The Context of the Crux at Hebrews 5, 7-8 109 d) Hebrews 5,1-10 Hard on the discussion of the lovgo~ as intercessor at Heb 4,14-16 there follows a section dedicated to a comparison and contrast between the Aaronic high priesthood of the old dispensation and the high priest- hood of Christ (5,1-10) 39. Helping to delimit the section are the framing words ajrciereuv~ and qeov~ in vv. 1 and 10 40. It is in this section that the crux 5,7-8 is found. The section will be discussed at length in the second major part of this article. V. 10 has the air of a conclusion of one dis- cussion and the beginning of another: prosagoreuqei;~ uJpo; tou` qeou` arciereu~ kata; th;n tavxin Melcisevdek. j ; e) Hebrews 5,11 – 6,20 Heb 5,11 seems to begin a long section of paraenesis: the tone changes from the impersonal exposition of 5,1-10 to the direct address of 5,11. This direct speech continues on until 6,20, where the mention of Melchizedek signals the discourse of 7,1-28 on this primordial figure. Within 5,11 – 6,20 there is a division into negative warnings (5,11 – 6,8) and a positive counterpart (6,9-20) 41. In the negative part occurs the famous crux about the impossibility of repentance (6,4-6) 42. Because of their extended length and paraenetic nature, these two passages suggest that they are the conclusion of the major section beginning at Heb 3,6. The end of this major section is indicated by the change in subject mat- ter and tone occurring at Heb 7,1 43. The suggestion that Heb 5,11 – 6,20 refers back to the entire section beginning at 3,6 would seem to be confirmed by the way the author plays upon the theme of ‘promise’. At 4,1 he had already referred to the entrance into the ‘rest’ as being the result of a ‘promise’ 44. At Heb 6,12 this theme is explicitly picked up and linked with the matching theme of ‘inheritance’ 45. The addressees are urged to take as their models those who ‘through faith and perseverance have inherited the promises’ (. . . dia; pistew~ kai; makroqumiva~ klhronomouvntwn ta;~ ejpaggeliva"). The v 39 Cf. Swetnam, «Hebrews 3,7 – 10,39», 135-136. 40 Cf. J. Kurianal, Jesus Our High Priest: Ps 110,4 As The Substructure of Heb 5,1 – 7,28 (European University Studies, Series XXIII, Theology, 693; Frankfurt am Main–Berlin–Bern–Bruxelles–New York–Wien 2000), 81. 41 Cf. Swetnam, «Hebrews 3,7 – 10,39», 135-137. 42 For an attempt to solve this crux cf. Swetnam, «Hebrews 3,7 – 10,39», 136. 43 Cf. Swetnam, «Hebrews 3,7 – 10,39», 137. 44 The ‘promise’ in Heb 4,1 is contained implicitly in the final verse of the citation of Ps 95,7-11 found at Heb 3,11. Cf. Ellingworth, Hebrews, 238. 45 For Christ as ‘heir’ cf. already Heb 1,2 and 1,4. For Christians as ‘heirs’ cf. Heb 1,14.