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Some correspondences with the Epistles of St Paul to the Romans (in addition to those given above) and Corinthians (1) which have been collected (Holtzmann Einl. 315 f.) deserve to be quoted, if only to shew the difference of style in the Epistle to the Hebrews: Heb. 6:12 f. (Rom. 4:13, 20); Heb. 10:38 (Rom. 1:17); Heb. 12:14 (Rom. 12:18; 14:19); Heb. 13:1 (Rom. 12:10); Heb. 13:2 (Rom. 12:13); Heb. 13:9 (Rom. 14:3 f.); Heb. 2:4 (1 Cor. 12:4, 7-11); Heb. 2:8 (1 Cor. 15:27); Heb. 2:10 (1 Cor. 8:6); Heb. 2:14 (1 Cor. 15:26); Heb. 3:7-19; 12:18-25 (1 Cor. 10:1-11); Heb. 5:12 (1 Cor. 3:2); Heb. 5:14 (1 Cor. 2:6); Heb. 6:3 (1 Cor. 16:7); Heb. 9:26 (1 Cor. 10:11); Heb. 10:33 (1 Cor. 4:9); Heb. 13:10 (1 Cor. 10:14-21); Heb. 13:20 (1 Cor. 7:15; 14:33).

The close resemblance of the language of the Epistle to that of St Luke was noticed by Clement of Alexandria ( ap. Euseb.
H. E. 6.14... Louka'n [ fhsivn ]... meqermhneuvsanta ejkdou'nai toi'" {Ellhsin : o{qen to;n aujto;n crw'ta euJrivskesqai kata; th;n eJrmhneivan tauvth" te th'" ejpistolh'" kai; tw'n pravxewn —the form of expression is remarkable), and his criticism was repeated by later writers. The significance of the coincidences may have been overrated, but no impartial student can fail to be struck by the frequent use of words characteristic of St Luke among the writers of the N.T. e.g., diamartuvresqai (Heb. 2:6), ajrchgov" (2:10), o{qen (2:17), iJlavskesqai (2:17), mevtoco" (3:1), perikei'sqai accus. (5:2), eu[qeto" (6:7), katafeuvgein (6:18), patriavrch" (7:4) eij" to; pantelev" (7:25), scedovn (9:22), ajnwvteron (10:8), paroxusmov" (10:24), u{parxi" (10:34), ajnastavsew" tugcavnein (11:35), e[ntromo" (12:21), ajsavleuto" (12:28), oiJ hJgouvmenoi (13:7), ajnaqewrei'n (13:7).

The imagery of the Epistle is drawn from many sources. Some of the figures which are touched more or less in detail are singularly vivid and expressive: Heb. 4:12 (the word a sword); 6:7 f. (the land fruitful for good or evil); 6:19 (hope the anchor); 11:13 (the vision of the distant shore); 12:1 (the amphitheatre); 12:8 ff. (the discipline of life). A whole picture often lies in single words: 2:1 ( pararuw'men ); 4:2 ( sunkekerasmevno" -ou" ); 4:9
(
sabbatismov" ); 4:13 ( tetrachlismevna ); 5:2 ( perivkeitai ajsqevneian , comp. 10:11 perielei'n ); 6:1 ferwvmeqa ); 6:6 ( ajnastaurou'nte" ); 8:5 ( skiav , comp. 9:23 f.; 10:1, 11); 8:13 ( ghravskon ); 10:20 ( oJdo;" zw'sa ); 10:33 ( qeatrizovmenoi ); 12:23 ( panhvguri" ). Compare also 1:3; 2:9, 15; 3:2; 5:12 f.; 10:22, 27; 12:13.

IX. THE PLAN

The general progress of thought in the Epistle is clear; but, at the same time, in a writing so many-sided, where subjects are naturally foreshadowed and recalled, differences of opinion must arise as to the exact divisions of the argument. The following arrangement gives at least an intelligible view of the main relations of the different parts of the Book.

OUTLINE


THE THEME OF THE EPISTLE; THE FINALITY OF CHRISTIANITY: Hebrews 1:1-4.


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