Polemic in the Book of Hebrews. Lloyd Kim

BibliquesSBLDSSociety of Biblical Literature Dissertation SeriesScEsScience et EspritScrHierScripta Hierosolymitana SE Studia EvangelicaSEÅSvensk exegetisk årsbokSemSemiticaSJTScottish Journal of TheologySNTSMSSociety for New Testament Studies Monograph SeriesSOTIStudies in Old Testament InterpretationSRStudies in Religion SUNTStudien zur Umwelt des Neuen TestamentsSwJTSouthwestern Journal of TheologyTaiJTTaiwan Journal of TheologyTJTrinity Journal TTETheological Educator: A Journal of Theology and MinistryTynBulTyndale Bulletin TZTheologische ZeitschriftVTVetus TestamentumVTSupVetus Testamentum SupplementWBCWord Biblical CommentaryWCJSWorld Congress of Jewish StudiesWMANTWissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen TestamentWTJWestminster Theological JournalWUNTWissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen TestamentZNWZeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche

      Apocrypha

1–2 Macc	1–2 Maccabees
Bel	Bel and the Dragon
Jub	Jubilees
Sir	Sirach/ Ecclesiasticus
Sus	Susanna
Tob	Tobit

      Dead Sea Scrolls

11QT	Temple Scroll
1Q34	Liturgical Prayer a
1Q34bis	Liturgical Prayer b
1QH	Hodayot or Thanksgiving Hymns
1QM	Milhamah or War Scroll
1QpHab	Pesher Habakkuk
1QpMic	Pesher Micah
1QS	Serek Hayahad or Rule of the Community
1QSa	Rule of the Congregation (Appendix a to 1QS)
1QSb	Rule of Blessings (Appendix b to 1QS)
4Q400	Songs of the Sabbath Sacrifice
4QFlor	Florilegium
4QPNah	Pesher Nahum
4QpsMos	Pseudo-Moses
CD	Cairo Genizah copy of the Damascus Document
MMT	Miqsat Ma‘asê ha-Torah

      Josephus

Ag.Ap.	Against Apion
Ant.	Jewish Antiquities
J.W.	Jewish War

      Old Testament Pseudepigrapha

L.A.B.	Liber antiquitatum biblicarum (Pseudo-Philo)
Pss.Sol.	Psalms of Solomon
T. Dan	Testament of Dan
T.Benj.	Testament of Benjamin
T.Gad	Testament of Gad
T.Iss.	Testament of Issachar
T.Jos.	Testament of Joseph
T.Jud.	Testament of Judah
T.Levi	Testament of Levi
T.Mos.	Testament of Moses
T.Naph.	Testament of Naphtali
T.Reu.	Testament of Reuben
T.Sim.	Testament of Simeon

      Philo

Alleg.Interp.	Allegorical Interpretation
Decalogue	On the Decalogue
Dreams	On Dreams
Drunkenness	On Drunkenness
Giants	On Giants
Heir	Who Is the Heir?
Her.	Quis rerum divinarum heres sit
Ios.	De Iosepho
Migr.	De migratione Abrahami
Migration	On the Migration of Abraham
Mos.	De vita Mosis
Mut.	De mutatione nominum
Opif.	De opificio mundi
Planting	On Planting
Prob.	Quod omnis probus liber sit
Providence	On Providence
QE	Quaestiones et solutiones in Exodum
QG	Quaestiones et solutiones in Genesin
Sacr.	De sacrificiis Abelis et Caini
Sacrifices	On the Sacrifices of Cain and Abel
Somn.	De somniis
Spec.	De specialibus legibus
Spec. Laws	On the Special Laws
Worse	That the Worse Attacks the Better

      Seneca

Ben.	De beneficiis

      Introduction

Is the New Testament responsible for anti-Semitism? Do the New Testament writings give rise to belligerent behavior or hateful thoughts toward Jewish people? Ever since World War II and the Jewish Holocaust, New Testament scholars have been wrestling with these kinds of questions. Most studies, however, have focused on the gospel accounts, Acts, or the Pauline epistles. Very little has been written specifically on the epistle to the Hebrews. 1 The goal of this dissertation is to determine whether the epistle to the Hebrews is anti-Semitic, anti-Judaic or supersessionistic, and if so, to what extent.

The topic itself poses several challenges. First, there does not seem to be a universal definition of anti-Semitism, nor any real consensus in the validity of distinguishing it from anti-Judaism. Second, the polemic in Hebrews seems to be directed not to the Jewish people, but rather to fundamental Jewish institutions.2 Would then, an attack on the Jewish faith and ritual constitute anti-Semitism? Third, it is clear that the author of Hebrews3 sees both continuity and discontinuity between Christianity and Judaism. Though there are indeed strong words against the Levitical priesthood, Mosaic Covenant, and Levitical sacrifices,4 there are also words of praise for Jewish men and women in the history of Israel.5 Though the author speaks against the law,6 he frequently quotes Scripture to support his arguments.7 Though he seems to encourage his readers to separate from Judaism,8 he also promotes a faith that is deeply rooted in Jewish thought and history. How then are we to understand his polemic in light of Christianity’s birth from her Jewish roots? Is the author advocating supersessionism?

      Defining Anti-Semitism and Anti-Judaism

      Anti-Semitism versus Anti-Judaism

John Gager makes a clear distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism. He defines anti-Semitism as “hostile statements about Jews and Judaism on the part of Gentiles.” He defines “anti-Judaism” as a primarily religious and theological disagreement with Judaism. The real difference according to Gager is that anti-Semitism is uninformed hostility from those on the outside, while anti-Judaism is a more informed critique from those on the inside or at least familiar with the Jewish faith.9 This distinction implies that anti-Semitism is irrational, belligerent behavior, while anti-Judaism is thoughtful, non-aggressive dialogue.

Several scholars follow Gager in distinguishing anti-Judaism from anti-Semitism.10 Craig Evans defines anti-Judaism as opposition to Judaism as a religion, while anti-Semitism is opposition to the Jewish people.11 Scot McKnight also makes this distinction, but further describes anti-Semitism as “irrational, personal, racial prejudice against Jews because they are Jews,” and anti-Judaism as “the religious polemic exercised especially by early Christians who thought rejecting Jesus as Messiah was abandoning God’s covenant with Israel.”12