The sacrificial consecration of the victim : priesthood of Christ in the letter to the Hebrews

Abstract

'I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who shall do according to what is in my heart and in my mind' (1 Sam 2, 35a). The writing of this Long Essay, The Sacrificial Consecration of the Victim Priesthood of Christ in the Letter to the Hebrews is intended to bring out the depth and hidden significance of the author's statement that Jesus is 'a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people'. (Heb 2, 17b). The essay will explore the sermon structure and philosophical background, the symbolism and Jewish typology that the author adopted and used in his expression as a sermon in order to bring out his thesis: that of Christ being our 'merciful and faithful high priest'. This will be reflected by delving into the author's understanding and the transposing of the Sinai Covenant and the promise of the New Covenant of which Jesus is now High Priest. That Christ learned 'obedience through suffering' is fundamental to Christ's Incarnational being, that having taken on humanity, it would be through this very humanity that this New Covenant would be realised and make of Christ its merciful high priest. The development of the understanding of Christ as merciful high priest is traced back in the sacrificial element of the old dispensation, and it will be through this very sacrifice of the Old Covenant that the author of Hebrews draws out his thesis of Christ being both victim and high priest. Within this context, various scholars have probed and excavated the Eucharistic element hidden within the text and brought to light its very elements, namely that of the unbloody sacrifice of the New Covenant at the Last Supper and bloody sacrifice of Calvary. Entering into the heart and depths of the Judaic Temple cult the author of Hebrews, in the Platonic philosophical categories of shadow and form, opens up a totally new sphere of understanding of the heavenly sanctuary. He lays before his addressees the revelation of the New High Priest who is now the High priest of the Heavenly Temple. Seated at the right hand of the Father, this new Liturgy must perforce have continuance. Christ's sacrifice having reached its completion and fullness (τελείωσις) must then be lived out here on earth though Christ's emissaries, the apostles and the apostolic descent, the priesthood is of Christ. The research is both exegetical and theological and written within this context, though at times the reflective and experiential element is also included. The essay is divided into four chapters with each chapter treating a particular topic within the discourse of Hebrews as promulgated above and as expressed in the Aims of this Essay.