Hebrews by Geoffrey B. Wilson, Banner of Truth Trust. Price 30p
This paper-backed commentary on one of the greatest of the New Testament Epistles is one which deserves the widest circulation, containing, as it does, a simple, easily followed and easily digested, verse by verse interpretation of the same. The scope of the work is not on the scale of the larger volumes to be found in the excellent Geneva series of Commentaries, published by the Trust, or other similar sets, but this only enhances its usefulness to the audience for whom it is evidently intended. It does not
claim to be a work for the specialist, nor is it, we think, one to be confined to the needs of the ordained ministers of the Word and others, whose task it is to expound the living oracles of God. Both of these will find much of the ‘finest of the wheat’ to be sifted here. It is indeed a work suitable to the needs of all who desire a clear, devotional exposition of some of the most profound passages of the New Testament.
The sub-title gives us a clue to its real merit: A Digest of Reformed Comment. Quotations, long and short, from the works of the acknowledged masters of Reformed Theology, such as Calvin, Owen, Smeaton, Brown and Vos, throw much light on difficult passages, and these are worked in skilfully to the author’s own comments in a pleasing manner. The whole work is pervaded with an atmosphere of devout reverence for the Word of God, and the section of the Epistle which deals with the superiority of the Melchizedek Priesthood of Christ to that of the Aaronic Priesthood of the Old Testament is specially well handled. In an age when many have lost sight of the true glory of Him who is the Son, consecrated for evermore, it is refreshing to read such a work as this, where one can see that the author is in complete agreement with the great expositors of the past, who belonged to the Reformed position.
While appreciating that the work does not set out to be a complete or exhaustive commentary of this Epistle, nevertheless one would have liked to see a fuller treatment, in the Introduction, of the question of the authorship and destination of the Epistle, including quotations from the acknowledged masters in this field, in the same way as is done in the body of the Epistle itself. All in all, however, this small book is one which deserves a place on the bookshelves of those who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, and also those who would seek to know the true glory of Him, by whom, in these last times, God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob, has spoken to sinful men—Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God. May the Lord richly bless this little work to many souls!
A.M.C.
In heaven believers shall swim for ever in an ocean of joy, and every object they see shall fill them with the most ecstatic joy, which shall be ever fresh and new to them, through all the ages of eternity.
Thomas Boston.
Notes and Comments
The Trouble in Northern Ireland
Since our comment on the Northern Ireland problem in the September Magazine, the trouble in that country has shown no sign of abating. Many soldiers and civilians have been murdered through bomb explosions and shootings.
It is in the interests of the enemies of Northern Ireland to keep the situation at boiling point in the hope that the British Government will eventually succumb to the terrorism of the I.R.A. and concede their demand for an end to the Ulster Parliament and the establishment of a United Parliament. The Roman Catholic Church would be a willing partner to such a settlement. This is a solution, however, to which the Protestants of Ireland—well aware of the pricelessness of their heritage and dearly-won liberties—will never consent.
State School Education Demanded for R.C. Children
A group of Staffordshire Roman Catholic parents demanded places for their children in a State Secondary School. It would appear that the local education authority insisted that the children go to the Roman Catholic Secondary School in the area and refused them the option of attending the State school. What could be more incongruous in a Protestant country than a case like this! Surely such a demand by R.C. parents ought to be welcomed by education authorities and every effort made to accommodate these children within the State school system, rather than that they should have to continue to labour under the disabilities and evils inherent in a Romanist-controlled educational system.
Nativity Scene Stamps
Nativity scene stamps have been issued again this year. The blasphemous representation of the Saviour continues on the 3p stamp. We deplore the dishonouring of the Saviour in this way and the gratuitous and unnecessary boost given by the Post Office through the issue of these stamps to the unscriptural observance of Christmas.