Faith at the Interface of Cultures in Hebrews

Brill has come out with a festschrift for William Loader, who has made some contributions to Hebrews studies.

Edwin K. Broadhead, Paul Foster, and Wolfgang Kraus, eds. Faith at the Interface of Cultures: Law and Gospel, Johannine Communities, and Hebrews. Biblische Zeitschrift Supplements 14. Brill, 2024.

"This Festschrift reflects the enduring efforts of William Loader to connect Christian faith to cultural dynamics, both ancient and modern. A wide variety of scholars seek to further this conversation through critical engagement with Loader’s publications. The contributions focus on three distinct areas: faith and culture at the interface of Law and Gospel; faith and culture in the context of the Johannine communities; and faith and culture in the context of the letter to the Hebrews. Specific texts are examined, various questions are raised anew in light of recent evidence and methodologies, and new connections are explored. Various contributors link their analysis not only to ancient texts, but also to enduring questions and challenges. The necessity, and even the form, of future discussion is suggested in these works. Thus, this volume honours William Loader by carrying forward the conversations that dominate his career."

The collection contains five essays on Hebrews:

 

 

PART THREE
Faith and Culture in the Context of the Letter to the Hebrews

16. The Ancient Transmission of the Epistle to the Hebrews . . . . . . . . 301
Martin Karrer
 

17. Zur Rezeption von Psalm 8 im Hebräerbrief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Wolfgang Kraus
 

18. He Had to Become Like His Brothers and Sisters: Redefining the Priesthood in Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 377
James W. Thompson
 

19. High Priesthood Christology and Atonement in Hebrews: A Conversation with Bill Loader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Christian A. Eberhart
 

20. The Use of Melchizedek Tradition and the Fluidity of “Sacred Margins” in the Letter to the Hebrews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 405
Mothy Varkey

 

HT: Cliff Kvidahl

Review of Grindheim, The Letter to the Hebrews

Loveday Alexander reviews Sigurd Grindheim's commentary on The Letter to the Hebrews in RBL.

The Theme of Promise in Hebrews

New book just published:

Daniel Stevens. The Theme of Promise in the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Promise Remains. Library of New Testament Studies. Bloomsbury T&T Clark.

Description:
"Daniel Stevens analyses the use of the language of divine commitment in the Epistle to the Hebrews, arguing that the author distinguishes promise from the cultic language of covenant to sketch a unique mixture of continuity and discontinuity among the people of God across time.

Stevens stresses through an exegesis of relevant passages that rest is not the primary content of promise, nor is it the primary lens through which the other instances of promise language should be understood; suggesting instead that the promise is most closely associated with the benefits promised to Abraham, and then mediated through the various subsequent covenants. He further explores how the divine promise relates to both the Old and New Covenants, arguing that Hebrews develops a view of salvation history in which covenants are founded upon promises and then bring those promises to fruition. By demonstrating the ways in which this understanding of promise sheds light on the author's hermeneutic and on his method of achieving his hortatory purposes for the epistle, Stevens concludes in a reassertion of the consistency of the author's thought regarding promise."

Preaching through Hebrews

Preaching through Hebrews with David deSilva. Click link for details.

Seventh-Day Adventist Commentary on Hebrews

Felix Cortez is the author of the Hebrews commentary in the 14th volume of the Seventh-Day Adventist International Bible Commentary. It is included in this volume along with the Pastoral Epistles, Philemon, and James.

 

 

Jonathan Edwards and Hebrews

New book:

 

Joseph T. Cochran. Jonathan Edwards and Hebrews: A Harmonic Interpretation of Scripture.

"This publication is the first survey of Jonathan Edwards's harmonic interpretation of Epistle to the Hebrews. This methodology emphasized harmony between the history of the world and its account in the Word. Drawn from a planned publication on The Harmony of the Old and New Testament, the harmonic interpretation of Jonathan Edwards sought to harmonize the Old and New Testament by employing three habits: (1) the habit of observing Old Testament prophetic fulfillment in the person and work of Christ in the New Testament; (2) the habit of perceiving typology in the natural world and Scripture that typified the Messiah, Jesus Christ; (3) the habit of harmonizing the Old and New Testament according to its doctrines and precepts. After introducing this methodology to readers, this study provides eight thematic case studies on how Edwards demonstrated this methodology in his interpretation of the Epistle to the Hebrews."

Review of Myers, Authorship of 1 Peter and Hebrews

New RBL review:

Elizabeth A. Myers. Authorship of 1 Peter and Hebrews: New Evidence in Light of Probable Intertextual Borrowing. Review by John-Christian Eurell.

 

Hebrews Highlights

B. J. Oropeza interviews David Moffitt about the Atonement.

          Part I: Rethinking the Atonement

          Part 2: Jesus' Atonement, Ascension & Intercession

Review of Hellenistic Jews and Consolatory Rhetoric

Samuel D. Stewart reviews: Christine R. Trotter, Hellenistic Jews and Consolatory Rhetoric: 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, 1 Thessalonians, and Hebrews.

 

The Humanity of Jesus in Hebrews 2

Video discussion:

Ian Paul, and James Blandford-Baker. The Humanity of Jesus in Hebrews 2.

Why Does Hebrews Matter?

Video:

George Guthrie. Unlocking Hebrews: Why This Book Matters for Your Faith.

Why Write Another Commentary on Hebrews?

This video is a couple years old now:

Loveday and Philip Alexander: "Why write another commentary on Hebrews?"

I look forward to their commentary which will be in the ICC series.

Hebrews' Relationship to Second Temple Judaism

A link to this dissertation has been added to the Theses and Dissertations page:

Strickland, Phillip David. “Pro Hebraious: The Epistle to the Hebrews and Its Relationship to Second Temple Judaism.” PhD diss., McMaster Divinity College, 2019.

Rest, Rhetoric, and Suffering in Hebrews

A recent doctoral dissertation that is available on the internet:

Ngama, Dickson Kûng’û. “Rest, Rhetoric, and Suffering in the Letter to the Hebrews: How the Author of Hebrews Uses Classical Rhetoric to Resolve Tension between Invitation to God’s Rest and Present Suffering.” PhD diss., Rawlings School of Divinity, 2024.

HT: Lee Zachary Maxey

Articles on Hebrews from Africa

The following article recently came out:

Urga, Abeneazer G. “The Victorious High Priest in the AfricanContext: Christ and the Logic of Atonement in Hebrews 2:14–18.” Stellenbosch Theological Journal 10.2 (2024): 1–24.

 

Abstract:

"Scholars have proposed several atonement theories to describe what Christ has achieved through the incarnation, particularly through his death—Recapitulation, Example, Moral Influence, Ransom, Christus Victor, Penal Substitution, and Government theories. However, the discussion of atonement theories reveals that scholars favour and advocate for one theory. The Christus Victor and Penal Substitutionary atonement theories are often pitted against each other. This article examines Hebrews 2:14–18, using a historical, grammatical, and literary method. The passage depicts Jesus’s sacrificial death for the sins of God’s people and his victory over the devil and death through his incarnation. Contrary to the common tendency of scholars to pit the Christus Victor model and Christ’s atoning substitution against each other, in the present pericope, the author of Hebrews illustrates the integration of Christus Victor and substitutionary atonement theories as complementary aspects of Jesus’s incarnation. The article also showcases the integration of victory and sacrifice in African Christian songs that perceive Jesus as a victorious High Priest who died as a substitute and freed his people from the domination of the devil and death. The article proposes that the Christus Victor and Penal Substitutionary atonement models are not mutually exclusive but should be understood synergistically."

 

Links to this article, along with the following articles will be added to the articles page:

Steyn, G. J. “Die vita Christiana volgens Hebreërs 10:19–25: Eksegetiese kantaantekeninge.” Dutch Reformed Theological Journal/Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskriff 48 (2007): 612–20.

Jones, M. “Calvin and His Puritan Heirs on Christ’s Humanity in Hebrews.” Dutch Reformed Theological Journal/Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif 54.1 (2013): 59–69.

Boaheng, Isaac. “A Soteriological Reflection on Priestly Christology from an Akan Perspective.” Stellenbosch Theological Journal 9.1 (2023): 1–18.

 

Article on Hebrews from Ukraine

Here is an article from Ukraine:

Lukin, Volodymyr. “Why Did Jesus Suffer ‘Outside the Gates’ and not ‘Outside the Camp’? The Theological Significance of the Two Place-Spaces in Hebrews.” Analecta of the Ukrainian Catholic University 11 (2024): 7–51.

 

Abstract:
"This article seeks to identify a single source of intertextual connection that has been influential in forming theological statements about Christ’s death in Heb 13:12 in terms of spatial-topological theology. It reexamines and evaluates the theological approaches to the interpretation of place-space indicators such as “outside the gates” and “outside the camp”. For the first time in studies of this kind, the differences in the soteriological and eschatological scenarios associated with the choice of the respective backgrounds are pointed out, and the practical implications of these differences are outlined. The motive that led the apostle Paul to use the language of a specific Old Testament background, with the help of which he recorded the true reality and its intentionality, was made explicit. It has been shown that the rituals of Yom Kippur are not the hermeneutical context of the indicators mentioned and cannot serve as an interpretive axiom. In turn, this has shed light on the negative consequences of imposing the Day of Atonement motif not only for the contents of Heb 13:12, but for the whole document. Certainly, this approach to dealing with the crucial informative aspects in this Exhortation to Hebrews, is evidence of the domination of academic thinking by fixed theological motivations, and within the boundaries of a particular scholarly trend. It has been exegetically argued that the ritual activity of the daily service in the earthly Tabernacle, is regarded as a non-alternative outline in the explication of the cumulative features of the informative constituents in Heb 13:12. In general, this made it possible not only to coordinate the vector of interpretation of the soteriological component with the intentions of the author of the document, but also to determine how the identified data, outline the contours of the practical life of church members, forming their doctrinal-worldview horizon."

 

Thanks to Vladimir for the tip.

An Exegetical Examination of the Humanity of Christ

Here is a recent doctoral dissertation that I will add to my theses and dissertations page:

Barnes, Nathaniel D. “An Exegetical Examination of the Humanity of Christ in Hebrews 2:5–18.” PhD diss., Moore Theological College, 2022.

The Complementarity of Spatial and Temporal Aspects in the Eschatology of the Epistle to the Hebrews

Recently published:

Elena Belenkaja. Die Komplementarität räumlicher und zeitlicher Aspekte in der Eschatologie des Hebräerbriefes. (Rainer Hampp Verlag).

"The Letter to the Hebrews presents a unique eschatology between space and time embedded in an artful symbiosis of philosophical and theological thoughts, with its author developing his very own eschatology within the New Testament. Its peculiarity is expressed in the interweaving of perfect, present and future statements. Their interpretation suffers from the difficulty of grasping the limitations of these statements and their relationship to each other, a challenge which this book takes up. In an exegetical case study of the primary text (Heb. 1-13), the author examines relevant statements on the understanding of time and space, taking into account their complementary relationship."

Amy Peeler Podcasts

Amy Peeler. "The Barriers and Brilliance of Hebrews." Riley Heppner Podcast.

Amy Peeler. "How to Understand Hebrews!" The Center for Bible Study.

Hebrews at SBL Annual Meeting

Society of Biblical Literature 2024 Annual Meeting

San Diego, CA - November 23–26

 

P22-103s

---

Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
9:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Room: Indigo 204A (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Hebrews and the Pauline Tradition
For much of Christian history the Epistle to the Hebrews was understood as a Pauline letter. Today the overwhelming scholarly consensus is that Paul is not the author of Hebrews. Still the connection to Paul is difficult for Hebrews to shake. Even if Paul did not write Hebrews, there is some connection—even if just merited by the epistle’s canonical placement immediately after Paul’s letters—that is significant. Surprisingly, in recent decades little scholarly attention has been devoted to investigating this connection. This research group explores the relationship between Hebrews and the Pauline tradition. While Hebrews must be able to speak on its own terms, historical and canonical imperatives call for it to be read alongside Paul’s letters. This year we are hosting invited papers that address theological connections between Hebrews and the Pauline tradition.

Bryan Dyer, Baker Publishing/Calvin University, Presiding

Erin M. Heim, Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University
Crucifixion and Shame in Paul and Hebrews (30 min)

David M. Moffitt, University of St. Andrews
The Ascended Christ’s Ongoing Intercession as Covenant Maintenance: A Shared Soteriological Concept between Hebrews and Paul? (30 min)

Madison N. Pierce, Western Theological Seminary
Power and "Royal Messianism" in the Pauline Corpus and Hebrews (30 min)

Robert W. Wall, Seattle Pacific University
Reading Hebrews with Paul in Canonical Context (30 min)

 

 

M22-106s

---

Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
9:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Room: Indigo D (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Scripture and Church Seminar (SACS)

“Scripture-Based Models for Preaching” What can Scripture itself teach us about preaching? How did biblical authors appropriate Scripture in their own preaching? What can we learn from portions of Scripture that were intended to urge certain ways of thinking to lead to right ways of living, such as Proverbs? This seminar explores these questions and others. The focus is not on homiletics per se, but rather models for preaching that emerge organically from Scripture itself. 

 

Dana Harris, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Hebrews: Preaching to the People of God from the Word of God (25 min)
 

 

P22-216s

---

Institute for Biblical Research
11/22/2024
3:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Room: Indigo 204A (Second Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Asian American Biblical Interpretation: Evangelical Voices

This year our research group will focus on biblical interpretation from non-East Asian cultural contexts focusing in particular on South and Southeast Asia. The program will consist of invited papers which will expound a biblical text from such social locations speaking to their locations and the wider world. Presentations will include some reflection on methodology and those characteristics which distinguish South and Southeast Asian biblical interpretation. Two respondents, one East Asian, as well as discussion from the floor will be included. Questions can be directed to Milton Eng (miltoneng@thirdspaceaa.org) or Max Lee (mlee1@northpark.edu). 

 

David A. deSilva, Ashland Theological Seminary
Reading Hebrews in a Sri Lankan Context (20 min)

 

 

S23-312

---

Contextualizing North African Christianity
11/23/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Cobalt 501A (Fifth Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Composing Communities

This session focuses on the creation and preservation of early Christian communities, exploring the compositional and hermeneutical practices that formed the identity of various early Christian groups through literary production.

 

Bec Muir, Ridley Melbourne
Can We Compose Righteous Communities? A Comparison of the Discussions of Divine Enablement in Augustine and Hebrews (25 min)

 

 

S24-214

---

Corpus Hellenisticum Novi Testamenti
11/24/2024
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Aqua 307 (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Please Recycle (II): Ancient Intertexuality in the New Testament, Christian Apocrypha, and Beyond

 

Laurie A. Wilson, Biola University
Suffering as Education and Athletic Training: Parallels between Epictetus and Hebrews 12:1–13 (30 min)

S24-318

---

Hebrews
11/24/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Aqua 311A (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Hebrews and Other Early Christian Literature

Madison N. Pierce, Western Theological Seminary, Presiding

Benjamin Ribbens, Trinity Christian College
The Redemption of Violations Committed under the First Covenant: Hebrews 9:15 and Rom 3:21–26 on Redemption, Forgiveness, and Passing over Sins (25 min)

Scott Shauf, Gardner-Webb University
The Covenant Sacrifice in Hebrews 9–13 and 1 Corinthians 10–12 (25 min)

Julie M. Leyva, Duke University
What Advantage Is a Mediator? Μεσίτης and Νόμος in Galatians and Hebrews (25 min)

Stephen Wunrow, Wheaton College
Cave Corpus? Human Bodies as a Potential Threat to Heavenly Space in Hebrews and Other Early Christian Traditions (25 min)

David Downs, University of Oxford
“Let Us Fix Our Eyes on the Blood of Christ” (1 Clem 7.4): Resurrection and Atonement in 1 Clement and Hebrews (25 min)

Discussion (25 min)

S25-223

---

Hebrews
11/25/2024
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Cobalt 501A (Fifth Level) - Hilton Bayfront

Theme: Open Session on Hebrews

Madison Pierce, Western Theological Seminary, Presiding

Kaspars Ozolins, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Isaiah’s Third “Servant Song” as a Background to Hebrews 1:10–12 (25 min)
Tag(s): Hebrews and Catholic Epistles (Biblical Literature - New Testament), Intertextuality (Interpretive Approaches), Septuagint (Biblical Literature - Hebrew Bible/Old Testament/Greek OT (Septuagint))

Timothy Bertolet, ABWE International
The High Priest as Second Adam (25 min)

Alberto Solano-Zatarain, University of Oxford
Entering Perfection: Cultic Consecration and Sinai in Hebrews (25 min)

Albert J. Coetsee, North-West University (South Africa)
Moses’ Fear during the Second Ascent: An Intertextual Study of Deuteronomy 9:19 and Hebrews 12:21 (25 min)

Naphtali S. Meshel, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Jesus’ Suffering “Outside the Gate” according to Hebrews 13 (25 min)

Jack Franicevich, Valparaiso University
Meal or Metaphor: Identifying the Sacrifice of Praise at Hebrews 13:15 (25 min)

S25-323

---

Intertextuality in the New Testament
11/25/2024
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: 11A (Upper Level West) - Convention Center

Theme: Biblical Texts and Figures in Paul and Hebrews

 

Allen Lai, University of Notre Dame
Examining Contextually Sensitive Exegesis in Conflate Citation in Hebrews 2:12–13 (30 min)

Ryan Francis, Catholic University of America
Abel's Speech in Hebrews and Philo (30 min)

S26-128

---

Space, Place, and Lived Experience in Antiquity
11/26/2024
9:00 AM to 11:15 AM
Room: Aqua 311A (Third Level) - Hilton Bayfront

 

Theme: Open Call

 

Jolyon G. R. Pruszinski, Princeton University
Real Space, Ideal Space, and “the Mind” in Hebrews: Interpretation through the Lens of Foucault’s “Heterotopia” (25 min)