Death of Paul Ellingworth

From Steve Walton, secretary of the British New Testament Society:

"We have received the sad news of the death of Professor Paul Ellingworth on Sunday last, 25 November from Richard, his second (of three) sons. Professor Ellingworth taught at the University of Aberdeen, and worked with the United Bible Societies as a translation consultant for many years, as well as publishing his major commentary on Hebrews (NIGTC), as well as many other published books, articles and essays."

As Steve Walton points out, Ellingworth was most noted for his commentary on Hebrews in the New Internation Greek Testament Commentary published with Eerdmans in 1993. It is perhaps THE most technical commentary on the Greek text of Hebrews in existence.

Ellingworth also did a couple of other smaller commentaries on Hebrews. In 1983 he published with Eugene Nida A Translator’s Handbook on the Letter to the Hebrews with the United Bible Societies. In 1991 he published a small commentary on Hebrews in the Epworth Commentaries series.

His doctoral dissertation was on “The Old Testament in Hebrews Exegesis, Method and Hermeneutics,” completed in 1977 with the University of Aberdeen.

He also published the following articles on Hebrews:

“Hebrews and 1 Clement: Literary Dependence or Common Tradition?” Biblische Zeitschrift ns 23 (1979): 262–69.

“Hebrews and the Anticipation of Completion.” Themelios ns 14 (1988): 6–11.

“Jesus and the Universe in Hebrews.” The Evangelical Quarterly 58 (1986): 337–50.

“Just Like Melchizedek.” The Bible Translator 28 (1977): 236–39.

“‘Like the Son of God’: Form and Content in Hebrews 7,1–10.” Biblica 64 (1983): 255–62.

“New Testament Text and Old Testament Context in Heb. 12.3.” Studia Biblica 3 (1978): 89–96.

“Reading through Hebrews 1–7: Listening Especially for the Theme of Jesus as High Priest.” Epworth Review 12.1 (Jan 1985): 80–88.

“The Unshakable Priesthood: Hebrews 7.24.” Journal for the Study of the New Testament 23 (1985): 125–26.

Clearly, he was one of the most prolific contributors to the scholarly study of Hebrews. I never had the privilege of meeting him. Requiescat in pace.

Hebrews at the Cyber-Center for Biblical Studies

At the most recent SBL conference I had a conversation with Herbert W. Bateman, founder of the Cyber-Center for Biblical Studies. He informed me that there were resources on the site on Hebrews. And indeed there are. Listed below are some of the video resources (via Youtube) that are available. There are also links to articles and book reviews on the site, as well as the opportunity to purchase Hebrews materials. I will be providing links to the pertinent resources on this blog. Thanks to Herbert Bateman for the tip.

Four Views on the Warning Passage in Hebrews - video review with Aaron Peer.

Hebrews - overview with Scott Barger.

Let's Know the Bible Videos:
Understanding the New Covenant in Hebrews - with George H. Guthrie.
Understand the Background of Hebrews - with George H. Guthrie.
Hebrews: Track the Christ-ology - with George H. Guthrie.
Hear the Word of Encouragement - with George H. Guthrie.

Revisiting High Priesthood Christology in Hebrews

This article appeared three months ago, but just recently came to my attention:

William Loader. "Revisiting High Priesthood Christology in Hebrews." Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft 109.2 (2018): 235–83.

Abstract:
"This paper revisits the author’s research on the christology of Hebrews completed in the 1970s in the light of subsequent research. It concentrates, in particular, on the way key problems of interpretation have been handled. These include the extent to which the author’s atonement day typology dictates a soteriology which reduces Christ’s death to a preparatory event and depicts a heavenly offering as the salvific event or, conversely, whether the author employs atonement day typology selectively to interpret Jesus’ death as salvific. It also addresses the associated problems created by parts of the book which report Jesus’ appointment at high priesthood as occurring after his death at his exaltation and other parts which appear to imply that he was acting as a high priest already during his earthly ministry."

Hebrews Summary by Craig Keener

Craig Keener offers a brief video summary of Hebrews, with a particular emphasis on chapter 11.

New Article on Hebrews 12

Cockerill, Gareth Lee. “Hebrews 12:18–24: Apocalyptic Typlogy or Platonic Dualism?” Tyndale Bulletin 69.2. (2018): 225–40.

"Those who have approached Hebrews either from the point of view of apocalyptic eschatology or from the perspective of neoplatonism have often misinterpreted the two 'mountains' in Hebrews 12:18-24. The first understand these 'mountains' as representing the Old and New Covenants; the second, the earthly and heavenly worlds. This paper argues that the two 'mountains' represent two present possibilities. The first is the present state and future destiny of the disobedient who are excluded from fellowship with God; the second, the present state and future destiny of the faithful who enter into that fellowship.         

This interpretation is substantiated by a careful examination of the text and confirmed by the way this interpretation fits with Hebrews' rhetorical strategy and use of the Old Testament. Crucial to the argument is the total lack of continuity between the two mountains that would be essential to substantiate either of the traditional interpretations."