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Welwyn Commentary #55
Hebrews: A Glorious High Throne
Other than Revelation, Hebrews is the most difficult New Testament book to understand clearly. It has often been said that in order to do so the reader must have a pretty thorough knowledge of the Old
- GenresTheology
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 14, 2025
A Glorious High Throne is another excellent contribution to the Welwyn Commentary Series (WCS) by Edgar Andrews, one time Professor of Materials in the University of London and co-pastor of the Campus Church, Welwyn Garden City. Andrews’s contributions to this expositional and devotional Bible commentary series differ from the majority. Not being written by a full-time or retired church minister, they are not based on a series of sermons or Bible studies. (Although there are one or two chapters that have the feel of written-up sermon notes.) This helps to make Andrews’s comments both fresh and comprehensive. Also, Andrews bases his comments on the New King James Version of the Bible rather than the New International Version (NIV), used by most of the commentaries in the series.
What we have in A Glorious High Throne is virtually a verse-by-verse expositional commentary of the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews, including ample practical application. (This makes it different from most in the series, which are more paragraph by paragraph.) The comments are gathered into chapters, which each cover a discrete passage of the text that might be tackled on one occasion in the pulpit or in personal Bible reading. The tone and approach are not at all academic or scholarly (there is a mercifully short introduction) but down-to-earth, clear and practical.
All difficult questions that arise are tackled head on. Clear, helpful and above all Bible-based answers allow the Bible itself to be its own interpreter. The author does not take time and space setting out possible views but takes us straight to the one a wider reading of the Bible supports. Thus, when it comes to the passage about those who seem to be believers but who fall away (Heb 6:4-6), he explains unequivocally that the people described cannot be true believers as the rest of Scripture makes clear that no such person can ever finally be lost. He then shows how the words used fall short of language that definitely describes a true believer.
Sometimes, Andrews argues cogently and Biblically for a different understanding of the text from the one usually given. There is an intriguing cluster of instances in Hebrews Chapter 12. Thus:
• In verse 14, pursue peace with all people (NIV, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone”) is more clearly rendered pursue ‘peace in company with everyone’ and the peace refers to peace with God. The holiness to be pursued is positional—the believer’s standing as set apart in Christ—not progressive sanctification.
• In verse 16, fornicator (NIV, “sexually immoral”) is much more likely to refer to someone who commits spiritual adultery.
• In verse 17, he found no place for repentance (NIV, “he could not change what he had done”) refers to Esau being unable get Isaac to change his mind (repent).
• In verse 23, firstborn is plural in Greek and therefore cannot refer to Christ but to believers, perhaps the first generation or the apostles.
The author’s explanation of the distinction between the covenant of promise, given to Abraham, and the covenant of law, given through Moses, is very helpful, along with the fact that the covenant of grace runs throughout the Bible and is not confined to or only apparent in the New Testament.
I highly recommend this book as a help for any Christian reading through the book of Hebrews for personal benefit. Your heart will be warmed by the way it focuses on the superior merits of Christ and the importance of holding onto him. I also recommend it as a supplement to more technical commentaries for any preacher or teacher. Here you will find ideas for explaining and applying the Letter to the Hebrews to your hearers.
A note for the publishers: is it necessary to use such a large font size (it looks to be about 12pt), resulting in a paperback book 3 centimetres thick?
What we have in A Glorious High Throne is virtually a verse-by-verse expositional commentary of the New Testament Letter to the Hebrews, including ample practical application. (This makes it different from most in the series, which are more paragraph by paragraph.) The comments are gathered into chapters, which each cover a discrete passage of the text that might be tackled on one occasion in the pulpit or in personal Bible reading. The tone and approach are not at all academic or scholarly (there is a mercifully short introduction) but down-to-earth, clear and practical.
All difficult questions that arise are tackled head on. Clear, helpful and above all Bible-based answers allow the Bible itself to be its own interpreter. The author does not take time and space setting out possible views but takes us straight to the one a wider reading of the Bible supports. Thus, when it comes to the passage about those who seem to be believers but who fall away (Heb 6:4-6), he explains unequivocally that the people described cannot be true believers as the rest of Scripture makes clear that no such person can ever finally be lost. He then shows how the words used fall short of language that definitely describes a true believer.
Sometimes, Andrews argues cogently and Biblically for a different understanding of the text from the one usually given. There is an intriguing cluster of instances in Hebrews Chapter 12. Thus:
• In verse 14, pursue peace with all people (NIV, “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone”) is more clearly rendered pursue ‘peace in company with everyone’ and the peace refers to peace with God. The holiness to be pursued is positional—the believer’s standing as set apart in Christ—not progressive sanctification.
• In verse 16, fornicator (NIV, “sexually immoral”) is much more likely to refer to someone who commits spiritual adultery.
• In verse 17, he found no place for repentance (NIV, “he could not change what he had done”) refers to Esau being unable get Isaac to change his mind (repent).
• In verse 23, firstborn is plural in Greek and therefore cannot refer to Christ but to believers, perhaps the first generation or the apostles.
The author’s explanation of the distinction between the covenant of promise, given to Abraham, and the covenant of law, given through Moses, is very helpful, along with the fact that the covenant of grace runs throughout the Bible and is not confined to or only apparent in the New Testament.
I highly recommend this book as a help for any Christian reading through the book of Hebrews for personal benefit. Your heart will be warmed by the way it focuses on the superior merits of Christ and the importance of holding onto him. I also recommend it as a supplement to more technical commentaries for any preacher or teacher. Here you will find ideas for explaining and applying the Letter to the Hebrews to your hearers.
A note for the publishers: is it necessary to use such a large font size (it looks to be about 12pt), resulting in a paperback book 3 centimetres thick?
August 14, 2018
Even though this is a commentary on Hebrews, it is perfect to use as a morning devotional reading. As I read I gained a greater understanding of Hebrews , which has been a mystery to me in many ways, ( converted over 40 yrs) but I was also stirred to meditation and prayer in seeking to apply the excellent comments of Mr. Andrews. A must read for anyone wanting an introduction to Hebrews.
October 4, 2012
A great book on Hebrews. I am sure that there are books that are more in depth. John Owen on Hebrews, for instance, but for laypeople and even those wanting to go deep this book makes the very involved book of Hebrews quite understandable. It was a joy to read through this book as we read through Hebrews together as a church. I gained so much from it and a higher view of Christ then ever before. Praise God!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews