06.00.2. Foreword by Warren Wiersbe
Foreword by Warren Wiersbe
Apart from the standard commentaries on Hebrews, you will not find many volumes devoted to the "heroes of the faith" listed in Heb 11:1-40. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan’s The Triumphs of Faith is an excellent series of sermons, but it is not an exegetical study of the chapter. The careful expositor of the Word needs exegetical tools that will help him mine the ore for himself, and then mint it into coins of truth for wide circulation.
One such tool is Great Cloud of Witnesses in Hebrews Eleven by Dr. Ethelbert William Bullinger. I know of no other book on Hebrews Eleven in the English language that contains more solid spiritual teaching and practical truth than this one. Far from being an "ivory tower" commentary, this book touches life and makes living by faith an exciting and practical experience.
Dr. Bullinger held some doctrinal views that perhaps some of us might not agree with; but this disagreement must not rob us of the blessings of his written ministry. He was a careful student of the Word and a recognized scholar in the field of Biblical languages. In fact, the Archbishop of Canterbury granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in 1881 in recognition of his Biblical scholarship.
If this is your first meeting with Dr. Bullinger, you may be perplexed by his analytical outlines in Scripture passages. He was a great believer in the inspiration of The Scriptures and in the order in which God revealed truth. His massive work, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible, shows how carefully he examined the text and sought to unlock its meaning. To him, the analysis of the total passage and the exegesis of the individual words and phrases must go together. The complete working out of his principle is seen in this monumental volume, The Companion Bible, a valuable tool for the serious Bible student, even if he does not follow Bullinger’s system of interpretation.
Bullinger was born in Canterbury, England on December 15, 1837. His early training was in music, but his greatest joy was Bible study. He trained for the Anglican Church ministry at King’s College, London, showing great skill in the study and use of Biblical languages. For a short time he served as the curate at Bermondsley Abbey Church on Tooley Street in London, near the London Bridge. His personal views of Scripture led him into an independent ministry, including the publishing of a Bible study magazine, Things to Come. He died in London on June 6, 1913.
I predict that your use of this excellent book will not only make you a better student of the Word but also a better follower of the Lord.
—Warren W. Wiersbe (Foreword Copyright 1979 by Kregel Publications)