My fascination with Hebrews goes back to my undergraduate days, when I studied it in Greek and first worked through the marvelous commentary by F. F. Bruce. Some years after graduation, I had the privilege of teaching Hebrews in English to first year students at Moore College. While exegeting the text, we were able to explore Biblical Theology at the same time, since Hebrews has so much to teach about the interpretation of the Old Testament in the light of its fulfilment in Christ.
Subsequently, the course changed and I had the opportunity to teach Hebrews in Greek to more advanced students, both at Moore and then later at Oak Hill College in London.
When it became possible to pursue doctoral studies under the supervision of Professor Bruce at the University of Manchester, I decided I wanted to spend three years examining the concept of perfection in Hebrews. This was subsequently published as Hebrews and Perfection, and it is still in print as a paperback.
As well as writing various articles on Hebrews, I have had the opportunity to write a simple commentary on the English text for the New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer and G. J. Wenham (Leicester: Inter-varsity; Downers Grove: Intervarsity, 1994).
My further work on Worship and Sanctification was largely inspired by my study of Hebrews.
Published articles on Hebrews.
From time to time, I will review new publications on Hebrews or draw attention to reviews by other people. Most recently, I have noted two positive reviews of Kenneth L. Schenck’s Cosmology and Eschatology in Hebrews: The Settings of the Sacrifice, SNTS MS 143 (Cambridge, Cambridge University, 2008). The first is by Jason A. Whitlark and the second by Thomas J. Kraus.
I prefer to use the designation ‘Hebrews’, rather than ‘the letter to the Hebrews’, because I am persuaded that the document is best described as a ‘homily in written form, with some personal remarks at the end’ (F. F. Bruce, Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews [London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1982], 413). Compare J. Swetnam, ‘On the Literary Genre of the “Epistle” to the Hebrews’, Novum Testamentum 11 (1969), 261-69; W. L. Lane, ‘Hebrews: a sermon in search of a setting’, South Western Journal of Theology, 28 (1985), 13-18, and most modern commentators.
David G. Peterson 