The Theology of the Letter to the Hebrews (New Testament Theology)

The Letter To The Hebrews Is Of Particular Significance For The Most Important Explanation Of The Sacrificial Death Of Christ Contained In The New Testament. In This Book, Barnabas Lindars Explains The Circumstances In Which Hebrews Was Written, And Expounds The Writer's Argument At Length. At Each Stage Of The Survey, The Writer's Ideas Are Related To The Main Topics Of New Testament Theology. Special Attention Is Paid To The Rhetorical Style Of Hebrews, Which Marks It Out As Having Been Written In Response To An Urgent Practical Situation. The Concluding Chapters Show The Place Of Hebrews In The Context Of The Development Of Early Christianity, And Indicate The Lasting Value Of Hebrews For Theology Today. Editor's Preface -- Preface -- Abbreviations -- The Historical Setting Of Hebrews -- The Theology Of Hebrews -- Hebrews And The New Testament -- The Significance Of Hebrews For Today -- Notes For Further Reading -- Index Of References -- Index Of Names -- Index Of Subjects. Barnabas Lindars. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Front Cover......Page 1 Title......Page 7 Copyright......Page 8 Contents......Page 9 Editor's preface......Page 11 Preface......Page 13 Abbreviations......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 The situation of the readers......Page 20 Persons, places, and date......Page 31 Background of thought......Page 37 The foundation in the primitive Kerygma......Page 42 The pre-existence of Jesus......Page 45 Jesus the Messiah......Page 51 Jesus and the angels......Page 53 The humanity of Jesus......Page 54 Conclusion......Page 57 The way to perfection......Page 58 The idea of perfection......Page 59 The old and the new......Page 63 The use of Scripture in Hebrews......Page 66 The Holy Spirit......Page 71 The priesthood of Jesus (I): Necessity of mature understanding......Page 74 The priesthood of Jesus the Messiah......Page 76 Mature understanding......Page 82 Impossibility of reconciliation?......Page 84 The priesthood of Jesus (2): The mediator of the new covenant......Page 87 The order of Melchizedek......Page 88 The eternal priesthood of Jesus......Page 93 The new covenant......Page 95 The sacrifice of Jesus......Page 100 An atonement sacrifice......Page 102 The sacrifice of the new covenant......Page 110 The will of God for sanctification......Page 114 The response of faith......Page 117 Practical application......Page 118 Warning to keep faith......Page 122 Faith in Hebrews......Page 124 Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of faith......Page 128 Unity and diversity......Page 135 Constructive theology......Page 140 Basic presuppositions......Page 144 The plan of salvation......Page 145 The use of Scripture......Page 146 The atonement ritual......Page 148 The rigorism of Hebrews......Page 150 The message of Hebrews......Page 151 Further reading......Page 159 Index of references......Page 161 Index of names......Page 168 Index of subjects......Page 170 Back Cover......Page 174 The Letter to the Hebrews is of particular significance for the most important explanation of the sacrificial death of Christ contained in the New Testament. In this study, Barnabas Lindars explains the circumstances in which it was written, and expounds the writer's argument at length. At each stage in his survey the teaching of Hebrews is related to the major topics of New Testament theology, so that the distinctive character of the Letter's contribution can be assessed in depth. At the same time this topical arrangement serves the purpose of a systematic theology, so that the reader can discover what Hebrews has to say on such subjects as christology, the atoning death of Jesus, the new covenant, the Holy Spirit, and the use of the Old Testament. Special attention is paid to the rhetorical power of the Epistle, which is seen to mark it out as a work of great persuasive power, written in response to an urgent practical situation. A summary chapter indicates the place of Hebrews in the context of the development of early Christianity, while a final section assesses the influence Hebrews has had on subsequent Christian theology, and the way it has been used as a resource for liturgy and worship from ancient times to the present The Letter to the Hebrews is of particular significance for the most important explanation of the sacrificial death of Christ contained in the New Testament. Here, Lindars explains the circumstances in which it was written. The concluding chapters show the place of Hebrews in the context of the development of early Christianity, and indicate the lasting value of Hebrews for theology today.