Going Outside the Camp: The Sociological Function of the Levitical Critique in the Epistle to the HebrewsA&C Black, 2001 M01 1 - 169 pages Johnson's study of Hebrews is unusual in adopting a social-scientific analysis. By examining the implicit sociological data in the Epistle to the Hebrews, and locating the implied society within the context of the larger Graeco-Roman world, he concludes that the author of Hebrews advocates an ideal society that is both more open to outsiders and more willing to assimilate fully new members than was first-century ce hellenistic Judaism. According to the group/grid paradigm developed by Mary Douglas, the implied society can be categorized as +weak' group/'weak' grid, in contrast to +strong' group/'strong' grid Hellenistic Judaism. The critique of the levitical system in Hebrews can be seen as supporting the author's advocacy of that implied open society. |
Common terms and phrases
apocalypticism Attridge author of Hebrews believers Bodies boundary Bruce Christ Christology Clem conclusion conscience cosmology covenant critique cult cultic section Cultural Bias cultus described deSilva Dio Cassius Diodorus Siculus Douglas Douglas's Early Christian Eisenbaum Ellingworth employed endogamy Epistle eucharist evidence exhortation explicit faith first-century CE hellenistic gentiles Gospel grid view Gross and Rayner group/grid analysis Hebrews 1-8 hellenistic Judaism high priest Holy ideal society idem identified implied society internal Isenberg and Owen Israelites Jacob Neusner Jerusalem Jesus Jewish Jewish society Josephus kashrut levitical system Luke-Acts Mary Douglas Mishnah Natural and Contrived Natural Symbols paradigm Paul Philo present priesthood priestly proselytes purity Qumran recipients reference Rhetoric ritual roles Roman Sabbath sacrifice sanctified sanctuary Septuagint social sociological function status strong grid society strong group synagogue Tacitus temple Testament Theology tion Torah weak grid weak grid cosmology weak grid society weak group worship τῆς