Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 178:711 (Jul 2021)
Article: The Circularity Of Grace In The Warning Passages Of Hebrews
Author: Jonathan A. Campbell

BSac 178:711 (July-September 2021) p. 332

The Circularity Of Grace In The Warning Passages Of Hebrews

Jonathan A. Campbell

Jonathan A. Campbell is pastor of Shoreline and Lynnwood SDA Churches, Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Abstract

Barclay proposed that Paul considered grace to be circular, such that expectations are placed on those who have received it. In this work, the warning passages of Hebrews (2:1–4; 3:7–4:13; 5:11–6:12; 10:19–39; 12:14–29) are analyzed to determine whether they attest to this concept of the circularity of grace. It is shown that all five passages assume the audience to be Christian, assert necessary actions, and warn of the consequences should these actions not be taken. It is concluded that Barclay’s understanding of grace in Pauline theology could also be used to describe the theology of Hebrews.

Introduction

Since its publication in 2017, John M. G. Barclay’s Paul and the Gift has elicited a flood of scholarly debate.1 The book has been influential for two reasons. First, it introduces a new paradigm into biblical scholarship by which theologians and exegetes can discuss differing views of grace. Barclay helpfully defines six ways in which God’s gift of grace may be said to be “perfected” in a given work:

BSac 178:711 (July-September 2021) p. 333

Superabundance—“size, significance, or permanence”

Singularity—“sole and exclusive mode of operation”

Priority—“always prior to the initiative of the recipient”

Incongruity—“without regard to worth of the recipient”

Efficacy—“fully achieves what it was designed to do”

Non-circularity—“escapes reciprocity”2

Barclay notes that the perfection of one aspect of gift-giving “does not imply the perfection of any or all of the others.”3 For example, one may insist that God’s gift comes before any decision or action on the part of the recipient (priority) without saying anything about the gift being God’s only mode of operation (singularity).

Barclay’s second contribution to biblical scholarship is in his conclusion. He asserts that while Paul emphasizes the incongruity of grace, he does...