perhaps probability, of his acquaintance with Philo’s writ- ings.* The epistle does exhibit certain points of resemblance to Philo, such as similar forms of quotation, similar use of Old Testament passages and narratives, and statements like those of Philo, such as those respecting the sinlessness of the Logos- Priest, the heavenly home of the patriarchs, and the Adyos tomers the dividing word (iv. 12): but Philo’s meaning differs radically from that of the epistle. Our writer’s Christology has no affinity with that of Philo. On certain leading topics, such as the two ages of the world, the mediation of the law by angels, the Sabbath-rest, the heavenly sanctuary, and the heavenly Jerusalem, he exhibits more affinity with Palestinian than with Alexandrian thought. The most that can be claimed is that the Epistle to the Hebrews returns echoes of Philo, and exhibits formal and limited resemblances to him.+
* Although critics are not unanimous on this point. It is disputed by Tholuck, Riehm, and Wieseler, and Weiss is evidently inclined to agree with them.
+ A valuable discussion of the pares is that of Riehm, Lehrbegriff des Hebraerbriefs, § 27. -
There is a want of good commentaries in English. The prin- cipal ones are:
H. Alford, in his Greek Testament.
B. F. Westcott, The Epistle to the Hebrews, Greek Text with Notes and Essays.
A. B. Bruce, The Epistle to the Hebrews.
English Translations of Liinemann and Delitzsch.
F. Rendall, The Epistle to the Hebrews.
G. Milligan, Zhe Epistle to the Hebrews, with Critical Introduction.
In German are:
Fried. Bleek, Der Hebréerbrief erkliirt.
Fr. Delitzsch, Kommentar zum Briefe an die Hebréer.
A. Tholuck, Kommentar zum Briefe an die Hebréer.
H. A. Ebrard, Kommentar tiber den Hebréerbrief.
G. Liinemann, in the Meyer series.
W. M. L. De Wette, in Kurzgefasstes exegetisches Handbuch zum Neuen Testament.
B. Weiss, Kritisch-exegetisch Handbuch tiber den Brief an die Hebrier. Issued as an alternate of Liinemann in Meyer.
On the doctrinal aspects of the epistle:
Ed. Reuss, L’Epitre aua Hébreux. Essai dune Traduction Nouvelle, accompagné @un Commentatre Théologique.
Ed. K. A. Riehm, Der Lehrbegriff des Hebriierberbriefes.
Eug. Ménégoz, La Théologie de Vv Epitre aux Hébreua.
There may also be noted : K. Wieseler, Untersuchung tiber den Hebriierbrief, namentlich seinen Verfasser und seine Leser. J. H. R. Biesenthal, Hpistola Pauli ad Hebraeos, cwm Rabbinico Commentario. Theo. Zahn, Hinleitung in das Neue Testament, § 47. 376