| Like Paul | Unlike Paul | Like the Gospels | Unlike the Gospels |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Christology | Believers share in the resurrection now | Opening hymn like John's gospel | Christians have spiritual circumcision |
| Repudiation of the flesh | Baptism creates new community | Jesus abolishes Judaism (Mark) | Jesus abolishes Judaism (Matthew) |
| Celebrates Christian ideas linked to Judaism | Elevates Christ above Judaism | New kingdom is now (John) | Rules for Christian households |
| Emphasizes Christ over legalism | Food concerns are now in the past | Jesus's death has redemptive significance | |
| Threats are from outside, not from Judaism | Jesus as a cosmic being (John) | ||
| Ethics for the long haul | |||
| Christ as founder of the Church |
Hebrews
| Jesus's resurrection is salvation | likens Jesus to Melchisedek | Jesus is the Son of God | Emphasizes new covenant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emphasizes new covenant | Takes basic message for granted | The kingdom is now (John) | Likens Jesus to Melchisedek |
| Resurrection less important than death | Uses Hebrew Bible proof texts | Does not emphasize Jesus' teachings | |
| Traces Christianity to Abraham (Matthew) | |||
| Covenant sealed in blood | |||
| Jesus's sacrifice abolishes Judaism | |||
| Jesus is like a high priest |