24.7

Hebrews and Paul: Some Parallels

Although modern scholars do not believe that Paul wrote Hebrews, they do recognize that some parallel expressions and ideas can be found in Paul’s letters and the Letter to the Hebrews:

• exalts Christ above angelic spirits (Heb. 1:5–14; 2:2; cf. Gal. 4:9; Col. 1:16; 2:18)
• indicates that the gospel was confirmed through “signs and wonders” and miracles (Heb. 2:4; cf. Rom. 15:18–19; 2 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:2–5)
• refers to Christ taking on the likeness of humanity (Heb. 2:14–18; cf. Phil. 2:7–8)
• describes Christ as having greater glory than Moses (Heb. 3:2–3; cf. 2 Cor. 3:7–8)
• reads Israel’s desert wanderings as a warning against laxity (Heb. 3:7–4:13; cf. 1 Cor. 10:1–13)
• claims that Christ has granted believers access to God and to divine blessings (Heb. 4:16; 10:19–22; cf. Rom. 5:1–2)
• says that the recipients are infants needing milk not solid food (Heb. 5:12–13; cf. 1 Cor. 3:1–2)
• refers to the Hebrew Scriptures as “the oracles of God” (Heb. 5:12; cf. Rom. 3:2)
• refers to Christ’s death as an expiation (in Greek, hilastērion) (Heb. 9:5; cf. Rom. 3:25) and as an act of obedience (Heb. 5:8; cf. Rom. 5:19; Phil. 2:8)
• refers to Christ as one who has been sacrificed (Heb. 9:26, 28; cf. 1 Cor. 5:7)
• cites Abraham as an example of faith (Heb. 11:8; cf. Gal. 3:6–9)
• refers to perseverance in the Christian life as running a race (Heb. 12:1; cf. 1 Cor. 9:24)
• calls the recipients “saints” (Heb. 13:24; cf. Rom. 1:7)