Ancient Jewish Mystical Motifs in Hebrews' Theology of Access and Entry Exhortations

Abstract

A number of motifs found in ancient Jewish accounts of the heavenly throne room appear in the Epistle to the Hebrews. These elements include the throne of God, the temple veil, the glory of God, and participation in angelic worship. Though in ancient Jewish texts they are all depicted as presenting nearly insurmountable obstacles to the presence of God, the author of Hebrews transforms these conceptions, and instead depicts them as encouraging, facilitating, and even ensuring access to a welcoming God. This is especially apparent in the passages promoting the author's ultimate hortatory goal: the community's entry into the heavenly sanctuary (2.5–10; 4.14–16; 6.18–20; 10.19–23; 12.22–24).

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