A Rhetorical Exegetical Study of the Warning Passage in Hebrews Chapter 6 in the Light of Its Old Testament Background

Abstract

Of the difficult warning passages of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb 6:4-6 remains one of its most challenging. The debates on the passage range from resolving its exegetical difficulties; disagreement over its inter-textual links, uncertainties over its theological implications, and much more recently, challenges with identification of the rhetorical strategies of the author. While many useful suggestions have been recently made on these issues, few scholars have explored how the author, as a Diaspora Jewish Christian, fused ideas from his Jewish and Greco-Roman rhetorical background to generate his argumentation which sought to persuade his hearers to remain faithful to the Christian faith. This study is a rhetorical exegetical examination of the warning passage of Hebrew 6 in the light of its OT background. The interest is to identify the rhetorical strategies that the author used in his exhortation. The study also aims to identify the OT citations, echoes and allusions, if any, that the author employed in Heb 6:4-6 and how these can help in the exegesis of the passage. The study therefore investigates how rhetorical criticism and inter-textuality contribute to the interpretation of the passage. The other objective is to highlight the benefits and limitations of the applications of Classical Greco-Roman conventions to the Rhetorical Criticism of Hebrews. The thesis identifies that underlying the whole passage was the Kadesh Barneaincident recorded in Numbers. The study also finds that the author skillfully combines ancient Greco-Roman rhetorical tropes with traditional Jewish Rhetorical manouvres to achieve his overall pastoral strategy. Theologically, the exegesis identifies that the passage is addressed to a Christian audience that have eternal security guaranteed. Yet they were in a danger of slackening to a level of failing to grow into maturity of their faith due to some challenges they were facing. The purpose of the author of Hebrews was to spur them to maturity. This has great importance to today’s Christians who think the journey of faith should be taken lightly. The outcome of this study should contribute in the Bible study of the book of Hebrews to a Christian in a local church where the researcher helps in leading Bible study groups.

Of the difficult warning passages of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Heb 6:4-6 remains one of its most challenging. The debates on the passage range from resolving its exegetical difficulties; disagreement over its inter-textual links, uncertainties over its theological implications, and much more recently, challenges with identification of the rhetorical strategies of the author. While many useful suggestions have been recently made on these issues, few scholars have explored how the author, as a Diaspora Jewish Christian, fused ideas from his Jewish and Greco-Roman rhetorical background to generate his argumentation which sought to persuade his hearers to remain faithful to the Christian faith. This study is a rhetorical exegetical examination of the warning passage of Hebrew 6 in the light of its OT background. The interest is to identify the rhetorical strategies that the author used in his exhortation. The study also aims to identify the OT citations, echoes and allusions, if any, that the author employed in Heb 6:4-6 and how these can help in the exegesis of the passage. The study therefore investigates how rhetorical criticism and inter-textuality contribute to the interpretation of the passage. The other objective is to highlight the benefits and limitations of the applications of Classical Greco-Roman conventions to the Rhetorical Criticism of Hebrews. The thesis identifies that underlying the whole passage was the Kadesh Barneaincident recorded in Numbers. The study also finds that the author skillfully combines ancient Greco-Roman rhetorical tropes with traditional Jewish Rhetorical manouvres to achieve his overall pastoral strategy. Theologically, the exegesis identifies that the passage is addressed to a Christian audience that have eternal security guaranteed. Yet they were in a danger of slackening to a level of failing to grow into maturity of their faith due to some challenges they were facing. The purpose of the author of Hebrews was to spur them to maturity. This has great importance to today’s Christians who think the journey of faith should be taken lightly. The outcome of this study should contribute in the Bible study of the book of Hebrews to a Christian in a local church where the researcher helps in leading Bible study groups.