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Gospel According to the Old Testament
Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality: The Gospel According to Abraham
Written for laypersons, study groups, and pastors, this lively survey of Abraham's faith (and failures) shows us how the Old Testament patriarch foreshadows the perfect saving work of Christ.
167 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 1999
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149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 26, 2022
Great gospel-centred study of Abraham’s life. Iain Duguid communicates rich theology with pastoral warmth. Would be a good group study.
"This is true, not simply because there are superficial parallels between certain Old Testament events and events in the life of Jesus, but more profoundly because the whole Old Testament was designed by God to provide a context within which to understand the sufferings and glorification of Christ."
"This is true, not simply because there are superficial parallels between certain Old Testament events and events in the life of Jesus, but more profoundly because the whole Old Testament was designed by God to provide a context within which to understand the sufferings and glorification of Christ."
May 31, 2023
I love these series of books...The Gospel according to the Old Testament. I have read about 5 of them now and they all are very concise and deep in the word of God. It has given me a new appreciation for the Old Testament and yearning for more. I loved the title of this one, Living in the Gap between Promise and Reality. I think as Christians, we struggle with all the time. Just as Abraham did. If we are not, I think then we may be living on cruise control. It takes you thru the life of Abraham and the promises he clung to. You realize fast that is pretty much how Abraham lived by faith-clinging to the Lord and resting on his promises. Abraham did struggle with fear (lying that Sarah was his sister-in law instead of his wife) however, God did always bring him back to the reality of His Faithfulness. Our failure shows of our inadequacy and how we deal with situations. Abrahams fear drove him back to God instead of away from God thru repentance. Failures in our lives, show our true heart condition. Another heart condition is our willingness to to give sacrificially. Abraham had done that numerous times. With Lot in letting him choose which land to live in. It Lot's case, his choices in life were determined by what appealed to him. Which Satan always takes advantage and will take root in that weakness. That is so true today and is applicable in my Christian walk. I can see that very plainly looking back. My favorite things of the bible is when one thing is mentioned only once or twice. In the case of Melchizedek. A High Priest that Abraham recognized and gave a 10th of his riches. Jesus Christ is the forerunner of a great High Priest. But in recognizing this, Abraham lived his life in the greatness of God's Kingdom and not simply a matter of doing mighty deeds for God and rescuing the underserving. It involves coming to God thru the priest that God has established.
Abraham learned much about God's grace. God's promises are not destroyed by man's failure but by man not wanting a God that will change their lives and make demands of them. In a covenant relationship such as Abraham and God had and we have thru Christ, God is offering himself. He provides amazing Grace that we change not of ourselves but by recognizing who God is and who we are. We surrender and it is all consuming in every area of our lives.
In conclusion, Abraham took many short cuts to help fulfill God's promises, however, he learned each time and grew to resist the temptation to do so. It will take a life time I am sure for this christian.
A special thank you to P&R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Abraham learned much about God's grace. God's promises are not destroyed by man's failure but by man not wanting a God that will change their lives and make demands of them. In a covenant relationship such as Abraham and God had and we have thru Christ, God is offering himself. He provides amazing Grace that we change not of ourselves but by recognizing who God is and who we are. We surrender and it is all consuming in every area of our lives.
In conclusion, Abraham took many short cuts to help fulfill God's promises, however, he learned each time and grew to resist the temptation to do so. It will take a life time I am sure for this christian.
A special thank you to P&R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
April 14, 2021
Are you reading the narratives in Genesis about the life of Abraham? Also are you looking for a good devotional commentary that also have a redemptive historical awareness and also conscious of biblical theology? This would be a resource in understanding the portion of the book of Genesis that is worth getting.
This book is part of the series titled “The Gospel According to the Old Testament” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. In past years I have enjoyed this series’ commentary on Esther and the book of Nahum which I thought the editor did a good job selecting the authors’ that can contribute to this series with observation of Bible passages with an eye for things like literary device, word play, a big picture perspective and use of background information, etc. So when I found out that the editor for the series also wrote a volume on the Genesis narrative of Abraham’s life I knew I had to get this book. The author Iain Duguid is an Old Testament professor from Westminster Theological Seminary. While I didn’t this particular volume is as good as the two volumes I have read previously still it is a good commentary that I would recommend for others to read, both pastors and laymen.
The book covers Genesis 11:27 to Genesis 25:18 in fifteen chapters in the book. Each book chapter covers roughly a chapter from Genesis. Besides observation from the text the author also applies God’s truth from the passage to the readers’ lives. This I appreciate very much and he does the application skillfully.
Here are some of the insights I gained from this book:
- Going to Egypt is often an alternative to trusting in God often in the Old Testament. It is often seen as making a choice that sounds good; but in the end is not a wise one.
- There’s an interesting parallel of Abraham with Jesus. Abraham left his father’s side, so did Jesus. Abraham is told that he will be great in Genesis 12:3 which of course Jesus is above all names in Philippians 2:9-10.
- Abraham in Genesis 14 was acting out as a blessing to Gentiles already when he went to rescue Lot and others.
- In Genesis Melchizedek blessed Abraham but the king of Sodom did not; we should also interpret this in light of Genesis 12:1-3 where those who bless Abraham will be blessed and those who do not will not be blessed.
- In Genesis 16 there seems to be an echo of Adam and Eve with Abaham and Sarah’s life. In both stories the couple were in land that was supposed to be a land of blessing. Sarah “took” and “gave” her maid servant Hagar to her husband Abraham uses the same verb of “took” and “gave” in Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit. Like Adam, Abraham gave in to his wife’s equest and followed their wife. There’s a blame game between husband and wife and negative consequences unfortunately.
Of course more insights are found in the book. There were times I wished the author could have gone over more details of what was going on in the narrative. The author in the book often write in a manner summarizing the passage without referencing specific verse in the chapter in Genesis he is talking about; I think as a constructive criticism he could be more explicit with the reference of which verse in the periscope he was referring to. Despite these drawbacks I recommend the book to anyone studying Genesis 11-25.
This book is part of the series titled “The Gospel According to the Old Testament” published by Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing. In past years I have enjoyed this series’ commentary on Esther and the book of Nahum which I thought the editor did a good job selecting the authors’ that can contribute to this series with observation of Bible passages with an eye for things like literary device, word play, a big picture perspective and use of background information, etc. So when I found out that the editor for the series also wrote a volume on the Genesis narrative of Abraham’s life I knew I had to get this book. The author Iain Duguid is an Old Testament professor from Westminster Theological Seminary. While I didn’t this particular volume is as good as the two volumes I have read previously still it is a good commentary that I would recommend for others to read, both pastors and laymen.
The book covers Genesis 11:27 to Genesis 25:18 in fifteen chapters in the book. Each book chapter covers roughly a chapter from Genesis. Besides observation from the text the author also applies God’s truth from the passage to the readers’ lives. This I appreciate very much and he does the application skillfully.
Here are some of the insights I gained from this book:
- Going to Egypt is often an alternative to trusting in God often in the Old Testament. It is often seen as making a choice that sounds good; but in the end is not a wise one.
- There’s an interesting parallel of Abraham with Jesus. Abraham left his father’s side, so did Jesus. Abraham is told that he will be great in Genesis 12:3 which of course Jesus is above all names in Philippians 2:9-10.
- Abraham in Genesis 14 was acting out as a blessing to Gentiles already when he went to rescue Lot and others.
- In Genesis Melchizedek blessed Abraham but the king of Sodom did not; we should also interpret this in light of Genesis 12:1-3 where those who bless Abraham will be blessed and those who do not will not be blessed.
- In Genesis 16 there seems to be an echo of Adam and Eve with Abaham and Sarah’s life. In both stories the couple were in land that was supposed to be a land of blessing. Sarah “took” and “gave” her maid servant Hagar to her husband Abraham uses the same verb of “took” and “gave” in Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit. Like Adam, Abraham gave in to his wife’s equest and followed their wife. There’s a blame game between husband and wife and negative consequences unfortunately.
Of course more insights are found in the book. There were times I wished the author could have gone over more details of what was going on in the narrative. The author in the book often write in a manner summarizing the passage without referencing specific verse in the chapter in Genesis he is talking about; I think as a constructive criticism he could be more explicit with the reference of which verse in the periscope he was referring to. Despite these drawbacks I recommend the book to anyone studying Genesis 11-25.
November 29, 2021
This is the first of three books that Duguid wrote for this series. As advertised, it is very approachable, having been written not for the academy but for the church, and it aimed at the layperson as well as the pastor. Duguid keeps the Hebrew words to a bare minimum, and always explains their meaning.
One of the aspects of the book that I really appreciate is the author's honesty and humility about his own sin patterns. He openly admits where he struggles, and does so in the context of talking about Abraham's journey of faith. This causes us to see Duguid not as the expert but as a fellow sinner trying to serve God and grow in his faith as Abraham did in his.
As you go through the book, if you are not familiar with the story (and maybe even if you are), it would be helpful to read the passage that is covered in each chapter, since the Biblical text is not reproduced in each chapter. Duguid is careful to point out that imitating the faith of Abraham is not the point of either this book or the Biblical record, but rather putting your faith in the same God and looking forward to the same promised Messiah that Abraham did. As he says in the introduction, "the gospel is not 'What would Abraham do?' but 'What has Jesus done?'"
Duguid mentions in the Acknowledgements that the book originated as a series of sermons, and one can certainly see that. Each chapter, although it builds on the chapters before, could stand alone as an encouragement to growth in grace. Each chapter reviews and explains the narrative, shows how Abraham pointed forward to Christ in both his faith and his actions, and applies the lessons learned to modern day readers.
If you are interested in the series The Gospel According to the Old Testament, this would be a great book with which to start. In fact, I think it was probably one of the first ones written, since the copy I have is the second edition.
One of the aspects of the book that I really appreciate is the author's honesty and humility about his own sin patterns. He openly admits where he struggles, and does so in the context of talking about Abraham's journey of faith. This causes us to see Duguid not as the expert but as a fellow sinner trying to serve God and grow in his faith as Abraham did in his.
As you go through the book, if you are not familiar with the story (and maybe even if you are), it would be helpful to read the passage that is covered in each chapter, since the Biblical text is not reproduced in each chapter. Duguid is careful to point out that imitating the faith of Abraham is not the point of either this book or the Biblical record, but rather putting your faith in the same God and looking forward to the same promised Messiah that Abraham did. As he says in the introduction, "the gospel is not 'What would Abraham do?' but 'What has Jesus done?'"
Duguid mentions in the Acknowledgements that the book originated as a series of sermons, and one can certainly see that. Each chapter, although it builds on the chapters before, could stand alone as an encouragement to growth in grace. Each chapter reviews and explains the narrative, shows how Abraham pointed forward to Christ in both his faith and his actions, and applies the lessons learned to modern day readers.
If you are interested in the series The Gospel According to the Old Testament, this would be a great book with which to start. In fact, I think it was probably one of the first ones written, since the copy I have is the second edition.
August 9, 2022
I’d felt a tug to learn more about the life of Abraham and I decided to follow it and read this book. We can learn so much from his life. From uprooting his life to a life of wandering in anticipation of the promise land, to the 25+ years of waiting on the promise of his son Isaac, to all the decisions in between, Abraham was truly a man of faith - a man who trusted the promises of God when he had only the promises of God to cling to. Lastly, we can learn about how gracious God is - Abraham’s great faith faltered, but God’s covenant did not.
I’d highly recommend to dig into the life of Abraham whether through this book or other resources if you feel like you are waiting on the promises of God in your life.
I’d highly recommend to dig into the life of Abraham whether through this book or other resources if you feel like you are waiting on the promises of God in your life.
March 10, 2022
“Abram embarked on the way of greatness by following the path of self-sacrifice. God’s definition of greatness is very different from the world’s definition, and the great vision to which he calls you may involve a lifelong quiet faithfulness in a situation that seems utterly insignificant.”
May 16, 2020
I found this book to be intensely relevant to mind games I've routinely played and lost. The book lives up to its title by offering very accessible strategies for living in what Duguid calls the Reality Gap that all of us face in our lives on this earth. Duguid very capably applies the lessons of the story of Abraham to our everyday lives in ways that I found surprising and encouraging and refreshing. I shouldn't have been surprised, as I have long believed that Abraham's story is meant to be a centerpiece of the Christian life, providing many signposts for our journey of walking by faith. I highly recommend this book and this author.
December 30, 2013
All of Scripture is centered on Christ, even those passages written centuries before His human birth. The life of Abraham, far from being a mere example for us to follow, is actually a glimpse at the salvation God would ultimately provide through His Son. Abram’s call, justification, and faith are gifts of God and it is through his maturing into Abraham that we discover (among other things) that God’s Word is timeless and His promises sure.
August 28, 2021
Duguid's _Living in the Gap_ is based on his series of sermons covering the life of Abraham and part of a series published by R&R entitled "The Gospel According to the Old Testament." I've used several volumes of this series in my preaching (last year, I used the Gospel According to Joseph, for example) and I find them a helpful addition to my normal, more academic commentary readings. Seeing how someone else has taken an exegetical-based series following through a particular text into a sermon can be helpful. And, indeed, several of the chapters in this volume were excellent. However, as such things tend to go, it was uneven (as my own sermons often are!). I thought some chapters were excellent whereas others were less valuable. A helpful, but not necessary resource for those wishing to preach through Abraham's life.
December 14, 2017
There were many aspects of Mr. Duguid's interpretation of Old Testament passages that were not in agreement with Calvin and many other commentaries that I have read and agreed with. It seemed that in dealing with Abraham, Duguid took the approach of a 21st Spiritual profiler rather than reading the text in its proper historical context. He did an excellent job in portraying the merits of Christ's sacrifice and atoning work and provided sound guidance for the reader to find fulfillment and completion in the redemptive work of Christ. I think, though, that James Jordan did better work in the Old Testament study with his brief book, Primeval Saints.
August 10, 2018
I used this book as one of a few resources to teach through a Wednesday night series on Abraham during the summer at our church. First, this series of commentaries are comprised of very accessible and helpful introductory biblical studies. Second, this particular volume helped me find areas of application for some of the more challenging narrative sections of Abraham’s life (i.e. ch 14, 23). Overall, it is recommended.
November 16, 2020
I came across Iain DuGuid from my wife’s seminary classes and how much she liked his classes. So I started looking for books by him.
This book on Abraham is great. It is organized with each chapter following a chapter in Genesis on Abraham. Mr. DuGuid covers the passage at hand very well, and then connects the passage to everyday life. He also adds discussion questions at the end of each chapter to help a group use this book for study.
This book on Abraham is great. It is organized with each chapter following a chapter in Genesis on Abraham. Mr. DuGuid covers the passage at hand very well, and then connects the passage to everyday life. He also adds discussion questions at the end of each chapter to help a group use this book for study.
November 1, 2022
This is an excellent resource for teaching the life of Abraham. Duguid is Christ-centered, theological, and practical in his approach. It is deep and wrestles with the text, but it is not a commentary. It would be great for a discussion group or individual just wanting to study this period and learn more. It will also point you to Jesus and help you learn how to live this life in the gap between promise and reality.
March 3, 2025
“Our greatest need, in order to live by faith in the midst of the reality gap, is not to have a good example to follow. Rather, we need a growing understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of his sufferings and the glory that followed, as the context for our present sufferings and certain hope for the glory to come.”
Beautiful book on Abraham’s story and the hope God gives us in Christ. Couldn’t recommend this book more!
Beautiful book on Abraham’s story and the hope God gives us in Christ. Couldn’t recommend this book more!
April 18, 2018
Read this book with a group at church and I did not like it one bit. I found the author to be downright offensive to women, including this own wife, multiple times. It was hard to not be distracted by his misogynist undertones.
February 12, 2019
3 1/2 stars. Helpful book working trough Genesis 11-25 looking at Abraham’s life and up and down faith. At times the brevity of the series leaves you longing for more depth but as a devotional book helpfully applies.
March 31, 2022
A good short summary of each chapter of the life and faith of Abraham. Devotional with a few technical elements and a good dose of Biblical theology. Also contains some good application points. Helpful for preachers and teachers alike.
September 26, 2017
An outstanding commentary and fascinating study of the life of an Old Testament patriarch, Abraham; the only one to have earned the title, "friend of God".
May 9, 2019
Read while doing sermon series on Abraham. It was pretty standard stuff.
August 31, 2019
A very good exposition of the Abrahamic narratives in Genesis, with a focus on biblical theology and the connections between the text, the gospel, and life.
February 5, 2024
This was a great commentary on the life of Abraham!
January 9, 2025
I read this in my devotional reading. It was fine, but a bit basic. Not sure there is much to recommend it to others, but if you have it, great…Abraham’s life is worthy to be studied.
January 22, 2019
Fantastic, as with all Duguids books I found it a joy to read. Easy to understand but not dumbed down yet convicting at times.
Brilliant reminder that this is not our home and we are just passing through, living in the gap between the promise and the reality of that promise.
Brilliant reminder that this is not our home and we are just passing through, living in the gap between the promise and the reality of that promise.
December 7, 2019
The Gospel According to the Old Testament is a series of books published by P&R Publishing that seeks to teach us how to read the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus Christ. Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality is a great book that shows the reader exactly what its subtitle says, The Gospel According to Abraham.
Iain Duguid is always a fine writer and this book doesn’t vary from the norm. Duguid leads the reader through a survey of the life of Abraham from his time as Abram to his death as the father of many nations. This work was surprisingly pastoral and very easy to read. For some reason I was thinking this was going to be an academic work and was bracing myself for it! But as I began reading I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging the work was and just how easy a read it was. I began wondering, “What pastors can I recommend this book to,” and ended thinking, “I ought to get a copy of this for my mom!” Duguid does a great job at making this important topic approachable for just about any motivated reader.
Duguid puts on display the “faiths and the failures of a man, just like us, who lived in the gap between promise and reality.” Abraham lived a life, from his intial calling to even his death, where the promises he was given were not fully realized before his eyes. He had tastes and he saw glimpses, but he lived his life by faith. He lived with a confidence that the One who made the promises was true to his word. And so can we.
Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality is filled with Christ-centered exegesis and pastoral wisdom. It is encouraging, challenging, and edifying. It is definitely worth a read.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
Iain Duguid is always a fine writer and this book doesn’t vary from the norm. Duguid leads the reader through a survey of the life of Abraham from his time as Abram to his death as the father of many nations. This work was surprisingly pastoral and very easy to read. For some reason I was thinking this was going to be an academic work and was bracing myself for it! But as I began reading I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging the work was and just how easy a read it was. I began wondering, “What pastors can I recommend this book to,” and ended thinking, “I ought to get a copy of this for my mom!” Duguid does a great job at making this important topic approachable for just about any motivated reader.
Duguid puts on display the “faiths and the failures of a man, just like us, who lived in the gap between promise and reality.” Abraham lived a life, from his intial calling to even his death, where the promises he was given were not fully realized before his eyes. He had tastes and he saw glimpses, but he lived his life by faith. He lived with a confidence that the One who made the promises was true to his word. And so can we.
Living in the Gap Between Promise and Reality is filled with Christ-centered exegesis and pastoral wisdom. It is encouraging, challenging, and edifying. It is definitely worth a read.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
December 23, 2011
Iain Dugid is a favorite author of mine when it comes to theology. His easy-to-understand writing is great for devotional use, which is how I read this book. Iain does not however skimp on depth of doctrine, his content, though easy to understand and follow, causes you to think deeply about God and your Christian walk. I found this book especially helpful in applying the lessons Abraham learned to my own life. Iain asks pointed questions throughout the book which helps you stop and think "how does this temptation or lesson apply to me?" Abraham was tempted to doubt God when He seemed slow to fulfill his promise; where an I tempted to doubt? Abraham remembered God's faithfulness and obeyed in faith; what faithfulness has God shown me which I need to remember?
Some favorite quotes:
“Do we earnestly pray for the wicked – not simply those whom we regard as “good prospects” who might be comparatively easily won over, but the out-and-out wicked? Do you intercede for your local equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah, or only for your good friends?” - p. 91
“If there is anything in your life that you must have, apart from God, then it is your idol. When push comes to shove and you have to choose between serving your idol and serving God, then you will find out where your real commitment lies.” - p. 105
“Only grace – free, undeserved grace – can enable an imperfect person to dwell in the presence of the perfect God. Only grace permits the un-holy to approach the Most Holy and be called his friend.” - p.86
I found this a great book to move slowly through and absorb the content; applying a story and hero from the Old Testament to my life today.
Some favorite quotes:
“Do we earnestly pray for the wicked – not simply those whom we regard as “good prospects” who might be comparatively easily won over, but the out-and-out wicked? Do you intercede for your local equivalent of Sodom and Gomorrah, or only for your good friends?” - p. 91
“If there is anything in your life that you must have, apart from God, then it is your idol. When push comes to shove and you have to choose between serving your idol and serving God, then you will find out where your real commitment lies.” - p. 105
“Only grace – free, undeserved grace – can enable an imperfect person to dwell in the presence of the perfect God. Only grace permits the un-holy to approach the Most Holy and be called his friend.” - p.86
I found this a great book to move slowly through and absorb the content; applying a story and hero from the Old Testament to my life today.
Currently reading
April 9, 2009pg. 8 Abram's preparation in Genesis 11
Abraham's story does not begin with the call of Abram in Genesis 12, but with the preparation of Abram in Genesis 11:31-32. He learned from his dad, what it was to uproot and set out for a place... they had originally intended to set out for Canaan, but for whatever reason they didn't make it.
pg. 9 tenth patriarch Noah & Abram
Noah was the tenth patriarch from Adam to preserve the lineage and Abram was the tenth patriarch in the line of Shem to preserve the line
pg. 11 believing, though not understanding
Sarai's tears were not answered with an explanation of the need for her present pain. Only later, with the benefit of hindsight, would they be able to look back and discern how God had indeed done all things well in their lives. In the meantime, they simply had to cling to God, believing, though not understanding.
Abraham's story does not begin with the call of Abram in Genesis 12, but with the preparation of Abram in Genesis 11:31-32. He learned from his dad, what it was to uproot and set out for a place... they had originally intended to set out for Canaan, but for whatever reason they didn't make it.
pg. 9 tenth patriarch Noah & Abram
Noah was the tenth patriarch from Adam to preserve the lineage and Abram was the tenth patriarch in the line of Shem to preserve the line
pg. 11 believing, though not understanding
Sarai's tears were not answered with an explanation of the need for her present pain. Only later, with the benefit of hindsight, would they be able to look back and discern how God had indeed done all things well in their lives. In the meantime, they simply had to cling to God, believing, though not understanding.
October 18, 2020
D’excellentes méditations sur la partie de Genèse sur Abraham à raison d’un chapitre par chapitre de Genèse. Elles sont très pertinentes et encourageantes, mais elles restent profondes et centrées sur Jésus-Christ sans se perdre dans des interprétations limitées et étranges. Abraham est non seulement un exemple de foi à suivre mais aussi l'exemple d'un pécheur qui a constamment besoin de la grâce de Dieu pour avoir foi en ses promesses. A chaque fin de chapitre il y a des questions pour vérifier qu’on a bien compris le texte et pour appliquer les vérités du passage dans nos vies. Je l'ai relu une deuxième fois pour noter toutes les applications.
March 6, 2025
Well-written and thought-provoking commentary that is highly devotional in nature. Dr. Duguid does, at times, delve into some of the more technical aspects of the text but that is not the overall focus. If you are looking for devotional material to accompany your reading of Genesis, this is the book you are looking for.
December 6, 2014
This is a book I have read through once and am reading through again with a Women's Book Study group at church.
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