Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction -- The lexical and theological terms of the debate -- Perfection as glorification -- Perfection as cultic consecration -- Perfection as moral/ethical development -- Perfection as vocational/experiential qualification -- A new proposal : the material application of perfection as definitive attestation -- The techinical usage of tekeiom in the non-literary papyri -- Perfection as definitive attestation -- Perfection as definitive attestation in relation to the christology of Hebrews -- Beneficent christology : the son's solidarity with the faithful -- Heracles imagery and the motif of divine beneficence -- The relevance of Heracles imagery for Hebrews' portrait of Jesus -- Christ's perfection as the philanthropia of the son attested and displayed -- Philanthropia as christological key : preliminary remarks -- Philanthropia as a human virtue -- Philanthropia as a divine virtue : the testimonies of Asclepius -- Philo and Philanthropia : a precedent for Hebrews beneficent portrait of Christ -- Hebrews' relationship to Philo and hellenistic Judaism -- High priestly christology and divine beneficence -- A high priesthood of intimate presence -- Christ's self-commitment to the faithful and the perfection of divine solidarity -- The social setting and audience of Hebrews -- The literary character of Hebrews.

Electronic reproduction. Palo Alto, Calif. : ebrary, 2013. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ebrary affiliated libraries.