The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings ed. by Scott D. Mackie

Abstract

Reviewed by: The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings ed. by Scott D. Mackie George H. Guthrie scott d. mackie (ed.), The Letter to the Hebrews: Critical Readings (T&T Clark Critical Readings in Biblical Studies; London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2018). Pp. xv + 514. $202. Recent decades have witnessed a growing number of learned contributions to the study of Hebrews. These studies, scattered about in journals and collections of essays, are accessible—but not readily so. Enter Scott Mackie's compilation of English-language pieces that reach back to classic essays of the mid-twentieth century but especially showcase cutting-edge research of past three decades (my own essay, originally published in 2003, is included in part 6 of the book, but I had no other involvement in the publication). This collection is the third in T&T Clark's Critical Readings in Biblical Studies series. The book has an introduction by M. on critical debates currently swirling around Hebrews research, followed by six parts covering various research areas. Each part begins with an introduction by the editor, in which he presents an overview of the topic(s) addressed in that part. Some will feel the urge to push back on certain assumptions in these reflections, but generally they offer students a helpful, big-picture orientation to the topic about to be addressed in the essays that follow. The introduction concludes with a summary of each essay in that part, followed by the essays themselves. One of the most helpful elements in the book comes with the annotated "Suggestions for Further Reading" at the end of each part, which proposes for consideration important monographs as well as articles and essays. Part 1, "Theology, Christology, and Pneumatology," begins with John P. Meier's "Structure and Theology in Heb 1,1-14," followed by C. K. Barrett's, "The Christology of Hebrews." Then comes Kenneth L. Schenck's, "A Celebration of the Enthroned Son: The Catena of Hebrews 1," followed by Harold W. Attridge's, "God in Hebrews: Urging Children to Heavenly Glory." Martin Emmrich offers a reflection on Hebrews' pneumatology in "Pneuma in Hebrews: Prophet and Interpreter," and "Brotherly Love and the High Priest Christology of Hebrews" is the title of the chapter by Patrick Gray. Finally, Christopher Richardson turns specifically to the backdrop of the suffering of the Son in "The Passion: Reconsidering Hebrews 5.7-8." Part 2, entitled "Eschatology," begins with C. K. Barrett's influential article "The Eschatology of the Epistle to the Hebrews" and then turns to A. T. Lincoln, "Sabbath, Rest, and Eschatology in the New Testament." Kenneth L. Schenck's, "Philo and the Epistle to the Hebrews: Ronald Williamson's Study after Thirty Years" focuses on the striking connections between Hebrews and the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, even while acknowledging that Hebrews is oriented to an apocalyptic framework. In part 3 ("The Author and the Addressed Community"), Barnabas Lindars's "The [End Page 766] Rhetorical Structure of Hebrews" focuses to a great extent on the situation of the audience. Walter Übelacker's "Hebrews and the Implied Author's Rhetorical Ethos," while also dealing with the community's circumstances, treats the way the author presents himself to his audience. In reality, the two articles in part 3, both of which deal with aspects of rhetoric, could have been combined with those in part 4, "Structure, Greco-Roman Rhetoric, and Hortatory Strategy." This fourth part begins with David A. deSilva's "Exchanging Favor for Wrath: Apostasy in Hebrews and Patron–Client Relationship." Craig R. Koester then addresses "Hebrews, Rhetoric, and the Future of Humanity," followed by Michael W. Martin and Jason A. Whitlark, who, in "Choosing What Is Advantageous: The Relationship between Epideictic and Deliberative Syncrisis in Hebrews," close part 4 with reflection on the rhetorical art of comparison as an organizing principle for the book. Part 5, "The Old Testament and the Relationship with Contemporaneous Judaism," takes up both the use of the Jewish Scriptures in Hebrews and the sociocultural context of the book. This part begins with George B. Caird's classic piece "The Exegetical Method of the Epistle to the Hebrews" and then turns to George H. Guthrie's overview in "Hebrews' Use...