Purifying the Consciousness in Hebrews: Cult, Defilement, and the Perpetual Heavenly Blood of Jesus

This volume argues that the purification of the consciousness via Jesus’ perpetual heavenly blood is a vital motif for understanding Hebrews’ sacrificial argumentation, and vice-versa. Bloor stresses that consciousness of sin is a present problem for the recipients as a stain that causes dread, timidity, and restricted access, while it is also a cosmic problem, with the heavenly tabernacle needing to be purged of defilement. He suggests that in solving this problem, Hebrews distinguishes between what Jesus achieves on earth and what he achieves in heaven, and he offers an understanding of the motif of consciousness of sin and its role within Hebrews’ cultic argumentation.

Beginning with a discussion of the defilement of both the cosmic and consciousness, Bloor then focuses on purification and navigating Hebrews’ sacrificial argument, referring both to Yom Kippur and the earthly and heavenly achievements of Jesus, and concludes with an exploration of purgation, divine help and assurance. By engaging, critiquing and developing current discourse concerning the nature and timing of Jesus’ offering in Hebrews, Bloor explores themes defilement and purification on a cosmic level.