Der Verfasser des Hebräerbriefs als antiker Philologe. Zur Methodik der innerbiblischen Begriffsklärung in Hebr 4

Abstract

In Heb 4:3f. the author establishes an exegetical link between Ps 94:11b LXX and Gen 2:2b. The purpose of this argumentation is to elucidate the meaning of the term „God’s rest“ mentioned in the psalm by consulting another bible verse that contains the same key word. Most scholars regard this approach as a form of the rabbinic principle called gezerah shawah. However, a closer analysis shows that this method works actually in a different way than the one applied in Heb 4. Instead, an almost identical figure of exegetical argumentation can be found in scholia commenting on the Homeric epics. These bear witness to the scienti­fic work performed in the library of Alexandria. Therefore, it is the main thesis of this article that the author of Hebrews uses a standard method of ancient philology to develop his argu­ment.