John Owen thought his eight-volume commentary on Hebrews was weak; let that sink in.

Lest this begin to sound like a backdoor humblebrag, let me clarify something. I don’t even own Owen’s eight volumes on Hebrews, which were written over a 16-year period from 1668-1684, best I can tell. I own an abridged version.[1] But my righteousness is in Christ and not in the size of my library or the length of the books I read.

Owen seemed to know that, too. And he’s the one who WROTE really long books. Again, he wrote eight volumes on the book of Hebrews, and in the – AHEM – abridged version that I own, I was struck by this comment (especially the second sentence) at the end of Hebrews 10:18, which is generally recognized as the end of the second major section of Hebrews[2]:

And here we are come unto a full end of the dogmatical part of this epistle, a portion of Scripture filled with heavenly and glorious mysteries – the light of the Church of the Gentiles, the glory of the people Israel, the foundation and bulwark of faith evangelical. I do therefore here, with all humility and sense of my own weakness and utter disability for so great a work, thankfully own the guidance and assistance which have been given me in the interpretation of it, so far as it is or may be of use unto the Church, as a mere effect of sovereign and undeserved grace. From that alone it is, that having many and many a time been at an utter loss as to the mind of the Holy Ghost, and finding no relief in the worthy labours of others, He hath graciously answered my poor weak supplications in supplies of the light and evidence of truth. (Emphasis added)

Owen wrote eight volumes[3] and sensed his weakness and utter disability for the task. He realized he needed the Spirit’s guidance to interpret the great epistle. He gave thanks “so far as it is or may of use unto the Church.” Well, Dr. Owen, your work is still in print approximately 350 years later. I’d say it has been a help to Church, especially to Forestgate Presbyterian Church and her pastor.

But I’m glad Owen sensed his weakness as he wrote so much on Hebrews. Because if there’s even an ounce of me that doesn’t feel weak and unable to proclaim these glorious heavenly mysteries without God’s help, then I need a wake-up call. As Jesus said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5b)

John Owen thought his eight-volume commentary on Hebrews was weak and that he was unable, unfit for such a great task. If he felt that way, then who is sufficient for these things?

-Pastor Matt, 02-19-26 (after writing a few words on Hebrews 10:15-18)

[1] I do own a 1200-page commentary on Revelation. Then again, I can’t say I’ve read every page.

[2] This is on page 195 of the abridged version. I’ll let someone else research the page number in the unabridged version. Also, about the outline of Hebrews – Chapters 1-8 and 8-10 make up two doctrinal (or ‘dogmatical,’ as Owen puts it) sections on the superiority of Christ and the superiority of the New Covenant. That’s followed by a third section which starts in Hebrews 10:19, which is filled with Exhortations (applications, if you prefer) to a Superior Life.

[3] I’ll guestimate that he had probably written six volumes by the time he wrote this note.