Journal: Tyndale Bulletin
Volume: TYNBUL 74:1 (NA 2023)
Article: Changes: Literary And Theological Consideration Of Two Variation Units In Hebrews 1:8b
Author: Daniel Stevens

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Changes: Literary And Theological Consideration Of Two Variation Units In Hebrews 1:8b

Daniel Stevens

Assistant Professor of New Testament Interpretation
Boyce College
[email protected]

Abstract

While the Epistle to the Hebrews has few hotly debated textual variants, issues surrounding variation within the author’s citation of the scriptures of Israel in Greek remain thorny. This paper considers two variation units in Hebrews 1:8b and argues for the priority of certain readings primarily on the basis of internal evidence, namely the author’s citation practices and Christological exegesis. This paper concludes that Hebrews 1:8b originally read καὶ ἡ ῥάβδος τῆς εὐθύτητος ῥάβδος τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ, and that this alteration to the Old Greek text of the Psalm cited is an intentional reference to the Davidic covenant and the Son’s exalted, incarnate reign.

1. Introduction

While the Epistle to the Hebrews has few hotly debated textual variants,1 issues surrounding variation within the author’s citation of the scriptures of Israel in Greek remain thorny. The situation is often summarised by saying

TynBull 74:1 (2023) p. 66

that the author to the Hebrews cites the Septuagint rather than the Hebrew tradition,2 but this elides a somewhat complicated state of affairs: when a well-attested reading of Hebrews varies from the best recoverable reading, or any known reading, of the Greek Old Testament, is it because the author chose to do so, or that he had a different witness to the same passage, or that a scribe inserted the variation in error? Conversely, when a well-attested reading of Hebrews agrees with the best recoverable reading of the Greek Old Testament, is it possible that, within the copying process, one of the texts was harmonised to the other? How can one decide between harmonised and non-harmonised options? What other factors come into play? For composite citations, the problem only multiplies. Each variation unit must be addressed separately, and the combination of possible solutions is near endless.

In this paper, I argue for the originality of two readings within variation units in Hebrews 1:8b with emphasis on internal evidence. This passage is a citation of Psalm 45:6 (44:7 LXX), which, I argue, the author to the Hebrews intentionally modifies in two distinct ways, ...