The Psalm Citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews

Something which draws the immediate attention of the reader is the abundance of psalm citations in the Epistle to the Hebrews. In the first chapter five out of the seven quotations are taken from the Psalter. Also in the other chapters passages out of the book of Psalms represent an important share in the number of OT citations quoted. Undoubtedly the question will be raised what the author's purpose has been in expressing himself by means of citations form this particular OT book. We have tried to approach the first recipients of the Epistle in the time and world of thought which was theirs. Our interest has centered around the early Christian's familiarity with, and understanding of, the citations quoted, exegeted, and adapted by the author. Anachronistically we might say: if the "footnotes" to the Epistle should have been lost, we have attempted to restore some of them.