Hebrews 10:25)

Letters to the Churches

Apparently, Karen Jobes' new book, Letters to the Churches: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles (Zondervan) is now available.

Description from the Zondervan website:

"Respected New Testament scholar Karen Jobes explores the cultural and theological background of Hebrews and the general epistles (James through Jude) in this rich commentary. Writing from an evangelical perspective, Jobes addresses issues of historical relevance as well as how these ancient books connect with Christian faith and practice today. Letters to the Church includes: -Historical background for each book focusing on authorship, genre, date, and content -An exploration of the major themes in each book and detailed commentary on key passages -Boxes with chapter goals, outlines, challenges, and significant verses -Sidebars addressing difficult passages or ideas -Maps, photographs, charts, and definitions -Questions for discussion, reflection, and testing -A comparison of the teachings about Christ in each of the letters Pastors, professors, students, and laypeople interested in deeper biblical study will find this an invaluable resource that offers well-researched commentary in an accessible, spiritually meaningful form."

About the Author:

Karen H. Jobes is the Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College. She is the author of many articles and several books, including The NIV Application Commentary: Esther.

HT: Matthew Montonini

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews

The Society of Biblical Literature has just announced the publication of a new resource on Hebrews.  I knew that this book was in the works but couldn't say anything about it.  The book has a line-up of leading Hebrews scholars:

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Resource for Students. Edited by Eric Mason and Kevin McCruden.

From the SBL website: 

Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Resource for Students addresses major issues in the interpretation of this important but complex biblical text and provides an introduction to contemporary scholarship on Hebrews. With contributions from an international team of leading scholars on Hebrews and related fields, this volume reflects the most recent trends in the study of Hebrews and is designed for classroom use by students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. The various chapters emphasize the importance of interpreting Hebrews in light of its ancient Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman contexts and address major interpretive issues, including genre, conceptual backgrounds, Hebrews’ use of Scripture and biblical themes, the theology of the letter and major theological issues in its reception, emerging interpretive approaches, and the use of the book in the history of Christian thought and worship.

Eric F. Mason is Associate Professor of Biblical Studies and chair of the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies at Judson University. He is the author of ‘You Are a Priest Forever’: Second Temple Jewish Messianism and the Priestly Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Brill).
Kevin B. McCruden is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University. He is the author of Solidarity Perfected: Beneficent Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews (de Gruyter).

CONTENTS

Introduction
— Eric F. Mason

Hebrews among Greeks and Romans
— Patrick Gray

What Has Middle Platonism to Do with Hebrews?
— James W. Thompson

Cosmology, Messianism, and Melchizedek: Apocalyptic Jewish Traditions and Hebrews
— Eric F. Mason

The Interpretation of Scripture in the Epistle to the Hebrews
— David M. Moffitt

Hebrews, Rhetoric, and the Future of Humanity
— Craig R. Koester

Hebrews, Homiletics, and Liturgical Scripture Interpretation
— Gabriella Gelardini

Jesus the Broker in Hebrews: Insights from the Social Sciences
— Jerome H. Neyrey, S.J.

Hebrews as the Re-presentation of a Story: A Narrative Approach to Hebrews
— Kenneth Schenck

The Theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews
— Frank J. Matera

The Concept of Perfection in the Epistle to the Hebrews
— Kevin B. McCruden

The Jesus of Hebrews and the Christ of Chalcedon
— Rowan A. Greer

“A Sacrifice of Praise”: Does Hebrews Promote Supersessionism?
— Alan C. Mitchell

Hebrews in the Worship Life of the Church: A Historical Survey
— Mark A. Torgerson

Epilogue
— Harold W. Attridge

Hardback edition available from Brill Academic Publishers (www.brill.nl)

Demarest on Hebrews 7:3

The following article has been added:

Demarest, Bruce A. "Hebrews 7:3: A Crux Interpetum Historically Considered." Evangelical Quarterly 49.3 (1977): 141-162.

HT: Rob Bradshaw

Belief Commentary on Hebrews

Apparently, D. Stephen Long's commentary on Hebrews in the Belief series is now available.

From the website:

"The book of Hebrews is a fascinating extended sermon which has nurtured and challenged the church for centuries. It stands in tension with our sensibilities but provides guidance for the church's life and for individual Christians. In this theological commentary, D. Stephen Long explores this captivating book. He finds Hebrews extremely relevant for today since it integrates doctrine, ethics, and politics while helping faithful Christians find their ways through troubled times. It invites us into a robust world beyond the assumptions of today's scientific worldviews. Hebrews also helps us understand how to read Scripture after the triumph of Jesus Christ. Long's expert theological guidance helps us understand Hebrews and hear its message for our contemporary world.

The volumes in Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible from Westminster John Knox Press offer a fresh and invigorating approach to all the books of the Bible. Building on a wide range of sources from biblical studies, the history of theology, the church's liturgical and musical traditions, contemporary culture, and the Christian tradition, noted scholars focus less on traditional historical and literary angles in favor of a theologically focused commentary that considers the contemporary relevance of the texts. This series is an invaluable resource for those who want to probe beyond the backgrounds and words of biblical texts to their deep theological and ethical meanings for the church today."

Reformation Commentary on Scripture

I read on Charles Savelle's blog that InterVarsity Press has started a new commentary series, Reformation Commentary on Scripture.  For the interests of this blog, I note that Ron Rittgers is editing the volume on Hebrews and James. 

New Articles Added

The number of articles available online continues to grow.  I have recently added links to three new articles:

Campbell, Kenneth M. "Covenant or Testament?: Heb. 9:16, 17 Reconsidered." Evangelical Quarterly, 44.2 (1972): 107-11.

Ounsworth, Richard. "What Are They Saying about the Letter to the Hebrews?" Scripture Bulletin 39.2 (2009): 76-90. 

Worden, T. "Before Reading the Epistle to the Hebrews." Scripture 14 (1962): 48-57.

JSTOR Articles Now Available

JSTOR has now made articles dating before 1923 available for the public.  The following articles have been added to the Articles page:

Bruce, Alexander Balmain Bruce. "Four Types of Christian Thought III. The Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 7.2 (Feb 1896): 94-104.

Burbridge, A. T. "Faith as an Effort of the Soul (Heb. 11.1.)." Biblical World 18.3 (Sep. 1901): 185-93.

Burton, Ernest De Witt. "The Biblical Doctrine of Atonement: XI. The Teaching of the First Epistle of Peter and of the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 32.5 (Nov. 1908): 336-48.

Cobet, C. G. "Pauli Apostoli locus in Epistola ad hebraeos XI. 4. tentatus." Mnemosyne 9 (1860): 308-14.

Crosby, Howard. "Heb. X. 26-27." Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 7.2 (Dec. 1887): 1-2.

Gardiner, Frederic. “The Language of the Epistle to the Hebrews as Bearing upon Its Authorship.” Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 7 (June 1887): 1–27.

Gardiner, Frederic. "On διαθήκη in Heb. ix. 16, 17." Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 5 (1885): 8-19.

Gilbert, George Holley. “The Greek Element in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” American Journal of Theology 14 (1910): 521–32.

Goodwin, D. R. “On the Use of και in Hebrews x. 38.” Journal of the Society of Biblical Literature and Exegesis 5 (1885): 84–85.

Hayes, D. A. "Jesus the Perfecter of Faith (Heb. 12:2)." Biblical World 20.4 (Oct 1902): 278-87.

Hayes, D. A. "The Practical Outcome of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Heb. 10:19-25)." Biblical World 24.6 (Dec 1904): 443-47.

Johnston, R. P. "A Message for Times of Transition: A Study in the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World. 28.4 (Oct 1906): 251-60.

Lewis, Wm. M. "St. Paul's Defense before King Agrippa in Relation to the Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 13.4 (Apr. 1899): 244-48.

Marshall, J. T. "The Epistle to the Hebrews." Biblical World 7.5 (May 1896): 359-65.

Penick, Daniel A. "Paul's Epistles Compared with One Another and with the Epistle to the Hebrews." American Journal of Philology 42.1 (1921): 58-72.

Schiele, Friedrich Michael. "Harnack's 'Probabilia' concerning the Address and the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews." American Journal of Theology 9.2 (Apr. 1905): 290-308.

Scott, E. F. “The Epistle to the Hebrews and Roman Christianity.” Harvard Theological Review 13 (1920): 205–19.

Williams, Clarence Russell. “A Word-Study of Hebrews 13.” Journal of Biblical Literature 30 (1911): 129–36.

Gert Steyn's New Book on Hebrews

It seems that Gert J. Steyn's book is also out: A Quest for the Assumed LXX Vorlage of the Explicit Quotations in Hebrews. Forschungen zur Religion und Literatur des Alten und Neuen Testaments. (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht)

Synopsis: The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

The assumed LXX Vorlage of the explicit quotations in Hebrews remains unresolved to date – despite the fact that it is an important pre-requisite before one can attempt to investigate the function of these quotations within their NT context. The selection, origin and version of the explicit quotations are greatly neglected aspects in previous studies. This quest attempts to address these matters from a tradition historical and a text critical angle. It follows the ground plan of Hebrews‘ own presentation of two sets of quotations that are listed in pairs: the first consisting mainly of hymnic texts and the second consisting of quotations from the Torah that are alternated with quotations from the Psalms and the Prophets. The investigation considers each quotation in the light of possible alternative Vorlage(n) to those of the printed versions and interacts with previously proposed hypotheses, such as the »Testimony Book«, liturgy, homily, and midrash hypotheses. It became clear that, although Hebrews might have known a large number of quotations from the early Jewish and early Christian traditions, he also expanded on some and added some longer quotations. The author himself was responsible for the majority of the combinations of the quotations, although there are traces of the existence of exegetical traditions that combined particular passages prior to his time. The use of Psalms, Odes, hymnic reworkings and compositions of his quoted texts all testify to an interesting inclination towards hymnic tendencies. The study concludes that so-called differences between Hebrews and the LXX could be explained in the light of an alternative Vorlage where the readings of the quotations seem to be closer to an Egyptian text tradition, but also to the author‘s own creative hand.

David Moffitt's New Book on Hebrews

Apparently, David M. Moffitt's book Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Brill) has also been published.  Trust me, this one is worth taking a look at.

Synopsis: Scholars often explain Hebrews' relative silence regarding Jesus' resurrection by emphasizing the author's appeal to Yom Kippur's two key moments the sacrificial slaughter and the high priest's presentation of blood in the holy of holies in his distinctive portrayal of Jesus' death and heavenly exaltation. The writer's depiction of Jesus as the high priest whose blood effected ultimate atonement appears to be modeled upon these two moments. Such a typology discourages discrete reflection on Jesus' resurrection. Drawing on contemporary studies of Jewish sacrifice (which note that blood represents life, not death), parallels in Jewish apocalyptic literature, and fresh exegetical insights, this volume demonstrates that Jesus' embodied, resurrected life is crucial for the high-priestly Christology and sacrificial soteriology developed in Hebrews.

The Use of Exodus in Hebrews

A new book on Hebrews has recently come to my attention:

King L. She. The Use of Exodus in Hebrews. Studies in Biblical Literature 142. New York: Peter Lang, 2011.

Synopsis: The Use of Exodus in Hebrews illustrates how traditions and hermeneutics have significantly determined people's valuations of the relationship between the Old and New Covenants in Hebrews. By showing how the author of Hebrews uses the canonical revelation from Exodus to argue rhetorically, ontologically, and hermeneutically that Jesus Christ is the New Covenant priest in the heavenly tabernacle, this book offers an epistemological lens from Exodus to identify the correct view of the relationship between the Old and New Covenants.

HT: Clifford Kvidahl who promises a review.

C. K. Barrett (1917-2011)

I am saddened to hear of the passing of C. K. Barrett.  Barrett was the first world-class scholar that I had the opportunity to meet back in my seminary days.  I remember him as a kindly British gentleman. This picture on Ben Witherington's blog is closer to how I remember him.  We've lost a giant in the NT world.

Barrett did not write any monographs or commentaries on Hebrews, but in 1954 he wrote a very influential article on "The Eschatology of the Epistle to the Hebrews" in The Background of the New Testament and Its Eschatology, edited by W. D. Davies and D. Daube.

He also wrote "The Christology of Hebrews" in Who Do You Say That I Am?: Essays on Christology, edited by Mark Allan Powell and David Bauer in 1999.

New Articles Added

I just came across these article which have been added to the articles page:

Ackerman, David A. “The High Priesthood of Jesus and the Sanctification of Believers in Hebrews7–10.” Wesleyan Theological Journal 45.1 (Spring 2010): 226–45.

Joslin, Barry C. “Christ Bore the Sins of Many: Substitution and the Atonement in Hebrews.” Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 11 (2007): 74–103.

With the addition of this article I have crossed the milestone of 300 links for articles.