Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Crowther, David Carter

Titel

The Rhetorical Function of Jesus' Session: The Exaltation of Christ as the Ground for Moral Exhortation in the Epistle to the Hebrews

Ort / Verlag

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

Erscheinungsjahr

2017

Link zum Volltext

• ProQuest

Quelle

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses A&I

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Chapter one contains the introduction to this dissertation, including the thesis, summary of the research methodology, an overview of critical conclusions about the Epistle to the Hebrews (authorship, date, destination, purpose, and genre), and finally a history of research related to the dissertation topic—a survey of scholarship in relation to the session of Christ as it pertains to the rhetorical shape of the letter. Chapter two examines the sermonic nature of early Jewish and Christian sermons. The chapter is divided into two sections with a conclusion. The first section examines early Jewish homilies and sermonic texts with special attention devoted to the areas of (1) style, (2) structure, (3) exposition of biblical texts, and (4) exhortation. The second section follows suit in the examination of style, structure, exposition, and exposition, but is devoted to the study of these areas in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Finally, the summary evaluates the parallels between other early Jewish homilies and the sermon-letter of Hebrews. Chapter three contains an overview of Psalm 110. In order to understand the psalm’s function in Hebrews, it is important to understand its original context, the way in which it was used in Second Temple Jewish literature, as well as its NT context. Therefore, chapter three is broken into three parts covering each of the previously mentioned subheadings (Psalm 110 in the OT, Psalm 110 in the Second Temple literature, and Psalm 110 in the NT). This chapter concludes with a summary of Psalm 110 that succinctly describes the Sitz im Leben of the psalm in its first-century Jewish-Christian context. Chapter four is entitled “Psalm 110 and Select Priesthood Texts in Hebrews”. This chapter examines the pericopes in Hebrews containing quotations or allusions to Psalm 110. A few other pericopes such as 2:5–9, 14–18; 3:1ff; 4:14–16; 9:23–28; and 12:18–29 are also examined because, although they do not directly allude to Psalm 110, they expound upon the theme of Christ’s exalted high priesthood, which is based upon Psalm 110. Each section within chapter four provides an exegesis of the pericope at hand with theological and rhetorical insights. Chapter five provides a comprehensive overview of how the author of Hebrews understands the session of Christ. This chapter contains a theology of the exaltation/session in Hebrews. Moreover, chapter five demonstrates that Hebrews’ rhetorical strategy is driven by a theology of exaltation. The warnings and encouragements are based in Jesus’ present, priestly reign at the right hand of God. Chapter six is the conclusion to the dissertation. This chapter contains a general summary to recall the method of the study, the development of the argument, and the main conclusions reached. In addition, the conclusion offers some implications of the outcome of the search—including critical implications for research in Hebrews as well as more practical implications for the Christian life.