Strangers on the Earth

by James W Thompson

Overview

Contrary to what we might imagine from its title, the Epistle to the Hebrews is immersed in Hellenistic thought. Its author demonstrates an acquaintance with Greco-Roman rhetoric, and often supports his arguments with the assumptions of Hellenistic philosophy. While he shares the apocalyptic worldview of other Jews in this period, he recasts it with the language of Middle Platonism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781532684012
Publisher:	Cascade Books
Publication date:	04/24/2020
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.46(d)

About the Author

James W. Thompson is the Scholar in Residence in the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University. He is the author of The Beginnings of Christian Philosophy (1982), the commentary on Hebrews in the Paideia series (2008), numerous articles on Hebrews, and a series of books on the apostle Paul, including Moral Formation according to Paul (2011) and The Church according to Paul (2014).

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“James Thompson is among the foremost global Hebrews scholars. The present volume centers upon word studies and motifs that have been often overlooked. Thompson offers fresh insights into hermeneutics, the merits of the better, the gist of arguments, and Hebrews’ perspectives as compared with Philo, Paul, Middle Platonism, and Clement of Alexander. Wherever Hebrews is studied in depth, mastering this monograph is mandatory.”

—Thomas H. Olbricht, Pepperdine University



“Engaging with the latest scholarship on the topic, Strangers on the Earth is a thorough and convincing study of the Hellenistic rhetoric and philosophy of Hebrews. It benefits from James Thompson’s lifetime of research on this book and other New Testament epistles. Highly recommended to everyone interested in a serious exploration of the sophisticated Christology of Hebrews!”

—Christian A. Eberhart, University of Houston



“James W. Thompson vividly demonstrates how the author of Hebrews utilized Middle Platonic and Greco-Roman rhetorical elements—the cultural currency of his era—to articulate his profound early Christian ‘word of exhortation’ most effectively. Thompson rejects approaches that demand a sharp dichotomy between Hellenistic and apocalyptic Jewish influences. He shows that the former often appear in Hebrews in no less ‘Jewish’ ways than the latter, and always in service to the author’s Christian theological expression.”

—Eric F. Mason, Judson University

Editorial Reviews

James Thompson is among the foremost global Hebrews scholars. The present volume centers upon word studies and motifs that have been often overlooked. Thompson offers fresh insights into hermeneutics, the merits of the better, the gist of arguments, and Hebrews’ perspectives as compared with Philo, Paul, Middle Platonism, and Clement of Alexander. Wherever Hebrews is studied in depth, mastering this monograph is mandatory.”

—Thomas H. Olbricht, Pepperdine University



“Engaging with the latest scholarship on the topic, Strangers on the Earth is a thorough and convincing study of the Hellenistic rhetoric and philosophy of Hebrews. It benefits from James Thompson’s lifetime of research on this book and other New Testament epistles. Highly recommended to everyone interested in a serious exploration of the sophisticated Christology of Hebrews!”

—Christian A. Eberhart, University of Houston



“James W. Thompson vividly demonstrates how the author of Hebrews utilized Middle Platonic and Greco-Roman rhetorical elements—the cultural currency of his era—to articulate his profound early Christian ‘word of exhortation’ most effectively. Thompson rejects approaches that demand a sharp dichotomy between Hellenistic and apocalyptic Jewish influences. He shows that the former often appear in Hebrews in no less ‘Jewish’ ways than the latter, and always in service to the author’s Christian theological expression.”

—Eric F. Mason, Judson University

From the Publisher