Jesus in the Letter to the Hebrews

Here is my rough translation of the table of contents of Jordi Cervera's new book:

Jesus in the Letter to the Hebrews:

A Christology from a Jewish Matrix

Table of Contents

Presentation

Introduction

First Part

The Hebrews

First Chapter

THE HEBREWS: BELIEVERS IN JESUS FROM A JEWISH MATRIX

1. Judeo-Christian: an imprecise term

2. Kaleidoscope of believers from a Jewish and Gentile matrix according to the Second Testament

    2.1. Believers from a Jewish provenance

        2.1.1. Hebrews observant of the Torah who required it for Gentile brothers

        2.1.2. Hebrews observant of the Torah who did not require it for Gentile brothers

        2.1.3. Hebrews flexible with the Torah who dismissed it for the Gentiles

        2.1.4. Hebrews observant of the Torah who followed Jesus secretly

        2.1.5. Conclusion

    2.2. Believers from a Gentile provenance

        2.2.1. Gentiles who rejected the Torah and rejected the Jewish tradition

        2.2.2. Gentiles who respected the Torah despite not observing it

        2.2.3. Judaized Gentiles

        2.2.4. Conclusion

    2.3. The antichrists

        2.3.1. Syncretistic or Gnosticized believers who denied the humanity of Jesus

        2.3.2. Messianic believers who did not accept the divine filiation of Jesus

        2.3.3. Conclusion

3. From kaleidoscope to binoculars

Second Chapter

The Hebrews: Historical Panorama

1. The New Testament testimony

2. The apocryphal writings

    2.1. Apocrypha of the first testament

    2.2. Apocrypha of the second testament

3. The apostolic writings

4. References from the fathers of the Church

    4.1. Justin (150–160 AD)

    4.2. Polycrates of Ephesus (ca. 195 AD) concerning the quartodecimans

    4.3. Origen (ca. 185– ca. 253 AD)

    4.4. Epiphanius of Salamis (ca. 315–403 AD) concerning Joseph of Tiberius

    4.5. Jerome (331–420 AD)

5. Groups of Christians from a Jewish matrix according to the fathers of the Church

    5.1. Nazarenes

    5.2. Ebionites

    5.3. Cerinthians and Elkasites

6. Assessments of Rabbinic Judaism

    6.1. The Christians from a Jewish matrix according to the Tannaitic sources

    6.2. The Christians according to Amoraic sources

    6.3. The Birkat ha-Minim as an explanatory synthesis

    6.4. Conclusion

7. A tradition and a progressively irrelevant group

Second Part

The Letter to the Hebrews

Third Chapter

“To the Hebrews”: An author and recpients from a Jewish matrix

1. “To the Hebrews”: A genuine title

    1.1. Hebrews in the papyrus Chester Beatty P46

    1.2. Hebrews in the Codex Sinaiticus (אּ)

    1.3. Hebrews in the Codex Alexandrinus (A)

    1.4. Hebrews in the Codex Vaticanus (B)

    1.5. The genuineness of the title “to the Hebrews”

2. A largely Judaized writing with later adjustments

    2.1. A surprising exordium (Heb 1:1–3)

    2.2. The thirteenth chapter

    2.3. A postscript of delivery

    2.4. Textual dissonances

        2.4.1. Hebrews 7:12 and Hebrews 7:18–19a

        2.4.2. Hebrews 13:8

        2.4.3. Hebrews 13:16

    2.5 Internal contradictions

        2.5.1. The sacrificial affirmations of the ninth chapter

        2.5.2. Contradictions in the tenth chapter

        2.5.3. Comparative schema

    2.6. Adjustments to a largely Judaized writing

Third Part

Christology of the Letter to the Hebrews

Fourth Chapter

The christological context of Hebrews

1. The New Testament and apostolic stamp

    1.1. The Johannine writings

    1.2. The proto-Pauline writings

    1.3. The first letter of Peter

    1.4. Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, the Martyrdom of Polycarp

2. References from intertestamental literature

    2.1. A priestly messianism at Qumran

    2.2. The new priesthood of the Testament of Levi

    2.3. Melchizedek at Qumran

    2.4. Melchizedek in the Targums

Fifth Chapter

An inspired apology from the death and heavenliness of Jesus

1. Recipients from a Jewish matrix with difficulties to confess the communal faith

    1.1. Messianic traits of Jesus assumed by believers of the Jewish matrix

        1.1.1. A preexistent Messiah, son, and session at the right hand

        1.1.2. A suffering Messiah who expiates sins

    1.2. Christological depth and novelty

        1.2.1. The new covenant in Jesus

        1.2.2. A Messiah fully son, celestial and universal priest

    1.3. The christological controversy

        1.3.1. Jesus is also God

        1.3.2. His blood expiates sins in a definitive manner

    1.4. Difficulties of communion in the confession of faith

    1.5. A postbaptismal catechesis

2. A sacrificed and exalted Jesus: an expiation and a definitive mediation

    2.1. The relevancy of the great high priest in Hebrews

    2.2. Jesus and Melchizedek

    2.3. Conclusion

3. A theology of a Jewish matrix with remarks of a Greek stamp

Sixth Chapter

A symphony of christological titles

1. A rhythmical combination of christological titles

2. Melodies of priestly messianism

    2.1. High priest/priest and son of God

    2.2. Christ, high priest, son

    2.3. High priest and son

    2.4. Christ and high priest

    2.5. Offering and Jesus Christ

3. Priestly melodies

    3.1. High priest and sacrifice

    3.2. Sacrifice and offering

4. Melodies of priestly mediation

    4.1. Envoy and high priest

    4.2. Precursor and high priest

5. Complementary melodies

    5.1. Melody of messianic mediator: son and heir

    5.2. Messianic melody: Christ and son

    5.3. Melody of mediation: great shepherd and our Lord

6. Melodies that outline christological themes

Seventh Chapter

Titles descriptive of the celestial cult of Jesus

1. High priest

2. Priest

3. Minister

4. Sacrifice

5. Offering

6. Conclusion

Eighth Chapter

Titles descriptive of the divine status of Jesus

1. Proclamation of the divinity of Jesus (Heb 1:3–4)

2. Son of God

3. The son

4. Christ

5. Jesus Christ

6. Conclusion

Ninth Chapter

Titles descriptive of the celestial mediation of Jesus

1. Mediator

2. Our Lord

3. Firstborn

4. Initiator and culminator

5. Guarantor

6. Conclusion

Tenth Chapter

Jesus, the glue and backbone title

1. Jesus: celestial high priest and perfect offering

    1.1. Celestial high priest

    1.2. Perfect offering

2. Jesus: preexistent, suffering, enthroned, universal messiah

3. Jesus: mediator of the new covenant and of a new faith in God

    3.1. Jesus: author, leader, and forefather of the new covenant

        3.1.1. Author of the new covenant

        3.1.2. Leader and forefather of the new covenant

    3.2. Jesus: spokesman of a new faith in God

Fourth Part

Epilogue

Eleventh Chapter

Hebrews: A mystic approach to God and to Jesus

1. An existential ascent through Jesus

2. Contemplating Jesus

3. Observing Jesus

4. Fixing the eyes on Jesus

5. Approaching God and Jesus

6. Entering into the celestial realm

7. A mystic and communal journey to heaven

Bibliography used

Index of authors

Index of citations