A New and Living Way: Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews

432 Pages·2010·2.28 MB·English

by  Hugh Crumley

A New and Living Way: Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection

in the Epistle to the Hebrews

by
David McCheyne Moffitt
Graduate Program in Religion
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
Richard B. Hays, Supervisor

___________________________
Joel Marcus

___________________________
Stephen B. Chapman

___________________________
J. Ross Wagner

___________________________
Zlatko Plese

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor
of Philosophy in the Department of
Religion in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2010

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ABSTRACT
A New and Living Way: Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection
in the Epistle to the Hebrews
by
David McCheyne Moffitt
Graduate Program in Religion
Duke University

Date:_______________________
Approved:

___________________________
Richard B. Hays, Supervisor

___________________________
Joel Marcus

___________________________
Stephen B. Chapman

___________________________
J. Ross Wagner

___________________________
Zlatko Plese

An abstract of a dissertation submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirements for the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department
of Religion in the Graduate School
of Duke University

2010
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v
Copyright by
David M. Moffitt
2010
Abstract
The New Testament book known as the epistle to the Hebrews contains little
obvious reference to Jesus‘ resurrection. Modern interpreters generally account for this
relative silence by noting that the author‘s soteriological and christological concerns have
led him to emphasize Jesus‘ death and exaltation while ignoring, spiritualizing, or even
denying his resurrection. In particular, the writer‘s metaphorical appeal to the Yom
Kippur sacrifice, with its dual emphasis on the slaughter of the victim and the
presentation of the victim‘s blood by the high priest, allows him to explain the salvific
significance of Jesus‘ death and exaltation. The crucifixion can be likened to the
slaughter of the victim, while Jesus‘ exaltation in heaven can be likened to the high priest
entering the holy of holies. In this way the cross can be understood as an atoning
sacrifice. Such a model leaves little room for positive or distinct reflection on the
soteriological or christological significance of the resurrection.
This study argues that the soteriology and high-priestly Christology the author
develops depend upon Jesus‘ bodily resurrection and ascension into heaven. The work
begins with a survey of positions on Jesus‘ resurrection in Hebrews. I then present a case
for the presence and role of Jesus‘ bodily resurrection in the text. First, I demonstrate that
the writer‘s argument in Heb 1–2 for the elevation of Jesus above the angelic spirits
assumes that Jesus has his humanity—his blood and flesh—with him in heaven. Second,
I show that in Heb 5–7 the writer identifies Jesus‘ resurrection to an indestructible life as
the point when Jesus became a high priest. Third, I explain how this thesis makes

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coherent the author‘s consistent claims in Heb 8–10 that Jesus presented his offering to
God in heaven. I conclude that Jesus‘ crucifixion is neither the place nor the moment of
atonement for the author of Hebrews. Rather, in keeping with the equation in the
Levitical sacrificial system of the presentation of blood to God with the presentation of
life, Jesus obtained atonement where and when the writer says—when he presented
himself in his ever-living, resurrected humanity before God in heaven. Jesus‘ bodily
resurrection is, therefore, the hinge around which the high-priestly Christology and
soteriology of Hebrews turns.

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Dedication
This project is dedicated to my best friend—my wife Heather—without whose
encouragement and aid it would not have been completed.

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Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... iv
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ xii
1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Stating the Questions: Jesus’ Resurrection and Atoning Offering in Hebrews ....... 1
1.2 The State of the Questions ............................................................................................... 3
1.2.1 The “Passed Over” View ............................................................................................ 4
1.2.1.1 F. F. Bruce .............................................................................................................. 6
1.2.1.2 William L. Lane .................................................................................................... 7
1.2.1.3 Assessment ............................................................................................................ 9
1.2.2 Jesus’ Resurrection as a Spiritual Ascension, and Agnostic Approaches ......... 12
1.2.2.1 Agnostic Approaches ........................................................................................ 13
1.2.2.2 Spiritual Ascension Approaches ...................................................................... 22
1.2.2.3 Assessment .......................................................................................................... 31
1.2.3 No Resurrection of Jesus in Hebrews ..................................................................... 34
1.2.3.1 Georg Bertram .................................................................................................... 35
1.2.3.2 Ernst Käsemann ................................................................................................. 39
1.2.3.3 Harold Attridge .................................................................................................. 45
1.2.3.4 Assessment .......................................................................................................... 50
1.3 Summary: Many Explanations, One Common Assumption .................................... 53
1.4 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 54
2. ANGELS, ANTHROPOLOGY, AND THE AGE TO COME IN HEBREWS 1–2 ................. 58

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2.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 58
2.2 Contrasting the Son and the Angels: The Argument of Hebrews 1 ........................ 60
2.3 Hebrews 1:6 and 2:5: One Oik0 oume/nh or Two? ........................................................... 68
2.3.1 Surveying the Land: Three Views on Hebrews 1:6 and the Oik0 oume/nh ............. 68
2.3.1.1 The Incarnation Interpretation ......................................................................... 69
2.3.1.2 The Parousia Interpretation .............................................................................. 71
2.3.1.3 The Exaltation Interpretation ........................................................................... 74
2.3.2 Summary: Spiritual or Heavenly Exaltation? ........................................................ 88
2.4 Defining the Oik0 oume/nh .................................................................................................. 89
2.4.1 Oik0 oume/nh as “Heaven,” “Temple,” and “Promised Land” in the Greek Psalter
............................................................................................................................................... 90
2.4.1.1 LXX Psalm 96 ...................................................................................................... 91
2.4.1.2 LXX Psalm 95 ...................................................................................................... 95
2.4.1.3 LXX Psalm 92 ...................................................................................................... 99
2.4.1.4 Summary ........................................................................................................... 102
2.4.2 The Coming World in Second Temple Literature ............................................... 105
2.4.2.1 The Promised Age, Life, and the New Creation at Qumran...................... 107
2.4.2.2 The Book of Jubilees ........................................................................................ 118
2.4.2.3 4 Ezra ................................................................................................................. 125
2.4.2.4 Liber Antiquitatum Biblicarum...................................................................... 138
2.4.2.5 2 Baruch ............................................................................................................. 144
2.4.3 Summary: The World to Come and the Promised Land ................................... 152

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2.5 The Son of Man and the Angelic Spirits in the Oi0koume/nh ...................................... 155
2.5.1 The Ruling Angels ................................................................................................... 155
2.5.2 Psalm 8, the Elevation of Humanity, and the Son of Man: Hebrews 2:5–9 ..... 157
2.5.3 Jesus and His Peers: Hebrews 2:10–18.................................................................. 169
2.5.3.1 An Adamic Tradition in Hebrews 2? ............................................................ 174
2.5.3.2 The Measure of a Human: The Anthropology of Hebrews 2 .................... 181
2.5.4 The Humanity of the Son in the Realm of the Angelic Spirits .......................... 185
2.6 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 186
3. JESUS‘ RESURRECTION, ASCENSION, AND HEAVENLY HIGH PREISTHOOD IN
HEBREWS .................................................................................................................................. 189
3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 189
3.2 Humans, Angels, and Ascensions into Heaven ....................................................... 193
3.2.1 Psalm 8:5, Angels, and Moses’ Ascension in Talmud Babli .............................. 195
3.2.1.1 Moses’ Ascension in Talmud Babli and Hebrews 1–2 ................................ 197
3.2.1.2 Hebrews 2:9 and the Identification of the Son ............................................. 202
3.2.1.3 Moses’ Ascension in Second Temple Literature .......................................... 204
3.2.1.4 Hebrews and Moses’ Ascension: Some Tentative Conclusions ................ 210
3.2.1.5 Summary: Glory, Moses’ Body in Heaven, and Hebrews ......................... 212
3.2.2 Additional Second Temple and Early Common Era Ascension Accounts ..... 213
3.2.2.1 The Varieties of Ascension Experience ......................................................... 214
3.2.2.2 Enoch’s Bodily Ascension into Heaven? ...................................................... 217
3.2.2.3 Conclusions: Bodily Ascension in 1 and 2 Enoch ........................................ 231

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3.2.3 Summary: The Plausibility of Jesus’ Bodily Ascension in Hebrews ................ 233
3.3 Concepts of Resurrection in Hebrews ....................................................................... 238
3.3.1 Hebrews 6:1–2 .......................................................................................................... 238
3.3.2 Hebrews 11:17–19 .................................................................................................... 242
3.3.3 Hebrews 11:35 .......................................................................................................... 244
3.3.4 Summary: Temporary Resurrections and the Better Resurrection .................. 247
3.4 Jesus’ Resurrection in Hebrews .................................................................................. 248
3.4.1 Jesus as the Paradigmatic Example of Faith in the Midst of Testing: Part 1 ... 250
3.4.2 Resurrection and Abraham’s Faith in the Midst of Testing .............................. 252
3.4.3 Jesus as the Paradigmatic Example of Faith in the Midst of Testing: Part 2 ... 254
3.5 Perfected Life and Jesus’ High-Priestly Prerequisites ............................................. 255
3.5.1 Jesus’ Perfection in Hebrews 5–7 as a Postmortem State ................................... 256
3.5.2 Perfection and Jesus’ Resurrection ........................................................................ 261
3.5.2.1 The Royal Son Became High Priest: Psalm 110:4 and Jesus’ Resurrection
Life.................................................................................................................................. 263
3.5.2.2 Summary: The Perfected High Priest from Judah’s Tribe .......................... 272
3.6 The Days of the Son’s Flesh and Perfected Spirits in Heaven: Hebrews 5:7 and
12:23 ...................................................................................................................................... 273
3.7 Conclusions ................................................................................................................... 278
4. JESUS‘ RESURRECTION LIFE AND HEBREWS‘ CHRISTOLOGICAL AND
SOTERIOLOGICAL APPROPRIATION OF YOM KIPPUR ................................................... 282
4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 282
4.2 Heaven as the Location of Jesus’ Atoning Offering in Hebrews ........................... 288

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