Did THIS Ancient Christian Book Cost A Contestant THOUSANDS of Dollars?

Описание: So, the statement that was made was: "Paul's letter to them is the New Testament epistle with the most Old Testament quotations." The answer that Jeopardy said was correct was the book of Hebrews. There are three things that I want to address: first Jeopardy's statement assumes that Paul wrote the book of Hebrews. Is this correct? Second, Jeopardy's statement says this Pauline work is an epistle. Is this the case? And third, Jeopardy's statement says that the particular book they're referencing has the most Old Testament quotations. But if the book of Hebrews is their true-north-pointing compass, then this answer is "no." So, what's going on here?

Well, let's address the first point. If we are assuming that Hebrews is the correct answer to the question: we have to ask, did Paul write Hebrews? Now, there is some ancient manuscript evidence that would support that some held to Pauline authorship at an early date, grouping it together with the rest of the Pauline corpus or collection.

For example, in P46 Hebrews is placed directly after Romans and Codex Vaticanus also includes it within the Pauline corpus. However, it wasn't until Jerome and Augustine that Pauline authorship of Hebrews was truly accepted. That being said, it was in the protestant reformation where Pauline authorship was been called into question. And now, modern scholarship, for the most part, as rejected Pauline authorship. Why?

Well first there is maybe the most obvious: the book of Hebrews is anonymous. There is no reference to a Pauline introductory formula that we commonly see in his letters. Paul's way of introducing himself was a common way start a letter. A second reason Pauline authorship is rejected is due to the literary style and vocabulary used which can be quite different than what we normally see in Paul. The Greek grammar and syntax is a bit different than what Paul normally uses. A third reason is that the author of Hebrews seems to place themselves outside the grouping of the Apostles, which is something Paul didn't do. And one of the last reasons is that the theological emphasis of Hebrews and Paul can be quite different. For example, the high priesthood of Jesus plays a prominent role in Hebrews but not so in Paul.

So, if Paul did not write the letter, who did? This is where countless commentaries, articles, and dissertations have been battling for years. Authorship has been attributed to people such as Barnabas, Luke, Apollos, Priscilla and/or Aquilla, Clement of Rome, and the list goes on and on. The fact is we just do not know who wrote Hebrews. So, in relation to the Jeopardy question: If Hebrews is the answer they are looking for, it is faulty to assume that Paul wrote, especially in spite of the evidence to the contrary.

The second point is more likely a minor miscategorization. Again, if Hebrews is the answer Jeopardy is looking for, it is most likely not an epistle. Though there are still scholars who would hold to this view. The fact is, it is missing many of the elements that would normally classify it as an epistle. Again, it is missing an epistolary prescript, an introductory formula that introduces the author to the recipients. Many scholars agree that Hebrews might have elements of an epistle or letter, but is more likely a sermon, or a homiletical exhortation. It was written to encourage and strengthen the Jewish Christian body to whom the author was writing. For them to remain strong and to persevere, and not go back to what they once knew. And once it was delivered, it would most likely have been read orally in the midst of the congregation. Which would have definitely delivered the sermon qualities that was intended. So, while the Jeopardy question categorizes Hebrews as an epistle, it is most likely not.

Lastly, number three. If Hebrews is the answer they are looking for, and if they are assuming Pauline authorship, does it indeed have the most quotations of Pauline literature? The answer is no. That honor is bestowed to the other mountain of a book, Romans. In fact, Romans has approximately 57 quotations/citations. This includes Old Testament references that have an introductory formula, such a, "It is written" and those that lack the formula but are still quoting the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews does quote the Old Testament a lot, however it comes short when compared to Romans with a few shy of 40 quotations/citations. The book of Hebrews is rich in its Old Testament usage and imagery, however, in reference to this Jeopardy question, if indeed Paul did write Hebrews, then the answer is not Hebrews, it is Romans.

A good book I would recommend would be Old Made New, by New Testament scholar Greg Lanier. He has done some great work on the topic, Helping to draw the distinction between the ways the New Testament uses the Old. #Jeopardy #BibleTrivia #christianity
https://puzzlepieceexegete.wixsite.co...
  / puzzleexegete