Thursday, March 26, 2015

New Article on Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Hebrews

Jody A. Barnard. "Anti-Jewish Interpretations of Hebrews: Some Neglected Factors." Melilah 11 (2014): 25–52.

Abstract:
"Perhaps one of the most significant developments within contemporary Jewish Studies is the reclamation of the New Testament. The recovery of this particular part of Jewish history, however, has highlighted the problem of anti-Semitism that has for so long been associated with these documents. Although there is nothing as brazen as the Matthean ‘blood cry’ (Mt. 27:25), or the Johannine denouncement of ‘the Jews’ (e.g. Jn. 8:44), Hebrews is often placed among the most anti-Jewish texts of the New Testament. Key themes contributing to this perception are mainly found in the central section which paints Jesus as the eternal high priest, who offers the definitive means of atonement, and inaugurates the superior new covenant. On the other hand, it is often noted that this ‘radical supersessionism’, as it has been called, must be qualified by the author’s own Jewish identity and context, making charges of anti-Judaism, or even anti-Semitism, somewhat misleading, not to mention anachronistic. This paper revisits the anti-Jewish character of Hebrews in the light of recent developments in Jewish and New Testament Studies, showing how the classifications of this text as ‘anti-Jewish’ are not as straightforward as many have supposed."

HT: Nicholas Moore

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

New Article on Perfection in Hebrews

Timothy Luckritz Marquis. "Perfection Perfected: The Stoic 'Self-Eluding Sage' and Moral Progress in Hebrews." Novum Testamentum 57.2 (2015): 187–205.

Abstract:
"Hebrews evinces the linked exegetical aporiae of, on the one hand, tension between the asserted perfection of the believer and exhortations to further perfection and, on the other, a similar tension between Christ’s exalted, preexistent nature and claims about his need for further perfection during his earthly life. The paper proposes the Stoic figure of the “self-eluding sage” as a helpful contextual analogue for explaining the indicative-imperative problem in Hebrews. Originally a product of early epistemological debates among Hellenistic philosophical schools, the “self-eluding sage” (διαλεληθὼς σοφός) was deployed by Philo and Plutarch in Roman-era debates on the nature of moral progress. Terminological and structural similarities between discussions of the Stoic figure and discussions of progress in Hebrews (especially 5:14-6:3) help contextualize the speech’s concern for moral insight and improvement within a general Roman-era focus on moral progress toward filling communal roles."

Monday, March 16, 2015

Jared Compton's New Book on Hebrews

Bloomsbury T & T Clark is giving advance notice of the publication of Jared Compton's monograph on Hebrews:

Jared Compton. Psalm 110 and the Logic of Hebrews.

The PDF version is coming out July 30, but the print version will be on September 24.


Friday, March 6, 2015

Fred Craddock (1928–2015)

Word is getting out on FB that Fred Craddock, Bandy Professor Preaching and New Testament, Emeritus, at Candler School of Theology, has passed away. While he is most noted for his contribution to homiletics, he has also made contributions to NT studies, including commentaries on Luke, Philippians, and 1 & 2 Peter and Jude. His commentary on Hebrews is found in The New Interpreter's Bible commentary. R.I.P.



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

New Articles on Hebrews Added

Rob Bradshaw continues to digitize articles to make them available via the internet. Recently, he had made available the first four series of The Expositor. Hence, I have been able to add new links to numerous articles on Hebrews (many of which I was not aware of until now):

Balfour, R. G. “The First Principles of the Doctrine of Christ (Heb. vi. 1,2)." Expositor. Third Series, 8.6 (1888): 438–47.

Beet, Joseph Agar. “The Doctrine of the Atonement in the New Testament: VII. The Epistle to the Hebrews.” Expositor. Fourth Series, 6.2 (1892): 132–43.

Beet, Joseph Agar. “Hebrews VI. 4–6.” Expositor. Fourth Series, 8.2 (1893): 119–25.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. I. Introductory.” Expositor. Third Series, 7.3 (1888): 161–79.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. II. Christ and the Prophets (Chap. I. 1–4). Expositor. Third Series, 7.5 (1888): 341–53.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. III. Christ and the Angels (Chap. I. 5–14; II. 1–4)." Expositor. Third Series, 8.2 (1888): 81–99.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. IV. The Great Salvation, Wherein It Consists, and How It Has Been Obtained (Chap. II. 5–18).” Expositor. Third Series, 8.5 (1888): 359–79.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. V. The Captain of Salvation (Chap. II. 10).” Expositor. Third Series, 8.6 (1888): 447–61.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. VI. The Way of Salvation (Chap. II. 11–18).” Expositor. Third Series, 8.6 (1888): 81–99.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. VII. Christ and Moses (Chap. III.).” Expositor. Third Series, 9.3 (1889): 161–79.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. VIII. The Gospel of Rest (Chap. IV.).” Expositor. Third Series, 9.4 (1889): 272–89.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. IX. Christ Not a Self-Elected, but a God-Appointed Priest (Chap. V. 1–10).” Expositor. Third Series, 9.5 (1889): 351–68.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. X. The Teacher’s Complaint (Chap. V. 11–14; VI. 1–8).” Expositor. Third Series, 9.6 (1889): 415–33.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XI. The Teacher’s Charity (Chap. VI. 9–20).” Expositor. Third Series, 10.1 (1889): 35–51.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XII. The Order of Melchizedek (Chap. VII. 1–10).” Expositor. Third Series, 10.2 (1889): 90–107.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XIII. The Priest after the Order of Melchizedek (Chap. VII. 11–28).” Expositor. Third Series, 10.3 (1889): 189–210.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XIV. Christ and Aaron (Chap. VIII.).” Expositor. Third Series, 10.4 (1889): 288–302.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XV. The Ancient Tabernacle (Chap. IX. 1–10).” Expositor. Third Series, 10.6 (1889): 422–37.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XVI. The More Excellent Ministry (Chap. IX. 11–14).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 1.2 (1890): 148–60.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XVI. The More Excellent Ministry (concluded).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 1.3 (1890): 226–37.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XVII. The New Covenant (Chap. IX. 15–28).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 1.5 (1890): 351–65.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XVIII. Shadow and Substance (Chap. X. 1–18).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 1.6 (1890): 436–51.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XIX. Draw Near! (Chap. X. 19–31).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 2.2 (1890): 131–44.

Bruce, A. B. “The Epistle to the Hebrews. XX. Not of Them Who Draw Back! (Chap. X. 25 to XII. 29).” Expositor. Fourth Series, 2.3 (1890): 194–207.

Cox, Samuel. “Enoch’s Gospel: Genesis v. 21–24; Hebrews xi. 5, 6; Jude 14, 15.” Expositor, Second Series 7.5 (1884): 321–45.

D’Arcy, Charles F. “‘It Became Him. (Heb. II. 10).” Expositor. Fourth Series 4.1 (1891): 34–41.

Davidson, A. B. “‘Crowned with Glory and Honour.’ (Heb. II. 9.).” Expositor. Third Series, 9 (1889): 115–21.

Findlay, G. G. “Jesus Crowned for Death. Hebrews II. 5–9.” Expositor. Third Series, 9.3 (1889): 222–31.

Godet, Frederic. “The Epistle to the Hebrews: The Note of Warning to the Judeo-Christian Churches.” Expositor. Third Series, 7.4 (1888): 241–65.

Keating, H. S. “On Hebrews ix. 16, 17.” Expositor. Third Series, 4 (1886): 240.

Matheson, George. “Christianity and Judaism. Hebrews 1.1,2.” Expositor. First Series, 10.4 (1879): 275–91.

Milligan, Wm. “Hebrews VI. 4–6.” Expositor. Fourth Series, 7.5 (1893): 367–77.

Milligan, Wm. “Hebrews VI. 4–6.” Expositor. Fourth Series, 7.6 (1893): 443–53.

Murphy, Joseph John. “The Anchor of Hope: Romans viii. 24; Hebrews vi. 19.” Expositor, Second Series 5.6 (1883): 435–42.

Salmon, George. “The Keynote of the Epistle to the Hebrews.” Expositor. Second Series, 3 (1882): 81–93.

Smith, W. Robertson. “Christ and the Angels: Hebrews 1.” Expositor. Second Series, 1 (1881): 25–33.

Smith, W. Robertson. “Christ and the Angels: Hebrews ii. 1–9.” Expositor. Second Series, 1 (1881): 138–47.

Smith, W. Robertson. "Christ and the Angels: Hebrews ii. 10." Expositor. Second Series, 1 (1881): 418–427.

Smith, W. Robertson. “Christ and the Angels: Hebrews ii. 11–17.” Expositor. Second Series, 3 (1882): 63–79.

Smith, W. Robertson. “Christ and the Angels: Hebrews ii. Ver. 17, 18.” Expositor. Second Series, 3 (1882): 128–39.

Watson, Robert A. “The Shepherd, God and Man. Heb. XIII. 20, 21.” Expositor. Fourth Series, 9.3 (1894): 239–40.

Westcott, Brooke Foss. “Christus Consummator: Lessons from the Epistle to the Hebrews. I. The Trials of a New Age.” Expositor, Third Series 3.1 (1886): 1–9.

Westcott, Brooke Foss. “Christus Consummator: Lessons from the Epistle to the Hebrews. II. The Destiny of Man Fulfilled by Christ through Suffering.” Expositor, Third Series 3.2 (1886): 127–35.

Westcott, Brooke Foss. “Christus Consummator: Lessons from the Epistle to the Hebrews. III. The King Priest.” Expositor, Third Series 3.3 (1886): 193–201.

Westcott, Brooke Foss. “Christus Consummator: Lessons from the Epistle to the Hebrews. IV. The Universal Society.” Expositor, Third Series 3.4 (1886): 275–84.

Westcott, Brooke Foss. “Christus Consummator: Lessons from the Epistle to the Hebrews. V. The New Covenant.” Expositor, Third Series 3.5 (1886): 346–54.


These additions have put us well over the milestone of 400 articles.

Hebrews Highlights February 2015

February was a slow month for blog posts on Hebrews.

Jared Calaway has posted the abstract for his recent paper, "Jesus as Creator, Sustainer, and Destroyer in Hebrews."

I have about a half dozen books to review for this blog and hope to have these review up very soon in the upcoming weeks. I have had other writing projects that have taken priority, not to mention that my full-time job takes much of my time.

Long's Short Review of O'Brien's Commentary

Phillip Long reviews Peter O'Brien's commentary on The Letter to the Hebrews in the Pillar Commentary series.