Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God

“Osborne takes up the word blessing, which is often misunderstood and applied in shallow ways, and sets it in its biblical-theological context. Through his study we are treated to a broad understanding of blessing so that we comprehend the richness and fullness of the term in its biblical context. I am delighted with this fresh and accessible contribution to biblical theology.”

—Thomas R. Schreiner, James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“There can be no greater experience than to be blessed by God. Yet Christians often have little appreciation of what this means in practice. Thankfully, Osborne brings clarity to this subject by providing an excellent overview of the biblical teaching on blessing. He skillfully and accessibly navigates the topic, avoiding pitfalls and helpfully highlighting pastoral implications.”

—T. Desmond Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Biblical Studies and Director of Postgraduate Studies, Union Theological College, Belfast; author, The City of God and the Goal of Creation    

“What does it mean to be ‘blessed’? Does blessing look different in the Old and New Testaments? Osborne masterfully addresses these questions, yet most of all summons us to delight in living in the presence of the one from whom all blessings flow.”

—Andrew T. Abernethy, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Wheaton College

“For those looking for a biblical map of blessing, I commend this thoughtful volume. As an even-handed guide, William Osborne journeys through Genesis to Revelation, drawing the reader’s attention to many high points. Believers should rejoice over every spiritual blessing they now enjoy in the exalted Christ.”

—Benjamin Gladd, Associate Professor of New Testament, Reformed Theological Seminary

“Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God is an accessible reminder of how the Bible—not this cultural moment—defines being ‘blessed.’ Osborne nicely unpacks this idea and demonstrates its prominence in the unfolding narrative of both Testaments. Readers will come away encouraged and enlightened, with a better grasp on the good life that God desires for his people.”

—Michelle Knight, Assistant Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

“For too many Christians, ‘being blessed’ translates to personal gain and prosperity. In Divine Blessing and the Fullness of Life in the Presence of God, William Osborne gently disabuses readers of such shallow thinking by making the biblical theology of blessing clear and comprehensible. Even more valuable, he explains why we are prone to process blessing so poorly: We define the concept in terms of what we want, not in terms of the everlasting inheritance God wants for us. Being blessed is about having our minds and lives transformed by the realization that the eye truly has not seen, nor the ear heard, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

—Michael S. Heiser, Executive Director and Professor, The Awakening School of Theology and Ministry; Host, The Naked Bible Podcast; author, The Unseen Realm

“From Genesis to Revelation, William Osborne faithfully traces a biblical theology of blessing. Well-researched and scholarly, the study is accessible to anyone wanting to carefully read and learn about God’s plan to bless his people. This is a must-read for a great understanding of the already-not-yet nature of God’s present and promised future blessing for his people.”

—Scott R. Andrews, Senior Pastor, Alliance Bible Fellowship, Boone, North Carolina

“Blessing is a concept that Christians bandy about, but what actually is it and how does it work? Osborne does the detective work and demystifies it for us. He takes us on a journey through the Scriptures, noting the major evidence and picking up the more subtle clues. Unsurprisingly, blessing has God’s fingerprints all over it. Perhaps surprisingly, though, it is more pervasive than we might imagine.”

—George Athas, Director of Research, Moore College

“We live in an age when the church is being threatened by the destructive teachings of the prosperity gospel, which emphasizes health, wealth, and might in the present. We can be tempted to swing the pendulum to the other extreme by completely rejecting any material blessing as divine. There are some who even bemoan the biblical term ‘blessing’ because they now associate it with the prosperity gospel. Osborne guards us from this extreme by serving us a rich biblical-theological meal. He traces the theme of blessing throughout Scripture and he rightly argues that God’s blessings are relational, spiritual, material, present, and future. Enlarge your understanding of the infinitely vast blessings God has lavished on his people by reading this short treasure.”

—Dieudonné Tamfu, Executive Director of Cameroon Extension Site and Assistant Professor of Bible and Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary; author, 2 Peter and Jude (Africa Bible Commentary Series)