250 clare k. rothschild
occurrences of ἐφάπαξ in Hebrews might initially strike us as conven-
tional. as many commentators acknowledge, the occurrence in Heb 7:26–
27 gains force from a comparison with καθ’ ἡμέραν.21 that 1 peter picks up
a closely related idea (using ἅπαξ not ἐφάπαξ) causes some interpreters
(as in so many cases in Hebrews) to conclude that paul’s letters, Hebrews,
and 1 peter (3:18) share access to stock tradition (cf. related ideas in 2 cor
5:14 and 1 tim 2:5–6).22 Harold attridge, for example, refers to ἐφάπαξ as “a
traditional part of affirmations about christ’s death,” citing rom 6:10 and
1 pet 3:18.23 the lexica, however, present a different picture.
’Εφάπαξ in the Lexica
early christian literature’s somewhat insular nature makes comparative
material available in lexica essential for determining meaning. strictly
speaking, ἐφάπαξ is a compound formulation—a stronger form of ἅπαξ,
viz., ἐπί + ἅπαξ.24 perhaps because of its nature as a compound, most
lexica do not treat the word in extenso. dictionaries typically separate
two possible meanings. bdaG’s definitions serve as exemplar: (1) “simul-
taneous” and (2) “taking place once and to the exclusion of any further
occurrence.”25 bdaG notes occurrences in the papyri and 1 cor 15:6 for
the meaning “simultaneous”; in eupolis (athenian poet ca. 446–411 bce)
175, romans, and Hebrews for the meaning “once.”26
21 e.g., william l. lane, Hebrews 1–8 (wbc 47a; waco, tx: word, 1991), 193.
22 only attridge explicitly states this point (Hebrews, 214 n.121), others simply note the
comparison: paul ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews (nIGtc; Grand rapids: eerdmans,
1993) 394–96; F. w. Farrar, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Hebrews (cambridge: cam-
bridge university press, 1891), 104; e. Gräßer, An die Hebräer (eKK 17/1–3; Zürich: benziger;
neukirchen-Vluyn: neukirchener, 1990–1997), 2:153; craig r. Koester, Hebrews (ab 36; new
York: doubleday, 2001), 368; lane, Hebrews 1–8, 193; otto michel, Der Brief an die Hebräer
(4th ed.; KeK 13; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & ruprecht, 1960), 215 n.1; H.-F. weiss, Der Brief
an die Hebräer (KeK 13; Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & ruprecht, 1991), 425 n.192; westcott,
The Epistle to the Hebrews, 197 (cf. 148). 1 pet 3:18: ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἅπαξ περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν ἔπαθεν,
δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων ἵνα ὑμᾶς προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ. paul achtemeier notes rom 6:10 in a foot-
note (1 Peter, 247 n.80).
23 Hebrews, 214 n.121. as above, James w. thompson refers to the “pervasiveness of this
theme.” However, thompson cites only bdaG for occurrences (“EPHAPAX,” 567 n.4). see
also TDNT, 1:381–84. a similar idea is expressed in 2 cor 5:14 and 1 tim 2:5–6. In terms of
orthography, bdF notes possibility of the word’s division (§12.3). see lsJ for addition of
ἐπί to lend superiority, authority, motive, force or intensity to a verb (s.v. ἐπί G.III.4); no
mention is made of adverbs. bdF considers the possibility of a parallel between ἐφ’ ἅπαξ
and ἐπί + τρίς (§12.3) = “and one-third more” (lsJ, s.v. ἐπί G.I.5).
24 Vulgate passages reflect only the simple form semel.
25 bdaG, s.v. ἐφάπαξ 1 and 2.
26 bdaG, s.v. ἐφάπαξ 1.