Introduction

The history of research in chapter 1 revealed that the preposition άντí in Hebrews 12.2 has been interpreted in two distinct ways, according to which two different portrayals of Jesus' suffering emerge. If by άντí the author means “instead of,” then the readers are to understand that Jesus had possession of, or ready access to, joy, but rejected it and endured the cross instead. This was the unanimous interpretation during the patristic and early medieval periods. Although it is a minority view today, there are still several advocates for it. The alternate interpretation construes άντí in a final sense: “for the sake of,” or more precisely, “so as to obtain.” According to this view, joy is in prospect, not in possession. Rather than renouncing joy at the outset, Jesus attains joy as a consequence of his suffering.

Interpreters of Hebrews 12.1–3 have detected various influences on its language and thought. The two interpretations of άντí lend themselves to different categories of influence. If Jesus renounces joy and chooses instead to suffer death, he makes, in effect, the choice of a martyr. An influence of Jewish martyrology on this passage has been suggested, and it may be instructive briefly to examine the evidence adduced for it. The first item of evidence is found in chapter 11.

The catalogue of the faithful in 11.4–31 is punctuated by the anaphoric use of πíστει, “by faith.”