Who Is Speaking? The Use Of Isaiah 8:17–18 In Hebrews 2:13 As A Case Study For Applying The Speech Of Key OT Figures To Christ -- By: Brian Pate

Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 59:4 (Dec 2016)
Article: Who Is Speaking? The Use Of Isaiah 8:17–18 In Hebrews 2:13 As A Case Study For Applying The Speech Of Key OT Figures To Christ
Author: Brian Pate


Who Is Speaking? The Use Of Isaiah 8:17–18 In Hebrews 2:13 As A Case Study For Applying The Speech Of Key OT Figures To Christ

Brian Pate*

* Brian Pate is a D.Min. student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and associate pastor at Liberty Baptist Church, 12020 US Hwy 87 S, Dalhart, TX 79022. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: In Heb 2:13, the author of Hebrews appropriates the words of David (from Psalm 22) and Isaiah (from Isaiah 8) as if Christ said them. I propose that this interpretational perspective of the NT authors is best explained by their understanding of the OT as containing patterns to be fulfilled in the eschatological people of God. They expected the lives of key OT individuals to prefigure the life and ministry of Christ, and on this basis their words could be applied to Christ. I further propose that modern interpreters should follow this methodology in exploring other OT figures whose speech may be applied to Christ.

Key Words: Hebrews 2, Psalm 22, Isaiah 8, typology, biblical theology, Joseph, Joshua, Elisha

Regardless of whether one agrees with his conclusions or not, Peter Enns is undoubtedly correct when he states, “Time and time again the New Testament authors do some odd things, by our standards, with the Old Testament.”1 Conservative scholars are faced with two options: impose one’s own “standards” on the Bible or strive to adopt the presuppositions of the biblical authors. Since it is clearly undesirable to foist twenty-first century notions on the Bible, the challenge presented to modern-day interpreters is to identify the interpretational mindset of the biblical authors. Although this is an ever-growing field of study, there is still a need for explorations into the hermeneutic of the early church with the goal of developing a pattern that modern-day interpreters can follow. This paper will attempt to provide such an exploration into the instances where the NT authors put the words of a key OT figure into the mouth of Christ. My goal is to discern the methodology of these specific instances, using Heb 2:13 as a case study, and then to apply this methodology to the words of other OT individuals.

This paper cannot tackle every issue related to this topic. I am assuming from the outset that the NT authors’ use of the OT was always legitimate and in accordance with the ...

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