109 THE CRUX HEBREWS 2,9 IN ITS CONTEXT AT distinctive faith-trust lies the salvation (swthrıa) 26 of those who call ¥ themselves Christians. The mention of Jesus as the originator of the salvation of the sons with the accompanying allusion to faith-trust leads to the statement in 2,11 that “ the sanctifier and those being sanctified” (i.e., all those who have participated inchoately in the salvation begun by Jesus) are “from one”, i.e., from the combined faith-trust of Abraham and faith-trust of Jesus 27. This statement is given as the relevant ground for 2,10. The mention of the word “brothers” in 2,11 leads to the citation of Ps 22,22 at Heb 2,12: the Christian tôdâ is where the “sanctifying” takes place. The common faith-trust of Jesus and the Christians alluded to in 2,11 is the basis (diÃhn aıtıan) for Jesus’ addressing the Christians in this way. © ߥ The word “brothers” is taken from Ps 22,22 to prepare for the citation of Ps 22, but it appropriately expresses the relation between Jesus and his followers based on a common faith-trust. In 2,13a-18 the verses 2,17-18 also seem to build upon the verses 2,13b-16, with the latter being about Jesus as earthly victim and the former being about Jesus as the earthly high priest. 13a presents Jesus as the “ recipient ” of children given him by God. They are Abraham’s spiritual children, as the text goes on to imply 28. Faithful to this thematic perspective, the author of Hebrews presents Jesus’ becoming man from the standpoint of the “children” (2,14) of which, by implication, he became a member. Two purposes are adduced for this taking on of blood and flesh by Jesus: the annihilation of the devil, the one controlling death (2,14b), and the freeing of those who feared death from that fear (2,15). By way of explanation (oy garßù dhpoy) 2,16 states it was not angels whom Jesus took in hand, i.e., beings not ¥ subject to death, but the “seed of Abraham”, i.e., those who, like Abraham, have to face death and do so with faith-trust. 2,16 thus sums up 2,13b-15 which has to do with Jesus and death, i.e., Jesus as (sacrificial) victim. 2,17, with its introductory ouen, would seem to introduce a new sub- ™ section. Given the fact that his coming involves (sacrificial) death, Jesus had to become like his brothers 29 so that he could become a merciful and faithful The word swthrıa is never explained in Hebrews, which suggests that it ¥ 26 is traditional and thus well known to the addressees. Cf. ELLINGWORTH, Hebrews, 133. The New Testament swthrıa is a reality expressed in the words ¥ of Jesus (cf. Heb 2,3), is eternal (cf. Heb 5,9), and is analogous to the swthrıa ¥ which was the destiny of Noah and his “house” (cf. Heb 3,6). Cf. SWETNAM, “ÃEj enov in Hebrews 2,11”, 517-525. Ω¥ 27 Cf. SWETNAM, “ÃEj enov in Hebrews 2,11”, 519. Ω¥ 28 The introduction of the word “brothers” indicates that Jesus had taken on 29 the faith-trust in God which constituted the identity of the “children” God had given him.