Pneumatological Self-Confidence, Scriptural Interpretation, and the Making of Scripture in the Letter to the Hebrews

Abstract

The Letter to the Hebrews has long been overlooked in discussions regarding New Testament pneumatology or even considered ‘inferior’ compared to other New Testament traditions. However, this is a mistake, as the unknown author of this letter demonstrates a remarkable awareness of pneumatology, which plays a key role in the transmission of early Christian traditions and significantly shapes the formation of the New Testament canon. Hebrews presupposes the presence of the Spirit and explicitly associates it with the revelation of God throughout history. Furthermore, the author identifies his own theological and literary work with the Spirit’s function of actualizing scripture, granting him a remarkable position among New Testament and early Christian authors.