Solidarity perfected : beneficent christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews / Kevin B. McCruden.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McCruden, Kevin B.

Series:

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche 159

Beihefte zur Zeitschrift fur die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der alteren Kirche ; Bd. 159

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Perfection.

Bible. Hebrews--Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Bible.

Jesus Christ--Person and offices.

Jesus Christ.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (168 p.)

Place of Publication:

Berlin ; New York : W. de Gruyter, c2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This monograph examines the concept of Jesus' perfection in the Epistle to the Hebrews in relation to the broader theological themes of divine beneficence and divine "philanthropia". Three times in Hebrews Jesus is described as being perfected (Hebrews 2:10, 5:9, 7:28), and in two of these instances (Hebrews 2:10, 5:8-9) the author explicitly links the theme of Jesus' suffering to the content of his perfection. By examining representative selections of Greek non-literary papyri, this study argues that the customary application of the Greek verb τελειόω to denote the idea of legal notarization of a public document suggests the more comprehensive idea of official, definitive attestation. Informed by such a notion of perfection as official, definitive attestation, this study argues that the language of Christ's perfection in Hebrews functions as a christological grammar for reflecting upon the character of Christ. Far from being remotely transcendent, Jesus is characterized instead by divine beneficence and "philanthropia", by a motivation to draw near to the community of the faithful gathered around his memory. This study argues for the cogency of this proposal based on exegetical grounds, the literary character of Hebrews as an epistolary homily, and the social setting of Hebrews as one characterized by social distress and/or persecution in or near the vicinity of Rome.

Contents:

Introduction

The lexical and theological terms of the debate

Perfection as glorification

Perfection as cultic consecration

Perfection as moral/ethical development

Perfection as vocational/experiential qualification

A new proposal : the material application of perfection as definitive attestation

The techinical usage of tekeiom in the non-literary papyri

Perfection as definitive attestation

Perfection as definitive attestation in relation to the christology of Hebrews

Beneficent christology : the son's solidarity with the faithful

Heracles imagery and the motif of divine beneficence

The relevance of Heracles imagery for Hebrews' portrait of Jesus

Christ's perfection as the philanthropia of the son attested and displayed

Philanthropia as christological key : preliminary remarks

Philanthropia as a human virtue

Philanthropia as a divine virtue : the testimonies of Asclepius

Philo and Philanthropia : a precedent for Hebrews beneficent portrait of Christ

Hebrews' relationship to Philo and hellenistic Judaism

High priestly christology and divine beneficence

A high priesthood of intimate presence

Christ's self-commitment to the faithful and the perfection of divine solidarity

The social setting and audience of Hebrews

The literary character of Hebrews.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9786613397027

9781283397025

1283397021

9783111735184

3111735184

9783110209822

3110209829

OCLC:

476206340