518 James Swetnam 2. The Structure in Which Hebrews 2,11 Occurs Context is determined in no small part by structure or lack of structure. Hebrews is no exception. The present writer has suggested the following structure for Heb 1,1–3,6 (5): 1,1-4: exordium to the entire epistle and to what immediately follows; 1,5-14: an exposition on Jesus as Son [of God]; 2,1-4: paraklesis (6) based on the preceding exposition; 2,5-18: an exposition on Jesus as Son of Man; 3,1-6: paraklesis based on the preceding exposition. Both 1,5-14 and 2,5-18 have their own substructure. It is the latter substructure which is of concern in the present article. 2,5-18 seems to be best interpreted as a commentary on Ps 8,5-7 which is found at Heb 2,6-8a. Accordingly, comments on the psalm begin at Heb 2,6b and extend to 2,12. This latter verse, a quotation from Ps 22,22, seems best taken as a summation of what precedes. Heb 2,13b, on the other hand, seems best taken as an introduction to what follows until 2,18. That leaves Heb 2,13a, which is a citation from the Septuagint version of Isa 8,17: “I shall be trusting in him”. In the context of Hebrews these words are meant to be interpreted as the words of Jesus. Being in the center of the substructure 2,6-18 they seem best taken as a summation both of what precedes and what follows. That is to say, the entire subsection is to be interpreted as being marked by the faith-trust of Jesus in some way or another. It is important to note that this faith-trust of Jesus is predicated of Jesus as Son of Man, not as Son [of God]. It would be nonsense to affirm that Jesus as God has faith-trust in God. In what way did Jesus as man have faith-trust? This question is answered in the context in connection with the fact that Jesus as man can die. Having faith-trust goes in tandem with death. In fact, in Heb 2,18 Jesus is said to have been “tested” (peiravzw) at the time of his “suffering” (pavscw), i.e., during his passion preparatory to his death. The temptation is graphically illustrated in Heb 12,2-3: a temptation not to have faith-trust in God (7). “For in what he suffered, after having been put to the test (8), he is able to help those being tested” (2,18) says implicitly what 2,15 says explicitly: by his example at the moment of his death Jesus is able to free others from the fear of death to the extent that they have faith-trust in him, i.e., to the extent that they accept him as worthy of trust (9). The following verse (2,16) makes explicit the formality of those who lived a life-long fear of death: the “seed” (5) J. SWETNAM, “Abraham’s Seed and Isaac as Promise: A Study of Hebrews 2,16 and 11,11 in the Context of Hebrews”, Melita Theologica 56 (2005) 53-56; J. SWETNAM, “The Structure of Hebrews 1,1–3,6”, Melita Theologica 43 (1992) 58-66. (6) For the meaning of paravklhsi" cf. P. ELLINGWORTH, The Epistle to the Hebrews. A Commentary on the Greek Text (NIGTC; Grand Rapids – Carlisle 1993) 343. (7) “The content of the ‘test’ [sc., in Heb 2,18] will be graphically portrayed at 12:2-3, in a way that clearly suggests its paradigmatic relevance to Christ’s followers. The testing in view is not located in the temptations of Jesus, but in his suffering” (ATTRIDGE, Hebrews, 96). (8) For a suggestion as to the moment of the testing of Jesus’ faith in connection with his passion cf. J. SWETNAM, “The Crux at Hebrews 5,7-8”, Bib 81 (2000) 354-356. (9) Cf. pistov" at 2,17.