Customer Reviews

A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If there is a "must-read" commentary on Hebrews, it is the contemporary classic by Philip Hughes. He is particularly helpful in drawing out theological implications of the text. Hughes points out many redemptive-historical truths while providing good exegetical observations. Following an introduction which includes an outline and synopsis of Hebrews as well as discussion of theme, origin, authorship, and date, Hughes makes a detailed verse-by-verse study of the text. Technical points are dealt with in notes and excursuses, making the work accessible to the specialist and non-specialist reader alike. Hughes deals fully and minutely with the epistle from a philological as well as theological point of view. I found many of the notes in this commentary were explained in-depth than another excellent Hebrews commentary by F.F.Bruce. Hughes erudition is impressive and his exposition and evaluation of complicated theories proposed over the centuries are models of lucidity. No one can work through this volume without gaining a deeper appreciation of the great and abiding themes taught in the Epistle in all their power and fullness. Hughes' volume has proved most helpful to me in understanding the Epistle of Hebrews. I highly recommend it.

This commentary is interesting if you appreciate how Hebrews was interpreted and used by the early church fathers and others as they struggled to understand the deity of Christ and his relation to the Father. Hebrews was problematic for the ancient church due to the warning passages that spoke of the impossibility of one being "renewed" after having fallen away. Given the severity of some of the persecutions during the Roman period the fathers wrestled with the question of those who had apostasized during said persecutions in light of the epistle to the Hebrews. Such passages provided the basis for the Novatian schism in Italy and Donatism in northern Africa. Hughes also exegetes Hebrews in light of contemporary scholarship, but not on the same level as more notable commentaries such as the Hermeneia commentary on Hebrews as well as the WCC on Hebrews by Lane.