Strangers on the Earth: Philosophy and Rhetoric in Hebrews - Hardcover

by James W. Thompson (Author)

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.

Author Biography

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).