Enabling Fidelity to God

by Whitlark, Jason A.; Talbert, Charles H.

• ISBN13: 9781606084779
• ISBN10: 1606084771
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-02-19
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

The primary focus of this book is to demonstrate how Hebrews represents, in view of its historical and religious context, human fidelity to God. Thus, the basic thesis is twofold. First, with regard to the divine-human relationship in the ancient Mediterranean world, the belief in the reciprocity rationale was one primary dynamic for establishing fidelity to a relationship and has been applied by some scholars, such as David deSilva, to Hebrews as the way to understand its strategy for creating perseverance. A major problem with the application of this dynamic is that a common optimistic anthropological assumption is associated with the various reciprocity systems in the ancient world, both Jewish and pagan. This assumption is required if reciprocity is to be effective for establishing ongoing fidelity. Second, there was, however, a middle Judaic stream that can be traced from the period of the exile which held to a pessimistic anthropology. This anthropological assumption crippled the perceived success of reciprocity to secure fidelity. Thus, the solution to God's people's inability to remain faithful was an act of God that transformed the human condition and enabled faithfulness to the relationship. The argument of this book is that Hebrews, with its emphasis upon the inauguration of the new covenant by Jesus' high priestly ministry, belongs to this latter stream of thought in understanding how fidelity is secured between God and his people. Hebrews, thus, implicitly rejects the rationale of reciprocity for fidelity. The implications of this offers a fresh perspective on the soteriology of Hebrews.

Author Biography

"This is a fresh and provocative new reading of Hebrews that moves the homily from the periphery of New Testament soteriology into the early Christian mainstream. This is an exercise in biblical theology not to be missed." -Charles H. Talbert Distinguished Professor of Religion in New Testament Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xiii
Acknowledgements	p. xv
Abbreviations	p. xvii
Introduction	p. 1
Two Means of Fidelity: Reciprocity and Enablement	p. 1
Benefaction and Patronage: Previous Applications to Interpretation	p. 2
Greco-Roman Benefaction and Pauline Studies	p. 2
Greco-Roman Benefaction, Hebrews, and David A. deSilva	p. 6
Method: Reading with the Authorial Audience	p. 8
Plan	p. 12
The Historical Context of Hebrews	p. 15
A Characterization of Reciprocity	p. 17
Reciprocity is a Relational Bond	p. 20
A Cohesive Dynamic	p. 20
A Non-Commercial Bond	p. 21
A Non-Legislated Bond	p. 22
The Bond is Characterized by Fidelity	p. 25
Expressions of Fidelity	p. 25
The Extent of Fidelity	p. 36
Conflicting Loyalties	p. 37
The Bond is Characterized by Cooperation	p. 38
The Obligations of Symmetrical Reciprocity Relationships	p. 38
The Obligations of Asymmetrical Reciprocity Relationships	p. 40
The Bond is Characterized by Mutual Dependence	p. 49
Reciprocity Involves A Measure of Risk	p. 49
Risk Arises From the Voluntary Nature of the Reciprocity Bond	p. 50
Assuaging the Risk: $$	p. 51
Conclusion	p. 53
The Anthropological Assumption of Reciprocity	p. 54
The Optimistic Assumption of the Preceding Characterization	p. 55
Additional Proof: Emphasis Placed Upon Character	p. 56
In the Selection of Benefactors/Beneficiaries	p. 56
Touted in the Honorific Inscriptions	p. 58
Intrinsic to the Benefactor/Beneficiary	p. 60
Additional Proof: Giving Produces Gratitude	p. 62
Additional Proof: Optimistic Anthropology Made Explicit in Aristotle and Seneca	p. 65
Conclusion	p. 68
The Religious Background of Hebrews	p. 71
Divine-Human Reciprocity Relationship in the Jewish Milieu	p. 72
The Mosaic Covenant and the Suzerainty-vassal Treaty	p. 72
A Relational Bond	p. 74
Fidelity: Indebted Gratitude	p. 76
Cooperation	p. 81
Mutual Dependence	p. 82
Josephus and Greco-Roman Patronage/Benefaction	p. 85
A Relational Bond	p. 85
Fidelity: Indebted Gratitude	p. 87
Cooperation	p. 89
Mutual Dependence	p. 91
Conclusion	p. 92
Reciprocity and Other Streams of Middle Judaism	p. 92
Rabbinic Judaism and Reciprocity	p. 96
Consequence of Anthropological Assumptions in the Jewish Milieu	p. 97
Consequence of an Optimistic Anthropological Assumption	p. 97
Possibility of Success	p. 98
Realization of Fidelity	p. 102
Consequence of a Pessimistic Anthropological Assumption	p. 103
Failure of the Relationship	p. 104
Solution to Infidelity	p. 116
The Function of Gratitude	p. 121
Conclusion	p. 125
Fidelity in Hebrews	p. 127
Hebrews and Its Milieu: Echoes of Benefaction in Hebrews	p. 127
Conceptual Echoes	p. 128
Lexical Echoes	p. 132
The Religious Appropriation of Benefaction/Patronage: Two Models	p. 134
Josephus	p. 135
Paul	p. 135
Interpreting Fidelity in Hebrews: A Critique of DeSilva's Reciprocity Model	p. 138
DeSilva's Methodology	p. 138
DeSilva's Appropriation of Ancient Reciprocity	p. 139
A Preliminary Critique of DeSilva's Interpretation	p. 142
Interpreting Fidelity in Hebrews: Divine Enablement and Anthropological Assumption in Hebrews	p. 146
Election and Enablement	p. 148
Election Motifs	p. 148
Enablement	p. 152
Anthropological Assumption	p. 163
Universal Need for Purification	p. 164
Subjection of Humanity to Death	p. 164
The History of Israel	p. 165
The Paradox of Divine Enablement and Human Responsibility	p. 166
The Paradox in Hebrews	p. 166
Other Representatives of This Paradox	p. 168
Conclusion	p. 171
Conclusion	p. 173
Summary	p. 173
Hebrews's Place in the Theological Tradition of the Church	p. 176
Avenues of Future Research	p. 178
Appendix	p. 183
Bibliography	p. 185
Indexes
Index of Subjects	p. 199
Index of References	p. 215
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