A New Perspective on Hebrews: Rethinking the Parting of the Ways

Going against the tide of much recent scholarship on Hebrews, Kenneth Schenck argues that the letter was addressed to a primarily Gentile audience, to console them and strengthen their faith in the wake of the destruction of the Temple. The implications-that Christians, Jews and Gentiles alike, valued the Temple highly and grieved its destruction-point to a new perspective on the so-called parting of the ways between Jews and predominantly Gentile Christians. Schenck’s work challenges many of the established assumptions of Hebrews scholarship and will deserve close attention for years to come.