Eschatology and Exhortation in the Epistle to the Hebrews

288 Pages·2007·1.009 MB·English

by  Scott D. Mackie

Scott D. Mackie
Eschatology and Exhortation
in the Epistle to the Hebrews

Mohr Siebeck
Scott D. Mackie, born 1964; 2006 Ph.D. Fuller Theological Seminary; currently teaching
Biblical Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.
e-ISBN PDF 978-3-16-151566-8
ISBN 978-3-16-149215-0
ISSN 0340-9570 (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, 2. Reihe)
Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbiblio-
graphie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de.
© 2007 by Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, Germany.
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted
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The book was printed by Gulde-Druck in Tübingen on non-aging paper and bound by
Buchbinderei Held in Rottenburg/N.
Printed in Germany.
Preface
The author of Hebrews places great emphasis on the communal nature of
Christian existence. In the middle of his most emotional exhortation he
urges the community to “not neglect our gatherings,” as they afford vital
opportunities to “encourage one another” (10:25). This present work, a
revised version of a Ph.D. dissertation submitted to Fuller Theological
Seminary in 2006, owes its existence to such encouragement. My advisor,
Donald A. Hagner, of course merits first mention in this regard. He
patiently guided and encouraged me through this entire effort. I am
particularly grateful for all the practical wisdom he provided. This
dissertation also greatly benefited from the keen eye and insight of Ralph
P. Martin, who waded through it from beginning to end, repeatedly
clarifying thought and expression.
Other key people at Fuller Seminary who must be thanked: Seyoon
Kim, for allowing me to work closely with him for six years as a research
and teaching assistant; Inez Smith and Jeanette Scholer of the Fuller
Auxiliary for faithful prayers and financial assistance; David M. Scholer
and the Center for Advanced Theological Studies at Fuller, who provided
me with a scholarship and research opportunities for four years.
I would also like to thank Harold W. Attridge, the external reader of my
dissertation, for his many helpful comments (and for not taking offense at
my ill-founded criticisms of his work!). The editor of Wissenschaftliche
Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament, Jörg Frey, must be thanked for
including my work in this prestigious series and for offering invaluable
suggestions for improvement.
I must thank Rev. Koh of Choong Shin Church, and Rev. Cho of Los
Angeles Gospel Mission Church, who for the past four years have provided
both warm church homes and enriching ministry opportunities. Jeffrey
Siker of Loyola Marymount University should be thanked for offering
teaching opportunities and patiently assisting me during my stumbling
entry into the profession. A number of friends must also be thanked,
including: Mai Sasaki, Sam Koh, Ric Ross, Ruben Ortega, Dan Lutz, Paul
Lee, Marc Lederer, Ilia Iliev, David Cano Villarroel, Tim Hershman, Dirk
Hendricks, Jason Mascow, Joel Chappo, Emily Choge, and Marlene
Dalton. I would also like to thank my siblings Peter, Chris, and Cindy, for
their encouragement. Lastly, the deepest debt of gratitude is owed my
parents, Harry and Betty Jane Mackie, for their enduring, loving support.
Venice, California September 2006
Contents
Preface…………………………………………………………………………….. V
Table of Contents………………………………….……………………………. VII
Introduction: Eschatology, the Situation of the Recipients, and the
Author’s Hortatory Response
Prolegomenon……………………………………………………………………. 1
Chapter 1.The Eschatology of Hebrews
1. Introduction………………………………………………….…...…….…….. 3
2. A Platonic thought world……………………………………….…..…..…… 3
3. Jewish apocalyptic two age eschatology………………………...….…….… 5
Chapter 2. The Situation of the Recipients
1. Introduction……………………………………………………………...…… 9
2. The possibility and propriety of reconstructing the recipients’ situation…... 10
3. Threats endangering the community………………………………..……..… 11
4. Proposed reconstructions of the recipients’ situation……………..……...… 12
5. Conclusion………………………………………………………………….… 17
Chapter 3.The Author’s Hortatory Response
1. Introduction…………………………..……………..……………..…….…… 19
2. Terminology: paraenesis or paraklesis?……………………..………….…… 20
3. Aspects of the author’s hortatory strategy…………………………..…….… 22
4. Conclusion…………………….……………………………………..…….…. 25
Conclusion to the Introduction…………………………...………………..… 25
Part One: Two-Age Eschatology and Exhortation
Chapter 4. Two-Age Belief in Jewish – Christian Apocalyptic
Thought and in Hebrews
1. Introduction……………………………………………...…...…………….… 29
2. Is two age belief the primary characteristic of apocalyptic thought? ……... 30
3. The origins of two age eschatology……………………………………….… 32
4. Two age eschatology in Hebrews………………………………..……….…. 35
VIII Table of Contents
Chapter 5. An Exegetical Examination of Two-Age Eschatology in
Hebrews
1. “In these last days God has spoken through a Son” (1:1 2:4)…………….. 39
1.1. “In these last days”……………………………………..…………..….. 39
1.2. “God has spoken through a Son”…………………………………….… 41
1.3. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 1:1 2:4………....…. 41
2. The subjugation of the coming world to the Son & his identification with
humanity (2:5 18)…………………………………………………….…….. 42
2.1. “The coming world”………………………………………….……….... 42
2.2. Eschatological ambiguity attending Jesus’ rule over the coming world 44
2.3. “For a short while”…………………………………………..……..…... 45
2.4. “Leading many siblings to glory”……………………………...…….… 45
2.5. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 2:5 18…………....… 47
3. Entering today and persevering until the end (3:7 4:11)…………….….… 48
3.1. The rest as a future possession……………………………………….… 49
3.2. The rest as a present possession…………………………..……....…… 50
3.3. “Partakers of Christ”……………………………………………....…… 52
3.4. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 3:7 4:11……...…… 53
4. “Having tasted the powers of the age to come” (5:11 6:12)……………… 54
4.1. The origins and nature of the phrase “the age to come”…………….… 55
4.2. The temporal orientation of 5:11 6:12………………………….……. 56
4.3. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 5:11 6:12…………. 57
5. An apocalyptic metathesis of the law: an intra textual reading of 7:11 28
and 12:25 29…………………………………………………………………. 58
5.1. An anticipated objection to Christ’s high priesthood…………….…… 59
5.2. The critique and removal of the Jewish religious system………..……. 59
5.3. The Mosaic Law or the laws pertaining to priestly appointment?……. 60
5.4. The presence of apocalyptic language……………………..…...……… 63
5.5. Is Hebrews 12:25 29 apocalyptic?………………………..….………... 64
5.6. The “shaking” motif in apocalyptic literature….……………….……... 64
5.7. “Yet once more”…………………………………………….…...……... 65
5.8. The “divine fire” motif in apocalyptic literature………….…………... 65
5.9. Meta,qesij……………………………………………………….………. 66
5.10. The background of thought…………………………………….……... 67
5.11. The meaning of meta,qesij in 12:27…………………………………… 71
5.12. An intra textual reading of 7:11 28 and 12:25 29…………….…….. 72
5.13. An eschatological perspective………………….……………….……. 74
5.14. The nature and benefits of Jesus’ priesthood……………….………... 75
5.15. The interface of eschatology & exhortation in 7:11 28 & 12:25 29.. 76
6. An “obsolete” covenant, “close to destruction” (8:1 13)………....………... 77
6.1. The first covenant: fading away or facing imminent
destruction? (8:13)………………………………………...….………... 78
6.2. Possible explanations for the apparent endurance of
the first covenant……………………………………………………….. 80
Table of Contents IX
6.3. Two age eschatology in 8:1 13………………..….…………………… 81
6.4. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 8:1 13……………… 82
7. “The high priest of the good things that have come” (9:6 12)…….……….. 83
7.1. “The present time, during which gifts and sacrifices
are being offered”………………………………………...…………… 84
7.2. The “parable” of the “first” & “second,” “inner” & “outer”.………… 85
7.3. “The time of reformation”…………………………………...………… 86
7.4. The Spirit’s eschatological revelation…………………………………. 87
7.5. The nature of the Spirit’s eschatological “insight”……….…………… 90
7.6. “The good things that have come”……………………….……………. 90
7.7. Christ’s appearance in the Heavenly Sanctuary……………………….. 91
7.8. The three dia, phrases: the place or means of
Jesus’ accomplishment?………………………………………………… 92
7.9. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 9:6 12..…………….. 93
8. “Now at the end of the ages he has appeared” (9:23 28)………..…………. 94
8.1. “But now . . . at the end of the ages”…………………………………... 94
8.2. The “manifestation” on earth and/or in the Heavenly Sanctuary?….. 95
8.3. A “manifestation” visible to the eyes of faith……………….………… 98
8.4. Soteriology at the “end of the ages”……………………….…………... 100
8.5. The hortatory implications of Hebrews’ soteriology………….………. 100
8.6. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 9:23 28…………….. 102
8.6.1. Eschatological urgency…………………………….……………... 103
8.6.2. A “removal of sins”………………………………….…………… 103
8.6.3. Patient endurance………………………………….….…………... 104
9. “For the law is only a shadow of the good things to come” (10:1 18)…….. 105
9.1. “The good things to come”…………………………..….……………... 106
9.2. Skia,,eivkw,n andpra/gma in Platonic and Middle Platonic cosmology... 106
9.2.1. Plato………………………………………………….…..……….. 107
9.2.2. Philo…………………………………………..……..……………. 108
9.2.3. Timaeus of Locri, On the Nature of the World and the Soul……. 111
9.2.4. Plutarch……………………………………………...……………. 112
9.3. Does the author properly understand Middle Platonic cosmology?….. 113
9.4. A deliberate amalgamation of Middle Platonism
& Jewish eschatology……………………………………..….………… 114
9.5. A comprehensive critique of the Mosaic law………………….………. 115
9.6. A deliberate critique of the Philonic view of the Mosaic law….……... 117
9.7. A critique of the Middle Platonic philosophical enterprise: the
contemplative ascent of the philosopher into the noetic realm……….. 119
9.8. “Removing the first to establish the second” (10:9b)…….....………… 120
9.9. An unrivaled critique of the Jewish religious economy………………. 122
9.10. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 10:1 18……..…….. 123
10. “The approaching day” and the return, “in a very little while,” of the
“coming One” (10:19 39)………………………………………………….. 124
10.1. Confident entry into the most holy place…………………………….. 125
10.2. The “approaching day”………..……………………………………… 125
X Table of Contents
10.3. “Do not draw back”………….……………………………...………… 127
10.4. Apostasy as portrayed in 10:26 31………………….……………….. 127
10.5. 10:26 31: A warning of Jerusalem’s imminent destruction?………... 129
10.6. The “coming one” ……………………………………..……………... 132
10.7. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 10:19 39…..……… 133
11. “The city that is to come” (13:9 16)……………………………………….. 135
11.1. A background of thought for the “lasting” city Middle Platonism?. 136
11.2. Jesus as the goal of the call to “go outside the camp”……………….. 136
11.3. The hortatory role of the endurance motif……………..…………….. 137
11.4. Entering the Heavenly Sanctuary and going outside the camp……… 139
11.5. A polemic against Judaism? …………………………….…………… 140
11.6. Identification with Jesus & solidarity with the twelve disciples and
the patriarchs………………………………………..………………… 142
11.7. A polemic against cities and citizenship?……………………………. 145
11.8. The interface of eschatology and exhortation in 13:9 16…………… 150
Conclusion to Part One: The hortatory program attending two-age
eschatology in Hebrews………………………………..……………..……….. 151
Part Two: The Heavenly Sanctuary: Eschatology and Exhortation
Introduction…………………………………………..….…………… 155
Chapter 6. Cosmology: The Setting of the Sacrifice and Exaltation
1. Cosmology……………………………………………………………………. 157
1.1. The location of the Heavenly Sanctuary………………………………. 157
1.2. The ontological nature and creative origin of the Heavenly Sanctuary. 158
2. The Heavenly Sanctuary as cultic location………………………………….. 164

Chapter 7. The High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary
1. Introduction…………………………………………………………………... 169
2. A liturgical drama in the Heavenly Sanctuary………………………………. 170
3. The sacrifice of the high priest………………………………………………. 172
3.1. The incarnation of the obedient Son…………………………………… 172
3.2. The sacrificial self offering of the high priest………………………… 175
3.3. An eschatological Yom Kippur………………………………………… 177
3.4. The sacral activity of the high priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary……... 181
3.5. The origins of Hebrews’ high priest Christology……………………… 183
4. The soteriology of the sacrifice: cultic terminology and exhortation………. 185
4.1. An atonement for sins………………………………………………….. 186
4.2. Purification, sanctification, and perfection……………………………. 189
4.3. Redemption and salvation……………………………………………… 197
4.4. An appeal to experience: “And the Holy Spirit bears witness to us”…. 200
Table of Contents XI
5. The access provided by the high priest……………………………………… 201
5.1. The access provided by Jesus………………………………………….. 202
5.2. The exhortations to enter the Heavenly Sanctuary……………………. 204
5.3. The incompatibility of the exhortation to enter the Heavenly
Sanctuary with Hebrews’ alleged depiction of the Christian life
as a pilgrimage…………………………………………………………. 208
Chapter 8. The Enthroned Son in the Heavenly Sanctuary
1. The exalted and enthroned Son……………………………………………… 213
2. The confession and identity of the community………………………..……. 216
2.1. The Father’s declaration of Jesus’ Sonship……………………….…… 217
2.2. The Son’s confession of the Father and conferral of family
membership upon the recipients……………………….………………. 218
2.3. Language of belonging and identification……………….…………….. 220
2.4. The proper response of the community: sacral and public confession
of the Son………………………………………………………………. 223
2.5. The content and nature of the community’s confession………………. 226
2.6. Conclusion……………………………………………………………… 229
Conclusion to Part Two: The hortatory program attending
Heavenly Sanctuary eschatology in Hebrews………………………….… 230
Conclusion: Eschatology and Exhortation in Hebrews………………… 231
Bibliography……………………………………………………………………... 233
Index of Ancient Sources
1. Old Testament………………………………………………………………... 257
2. Jewish Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha……………………………………... 260
3. Dead Sea Scrolls …………………………………………………………….. 263
4. Philo ………………………………….………………………………………. 264
5. Josephus ……………………………………………………………………… 267
6. New Testament ………………………………………………………….…… 267
7. Greco Roman Authors …………….………………………………………… 276
8. Rabbinic Writings………………………………………………………….… 277
Index of Modern Authors……………………………………………………... 278
Index of Subjects………………………………………………………………... 282