Hebrews and the Anticipation of Completion

Abstract

"Our repeated use of the word ‘may’ indicates the impulse , the constantly renewed hope, with which the reader of Hebrews sets out to understand it in the light of some other of his experience. The word ‘may’ also indicates that there is no guarantee against disappointment in this quest. ‘Let us see’, the reader asks himself, ‘if Hebrews makes a little more sense in the light of what we know about ancient Rome; or early gnosticism; or the Psalms; or (in principle) anything else"