Acknowledgements p. ix
Note on Texts and Translations p. x
Introduction p. 1
The Question: "Superstition" or "Godly Fear"? p. 1
Self-Definition in the Early Church: Christianity as Superstition p. 6
Plutarch and the Epistle to the Hebrews: A Common Milieu p. 12
New Testament Studies and the History-of-Religions School p. 16
Contextualization, Comparison, and "Parallelomania" p. 16
Plutarch and the New Testament p. 21
The Greco-Roman Background of Hebrews: The State of the Question p. 24
Approach p. 30
Plutarch and Superstition p. 33
Introduction p. 33
Terminology p. 36
Latin p. 36
Greek p. 42
Plutarch on Superstition in the Moralia and the Lives: Typical or Atypical? p. 52
The Role of Fear in Plutarch's Religious Thought p. 54
Hellenistic Analyses of the Emotions p. 55
Platonic Antecedents p. 57
Aristotle p. 60
Stoicism p. 65
Epicureanism p. 75
Summary p. 82
Plutarch on Superstition as Inappropriate Fear p. 84
The Question of Authenticity p. 84
Plutarch's Argument: Summary and Analysis p. 88
Superstition and the Emotions p. 89
Positive and Negative Fear p. 93
Fear of Death p. 95
Atheism and Superstition Compared: Theological and Practical Aspects p. 98
Piety as a Mean p. 104
Conclusion p. 106
Freedom from Fear as a Christian Ideal in Hebrews p. 109
Introduction p. 109
Fear of Death (Heb 2:15) p. 111
Sources of Fear of Death p. 112
Subjective Quality of Fear of Death p. 114
Scope: Whom Does Fear of Death Affect? p. 115
Assessment: Is Fear of Death Morally Culpable? p. 118
Prescription: How to Be Free From Fear of Death p. 123
"Help in Time of Need": Jesus the Great High Priest p. 123
Priesthood as Fraternity: Brotherly Love and "The Order of Melchizedek" p. 125
"Confidence" before God: [Pi]APPH[Sigma]IA in Hebrews p. 138
Confidence as Members of God's Household (Heb 3:6) p. 139
Confidence Before the Throne of Grace (Heb 4:16) p. 143
Confidence in the Heavenly Sanctuary (Heb 10:19-31) p. 145
The Clean Conscience (Heb 10:19-25) p. 145
Apostasy and the Forfeiture of Confidence (Heb 10:26-31) p. 148
The Reward of Confidence (Heb 10:35) p. 154
Fearlessness in the Face of Earthly Dangers p. 155
Withstanding Persecution p. 156
Heb 10:32-39 p. 156
Heb 11:32-38 p. 161
Heb 13:6 p. 163
Defiance of Human Authorities: Moses' Fearlessness (Heb 11:23-28) p. 166
Reinterpreting Adversity as God's Education (Heb 12:5-11) p. 167
Conclusion p. 185
Reverence and Awe: Fear as an Appropriate Response to God in Hebrews p. 187
Introduction p. 187
Jesus' "Godly Fear" (Heb 5:7) p. 188
What Does Jesus Pray For and How Is He "Heard"? p. 189
The Exemplary Function of Jesus' Submission p. 198
Fear as a Concomitant of Revelation and Worship (Heb 12:18-29) p. 206
Moses' "Fear and Trembling" at Sinai (Heb 12:21) p. 206
Worship in the Last Days: "Reverence and Awe" (Heb 12:28-29) p. 209
Conclusion p. 214
Conclusions p. 215
Bibliography p. 229
Index of Modern Authors p. 253
Index of Ancient Authors p. 258
Index of Biblical Texts p. 261