Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Lloyd Barre <barre AT c-zone.net>]

Dear Lloyd:

<<I appreciate your thoughts, but may I suggest that you interact specifically
with what I wrote regarding the background informing our subject text(s)? >>

I believe I did.  I favor the clearly stated near context (Isa 6) of
distant contexts (Isa 53 etc).

<<I gave several clear reasons why Jesus is viewed as the "glory" of
Jehovah, but
not Jehovah himself.>>

As I said, I do not think you share the view of the author of our text.
Isaiah saw Jesus' glory, "his glory" in the temple vision.  He did not see
a distinction between Yahweh and a hypostatized Shekeniah-like "Glory" you
are supposing to be Jesus.  My point is it is most natural to equate *his
glory* in Isaiah 6 to *his glory* in John 12.  The identification of the
two is the point of 12:21.  I submit that this interpretation is natural,
simple and straight-foward.  I think you problems with it may be
theological, not exegetical.


<<Also, since you are OT person, as you said, check the Targum to Isaiah 6 and
you will notice that the "glory of the Shekinah" of Jehovah is in view,>>

Alas, I have no access to the Targums at the present time.

<<and there may have been a tradition existing at the time John wrote his
Gospel
which he made use of in identifying Jesus to others, as the "glory" of
Jehovah,>>

"May have been..." doesn't help me.


<< which is precisely what his brother Paul did in Hebrews 1:3.>>

I like to think that Apollos wrote Hebrews!  Yes, Hebrews does see Jesus as
the glory of the father.  But being brothers in the faith does not mean
that they thought the same on every matter.  The Johannine school is a
distinctive tradition as everyone knows.  As I stated, I don't know if any
other early Christian thinkers identified Jesus and Yahweh, but I am
convinced that our text does, even in the face of your counter-arguments.
I am beginning to wonder what the commentary literature has to say on this.
 But again, this is B-Hebrew.

Happy New Year,

Lloyd

Regards,

Greg Stafford