Contrary to what we might imagine from its title, the Epistle to the Hebrews is immersed in Hellenistic thought. Its author demonstrates an acquaintance with Greco-Roman rhetoric, and often supports his arguments with the assumptions of Hellenistic philosophy. While he shares the apocalyptic worldview of other Jews in this period, he recasts it with the language of Middle Platonism.

James W. Thompson is Scholar in Residence at the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University. He is the author of the Paideia commentaries on Hebrews (2008) and Philippians (2016); and The Church according to Paul: Rediscovering the Community Conformed to Christ (2014).
Richard A. Wright is Associate Professor of New Testament at the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University. He has published on the cultural world of early Christianity.