Rest as a theological metaphor in the Epistle to the Hebrews and the Gospel of Truth:
General Material Designation
[Thesis]
First Statement of Responsibility
J. H. Wray
Title Proper by Another Author
Early Christian homiletics of Rest
Subsequent Statement of Responsibility
R. Scroggs
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Union Theological Seminary
Date of Publication, Distribution, etc.
1997
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Specific Material Designation and Extent of Item
250
DISSERTATION (THESIS) NOTE
Dissertation or thesis details and type of degree
Ph.D.
Body granting the degree
Union Theological Seminary
Text preceding or following the note
1997
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This dissertation considers the rhetorical use of the metaphor of scREST in two early Christian sermons, Hebrews and Gospel of Truth, asking, "How was scREST preached in early Christian communities?" Chapter One surveys scREST usd(\kappa\alpha\tau\acute\alpha\pi\alpha\upsilon\sigma\iota \varsigmausd and usd\acute\alpha\nu\acute\alpha\pi\alpha\upsilon\sigma\iota \varsigma)usd in Jewish, Hellenistic Jewish and Christian literature (second century, B.C.E., through third century, C.E.). A word study of MTAN, (Subachmimic) Coptic for scREST, follows a survey of scREST in Nag Hammadi texts. Chapter Two considers the rhetoric and structure of Heb 3:1-4:14, with new translation and commentary. The (sabbath) scREST usd\rm(\sigma \alpha\beta\beta\alpha\tau\iota\sigma\mu\acute o\varsigma)usd that remains for the people of God is the very cosmic scREST of God, consistent with the usd\kappa\alpha\tau\acute\alpha\pi\alpha\upsilon\sigma \iota\varsigmausd of the LXX. scREST never becomes christological in Heb, remains anticipatory and provides foundation for later Christian proclamation of scREST, i.e., usd\acute\alpha\nu\acute\alpha\pi\alpha\upsilon\sigma\iota\varsigma.usd Chapter Three identifies organizational transitions facilitated by "catch words," translates sections that proclaim scREST and notes the inductive presentation of scREST as primary soteriological metaphor in GosTr--the locus of God's presence and source of God's action, as well as present tranquility/peace and eschatological goal for the believer. Chapter Four: GosTr depends on Heb literarily and theologically for its presentation of scREST. Rhetorical examinations of Matthew 11:28-12:45, Barnabas XV and II Clement V.5 and VI.7 supplement the study and demonstrate lack of consistency in early Christian proclamations of scREST. Early Christian preaching about scREST usually assumes an anti-sabbath or a-sabbath position and employs a common rhetorical technique--an unexpected cognitive shift, or "surprise"--to do so.