Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles

by Karen H. Jobes

Respected New Testament scholar Karen Jobes explores the cultural and theological background of Hebrews and the general epistles (James through Jude) in this rich commentary. Writing from an evangelical perspective, Jobes addresses issues of historical relevance as well as how these ancient books connect with Christian faith and practice today. Letters to the Church includes:-Historical background for each book focusing on authorship, genre, date, and content-An exploration of the major themes in each book and detailed commentary on key passages-Boxes with chapter goals, outlines, challenges, and significant verses-Sidebars addressing difficult passages or ideas-Maps, photographs, charts, and definitions-Questions for discussion, reflection, and testing-A comparison of the teachings about Christ in each of the lettersPastors, professors, students, and laypeople interested in deeper biblical study will find this an invaluable resource that offers well-researched commentary in an accessible, spiritually meaningful form.

Genres: Theology, Reference, Christianity, Christian, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction, Religion

496 pages, Hardcover

First published October 24, 2011

About the author

Karen H. Jobes (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is Gerald F. Hawthorne Professor of New Testament Greek and Exegesis at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.

Reviews

[Zach Forehand]

Beneficial read.

[Mitchell Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the better introductions to a grouping of Biblical books. Jobes is a fun author who is very relevant and engaging.

[Darby Stouffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Loads of practical application thrown in.

[Jesse Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a decent overview of the Hebrews to 3 John, and it is often concerned with practical application, a definite plus given its scholarly intent.

However, the book was often frustrating. Some of the sections on authorship were far too lengthy given that the authorship of books like Hebrews is neither here nor there. Knowing who wrote the book and when generally does not help the interpreter at all. Moreover, some of the argumentation was extremely speculative and empty (e.g., James' supposed "reliance" upon Matthew's gospel or Q, given that both authors were either eyewitnesses or had eyewitnesses to the events of Christ's life. A supposed reliance upon oral and written traditions is totally unnecessary and certainly unsupported by textual evidence, in addition to being quite useless for interpretation.

Also frustrating were the questions at the end of each chapter (many of which I was required to answer as part of a class). Many times I found myself scouring the chapter for an answer to a certain question only to come up almost entirely empty. Various, minor topics were addressed almost in passing, certainly not qualifying as major features of their respective chapters, but then questions were asked about them as though they were major features. So the student is left to skim through or reread the chapter in an attempt to scrounge up enough information to adequately answer the question.

As someone versed in the biblical languages, Jobes' use of them did not always fully satisfy. Neither were the errors frequent enough or egregious enough to erode my confidence, however; mostly she used the original languages well, but there were times when I was left rereading a paragraph to see if she had really said what I thought she'd said (e.g., asserting that the Hebrew name Melchizedek meant "my king of righteousness" instead of simply "king of righteousness" as Hebrews itself states, mistaking the genitive ending carried over from older Hebrew for a pronominal suffix). Given her work concerning the OT as it was used in and by the NT, I was particularly surprised by this one. However, while such mistakes may lead to minor frustration, they do not necessarily detract from my confidence in her work on the whole.

So, while I did find myself often frustrated for various, minor reasons, I nonetheless found the book generally helpful and useful for anyone who can read with discernment.

[Brad Hough · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 // A thorough and helpful resource for Hebrews and the general epistles of the New Testament. I’ve appreciated Karen Jobes’ other scholarly writing, and this was no exception, though at times the textbook structure diminishes from the overall work (like, do I really need a picture of a vineyard with a subtitle about how these vineyards similar to whatever concept she’s talking about at the moment?) This is definitely a resource I will return to in the future.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Karen Jobes really did well with this book. Many Christians today view the Pauline epistles as the main source of biblical teaching. What they fail to realize is that the eight books of Hebrews, 1 and 2 Peter, Jude, James, and the 3 letters of John also contain a great deal of biblical teaching that every Christian should know.

[Mayson Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Jobes provided insights into Scripture that I had never seen or heard before. I learned so much about the historical context of the Epistles and Hebrews, and I’m excited to add her work to my list of resources for future Bible studies!!!

Plus, go women theologians!!!!!🙌🏼

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best part is Jobes introduction for and against the authorship of these epistles with the best evidence and arguments of secular scholarship and a breakdown of how believers can reckon with these realities in good faith.

[Mason Sutherland · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent but felt kind of liberal on a lot of the positions it held on authorship etc.

[Wade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book on all of the New Testament letters not written by Paul, which includes Hebrews (dependent upon your view of the authorship of Hebrews). It is not necessarily a commentary (in the proper sense of the term), but rather it is an excellent introduction to each of the letters. Authorship, date, context, main themes, and difficult passages are addressed for each letter. Jobes’ wonderful academic research is presented in a way that is very approachable for anyone to read. Highly recommended for anyone wanting to dive more deeply into any of these books of the Bible.

[Jason Knecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Jobes is a capable scholar who deals judiciously with the text and the various issues arising from interpretive tangles. I have been so impressed with this volume that I have committed to reading all of her works. Anyone who interacts with Jobes' wonderful exposition of Hebrews and the General Epistles will benefit greatly.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book is a stellar introduction to the texts and scholarship, it is written in a disjointed way--alternately friendly and academic. Jobes would do well to stay in academic writing and not clutter the textbook.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough overview with many supplemental works relevant to the first century.

[Jared Mcnabb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good evangelical introduction to the general epistles.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic resource

[Mike Jorgensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for class. Outstanding book, very easy to read and top notch scholarship throughout. It is not exhaustive but it lives up to its title and is an excellent survey.