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Closely linked to the phenomenon of the decline in church member numbers in the Western church, is the phenomenon of dwindling their faith commitment. This is the phenomenon in which church members do not show the same vitality and zeal as before and are in danger of abandoning their faith. The current article contributed to the arsenal of studies, aimed at addressing the phenomenon by presenting the solutions deduced from a single biblical book, namely the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is arguably one of the most fitting biblical books to shed light on how the phenomenon can be addressed, as Hebrews was written to a church that experienced a decline in faith commitment. The primary aim of the article was to determine what solutions the writer of Hebrews proposes for addressing his addressees’ dwindling in their faith commitment, while the secondary aim was to reflect on how the writer’s solutions can be applied in the 21st century church. In order to achieve these aims, reconstruction by means of exegesis and a detailed literature study is used in the article. It begins with the reconstruction of the context of the addressees, specifically to determine the reason(s) why they dwindled in their faith commitment. This was followed by reconstructing the writer’s solution for his addressees’ dwindling faith commitment. Next, the writer’s solution was fleshed out in the light of the whole of Hebrews by tracing the major themes and broad lines found in the book. It is noted that the writer addresses the issue by guiding and exhorting his addressees to come to a more comprehensive comprehension and appropriate application of their confessed faith. This he does by shaming, frightening, reminding, guiding and assuring them. By means of reflection, it is suggested in the conclusion that the same strategy can be applied in the church today to address the phenomenon of dwindling faith commitment. Contribution: The article indicated the relevancy of the book of Hebrews for the church in the 21st century, especially in terms of addressing the issue of dwindling faith commitment. As such, the article gives practical suggestions on how the issue can be addressed from the book of Hebrews by pastors, ministers, pastoral counsellors, Bible students, and church members.

In this contribution, the notion that the concept of ‘law’ in the Letter to the Hebrews only pertains to the cultic domain is challenged against the discourse on law in the whole letter. Apart from instances in which the law includes moral aspects of the law, the broader theological context in which the concept of ‘law’ is set in Hebrews suggests that the whole Mosaic system is in view throughout the letter. Such a conclusion is drawn on the basis of pertinent contrasts in the letter between the old and new covenants, between the different sources of revelation, between Moses and Jesus, between the ways in which priesthood and sacrifices function in relation to sin, between the outward or physical and the inward or spiritual, and between die earthly and heavenly domains of the respective covenantal systems. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This article primarily makes a contribution in respect of biblical exegesis and New Testament theology. In addition, the article reconsiders the discourse on law in the Letter to the Hebrews, which impacts the way in which Christians understand their relationship to the Mosaic Law. It thus impacts the field of systematic theology. The relationship of the believer with the Mosaic Law in Hebrews also impacts church history: It provides us with information on the position of the early church towards the Mosaic Law, as well as how we understand the so-called ‘parting of the ways’ between Christianity and Judaism.

This article argues that the view of Scripture found in the book of Hebrews is echoed in Belgic Confession (BC) Articles 2–7. The article endeavours to prove this hypothesis by indicating how Hebrews and BC Article 2–7 overlap. Articles 2–7 of the BC are discussed successively by summarising what each article says, investigating the conviction of the writer of Hebrews concerning the specific topic and comparing the two. The article finds that the view of Scripture found in BC Articles 2–7 can indeed be traced to the book of Hebrews. The article concludes by drawing some implications from this comparison for the (reformed) church today.

This article proposes a better source for the Son’s cry in Hebrews 5:7. It begins by surveying sources previous scholars have identified, including Jesus’ cry in Gethsemane and Golgotha, several Psalms, and the Maccabean martyr literature. It is then argued that these background sources for the language are insufficient. Instead the author of Hebrews has an entire motif from the Psalter as his informing source: the Davidic figure that cries out in trust to be delivered from a death-like experience. Firstly, the motif of the Davidic righteous suffering in the LXX Psalms is demonstrated. Secondly, Hebrews’ use of the Messianic royal figure is demonstrated and thirdly, Hebrews 5:7 as a portrait of the Christ who cries out for deliverance is demonstrated. Thus, Hebrews 5:7 sees the Son as the Davidic king who is the true representative human exercising trust in YHWH, bringing to fulfilment the theme from various Psalms.

In Hebrews 12:24 Jesus is called the Mediator of a διαθήκη νέα [new covenant], instead of aδιαθήκη καινή, as elsewhere in the New Testament. This peculiar reference to the new covenantis investigated within its relation to ‘the sprinkled blood that speaks of something better thanthe blood of Abel’ (Heb 12:24). In the investigation considerations from the micro- andmacrocontext of the structure of Hebrews are taken into account, as well as intertextua considerations. Special attention is given to the revelation-historical meaning of the blood ofAbel who was murdered by his brother (Gn 4:1–16). The outcome of the investigation is thatHebrews 12:24 uses the phrase διαθήκη νέα since, in contrast to the rest of Hebrews, it does notcompare the new covenant to the old covenant with Israel, but to the situation of humankindin their depravity after the fall into sin. Although God’s promise of a seed (Christ) in Genesis 3:15 already brought a shimmering of hope for salvation to fallen humankind, the blood of themurdered Abel witnessed to the fact that in itself humankind was destined for God’sjudgement, without a possibility of reconciliation with God. However, in his covenant of graceas already foreseen in the promised seed, God created a completely new possibility, namelythe prospect that the blood of Christ will bring about complete reconciliation with God andsalvation from his vengeance. Within the hopeless situation as witnessed by the blood of Abel the covenant leading to the reconciliatory sacrifice of Christ was a completely new outcome – aδιαθήκη νέα.

Pastoral elements in Hebrews In this article the letter to the Hebrews is scrutinised in order to investigate possible elements that can be applied in pastoral care and ministering. After indicating certain expressions used for different nuances of proclaiming in Hebrews, the expression “parakalein” as central concept for pastoral care will be focused on. The spectrum of the ensuing research includes aspects like the great High Priest’s purification of sin as foundation for pastoral care, and sympathy and empathy in the work of the great High Priest. Furthermore, viewpoints on the following are given: a pastoral relationship, the Hebrew term, “therapon”, as specific expression for a caring minister; the instruction to the members of the congregation to be pastors for one another; spirituality, and possible indications of the meaning of suffering. Finally the pastoral elements of faith, hope and perseverance are discussed. In conclusion a summary of the most important pastoral elemens is given.

Preaching and the attitude of hearers. Basis-theoretical perspectives from the Hebrews sermon The issue dealt with in this article is the extracting of certain basistheoretical perspectives from Hebrews, reminding preachers and hearers that preaching and attitude are interrelated concepts. Expressions in which preaching and attitude are stated explicitly are investigated, and concepts indicating certain dimensions of attitude as reflected in the Hebrews sermon are discussed. This exposition is followed by selected perspectives for the praxis of equipment in ministering the Word to the congregation.

In ancient Israel, even though widowhood was not something people were praying for, when it came, the people involved were protected by the legal and customary structures already in place. One of those structures in the Old Testament is the institution of the levirate marriage where the right and the possession due to a widow without a son for her late husband could be protected and appropriated. A similar custom was also found amongst the pre-colonial Yoruba people through the widow�s inheritance which guarantees the welfare of the widow after the demise of her husband. However, these structures have been dismantled by Christianity, thereby exposing the majority of present-day widows to untold hardship. This article, therefore, through historical, descriptive and comparative methods, examines the customs of the levirate marriage and widow�s inheritance in the two cultures, ascertains how effective they were in addressing the welfare and protection of the rights and privileges of widows and recommends how the church can better see to the welfare of the widows in the society.