Pioneer and Priest

"This clear and careful exploration of the dual Christology of Hebrews may itself prove, as McKelvey describes the epistle, 'a pastoral response' to the needs of Christians in crisis."

--Paul Ellingworth, former translation consultant with the United Bible Societies



"In this highly accessible study, Hebrews is read as a response to the needs of a community in crisis. . . . Written with a sense of urgency and with contemporary Christian communities in mind, this book makes a substantial contribution to the recent resurgence of interest in Hebrews and is in itself pioneering in several ways."

--George J. Brooke, Rylands Professor, University of Manchester



"This book makes an original and insightful contribution to scholarly discussion on the Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and is essential reading for all scholars of the epistle. It is an invaluable resource for theology students with its clear, measured, and stimulating analysis of the major issues of the epistle, and also for hard-pressed, modern-day Christians with its meticulously researched insights into the author of Hebrews' pastoral strategies."

--J. C. McCullough, Professor Emeritus, Union Theological College, Belfast



"R. J. McKelvey, Pioneer and Priest (Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2013) is a fine book on the christology of the Letter to the Hebrews. . .The principal thesis is that the themes of 'pioneer' and 'priest' work in tandem in the argument of Hebrews. The church is both a pilgrim people and a pardoned people. We 'go out' (Heb. 13:13) "into an uncertain and risky world" (p39), following Jesus the way-maker and helped by Jesus the priest. And we are able to 'draw near' (Heb. 4:16), because our leader opens the way into heaven, and our mediator meets his people there with mercy and grace. . .This is highly respectable academic writing. But it deserves to be read much more widely too. The style is clear, yet it is obvious throughout that the author is dealing with serious pastoral issues. This is an excellent piece of mature Christian scholarship."

-John Proctor, Westminster College, Cambridge (Review in the 'Biblical Studies Bulletin', Nov. 2013)



R. J. McKelvey's book is the newest contribution to the study of the Christology of Hebrews. He gives particular attention to Jesus' dual role as pioneer and high priest. These two roles are inextricably linked to one another and are crucial for under-standing the flow of the author's argument in Hebrews. McKelvey's book is both scholarly and accessible. He demonstrates a broad knowledge of Hebrews scholarship as he interacts with many of the most important scholarly works on Hebrews. He has an ability to lay out clearly and succinctly the various interpretive options for the many cruces interpretum of Hebrews. He writes in a readable style that makes his book accessible to the pastor or informed lay person. He transliterates Greek and Hebrew words and he provides brief summaries at the end of each chapter. The end matter includes some interesting and useful appendices. I will say that his discussion of the heavenly sanctuary left me with some questions. If the author of Hebrews is working with a cosmos-as-temple model and an earthly-sanctuary/heavenly-sanctuary model, how are these models interrelated within the book of Hebrews? If the heavenly sanctuary does not have any compartments, how do we reconcile this with the notion that Jesus passed through the various levels of heaven in order to enter into the holy of holies of the highest heaven? Where then does the author conceive that the veil was located: between heaven and earth, or between the holy of holies of the highest heaven and the lower heavens? Despite these concerns, McKelvey has given us a very fine study on the Christology of Hebrews.

-Review in Polumeros kai Polutropos by Brian Small



"McKelvey's book is very engaging, and not least for his grasp of a wide range of scholarship, succinctly and appreciatively discussed, while keeping hold of the argument being pursued. Having read it reflectively I think I can justifiably claim I now have a clearer grasp of a piece of Christian scripture I already greatly valued. That both terms, 'pioneer' and 'high priest' were important for the author in his attempt to encourage an uncertain and, it seems, somewhat dispirited early Christian community, is widely recognised. McKelvey, I think uniquely, shows, in clear steps, how both terms interlock and interpret each other. We are invited by A Letter to Hebrews to trust that what Christ as priest pioneers for us he continues to do with us, bringing us closer to God in a deeper trusting awareness."

-F. Gerald Downing, University of Manchester



"McKelvey begins with a discussion of historical context and helpful pointers to good commentaries, and proceeds to cover almost the whole of Hebrews. On each disputed point he presents a range of views before settling for one-though occasionally summaries displace actual advances in the argument. He is judicious, but not so cautiously minded as to be of no pastoral use. With four appendices on the background of priestly and pioneer terms and concepts, full indices, and clear summaries at the end of every chapter, McKelvey's work proves a highly accessible and pastorally-focused resource for students, seminarians, and ministers, particularly useful to those with little knowledge of recent Hebrews scholarship."



-Review in the Expository Times by NICHOLAS.I. MOORE of Keble College, University of Oxford.