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- Title
The Lord's Altar as an Alternative Food Source in Hebrews 13:9-10.
- Authors
MARTIN, MICHAEL WADE; WHITLARK, JASON A.
- Abstract
In this study, we survey six factors encouraging a eucharistic interpretation of Heb 13:9-10: (1) the broader context of Hebrews and its warning against idolatry; (2) the understanding of βεβαιοῦσθαι τὴν καρδίαν in 13:9 as literal nourishment; (3) the conceptualization of the table of the Lord's Supper as a θυσιαστήριον in early Christianity; (4) the similar triangulation in 1 Corinthians 10 of the Lord's Supper and the Levitical altar over against food associated with idols; (5) the story of the wilderness generation's craving for the foods of Egypt as background; and (6) the social function of the Lord's Supper as an instrument for addressing hunger in early Christianity. Considered collectively, these factors suggest that Heb 13:9-10 encourages looking to the Lord's Supper, and not idolatrous, pagan "foods," for nourishment. The passage highlights through a comparison with Levitical priests the reasons for doing so all the more. In these regards, Heb 13:9-10 recapitulates in brief form the a minore ad maius comparative argument featured at length throughout the speech. Thus, these considerations, in addition to encouraging a eucharistic interpretation of these verses, contribute to the thesis that Hebrews is concerned not with reversion to non-Christian Judaism but, rather, reversion to pagan, imperial culture.
- Subjects
LORD'S Supper; OLD Testament; IDOLATRY; JUDAISM; CHRISTIANITY
- Publication
Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2024, Vol 86, Issue 2, p348
- ISSN
0008-7912
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1353/cbq.2024.a924369