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Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture
Hebrews (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture):
This Catholic commentary on Hebrews interprets Scripture from within the living tradition of the Church for pastoral ministers, lay readers, and students.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2016
57 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Mary Healy
57 books30 followersMary Healy is associate professor of Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. She is the author of Men and Women Are from Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II's Theology of the Body and co-editor of three books on biblical interpretation: 'Behind' the Text: History and Biblical Interpretation; Out of Egypt: Biblical Theology and Biblical Interpretation; and The Bible and Epistemology. She is general editor, with Dr. Peter Williamson, of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture, a new series of commentaries that interpret Scripture from the heart of the Church, and is author of the first volume, The Gospel of Mark.
Dr. Healy has previously taught at the Institute for Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University and the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, and served for several years as Coordinator of Mother of God Community, a lay Catholic community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She currently serves as chair of the Doctrinal Commission of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services in Rome. She speaks at retreats and conferences nationally and internationally on topics related to Scripture, the theology of the body, and the spiritual life.
Dr. Healy has previously taught at the Institute for Pastoral Theology at Ave Maria University and the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College, and served for several years as Coordinator of Mother of God Community, a lay Catholic community in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She currently serves as chair of the Doctrinal Commission of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services in Rome. She speaks at retreats and conferences nationally and internationally on topics related to Scripture, the theology of the body, and the spiritual life.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 7, 2018
Whew!
Just finished, and like the audience for Hebrews are called to do, I maintained my endurance through it all. Healy does a good job annotating and analyzing the text, her best work is from chapters 5 through 10 in the manner in which she addresses Christ as high priest.
But after that I cannot tell if she was dragging on or if I was because the meat of the 'sermon' is over. In the past I found great joy in studying Chapter 11 with all its comparisons to the heroes of the Old Testament and she surely does address it, but it is missing some 'oomph'. (Perhaps that is because I am more of an Old Testament scholar thank anything else.)
I recommend it to anyone working through Hebrews for the first time, and keep your Catechism handy as it is definitely worth reading all the referenced passages in the CCC to get as much as possible out of the reading.
Just finished, and like the audience for Hebrews are called to do, I maintained my endurance through it all. Healy does a good job annotating and analyzing the text, her best work is from chapters 5 through 10 in the manner in which she addresses Christ as high priest.
But after that I cannot tell if she was dragging on or if I was because the meat of the 'sermon' is over. In the past I found great joy in studying Chapter 11 with all its comparisons to the heroes of the Old Testament and she surely does address it, but it is missing some 'oomph'. (Perhaps that is because I am more of an Old Testament scholar thank anything else.)
I recommend it to anyone working through Hebrews for the first time, and keep your Catechism handy as it is definitely worth reading all the referenced passages in the CCC to get as much as possible out of the reading.
August 14, 2025
This commentary on the book of Hebrews is detailed and comprehensive. The commentary is organized by biblical chapter and the subsections include the text of Hebrews. The commentary can thus be read without a Bible at hand. The commentary is particularly helpful in explaining the Old Testament worship practices with which the author of Hebrews assumed his audience would be familiar. It also discusses the meanings of several Greek words used in the biblical text and points out wordplay which is not replicated on English translations. Miss Healy draws upon the tradition of biblical scholarship and, addition to her own insights, credits the contributions of other scholars.
This book is part of the “Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture,” and uses the format standard to this series. It notes where passages of Hebrews are included in the lectionary and references related biblical passages as well as the catechism. That the New American Bible is used for the passage by passage scripture quotations means that Catholic readers will see the same words they hear in mass. The commentary makes use of several other translations where these translations are helpful.
This book is part of the “Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture,” and uses the format standard to this series. It notes where passages of Hebrews are included in the lectionary and references related biblical passages as well as the catechism. That the New American Bible is used for the passage by passage scripture quotations means that Catholic readers will see the same words they hear in mass. The commentary makes use of several other translations where these translations are helpful.
August 11, 2019
Outstanding! Like all the volume in this series the commentary on Hebrews is well written, insightful, meditative, and enlightening. I've read all 15 volumes currently available in the series (covering 24 of the NT books) and can say there is not a stinker among them. Two final volumes, covering the remaining 3 NT books are scheduled for publication later this year (On Galatians; and on 1 & 2 Thessalonians).
May 2, 2021
Hebrews can at times be difficult to read if one is unfamiliar or unsure about the Torah, Jewish ritual sacrifices and feast days. This really puts into perspective the Christian meaning and development of the early church theology. Dr. Healy does an excellent job explaining the author of Hebrews' arguments and thought process. And her section reflections are great for applying it to Christian life today.
December 6, 2018
Our high priest
I'm finding the Catholic Commentary to be very understandable. It tells you when things are not always easy to understand. It tells you how others have understood the same verses. I have read and studied many commentaries, and this is what I come back to,to get the Catholic view.
I'm finding the Catholic Commentary to be very understandable. It tells you when things are not always easy to understand. It tells you how others have understood the same verses. I have read and studied many commentaries, and this is what I come back to,to get the Catholic view.
September 7, 2018
Extremely insightful!!!
January 5, 2025
Outstanding, in depth analysis of the Book of Hebrews.
October 19, 2025
Excellent.
April 12, 2023
Hebrews is possibly my favorite book of the New Testament. Mary Healy is one of my favorite scriptural commenters. So I can't believe I didn't review this when I first read it. It's just as wonderful as can be.
Now I'm rereading it and, hopefully, will remember to make a better review this time around.
Now I'm rereading it and, hopefully, will remember to make a better review this time around.
February 14, 2018
A particularly outstanding entry in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series. This is Dr. Healy's second book for the series (she also penned "The Gospel of Mark," the very first book to be published in the series). The author is clearly steeped in Scripture providing scads of cross-references and penetrating insight into a line by line (sometime word by word) exegesis of the Letter to the Hebrews. Many sidebars and application sections enhance the text even further. All of this is very accessible to the interested and engaged reader.
I have been extolling this series ever since reviewing the first book over ten years ago. All Catholics should have at least some of these books on their shelves. All non-Catholics who love the Bible should also check them out.
Find more information here: http://www.catholiccommentaryonsacred.... Only three books remain to be published. I hope that Baker Academic will offer these in a nice case at a discount when the remaining books come out. This set should get into as many hands as possible.
I have been extolling this series ever since reviewing the first book over ten years ago. All Catholics should have at least some of these books on their shelves. All non-Catholics who love the Bible should also check them out.
Find more information here: http://www.catholiccommentaryonsacred.... Only three books remain to be published. I hope that Baker Academic will offer these in a nice case at a discount when the remaining books come out. This set should get into as many hands as possible.
March 17, 2019
To be honest, I haven't read the whole book but I used this as one of my primary sources for studying the book of Hebrews. I do not belong to the Catholic denomination, but I have realized yet again how much denomination shouldn't hinder us Christians into getting deeper in our relationship with God and each other. This book has been a tremendous help in my exegetical study, and I can say so myself that the way Mary Healy writes is not hard to comprehend :D
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews