Hebrews Highlights - March 2023

David Allen spoke on Hebrews in the Spring Lecture Series at Northeastern Baptist College.

Spring Lecture Series 2023 Day 1 - Dr. David Allen 

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the Book of Hebrews? You're in luck; for day 1 of this year's Spring Lecture Series, Dr. David Allen gives his thoughts about the origins of Hebrews, when it was written, from where it was written, to whom it was written, and the biggest question of all: who wrote it?
Spring Lecture Series 2023 Day 2 - Dr. David Allen
Hebrews 6:1-8 has been a source of controversy in the church for centuries. Its interpretation is central to how we understand salvation itself, primarily whether it can be lost or not. For day 2 of our 2023 Spring Lecture Series, Dr. David Allen gives his views on this heavy passage and how it shapes our theology.

 

Jon Laansma talks with David Capes on Exegetically Speaking on Entering God's Resting Place (Hebrews 4:1–11).

What does the Greek wording of Heb. 4:1-11 tell us about the writer’s idea of God’s promise of entering into his resting place to celebrate the Sabbath?

 

University of Manchester has an interview with Joshua Bloor on his newly published book, Purifying the Consciousness in Hebrews: Cult, Defilement, and the Perpetual Heavenly Blood of Jesus.

Did Silas Write Hebrews?

Did Silas write Hebrews? So argues the author of this new book:

Andersen, Bob. Who Wrote Hebrews? The Case for Silas and His Message for Today. Riverside, CA: Gentle Impact Publishing, 2023.

"This is not another commentary on Hebrews. It is an analysis of the setting--which shines a beacon on the message. Pinpointing the author, historical setting, and target audience make the urgency of the message clear—not only for the ancient Hebrews but for Christians today. It is an argument for Silas as author with evidence that was "hidden in plain sight." It shows Hebrews was written to Jerusalem. It is a defense against 20th century thought and shows Paul's involvement in the writing of the book of Hebrews."

Don't let the cover fool you, nor the fact that the book appears to be independently published. This book does show evidence of scholarly research (hence, the inclusion on this blog). That is not to say that I am endorsing the book. I have not yet read the book to assess whether his arguments stand up to scrutiny. As with many of my  posts, I am alerting you to new books on Hebrews that may be of interest to you.

Intercession of Jesus in Hebrews

Newly published:

 

Abeneazer G. Urga. Intercession of Jesus in Hebrews: The Background and Nature of Jesus' Heavenly Intercession in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Mohr Siebeck.

 

"Recent scholarship on Hebrews has focused on Christ's sacrifice, resurrection, atonement, and priesthood. Though these discussions focus on the pre-and-post ascension mediatorial role of Jesus, there has been minimal attention paid to »intercession« as the present mediatorial task of Jesus in heaven. In this volume, Abeneazer G. Urga examines the background and nature of Jesus' heavenly intercession in the Epistle to the Hebrews. He demonstrates that the author of Hebrews has primarily depended on the LXX and some texts of the New Testament – while remaining cognizant of the theme of intercession in Second Temple Literature – in the formulation of the motif of Jesus' high priestly intercession. Urga also argues that Jesus' heavenly intercession is vocalis et realis , and that his intercession is made in order to procure help and the forgiveness of sin for God's people in their time of need."

Christology and New Creation in Hebrews

New article:

Shin, Euntaek D. “‘I Will Complete a New Covenant’ (Heb 8.8): Christology and New Creation in Hebrews.” New Testament Studies 69.2 (2023): 230–34.

Abstract:

"The use of συντɛλέω to speak of God's ‘completion’ of the new covenant (Heb 8.8) has generated various explanations. Yet none of them factor in an important clue in Hebrews, namely, the rest discourse. By establishing literary and theological connections between Heb 3.7–4.13 and 8.8–12, this study argues that the promise of the completion of the new covenant evokes the completion of creation and its ensuing sabbath rest. Such an evocation brings to surface a logic of Christology and new creation embedded in Hebrews."

Reading Hebrews Missiologically

New book:

 

Abeneazer G. Urga, Edward L. Smither, and Linda P. Saunders, Editors. Reading Hebrews Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of Hebrews. William Carey Publishing.

 

"God’s interactions with Israel were a foreshadowing of the perfect reality in the person of Jesus: absolutely God and absolutely human. Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom and all that God had initiated in the old covenant. There is a continuity of theological understanding as we move from the Old Testament to the letter sent to the Christians in Rome.

The discussion on the theology of mission in the New Testament usually focuses on Jesus and Paul, with minimal attention given to the General Epistles. However, Reading Hebrews Missiologically tries to fill that gap and focuses on the theology of mission in the book of Hebrews and fleshes out the unique contribution it has to the discussion of a New Testament theology of mission. The twelve contributors—from various theological, geographical, and missiological contexts—explore the missionary motive, the missionary message, and the missionary method of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

All Scripture can be read missiologically, and the letter to the Hebrews, with its emphasis on the supremacy of Christ, is no exception. We pray that this book will inspire fresh approaches to practical mission in the world today."