Jerusalem In Hebrews 13:9-14 And The Dating Of The Epistle -- By: Peter Walker

Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 45:1 (NA 1994)
Article: Jerusalem In Hebrews 13:9-14 And The Dating Of The Epistle
Author: Peter Walker


Jerusalem In Hebrews 13:9-14
And The Dating Of The Epistle

Peter Walker

Summary

In this article it is suggested the author of Hebrews had a developed critique not just of the Temple but also of the city of Jerusalem, and that this is close to the heart of his concerns as expressed in a pivotal passage in 13:9-14. The traces of this theme in earlier chapters are then noted, leading to the conclusion that the author is writing before the Fall of Jerusalem in AD 70 but with a prophetic awareness of what lies in store for the Jewish capital. The consequences of this view for our study of Hebrews and other parts of the New Testament are highlighted in a concluding section.

The date of the epistle to the Hebrews continues to be a matter of much debate; is it before or after AD 70?1 It will be suggested here

that a resolution of this issue may be found through noting the presence of an important sub-theme within the epistle—the question of the earthly Jerusalem and its significance.

This theme can be discerned through examining closely a key passage near the end of the letter (13:9-14), but it will also be seen to have been developed in preceding chapters. The implications for dating the epistle will then be noted, concluding with some observations as to the consequences of such a reading for our understanding of Hebrews.

I. The Theme of Jerusalem in Hebrews 13:9-14

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods [βρώμασιν], which are of no value to those who eat them. We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle [σκηνῇ] have no right to eat.

The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

A) The Context—Jewish Meals

The precise application of this passage, which has been described as one of the ‘most difficult passages of the entire New Testament’2 depends chiefly on our interpretation of the word You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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