New Tyndale Article on Hebrews

New article:

Stevens, Daniel. “Changes: Literary and Theological Consideration of Two Variation Units in Hebrews 1:8b.” Tyndale Bulletin 74 (2023): 65–86.

 

Two New Novum Testamentum Articles on Hebrews

Two new Novum Testamentum articles on Hebrews have appeared:

 

Seleznev, Mikhail. “ Νόμος/νόμοι in the Septuagint and the Letter to the Hebrews.” Novum Testamentum 65.4 (2023): 498–516. 

 

"This article explores the usage of plural νόμοι versus singular νόμος throughout the whole corpus of the Greek Bible. Obviously, the singular is predominant. If we put aside later variants and textual traditions, the rare passages where the plural νόμοι is used (in Proverbs, Jeremiah, Esther, and 2 Maccabees) mutually elucidate each other: the plural occurs where the translators wanted to stress that the law(s) in question should be distinguished from the Torah. With respect to Jer 31:31–34 (LXX 38:31–34) and the quotations from it in Hebrews, the article demonstrates that the plural νόμοι in the LXX cannot be explained by the Vorlage, as many modern researchers suggest, but was a conscious device used by the LXX translator. The aim of the translator, followed by the author of Hebrews, was to stress the distinction between the Law of Moses and the Laws of the New Covenant."

Grindheim, Sigurd. “Direct Dependence on Philo in the Epistle to the Hebrews.” Novum Testamentum 65.4 (2023): 517–43. 

 

"The near consensus opinion that the author of Hebrews was not directly influenced by Philo needs to be reevaluated. Even though there are no obvious cases of borrowing, the cumulative weight of the evidence indicates a more linear relationship than what may be accounted for by situating them both within Hellenistic Judaism. A number of parallels are sufficiently detailed to suggest direct dependence. These parallels are of a formal character, such as the metaphor of the dagger and the particular use of the terms ὑπόστασις, ἀρχηγός, τελειόω, ἄθλησις, τεχνίτης, and δημιουργός, as well of a material nature, concerning the development of key ideas, such as the eternal nature of the Son, his Melchizedekian high-priesthood, and the perception of the heavenly sanctuary."

Explanatory Notes on Hebrews

My friend Ken Schenck has published his latest book on Hebrews with Wipf & Stock:

 

Explanatory Notes on the Sermon of Hebrews.

 

Description:

"In 1755, John Wesley was forced to rest for a year because of illness. In that year, he wrote his Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament. These were meant to provide brief commentary on the text for his lay preachers and others to use. These Explanatory Notes on the Sermon of Hebrews are also meant to provide brief interpretations of the text of Hebrews without extensive engagement with scholarship. The goal is for the reader to gain a good overview of Hebrews' train of thought, its overall purpose, as well as some engagement with contemporary application for a Christian. In the case of Hebrews, a good deal is unknown. If we knew the details, the sermon's argument would come clearly into view. For this reason, these notes engage in a little more speculation than a normal commentary might."