An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Vol. 1
Overview
Owen surveys the historical, canonical, theological, and authorship issues in the book of Hebrews. He also writes at length about the depiction of the Messiah in Hebrews, with special care to link Jesus to Old Testament promises and prophecies. The final part of Volume One is devoted to the epistle’s treatment of the institution of Judaism with regard to the law, the priesthood, the sacrificial system, and the temple.
Praise for the Print Edition
This greatest work of John Owen is a work of gigantic strength as well as gigantic size; and he who has mastered it is very little short…of being an erudite and accomplished theologian.
—Thomas Chalmers
For solidity, profundity, massiveness and majesty in exhibiting from Scripture God’s ways with sinful mankind there is no one to touch him.
—J. I. Packer
. . . the greatest theologian who has ever written in the English language.
—Roger Nicole
Product Details
- Title: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Vol. 1
- Author: Jane Williams
- Publisher: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
- Publication Date: 2009
- Pages: 548
About John Owen
John Owen was born at Stadhampton, Oxfordshire in 1616. He entered Queen's College, Oxford, at the age of twelve and completed his M.A. in classics and theology in 1635 at the age of nineteen. He was ordained shortly thereafter and left the university to be a chaplain to the family of a noble lord. His first parish, in 1637, was at Fordham in Essex, to which he went while England was involved in civil war. It was here that he became convinced that the Congregational way was the scriptural form of church government. In the 1640s he became chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, the new "Protector of England," and traveled with him on his expeditions to Ireland and Scotland. Between 1651 and 1660, he played a prominent part in the religious, political, and academic life of the nation. In 1651 he was appointed dean of Christ Church and in 1652 made Vice-Chancellor of Oxford—positions which allowed him to train ministers for the Cromwellian state church. He lost his position in 1660, however, when the restoration of the monarchy began after the death of Cromwell in 1658. Owen moved to London and led the Puritans through the bitter years of religious and political persecution—experiences which shaped his theological inquiry, pastoral reflection, and preaching. He later declined not only invitations to the ministry in Boston in 1663, but also an offer to become president of Harvard in 1670. He died in August, 1683.
Sample Pages from the Print Edition
Top Highlights
“‘If the theological student should part with his coat or his bed to procure the works of Howe, he that would not sell his shirt to procure those of John Owen, and especially his Exposition, of which every sentence is precious, shows too much regard to his body, and too little for his immortal mind.’” (Page xi)
“For my part, I can truly say that I know not any portion of holy writ that will more effectually raise up the heart of an understanding reader to a holy admiration of the goodness, love, and wisdom of God, than this Epistle doth.” (Page 47)
“By virtue hereof, there is not the meanest Christian believer but doth, or may, understand more of the books of Exodus and Leviticus; see more of the wisdom, holiness, and grace of God in them; and know more of the nature and use of these legal institutions, not only than all the present Jews and their teachers, but than was ever distinctly known in the church of Israel of old.” (Page 20)
“‘this Epistle is as useful to the church as the sun is to the world.’ It is the key-stone which locks the arch of revealed truth into symmetry and strength.” (Page viii)
“The divine authority of the Epistle being vindicated, it is of no great moment to inquire seriously after its penman. Writings that proceed from divine inspiration receive no addition of authority from the reputation or esteem of them by whom they were written; and this the Holy Ghost hath sufficiently manifested by shutting up the names of many of them from the knowledge of the church in all ages.” (Page 66)
- Title: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Volume 1
- Author: John Owen
- Series: An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Owen)
- Volume: 18
- Publisher: Johnstone and Hunter
- Print Publication Date: 1854
- Logos Release Date: 2009
- Era: era:reformation
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Bible. N.T. Hebrews › Commentaries; Puritans; Theology › Early works to 1800
- Resource ID: LLS:WORKSOWEN18
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2020-10-28T19:59:30Z
John Owen (1616–1683) is considered one of the most influential and inspiring theologians of the seventeenth century. He entered Queen's College, Oxford, at the age of twelve and completed his M.A. in classics and theology at the age of nineteen.
His first parish was at Fordham in Essex where he became convinced that the Congregational polity was the scriptural form of church government. In the 1640s he became chaplain to Oliver Cromwell, the new "Protector of England," and traveled with him on his expeditions to Ireland and Scotland.
In 1651 he was appointed dean of Christ Church and in 1652 made Vice-Chancellor of Oxford—positions which allowed him to train ministers for the Cromwellian state church. Owen later moved to London and led the Puritans through the bitter years of religious and political persecution—experiences which shaped his theological inquiry, pastoral reflection, and preaching. Owen authored one of the richest commentaries on the book of Hebrews, An Exposition of the Epistle to the Hebrews which are also included in The Works of John Owen along with sermons and essays.