'You are a priest forever' : Second Temple Jewish messianism and the priestly christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews / / by Eric F. Mason.

• Superior document: Studies on the texts of the desert of Judah, v. 74
• Author: Mason, Eric Farrel.
• Year of Publication: 2008
• Language: English
• Series: Studies on the texts of the desert of Judah ; v. 74.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (242 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Scholars have long questioned the conceptual background for the priestly Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews, with suggestions including Gnosticism, the thought of Philo of Alexandria, common themes in early Christian theology and exegesis, and the creativity of the author of Hebrews himself. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls prompted waves of enthusiasm for understanding Hebrews in that context, both in terms of the Qumran sect’s priestly messianism and understanding of Melchizedek, but claims often were excessive and the approach was discredited. The present study reevaluates the priestly Christology of Hebrews and the presentations of the messianic priest and Melchizedek in the Qumran texts, arguing that the latter do indeed provide the closest parallels to Hebrews’ thought.

Table of Contents

Hebrews' presentation of Jesus as High Priest -- Jesus as 'pioneer' or 'forerunner' -- Jesus as 'Son' and 'Son of God' -- Jesus as 'priest' and 'high priest' -- Hebrews 1:1-14 -- Hebrews 2:5-18 -- Hebrews 4:14-5:10 -- Hebrews 7 -- Hebrews 8-10 -- Previous theories of the background of the motif -- Largely original to the author of Hebrews -- Dependent on early Christian theology and exegesis -- Dependent on gnostic mythology -- Dependent on the thought of Philo of Alexandria -- Messianic priest traditions in Second Temple Judaism -- Messianic expectations at qumran -- Identification of 'messianic' figures at Qumran -- Evolutionary development of messianic conceptions at Qumran -- The messianic priest in the qumran texts -- Rule of the community and Damascus document -- Rule of the congregation -- Rule of the blessings -- War scroll -- Forilegium (4Q174) and Catenaa (4Q177) -- Testimonia (4Q175) -- Other possible references to a messianic priest -- Antecedents to the Qumran expectations of a messianic priest -- Aramaic Levi document -- Jubilees -- Ttestament of Levi -- Significance of the Levi priestly tradition -- Angelomorphic christology Melchizedek traditions in Second Temple Judaism -- Melchizedek in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Septuagint -- Genesis 14:18-20 -- Psalm 110:4 -- Melchizedek in nonbiblical Second Temple Jewish literature -- Genesis apocryphon -- Jubilees -- Pseudo-eupolemus -- Philo of Alexandria -- Melchizedek in the texts of the Qumran community -- Songs of the Sabbath sacrifice -- Visions of Amram -- Melchizedek -- The priestly christology of Hebrews and Qumran traditions -- A narrative theology of Hebrews -- Comparison with Qumran traditions -- Hebrews and the priestly messianism of Qumran -- Hebrews and the Melchizedek traditions of Qumran.