Psalm 110 and the Logic of Hebrews (The Library of New Testament Studies, 537)

A neglected area of study of the letter to the Hebrews is the function of the Old Testament in the letter's logic. Compton addresses this neglect by looking at two other ideas that have themselves received too little attention, namely (1) the unique and fundamental semantic contribution of Hebrews' exposition (vis-à-vis its exhortation) and (2) the prominence of Ps 110 in the author's exposition. The conclusion becomes clear that Hebrews' exposition-its theological argument-turns, in large part, on successive inferences drawn from Ps 110:1 and 4. Compton observes that the author uses the text in the first part of his exposition to (1) interpret Jesus' resurrection as his messianic enthronement, (2) connect Jesus' enthronement with his fulfillment of Ps 8's vision for humanity and, thus, (3) begin to explain why Jesus was enthroned through suffering. In the second and third parts of his exposition, the author uses the text to corroborate the narrative initially sketched. Thus, he uses the text to (1) show that messiah was expected to be a superior priest and, moreover, (2) show that this messianic priest was expected to solve the human problem through death. (Publisher). Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Chapter 1. Introduction I. A Neglected Area in Hebrews’ Research: Use of the Old Testament in Hebrews’ Structure II. A Fresh Way into the Conversation: The Use of Psalm 110 in Hebrews’ Exposition III. A Survey of Previous Work in This Direction a. Steven K. Stanley (1994) b. James Kurianal (2000) c. Gert J. C. Jordaan and Pieter Nel (2010) d. Summary IV. Plan and Preview V. Presuppositions Excursus 1: Hebrews’ Audience and Situation Chapter 2. Messianic Enthronement and Death in Hebrews 1–2 I. Jesus Is the Enthroned Messiah (1.5-14) a. The Logic of Hebrews 1.5-14 Excursus 2: Σωφία and Λόγος Traditions in Early Judaism and in Hebrews b. The Role of Psalm 110.1 in Hebrews 1.5-14 II. The Enthroned Messiah Solves the Human Problem (2.5-9) a. The Logic of Hebrews 2.5-9 b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 2.5-9 III. The Necessity of the Enthroned Messiah’s Death for Solving the Human Problem (2.10-18) a. The Logic of Hebrews 2.10-18 b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 2.10-18 IV. Summary Chapter 3. Messianic Priesthood in Hebrews 5–7 I. The Enthroned Messiah Is a Priestly Messiah (5.1-10) a. The Logic of Hebrews 5.1-10 b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 5.1-10 II. The Superiority of the Messiah’s Priesthood: Permanence (7.1-10) a. The Logic of Hebrews 7.1-10 Excursus 3: Melchizedek’s Identity b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 7.1-10 III. The Superiority of the Messiah’s Priesthood: Perfection (7.11-28) a. The Logic of Hebrews 7.11-28 Excursus 4: The High Priest’s Daily Sacrifice b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 7.11-28 IV. Summary Chapter 4. Messianic Sacrifice in Hebrews 8–10 I. The Messianic Priest’s Cult and Covenant (8.1-13) a. The Logic of Hebrews 8.1-13 b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 8.1-13 II. The Self-confessed Inadequacy of the Old Covenant’s Cult (9.1-10) a. The Logic of Hebrews 9.1-10 Excursus 5: The Incense Altar in Hebrews and in Judaism b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 9.1-10 III. The Messianic Priest’s Necessarily Superior Sacrifice (9.11-28) a. The Logic of Hebrews 9.11-28 Excursus 6: ‘Through (διά) the greater and more perfect tabernacle’ Excursus 7: Πνεύμα in Hebrews 9.14 Excursus 8: Διαθήκη in Heb. 9.16-17 Excursus 9: The Inauguration of the First Covenant in Hebrews 9.18-22 and Exodus 24.3-8 b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 9.11-28 IV. The Self-confessed Inadequacy of the Old Covenant’s Law (10.1-18) a. The Logic of Hebrews 10.1-18 Excursus 10: The Psalms of Lament in Early Christianity b. The Role of Psalm 110 in Hebrews 10.1-18 V. Summary Chapter 5. Conclusion I. Summary: The Logic of Hebrews II. Implications: The Situation of Hebrews Appendix: Survey of Literature on the use of the old Testament in Hebrews’ Structure I. G. B. Caird II. Simon Kistemaker III. Richard Longenecker IV. John R. Walters V. R. E. Davis VI. R. T. France VII. Daniel Buck VIII. Summary Bibliography Index of References Index of Authors A neglected area of study of the letter to the Hebrews is the function of the Old Testament in the letter's logic. Compton addresses this neglect by looking at two other ideas that have themselves received too little attention, namely (1) the unique and fundamental semantic contribution of Hebrews' exposition (vis-Ã#x81;Â -vis its exhortation) and (2) the prominence of Ps 110 in the author's exposition. The conclusion becomes clear that Hebrews' exposition-its theological argument-turns, in large part, on successive inferences drawn from Ps 110:1 and 4. Compton observes that the author uses the text in the first part of his exposition to (1) interpret Jesus' resurrection as his messianic enthronement, (2) connect Jesus' enthronement with his fulfillment of Ps 8's vision for humanity and, thus, (3) begin to explain why Jesus was enthroned through suffering. In the second and third parts of his exposition, the author uses the text to corroborate the narrative initially sketched. Thus, he uses the text to (1) show that messiah was expected to be a superior priest and, moreover, (2) show that this messianic priest was expected to solve the human problem through death