Amy Peeler
The publisher’s state: The Commentaries for Christian Formation (CCF) series serves a central purpose of the Word of God for the people of God: faith formation. Some series focus on exegesis, some on preaching, some on teaching, and some on application. This new series integrates all these aims, serving the church by showing how sound theological exegesis can underwrite preaching and teaching, which in turn forms believers in the faith.
The third entry into this series does just that. I would say those who would benefit from this are not those just in the ivory tower but those in the pew. Many can benefit from Amy Peeler’s treatment of Hebrews.
In treating 6:20 Peeler says, “The tension between the Savior’s presence with God and his absence from the saved runs throughout the New Testament. Initially, it is helpful to recognize that the author does assert that they are fleeing forward to grasp, not that they have already done so. They are on the path to dwell in resurrected bodies with Jesus but are not there yet. Nevertheless, the author is aiming to give them the absolute assurance that as they continue on this path, they will arrive there. Much like he does in his treatment on faith, he is granting them assurance for what lies ahead by reminding them of what has come before. God has been faithful to their forebears, such as Abraham (6:13–15), and God has been faithful in the life of the Son, as other believers have told them (2:3).”
In the life of the recipients to the letter of the Hebrews and our lives are lived in the tension that Jesus has accomplished what we could not be we haven’t received everything in full. It’s like paying for a house but we still need to wait to for it to be built and move out of our old house. We as believers are still living in our old bodies waiting for the resurrected body waiting to live in the place Jesus is preparing for us. Yet Amy Peeler is so astute and comforting in her words to remind us of the hope and assurance we have.
The exegesis is there but what shines is the application for us to continue holding onto Jesus. She goes onto says regarding chapter 6, ” In addition to this future dimension, it is true that they can hold on to Jesus now, even if not physically. With the imagery of an anchor of the soul, Jesus the forerunner serves not just as an example of possibility, nor only as a sympathetic and effective but distant representative, but as one to whom they remain deeply connected. They are tethered to him as a boat is connected to its anchor. Although it is not mentioned explicitly here, in light of other New Testament documents, the church will come to understand that intimate connection between Jesus and his people as the work of the Spirit. Christians may not be able to touch his resurrected body, but by the gracious power of the Spirit we are truly connected to him. Moreover, that connection is manifest in the tangible realities of baptism, Eucharist, fellowship, and service.
This is a highly recommended commentary on the book of Hebrews for the Church.
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