the-bible-and-the-dead-sea-scrolls

HAROLD W. ATTRIDGE 207
direct relationship, with Hebrews aiming to convert Essenes. 21 Hans
Kosmala’s rather forced and artificial interpretation of passages that presume
a Christian commitment 22 on the part of the addressees convinced
few students of Hebrews. 23 The contemporary scholarly consensus holds
that the scrolls in a significant way illuminate aspects of the general
Jewish milieu out of which Christianity, including the Greek-speaking
variety evidenced in Hebrews, emerged, but that there is no direct literary
dependence between this bit of Christian rhetoric and the scrolls. 24
Most scholars would also agree that there are analogies between the community
of the scrolls and the early Christian movement, occasioned by
the common sectarian situation and eschatological orientation. The consensus
is largely correct, although the publication of scrolls in the last
decade has added important details to the picture.
ANGELS AND THE SON
After an elaborate exordium (Heb 1:1–4) Hebrews moves to the first of
several comparisons between Christ and biblical figures. A catena of scriptural
citations, primarily from the Psalms, demonstrates Christ’s superiority
to the angels (1:5–13). The catena is formally similar to the messianic
florilegia among the scrolls, Florilegium (4QFlor = 4Q174) and Testimonia
(4QTestim = 4Q175). The former even cites two texts that appear in Heb
1:5: 2 Sam 7:14 and Psalm 2. 25 Hence, it is likely that Hebrews draws on
21. Hans Kosmala, Hebräer, Essener, Christen (Leiden: Brill, 1959).
22. Cf., e.g., the appeals to hold on to or maintain the “confession”: Heb 3:1; 4:14;
10:23
23. For critical responses to early theories of a connection, see Bruce, “‘To the
Hebrews’ or ‘To the Essenes’?” 217–32; Joseph Coppens, “Les affinités qumrániennes
de l’Épître aux Hébreux,” NRTh 84 (1962): 128–41, 257–82; and Herbert Braun,
Qumran und das Neue Testament (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 1966), 1:241–78; 2:181–84.
24. See the review of scholarship by Hurst, Epistle to the Hebrews, 43–66.
25. 4QFlor (= 4Q174) 1.7–10: “And as for what he said to David, [citation of 2 Sam
7:11], (it refers to this,) that he will obtain for them rest from all the sons of Belial,
those who make them fall, to destr[oy them for their s]ins, when they come with the
plans of Belial to make the s[ons of] light fall, and to plot against them wicked plans
so that they are trapped by Belial in their guilty error,” and [citation of 2 Sam
7:12–14]. This (refers to the) “branch of David,” who will arise with the Interpreter
of the law who [will rise up] in Zi[on in] the last days.” The text later cites Ps 2:1 and
offers an interpretation of the nations rising against Yahweh and his anointed. It does
not cite Ps 2:7, as does Heb 1:5. For a comparison of Hebrews and the text from
Qumran, see Herbert W. Bateman, “Two First-Century Messianic Uses of the OT:
Heb 1:5–13 and 4QFlor 1.1–19,” JETS 38 (1995): 11–28.