"Hebrews" (Amy Peeler)

TITLE: Hebrews (Commentaries for Christian Formation)
AUTHOR: Amy Peeler
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2024, (448 pages).

There are plenty of commentaries on the Bible today. There are the technical ones such as critical, exegetical, and expository types which can be rather academic. There are also the more practical types such as the Application and Devotional ones which are more appropriate for laypersons. We are spoilt for choice. Recently there has been a growing desire among many to incorporate spirituality into the heavier theological texts. This commentary is one such contribution. It not only incorporates theology with practical applications, but it also helps in faith formation. In other words, the commentary is a way to spur spiritual growth via constant communal conversation with the text. Due to the mysteries and lack of certainties, Hebrews is one of the most challenging books to understand. This calls for patient study and repeat readings. Genre awareness can also help the interpretive process. The way to learn from the text is to practice what it says. For instance, Hebrews spoke about endurance and perseverance. We should also cultivate these virtues in understanding and applying the text. It gives several warnings that we should heed diligently. Throughout Hebrews, we learn of the interplay between comfort and warning, and no matter what phase we are in, a Christological perspective guides us through the long and narrow way. Amy Peeler calls this book a "Christian sermon." 

The commentary follows a passage-by-passage sequence from chapters 1 to 13. There is no rush toward spiritual interpretation. Peeler diligently applies exegetical and expository styles to describe and interpret the texts. She then describes the contexts and cultural awareness to illuminate the meaning. While the subtitle of the commentary says "Christian Formation," readers need to be patient to work through the texts properly. One shouldn't rush into faith formation without properly understanding the Word of Faith. No skipping basic rules of reading and interpretation. 

My Thoughts

This is a commendable effort to infuse spirituality into a regular commentary. There are pros and cons to the use of such commentaries. Let me first offer the pros. Peeler's singular conviction is that the Word of God is for those who want to know God deeper and trust God more. Only a love for the Word can one venture into such diligent work of excellent scholarship and deep spirituality. She teaches us to be patient in reading, diligent in studying the contexts, and comfortable in the mysteries that require waiting upon the Lord. This presents ample opportunities to infuse prayer moments amid the pauses. I like the Christological lens that Peeler has advocated. Even amid the uncertainty of authorship, audience, date, location, and other archaeological details, the Christological lens helps us see certainties of faith themes such as endurance, warnings, and mutual support. As we focus on the certainties of Christ, the mysteries's uncertainties will become strangely dim. The conclusion brings together the different themes mentioned in the commentary. It is a good summary of the spiritual formation themes mentioned in the book. Any reader wanting a quick overview of the themes should read this chapter first.

As for the cons, my main concerns are: Are such commentaries attempting to do too much? Is it biting off more than it can chew? Will readers in their search for explicit instructions on faith formation become unwittingly distracted from the meaning of the text? Such temptations are real, especially for an impatient generation. It would have been good for Peeler to present a chapter entitled: "Notes on How to Read this Commentary" to manage expectations and to provide reading guidance. As for commentaries that try to do too much, I think Peeler's commentary of over 453 pages in length is evidence of that. This is a big volume and should be a reference book in itself. It is not easy to understand Hebrews, which is why such commentaries are essential for many of us. 

Overall, I think the author has given us much food for thought and resources for study. Apart from the concluding chapter, this commentary looks a lot like the many conventional commentaries we have in the market. 

Amy Peeler is professor of New Testament and the Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College. She also serves as associate rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Geneva, Illinois. She is the author of Women and the Gender of God and You Are My Son: The Family of God in the Epistle to the Hebrews and the coauthor, with Patrick Gray, of Hebrews: An Introduction and Study Guide.

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Wm. B. Eerdmans via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.