The Perfect Saviour: Key Themes in Hebrews

by Jonathan Griffiths

Too often, valuable New Testament scholarship never finds its way to the preacher's or pastor's study because it is presented in a form that is not practically digestible in the time available for sermon preparation.

The motivation for this volume is the desire to bridge the gap between the work of evangelical scholars in universities and colleges and the world of the busy preacher and Bible teacher. Specifically, it offers a theological introduction to the New Testament book of Hebrews, by way of a set of expositions of some significant themes and difficult questions, by some well-known scholars.

Topics covered the new covenant (Peter O'Brien); the word of God (Jonathan Griffiths); the priesthood of Christ (Richard Gaffin, Jr); the tabernacle (David Gooding); warning and assurance (Thomas Schreiner); access and arrival (Peter Walker); perfection (David Peterson); and suffering (Bruce Winter).

These studies are accessible to all serious students of the Bible. The contributors share the conviction that theological research is ultimately only valuable insofar as it aids the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Reference, Christian

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2012

Reviews

[Chris]

Very helpful as a readable, bite-size introduction to significant themes in biblical-theology for the Book of Hebrews. Pastor-teachers will benefit from reading these chapter-articles as they work through Hebrews.

Stated purpose of the book: “This present volume is, if you like, a tutorial series on the book of Hebrews. It is designed to help preachers embarking on a sermon series to get their heads around Hebrews - its key themes and difficult questions. This is not a full theology of Hebrews, but a theological taster and introduction, designed primarily for pastors. It is hoped that it will be of value to those leading Bible study groups and those in theological education as well.

The impetus for this project came from a desire to bridge the gap between the work being done on Hebrews by evangelical scholars in universities and colleges and the real world of the busy preacher” (11).

The eight authors are a who’s who of scholars who have studied the Book of Hebrews:

1. The new covenant and its perfect mediator // Peter T. O'Brien

2. The word of God: perfectly spoken in the Son // Jonathan Griffiths

3. The priesthood of Christ: a servant in the sanctuary // Richard B. Gaffin, Jr

4. The tabernacle: no museum piece // David Gooding

5. Warning and assurance: run the race to the end // Thomas R. Schreiner

6. Access and arrival: metaphors of movement to motivate // Peter Walker

7. Perfection: achieved and experienced // David G. Peterson

8. Suffering with the Saviour: the reality, the reasons and the reward // Bruce W. Winter

[Daniel]

Helpful chapters on Jesus' priesthood, warning and assurance [the warning passages are prospective warnings to true believes- the means that God uses to keep them from falling away, rather than retrospective declarations about the spiritual state of those who fall away], and access & arrival [we can draw near, but we haven't arrived]. But not much discussion about the integration of these themes in the whole book, but I guess that was never the purpose of the book anyway.

[Timothy]

Some chapters were better than others.
Helpful to get an overview of key themes in Hebrews.

[Erik Spohr]

A helpful resource which outlines the basic themes of the book of Hebrews.