An Unshakeable Kingdom: The Letter to the Hebrews for Today

by David W. Gooding

The Letter to the Hebrews contains some of the New Testament’s best-loved passages as well as some of its most difficult. It has stirred the hearts of generations of Christians with its visions of the exalted Christ, his deity, humanity and sufferings, and his fulfilment of the Old Covenant by becoming a superior sacrifice and a High Priest of the New Covenant. Its examples of the faithful obedience of men and women like Abraham and Sarah who were ‘looking for a city whose builder and maker is God’ continue to spur on multitudes to greater devotion in their own journey of faith. Yet this same letter, with its solemn warnings, has also brought distress to many and caused some to question their own faith, if not their very salvation. In a clear and concise manner informed by pastoral concern, David Gooding explains the meaning of Hebrews’ warnings as he expounds the letter as a whole. He carefully examines the position and temptations of its original readers in the first century. Many were undergoing such severe persecution that they might easily have wondered why, if Jesus really were the Messiah, they had to experience such pain and loss. He expounds its major themes in order to show that its unified message is that hope and enduring faith in Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, will never be put to shame. As he guides us step by step, he reaches outside the limits of the letter itself in order to explore rich fields of Old Testament history, prophecy, ritual and poetry from which the letter has drawn so many of its insights. This practical and readable exposition elucidates Hebrews’ searching questions about the progress we are making in our own pilgrimage of faith. It is an invaluable help for understanding that both its beauties and its difficulties are intended to strengthen that faith. For, as the letter’s original readers discovered, faith finds its only secure resting place in the true and coming King whose kingdom will stand even when everything else is shaken to pieces.

Genres: Theology, Christian, New Testament, Biblical Studies

300 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1975

About the author

David W. Gooding is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Greek at Queen's University, Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. His international teaching ministry is marked by fresh and careful expositions of both testaments. He has published scholarly studies on the Septuagint and Old Testament narratives, as well as expositions of Luke, John 13-17, Acts and Hebrews.

Reviews

[Denisa Bujor · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Un ghid practic, accesibil și apropiat de viață, cât și o lectură captivantă. Scris într-un stil direct, personal, el elucidează mesajul profund al epistolei și-i face cunoscute cititorului implicațiile sale adânci pentru individ și pentru biserică. Ceea ce are de spus îl va stimula pe cititor să se angajeze în explorarea mai detaliată a comorilor ascunse în Evrei."

Mi-a plăcut mult studiul lui David Gooding pe cartea Evrei. E simplu și clar, dar bine ancorat în context, redând și analizând nenumăratele referințe și conexiuni cu Vechiul Testament care există în carte. Autorul scrie într-un stil agreabil, puțin informal, și nu își impune părerile în problemele "mai sensibile" existente, și ,totodată, folosește foarte bine principiul de a interpreta Scriptura prin ea însăși.

Pe de altă parte însă, studiul e puțin superficial, nu intră prea mult într-o analiză mai profundă, dincolo de sensul literal, sau în simbolistică, ci mai degrabă se oprește regulat pentru a trage concluzii cât mai practice și aplicabile pe moment în viața cititorului. Dar până la urmă acesta e și scopul cărții, de a deschide apetitul pentru studierea și aprofundarea epistolei.

[Frank Peters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part of a five book series by David Gooding. Like the others I have read, this book is outstanding. The book is essentially a commentary on the book of Hebrews, although it is not a standard commentary. It does not proceed through a verse by verse, or even passage by passage discussion. Instead the author brings out the major themes and discusses why they were important topics at the time, and why they are still important today. I think I learned more about the book of Hebrews in reading “An Unshakeable Kingdom” than in all my previous readings, commentaries, talks and sermons.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be the best general one-volume commentary on Hebrews. It is both devotional and yet clear in accurately explaining the text. It's helpful to see the big picture, when detailed commentaries leave us among the trees without showing us the wood that is 'Hebrews' . Very good. I'd not heard of David Gooding before this, but now I keep seeing his name as a Co-author of apologetics books with John Lennox. I want to read his other Bible commentaries now.

[René Gehrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keine klassische Vers-für-Vers-Auslegung. Der Fokus liegt mehr darauf, den roten Faden durch die einzelnen Kapitel zu erkennen. Gerade deshalb kann dieser Kommentar auch gut am Stück gelesen werden. Seelsorgerlich wertvoller Umgang mit den Warnpassagen. Die Fragen am Ende eines jeden Kapitels regen zum Wiedergeben und Rekapitulieren an. Leider ist kein Bibelstellenverzeichnis angegeben, was für einen Kommentar nicht schlecht wäre.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somewhere between a sermon, commentary and study guide, this book has been so helpful in my understanding of Hebrews over the past year. Gooding clearly explains the text, and brings the truths home to my heart.

[Coralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific survey of the book of Hebrews. Challenging and convicting, for sure. His linguistic insights into the Greek made this extra interesting.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.