A ‘Better Resurrection’ (Hebrews 11.35), but Better Than What?
Nearly all agree that the ‘better resurrection’ (κρείττων ἀνάστασις) of Heb. 11.35 refers to the eschatological, general resurrection, but the majority view that it is to be compared merely with the resuscitations of the women’s sons by Elijah and Elisha stands on weaker foundations than is usually...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal for the study of the New Testament
Year: 2025, Volume: 47, Issue: 4, Pages: 767-784 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Bible. Hebräerbrief 11,32-40
/ Levenson, Jon Douglas 1949-
/ Resurrection
/ Bible. Hebräerbrief 11,17-19
/ Maccabean Revolt
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| IxTheo Classification: | HC New Testament KAB Church history 30-500; early Christianity NBQ Eschatology |
| Further subjects: | B
Hebrews
B Promise B Resurrection B Isaac B Martyrs B Death B Redemption B Faith |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (kostenfrei) |
| Summary: | Nearly all agree that the ‘better resurrection’ (κρείττων ἀνάστασις) of Heb. 11.35 refers to the eschatological, general resurrection, but the majority view that it is to be compared merely with the resuscitations of the women’s sons by Elijah and Elisha stands on weaker foundations than is usually recognized. Building on Jon Levenson’s work on ancient, scriptural notions of death and resurrection (2006), the article shows through a close reading of Heb. 11.35 in context that the ‘better resurrection’ is compared most immediately with the ‘redemption’ from captivity the verse’s Maccabean martyrs reject, i.e., a temporary return to life understood as a kind of resurrection, but also with the resuscitations of the faithful women’s sons. Together with the resurrection of Isaac ‘in a symbol’ (ἐν παραβολῇ, 11.19), this conclusion suggests that Hebrews’ catalogue of Israel’s heroes is marked throughout by the proleptic experience of resurrection from the invasive realm of death. |
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| ISSN: | 1745-5294 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal for the study of the New Testament
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1177/0142064X241304361 |