Levitical Sacrifice and Heavenly Cult in Hebrews

316 Pages·2016·1.38 MB·English

by  Benjamin J. Ribbens

Benjamin J. Ribbens
Levitical Sacrifice and Heavenly Cult in Hebrews
Beihefte zur Zeitschrift
für die neutestamentliche
Wissenschaft
Edited by
Carl R. Holladay, Matthias Konradt,
Hermann Lichtenberger, Judith Lieu,
Jens Schröter and Gregory E. Sterling
Volume 222
Benjamin J. Ribbens
Levitical Sacrifice
and Heavenly Cult
in Hebrews
ISBN 978-3-11-047581-4
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-047713-9
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-047589-0
ISSN 0171-6441
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For Sarah
εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς, ἀναστήσω αὐτὴν ἐγὼ ἐν τῇ ἐσχατῃ ἡμέρᾳ
(John 6:40)
For Whitney
τίνα εὐχαριστίαν δύναμαι τῷ θεῷ ἀνταποδοῦναι περὶ σοῦ
ἐπὶ πάσῃ τῇ χαρᾷ ᾗχαί ρω δι’ σέ;
(1 Thess 3:9)

Acknowledgements
This monograph is an updated revision of my Ph.D. dissertation defended at
WheatonCollegein2013.Manyyearsandmanylifeeventshavetranspireddur-
ing the writing of this dissertation turned monograph, leaving me with many
people to thank. I would first like to thank my doctoral advisor Dr. Douglas
Moo who supervised the dissertation. He applies the same rigor tohis students
ashedoestohisresearchandwriting,andhehasspurredmeontobeabetter
writer, teacher, and theologian. His steady hand brought increased clarity and
precisiontothiswork,andIaminhisdebtforhiscountlesshoursspentreading
andrespondingtothiswork.Yet,moredeeplyappreciatedthanhisacademictu-
telage has been his and his wife Jenny’s care for me as a person.
I want to express my gratitude to Wheaton’s doctoral program and its cur-
rent and former faculty for accepting this project and giving it direction.
Among the Wheaton faculty, I want to give a special thanks to Dr. Dan Treier
who invested in me as a scholar and provided a helpful theological response
tothistext.Iamgratefultomysecondandexternalreaders,Dr.HassellBullock
andDr.EricF.Mason,fortheirinteractionwiththisworkthathasledtoanum-
ber of improvements. Dr. Mason, in particular, has been an advocate for this
monograph and has graciously given me assistance beyond all expectation. I
would also like to extend my thanks to Dr. David Moffitt who took the time to
readandinteractwiththismanuscript,illuminatingwaystoimproveandsharp-
enthediscourse.Othershavecontributedtothiswork,includingtheformatting
supervisionofDr.ChrisVlachosandtheeditorialworkbyCarolynnVanNamen.
IamgratefultoDeGruyterandtheBeiheftezurZeitschriftfürdieneutesta-
mentlicheWissenschaft(BZNW)seriesforacceptingthismonographforpublica-
tion.The reviews of the editorial board have helped me to clarify the positions
articulatedinthisbookmorecarefully,andIwanttothankthestafffortheirpro-
fessional and excellent workon the volume.
Onamorepersonalnote,Ihaveahostoffriendsandfamilywhohavesup-
portedme.IcouldnothaveperseveredwithoutthesupportofmyparentsBruce
andCarol;mysiblingsAngieandBrad,SarahandMark,andNathan;theMulder
family;theHarrisfamily;seminaryfriendsJosh,Nick,andSteve;Chicagofriends
Bryan and Mike; friends and colleagues at Elmhurst CRC; and doctoral collea-
gues at Wheaton.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the role of two amazing women in my life.
This work is indebted to my late wife Sarah who died suddenly and tragically
on June 5, 2012 during the writing of the dissertation. She was an intelligent
andgiftedwoman,risingquicklytothetopofherfield,whileremainingahum-
VIII Acknowledgements
ble, principled, Midwestern girl. Her work ethic and dedication inspired me to
applymyselffullytomywork,andshegavemetheencouragementandcomfort
neededwhentheschoolworkseemedinsurmountable.Icouldnothavelivedas
richalifeorachievedthecompletionofthisprojectwithouther.Afterspending
ayeargrievingSarahduringwhichIcompletedanddefendedthedissertation,I
metWhitneyinJuly2013.Whitney’swhimsicalandeasy-goingnaturemadehera
joyouscompanion,andshebroughtloveandjoybackintomylife.Hersharpin-
tellectandthoughtful reflection continue tochallengeand enliven me. Herlov-
ingsupportenablesmetoflourishinmyteaching,servemystudents,andcon-
tinue in my research.We got married November 8, 2014, and I am excited and
eager to enjoy life with Whitney. I would like this work to be a tribute to
Sarah and to Whitney, acknowledging their love and support and expressing
the love, respect, andgratitude I have for them.
March 31, 2016 Benjamin J. Ribbens
Contents
List of Abbreviations XIII
 The Efficacy of Levitical Sacrifice Compared to Christ’s Sacrifice in
Hebrews 1
. Two Tensions in Hebrews’s Cult Criticism 2
.. Self-Contradictory Sacrifice Theology? 3
.. Malicious Reinterpretation of the LXX? 4
. Proposals 5
.. Different Kinds of Cleansing 6
... External v. Internal 6
... Defilement v. Sin 7
... Social Purity v. Sins 8
... Sins of Ignorance v. Willful Sins 8
... Temporary v. Final 9
.. Prophetic Criticism 10
.. Hellenistic Dualism 11
.. Dogmatic Conclusion 11
.. Socio-Historical Context 12
.. Typology 13
. Need for and Approach to this Study 17
 Sacrifice Theology in Second Temple Judaism 20
. Second Temple Judaism: An Overview 21
.. Perspectives on and Hopes for the Temple 22
.. Efficacy of Sacrifice: Pentateuch 26
.. Importance of Internal Dispositions: Prophets 27
.. Re-Narration of Biblical History 29
.. Martrydom Described with Sacrificial Terms 30
. Philo 32
.. The Efficacy of Sacrifice 32
... Three Types of Levitical Sacrifice 32
... The Day of Atonement 34
.. The “Plain” and “Symbolic” Senses 35
. Qumran Literature 40
.. Relationship to the Temple 40
... Separation from the Temple 40
... Anticipation of Restored Control of the Jerusalem Temple 42
X Contents
... Expectation of a God-Made, Eschatological Temple 43
.. Sacrifice Theology 43
... The Ideal Sacrificial Cult 43
... Provisional Adaptations 45
Offerings of Piety 45
Community as Temple 47
. Conclusion 49
 Heavenly Cult in Second Temple Judaism 52
. 1 Enoch 14 54
. Jubilees 56
. Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice 60
.. First and Thirteenth ShirShabb 61
.. Second and Twelfth ShirShabb 64
.. Third through Eleventh ShirShabb 65
.. Function of the ShirShabb 65
. Testament of Levi 71
. Post-70 CE Texts 79
. Conclusion 80
 Heavenly Tabernacle and Cult in Hebrews 82
. Introduction to Hebrews 83
. Possible Backgrounds to Hebrews’s Heavenly Tabernacle 89
. Texts 99
.. Hebrews 1:3 99
.. Hebrews 4:14–16 100
.. Hebrews 6:19–20 101
.. Hebrews 7:26 102
.. Hebrews 8:1–6 102
.. Hebrews 9:11–14 113
.. Hebrews 9:23–28 119
.. Hebrews 10:11–14 127
.. Conclusions 129
. The Function of the Heavenly Sanctuary and Cult 136
. Distinctives 141
.. Singularity of Christ’s Sacrifice 141
.. The End of Sacrifice 142
.. The Inauguration of the Heavenly Sanctuary 143
.. LXX Psalm 39:7–9 in Hebrews 10:5–10 143