The tabernacle as a heuristic device for the interpretation of the Christology of the epistle to the Hebrews (original) (raw)

Annang Asumang iv I am extremely grateful to the Lord for granting me this opportunity to reflect on His eternal Word and for the direction of His Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth, to Dr Bill Domeris, my supervisor, whose patience and wisdom has guided me through this, to Dr Anthony Akobeng for proof reading the earlier versions and to my wife, Edna and our children; Christine, John and Paul for putting up with me through the early hours of wake and the whole time that I have appeared pre-occupied. To them, I dedicate this meager contribution to understanding God's Word better. v ABSTRACT The Christological argument of the epistle to the Hebrews is presented as a series of comparisons and contrasts of Jesus the Son of God and our eternal High Priest, with the angels, Moses, Joshua and Aaron. There is no consensus among Biblical scholars regarding the reasons for these comparisons. Suggestions have ranged from the author's polemical or rhetorical strategy to dissuade faltering Jewish Christians from defecting back to Judaism, to a pastoral strategy of expounding the glorious honour of Christ in order to encourage suffering and persecuted believers.