Apostolic Preaching of the Cross [Paperback]

Leon Morris (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1956

This modern classic of biblical scholarship explains what the apostles meant when they used such words as redeem, covenant, propitiate, reconcile, and justify. Leon Morris carefully explores these themes against the backgrounds of both Old Testament Judaism and New Testament Christianity--a rewarding task that results in a more complete understanding of these key Christian terms.

Product Details

• Paperback: 318 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; 3rd edition (December 1956)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080281512X
• ISBN-13: 978-0802815125
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive linguistic study of the cross, February 26, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Paperback)

This is one of the best studies of the cross in the twentieth century. It is not a comprehensive theological study of the cross. Instead, Morris focuses on words such as redemption, propitiation, and reconciliation. Like most academic books, it is difficult to read and tedious at times. It presupposes a working knowledge of Hebrew and Greek. But working through this book will greatly enrich your understanding of the cross. The sections on propitiation are worth the price of the book. These sections are the definitive conservative critique of C. H. Dodd's position that hilaskomai referred only to expiation

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hermeneutics Of The Cross Defended, September 27, 2007

By 

Jacques Schoeman (SA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The apostolic preaching of the cross

Leon Morris delivers a theological robust rebuttal of CH Dodd's explanation, and the modernist view of Christ's sacrifice being too bloody for a just God. The word 'hilaiskos' is hermeneutically proven to mean 'propitiation' and not just 'expiation'.

Many Bibles have opted in favor of translating the word as 'expiation' which fails to assert that God's wrath was appeased. There is correspondingly a lesser need for repentance.

Luther's Nr 1 thesis of the 95 nailed to the Wittenburg Church door, was:

'That the life of the faithful should be one of perpetual repentance.'

This was obviously, at that time, intended to counter the repentance brought through mass, confession to a priest and other means invented by Catholicism. Today, the need for repentance is once again being downplayed by those wishing to describe God as so 'loving.'

'It was inevitable that the wrath of God should be the divine reaction to sin.' p 253

The word-study of the major words in soteriology is exegesis of the highest biblical standard.

'Wrath has occupied such an important place in the argument leading up to this section (Romans 3: 21-31) that we are justified in looking for some expression indicative of its cancellation in the process which brings about salvation.' p 169

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference for sermon preparation or academic study, August 15, 2011

By 

J. Clemence (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Paperback)

The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross is not so much a book as it is a collection of word studies. Each chapter (or, at times, two-chapter unit) provides an in-depth study of a Greek word used by the New Testament writers to describe what happened on/because of the Cross. Morris digs into the historical and literary context of the word as it is used in the NT and beyond, and he even brings in the relevant LXX and Hebrew Old Testament words and passages.

Overall, this is a great resource to use when studying the subject of the Cross (not to mention a great example of how a word study is done). Morris provides what I would consider to be a definitive work. My only criticism of the author is his propensity to go too deep, providing some details that I am not sure anyone would ever need to know! Otherwise, this is a great reference for sermon preparation or academic study.