ENCOUNTERING THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

Description

DONALD A HAGNER

“Serves its purpose well as an undergraduate textbook by presenting current scholarship and alternative interpretations in a form appropriate for its readers.”–James Thompson,Interpretation

Although the Book of Hebrews “is not exactly what most of us would regard as a user-friendly book,” notes Donald Hagner, “Hebrews has always been popular among Christians.” Encountering the Book of Hebrews was written to help students more fully appreciate the complexities of this favorite section of Scripture.

Hagner begins by exploring introductory issues (e.g., historical backgrounds, author, audience, date, purpose, structure, genre) and overarching themes (e.g., heavenly archetypes and earthly copies, the use of the Old Testament, the attitude toward Judaism). The heart of the book then offers a chapter-by-chapter exposition of Hebrews. Unlike commentaries, it does not try to be exhaustive–examining all details and answering all questions–but instead guides students to the issues that are most important for their study of this difficult book. Hagner concludes with a final look at the contribution of Hebrews to the New Testament, New Testament theology, the church, and the individual Christian.

As with other volumes in the Encountering Biblical Studies series, Encountering the Book of Hebrews is designed for classroom use and includes a number of helpful features, including further-reading sections, key terms, chapter objectives, and outlines along with numerous sidebars and illustrations.

Endorsements

“This thoughtful, well-documented, and attractively produced study should help undergraduate-level students come to terms with a writing which, as the author admits, most people do not initially regard as user-friendly.” -Paul Ellingworth, University of Aberdeen

“Donald Hagner’s Encountering the Book of Hebrews is a splendid treatment of one of the most important, though probably one of the most difficult, New Testament writings. It is not a verse-by-verse commentary but a section-by-section assessment of the argument and issues of the book. It reflects extensive and detailed investigation and is user-friendly in style and expression, with helpful sidebars, excursuses, charts, tables, photographs, bibliographies, and study questions. Its intended readership is upper-level Christian college students, and it speaks to them exceedingly well, but this informed and engaging exposition also deserves careful study by all earnest, inquiring Christians.” -Richard N. Longenecker, Distinguished Professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary

“I have long admired Don Hagner’s ability to reflect clearly and concisely on Hebrews. In this excellent new work, he applies an obvious breadth of research in a lucid style that invites while it informs. Commentary, pictures, sidebars, review questions, beginning bibliographies, and lists of key terms coalesce in a highly accessible tool for the beginning student. I recommend it enthusiastically.” -George H. Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Biblical Studies, Union University