'In the Midst of the Assembly I Will Praise You': Hebrews 2.12 and Its Contribution to the Argument of the Epistle. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dyer, Bryan R.
• Is Part Of: Journal for the study of the New Testament. Volume 43:Number 4(2021:Jun.)
• Page Start: 523
• Page End: 538
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Prosopological exegesis -- worship -- Epistle to the Hebrews -- social context -- hymn; 225.605
• DOI: 10.1177/0142064X21989965
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-064X

Abstract

This article studies Ps. 21.23 LXX in Heb. 2.12 and zeroes in on the fascinating image that it presents: Jesus worshipping within the Christian community. This image is sometimes lost as it appears in the second half of a quotation in which the first part seems to make the more significant point (Jesus' solidarity with his siblings). Yet this striking image of Jesus praising God makes an important theological and sociological contribution to the epistle's argument. As this article will argue, this image contributes to a larger attempt by the author to solidify commitment to the community and ground the group's identity in Jesus.