Hebrews & James (Holman New Testament Commentary | HNTC)

by Thomas D. Lea

Publisher:

B&H

, 1999

Overview

Hebrews was written to those familiar with the Old Testament, who faced persecution for their faith but were becoming lax in their growth as Christians. They needed encouragement to not forsake their new life in Christ and return to Judaism to avoid persecution. James also wrote to a Jewish-Christian audience, offering pastoral advice to Christians who lived outside of Jerusalem. James quickly jumps from one subject to another, addressing practical issues rather than setting down theological doctrine.

Contents

Top Highlights

“God will pardon all who truly repent. It is possible for human beings so to resist the grace of God that they arrive at a state of heart in which repentance is an impossibility. It is not impossible because God would not be willing to bring them to repentance, but it is impossible because the person is so hardened he will not repent. This condition is described in Romans 1:28. People become so completely sinful that God gives them up to a reprobate heart.” (Pages 111–112)

“Still others see the threat as consisting of a loss of rewards rather than a loss of salvation.” (Page 110)

“This does not suggest that we should seek out trials. Nor are we to pretend that enduring trials is pleasant. They cause pain and difficulty. Still, we should look at trials as an occasion for joy because of their potential for producing something good in us. This calls us consciously to develop a positive attitude toward trials, quite contrary to our normal response.” (Page 257)

“We learn two features of effective prayer in this verse. First, prayer must come from righteous people. A person must have a living faith shown by an obedient life. Second, effective prayer must have energy or persistence. Effective prayer comes from the heart of a believer whose passion is to see the will of God worked out in life.” (Pages 349–350)

“Enduring affliction had produced in Joseph an ability to see God’s greater hand in the malicious intentions of his brothers. God had used trials to make Joseph mature and complete.” (Page 258)

Product Details

• Title: Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James
• Author: Thomas Lea
• Publisher: Broadman & Holman
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 363

About Thomas D. Lea

Thomas D. Lea was dean of the School of Theology and professor of New Testament at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Prior to taking up his responsibilities there in 1979, he served as a pastor in Virginia and Alabama. He graduated from Southwestern (MDiv and ThD) and Mississippi State University (BS).