Hebrews: A Social Identity Commentary

Matthew J. Marohl

• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN:
  9780567696069
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion

In this volume, Matthew J. Marohl introduces a culturally sensitive reading of Hebrews employing a social identity approach. This allows readers to encounter a unique and powerful depiction of the faithful Jesus and a dynamic group of Christ-followers called upon to maintain their faithfulness. In the end, this social identity approach reveals a work with two strands thoroughly intertwined.

Through the lens of conceptual blending theory, Marohl examines the way in which the author combines the multiple identities of the addressees, shedding light on the community dynamics of early Christ followers. Marohl explores how the author describes ingroup boundaries, how faithfulness is held up as the ultimate ingroup norm, and how the promised rest is grounded in the language of the anticipated future. Ultimately, Marohl argues that Hebrews is a prime example of literature created out of crisis.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Dedication
• Title Page
• T & T Clark Social Identity Commentaries on the New Testament
• Table of Contents
• Series Preface
• Preface and Acknowledgments
• List of Abbreviations
• 1 Setting the Scene
• 2 A Social Identity Theory
• 3 God’s Ongoing Speech (1:1–4)
• 4 The Son Is Superior to Angels (1:5–14)
• 5 Warning to Pay Attention (2:1–4)
• 6 Jesus, the Pioneer of Salvation (2:5–18)
• 7 Moses and Jesus, Servant and Son (3:1–6)
• 8 Warning against Unfaithfulness (3:7–19)
• 9 God’s Promised Rest (4:1–13)
• 10 Jesus as High Priest (4:14–5:10)
• 11 Ingroup Boundaries (5:11–6:8)
• 12 God’s Faithfulness (6:9–20)
• 13 Jesus and Melchizedek (7:1–28)
• 14 A New Covenant (8:1–13)
• 15 Earthly and Heavenly Sanctuaries (9:1–22)
• 16 Christ’s Sacrifice (9:23–10:18)
• 17 A Call to Persevere (10:19–39)
• 18 A Great Cloud of Witnesses (11:1–40)
• 19 The Faithfulness of Jesus (12:1–13)
• 20 Another Warning to Persevere (12:14–29)
• 21 A Call to Love and Service (13:1–19)
• 22 Benediction, Exhortation, and Greeting (13:20–25)
• References
• Index of Authors
• Index of Ancient references
• Index of Biblical References
• Copyright Page