Pioneer and Priest

Jesus Christ in the Epistle to the Hebrews

by R.J. McKelvey

Book cover: Pioneer and Priest

Extent: 274 pages

Publisher: The Lutterworth Press

Subject: Religious Studies

Language: English

PDF (No longer our product)

(August 2017)

ISBN: 9780718846053

Price: $31.00

An exploration of the Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews, emphasising the complementary nature of the key images of ‘pioneer’ and ‘priest’.


The interest that the Epistle to the Hebrews arouses today is testimony to its enduring message, with its focus on what Jesus Christ did and continues to do for his people. McKelvey provides new insight on Hebrews by demonstrating that two of its chief images, pioneer and priest, function not just independently, but in tandem. Christ is not pioneer without also being priest, and his priesthood is only properly understood in terms of the pioneer figure. This double analogy conveys the meaning ofthe Christian faith, because only one who is both pioneer and priest can provide the church with the help it needs. Pioneer and Priest will appeal to those who want to know more about Hebrews as well as those who believe that the emerging church must follow Christ ‘outside the camp’.

  • By (author) R J McKelvey