Old Testament Quotations in Hebrews: Studies in their Textual and Contextual Background

Description

Georg A. Walser investigates the use of the Old Testament (Gen. 47:31b; Ps. 40:7b; Jer. 31:33) in the Letter to the Hebrews, taking the complicated textual history of the quotations into account, especially the Septuagint and the possibility that different Hebrew texts may underlie the Greek translation. Further, he draws on the assumption that Hebrews was composed in a Jewish context, where the Old Testament text had been interpreted for a long time. It is also presupposed that this exegesis was handed down in the post Second Temple Jewish community and in the early church. Hence primary sources, such as Talmud, Midrash and early church fathers, are consulted. The author shows that several versions of Old Testament texts were interpreted, which had a decisive impact on the exegesis and that some versions of the texts were favoured in the Jewish context while others were preferred in the early Church. Cover Preface Table of Contents Abbreviations Chapter 1 1. Setting the Scene 1.1 Rationale and Background 1.1.2 Basic assumptions of this study 1.2 Aims 1.2.1 Research Questions 1.2.2 The “Parting of the Ways” Debate 1.3 Textual and Contextual Background 1.3.1 Introduction 1.3.2 Textual Background 1.3.2.1 Hebrews and Septuagint Research 1.3.3 Contextual Background 1.3.3.1 Hebrews and Second Temple Judaism 1.3.3.2 Hebrews and the Early Church 1.4 Evaluation of Earlier Investigations 1.5 Methodology 1.5.1 Overview 1.5.2 Selection of Texts 1.5.3 Terminology 1.5.4 Sources 1.6 Structure of Hebrews 1.7 Summary Chapter 2 2. Jeremiah 31:33 (LXX 38:33) in Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16 2.1 Introduction 2.2 The Text of Jer 31:33 2.2.1 Jer 31:33 and the Difference between the Versions 2.2.1.1 MT version of Jer 31:33 2.2.1.2 LXX version of Jer 38:33 2.2.2 The Origin of the Versions 2.2.3 The Biblical Contexts of Jer 31:33 2.2.3.1 In MT and LXX 2.2.3.2 In Hebrews 2.2.4 Jer 31:33: Summary and Evidence from the Text 2.3 The Interpretative Context of the Two Versions of Jer 31:33 2.3.1 Introduction 2.3.2 Jer 31:33 in Qumran 2.3.3 Jer 31:33 in the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha 2.3.4 Jer 31:33 in the Targum 2.3.5 Jer 31:33 in the New Testament 2.3.6 Jer 31:33 in Midrash 2.3.6.1 Midrash Tanḥuma B 2.3.6.2 Midrash Rabbah 2.3.7 Jer 31:33 in the Early Greek Church 2.3.7.1 Valentinus (c. 100–c. 160) 2.3.7.2 Justin Martyr (c. 100–165) 2.3.7.3 Irenaeus (c. 135–202) 2.3.7.4 Clement of Alexandria (c. 150–215) 2.3.7.5 Origen (185–254) 2.3.7.6 Eusebius (c. 260–339) 2.3.7.7 Athanasius (c. 293–373) 2.3.7.8 Pseudo-Macarius (c. 300–c. 390) 2.3.7.9 Didymus (c. 313–c. 398) 2.3.7.10 John Chrysostom (344–407) 2.3.7.11 Cyril of Alexandria (c. 375–444) 2.3.7.12 Theodoret (393–457) 2.3.7.13 Summary and Evidence from the Early Greek Church 2.3.8 Jer 31:33 in the Early Latin Church 2.3.8.1 Tertullian (c. 160–c. 220) 2.3.8.2 Cyprian (–258) 2.3.8.3 Lactantius (c. 240–c. 320) 2.3.8.4 Ambrose (340–397) 2.3.8.5 Optatus Milevitanus (ca. 370) 2.3.8.6 Jerome (350–420) 2.3.8.7 Augustine of Hippo (354–430) 2.3.8.8 Prosper of Aquitaine (c. 390–c. 455) 2.3.8.9 Leo I (c. 400–461) 2.3.8.10 Summary and Evidence from the Early Latin Church 2.3.9 Jer 31:33: Summary and Evidence from the Interpretative Context 2.4 Jer 31:33 in Heb 8:10 and 10:16 2.4.1 Introduction 2.4.2 The Interpretation of Jer 31:33 in Heb 8:10 and 10:16 2.5 Conclusions Chapter 3 3. Psalm 40:7b (LXX 39:7b) in Hebrews 10:5 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Text of Ps 40:7b 3.2.1 Ps 40:7b and the Differences between the Versions 3.2.1.1 MT version of Ps 40:7b 3.2.1.2 LXX version of Ps 40:7b 3.2.2 The Origin of the Versions 3.2.3 The Biblical Contexts of Psalm 40:7b 3.2.3.1 In MT and LXX 3.2.3.2 In Hebrews 3.2.4 Ps 40:7b: Summary and Evidence from the Text 3.3 The Interpretative Context of the Two Versions of Ps 40:7b 3.3.1 Introduction 3.3.2 Ps 40:7b in the Targum 3.3.3 Ps 40:7 in the New Testament 3.3.4 Ps 40:7 in Midrash 3.3.4.1 Mekhilta de-Rabbi Shimon bar Yoḥai 3.3.4.2 Midrash Tehillim 3.3.4.3 Summary and Evidence from Midrash 3.3.5 Ps 40:7b in the Early Greek Church 3.3.5.1 Irenaeus (c. 135–202) 3.3.5.2 Origen (185–254) 3.3.5.3 Eusebius (c. 260–339) 3.3.5.4 Athanasius (c. 293–373) 3.3.5.5 Didymus (c. 313–c. 398) 3.3.5.6 Asterius Amasenus (c. 330–410) 3.3.5.7 John Chrysostom (344–407) 3.3.5.8 Theodore of Mopsuestia (c. 350–428) 3.3.5.9 Cyril of Alexandria (c. 375–444) 3.3.5.10 Theodoret (393–457) 3.3.5.11 Summary and Evidence from the Early Greek Church 3.3.6 Ps 40:7b in the Early Latin Church 3.3.6.1 Hilarius Pictaviensis (315–367) 3.3.6.2 Niceta of Remesiana (c. 335–c. 414) 3.3.6.3 Ambrose (340–397) 3.3.6.4 Jerome (350–420) 3.3.6.5 Augustine of Hippo (354–430) 3.3.6.6 Julius of Eclanum (c. 386–c. 455) 3.3.6.7 Petrus Chrysologus (406–450) 3.3.6.8 Summary and Evidence from the Early Latin Church 3.3.7 Ps 40:7b: Summary and Evidence from the Interpretative Context 3.4 Ps 40:7b in Heb 10:5 3.4.1 Introduction 3.4.2 The Interpretation of Ps 40:7b in Heb 10:5 3.5 Conclusions Chapter 4 4. Genesis 47:31b in Hebrews 11:21 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Text of Gen 47:31b 4.2.1 Gen 47:31b and the Differences between the Versions 4.2.1.1 MT version of Gen 47:31b 4.2.1.2 LXX version of Gen 47:31b 4.2.3 The Origin of the Versions 4.2.4 The Biblical Contexts of Gen 47:31b 4.2.4.1 In MT and LXX 4.2.4.2 In Hebrews 4.2.5 Gen 47:31b: Summary and Evidence from the Text 4.3 The Interpretative Context of the Two Versions of Gen 47:31b 4.3.1 Introduction 4.3.2 Gen 47:31b in the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha 4.3.2.1 The Testament of Job 4.3.3 Gen 47:31b in the Targums 4.3.3.1 Introduction 4.3.3.2 Targum Onkelos 4.3.3.3 Targum Pseudo-Jonathan 4.3.3.4 Targum Neofiti 1 4.3.3.5 Summary and Evidence from the Targums 4.3.4 Gen 47:31b in Talmud and Midrash 4.3.4.1 Introduction 4.3.4.2 Babylonian Talmud 4.3.4.3 Genesis Rabbah 4.3.4.4 Sifre Deuteronomy 4.3.4.5 Tanḥuma 4.3.4.6 Summary and Evidence from Talmud and Midrash 4.3.5 Gen 47:31b in the Early Greek Church 4.3.5.1 Origen (185–254) 4.3.5.2 Athanasius (c. 293–373) 4.3.5.3 Eusebius of Emesa (c. 300–c. 360) 4.3.5.4 Diodorus of Tarsus (330–391) 4.3.5.5 John Chrysostom (344–407) 4.3.5.6 Theodoret (393–457) 4.3.5.7 Gennadius (–c. 496) 4.3.5.8 Summary and Evidence from the Early Greek Church 4.3.6 Gen 47:31b in the Early Latin Church 4.3.6.1 Rufinus (344–410) 4.3.6.2 Jerome (350–420) 4.3.6.3 Augustine of Hippo (354–430) 4.3.6.4 Cyprianus Gallus (c. 400) 4.3.6.5 Eucherius of Lyon (410–c. 449) 4.3.6.6 Summary and Evidence from the Early Latin Church 4.3.7 Gen 47:31b: Summary and Evidence from the Interpretative Context 4.4 Gen 47:31b in Heb 11:21 4.4.1 Introduction 4.4.2 The Interpretation of Gen 47:31b in Heb 11:21 4.4.2.1 Gen 47:31b Indicating the Place of Worship in Heb 11:21 4.4.2.2 Gen 47:31b Indicating the Object of Worship in Heb 11:21 4.4.2.3 Gen 47:31b Emphasizing Jacob’s Faith in Heb 11:21 4.4.2.4 Gen 47:31b in Heb 11:21 in the Context of 𝕻 4.5 Conclusions Chapter 5 5. General Conclusions 5.1 Overview of the Conclusions of Chapters 2–4 5.1.1 Introduction 5.1.2 Text 5.1.3 Context 5.2 General Remarks on the Use of the Old Testament in the New 5.2.1 Text 5.2.2 Context 5.3 Remarks on the “Parting of the Ways” Debate 5.4 Further Research Bibliography 1. Primary Sources 2. Secondary Literature Index of Ancient Sources 1. Old Testament 2. New Testament 3. Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha 4. Targums 5. Patristic Sources 6. Rabbinic Literature Index of Modern Authors Index of Subjects