The Psalm Citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews

Something which draws the immediate attention of the reader is the abundance of psalm citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the first chapter five out of the seven quotations are taken from the Psalter. Also in the other chapters passages out of the book of Psalms represent an important share in the number of OT citations quoted. Undoubtedly the question will be raised what the authors purpose has been in expressing himself by means of citations form this particular OT book. We have tried to approach the first recipients of the Epistle in the time and world of thought which was theirs. Our interest has centered around the early Christians familiarity with and understanding of the citations quoted exegeted and adapted by the author. Anachronistically we might say: if the footnotes to the Epistle should have been lost we have attempted to restore some of them. Dr. Kistemaker is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church. He taught at Dordt College in Sioux Center Iowa for 8 years and has served Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson MS and Orlando FL for 39 years. He has written a number of books among them are the commentaries he contributed to the New Testament Commentary series started by Dr. William Hendriksen. They are: Acts 1 and 2 Corinthians Hebrews and James 1 and 2 Peter 1 2 and 3 John Jude and Revelation. Kistemaker also served as secretary-treasurer of the Evangelical Theological Society for 18 years.