Hebrews 6:1-8 is a part of what is traditionally called a letter, though the writing is probably not a letter in the traditional form. The piece offers no introduction or greeting and no mention of the sender or recipient, but it does include some closing remarks (13:23-25) reminiscent of a final greeting. The author himself claims to have previously written to the audience (13:22) but describes this current work as a “word of exhortation.” There are indeed at least five specific exhortations in the book. Due to the lack of the greeting at the beginning and the deliberate, careful rhetorical progression of the book, some believe Hebrews to have originally been a sermon or some type of oration in Greek rhetorical style. Being different enough from other New Testament letters, it seems best to call it what it calls itself, an exhortation.
Though Hebrews includes poetic elements in its quotations of Hebrew Scripture, the form of 6:1-8 is prose for edifying purposes. It offers the exhortation in a rhetorically deliberate way, most likely utilizing Greco-Roman theories of persuasion. The first part of 6:1 begins abruptly with the introduction and thesis of the argument. …show more content…
The author displays a logical sequence of ideas and emotions in the text. By moving from a simple, non-emotionally charged command/suggestion (with a list of examples) in the first three verses, to the very emphatic following verses, he advocates strongly for what happens when you don’t follow the thesis. The cataloging of Christian identity markers highlight how good a Christian has it, and they cumulate in the severity of giving that up. Harsh, highly emotional language like “crucifying again the Son of God” represents the climax that is supposed to make the reader want to greatly avoid that conclusion. To frame that climax, the author uses an analogy to foil the right path from the wrong path, and show the further consequences of
Though Hebrews includes poetic elements in its quotations of Hebrew Scripture, the form of 6:1-8 is prose for edifying purposes. It offers the exhortation in a rhetorically deliberate way, most likely utilizing Greco-Roman theories of persuasion. The first part of 6:1 begins abruptly with the introduction and thesis of the argument. …show more content…
The author displays a logical sequence of ideas and emotions in the text. By moving from a simple, non-emotionally charged command/suggestion (with a list of examples) in the first three verses, to the very emphatic following verses, he advocates strongly for what happens when you don’t follow the thesis. The cataloging of Christian identity markers highlight how good a Christian has it, and they cumulate in the severity of giving that up. Harsh, highly emotional language like “crucifying again the Son of God” represents the climax that is supposed to make the reader want to greatly avoid that conclusion. To frame that climax, the author uses an analogy to foil the right path from the wrong path, and show the further consequences of