Dr. Benjamin Szumskyj’s Love and the Law: A Pronomian Pocket Guide to John 14:15 is a compelling contribution to the ongoing discussion of the continuity of the Torah’s commandments in the life of believers. With clarity and precision, Szumskyj offers a robust, historically grounded exegesis of Jesus’ words; “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments,” challenging contemporary interpretations that often separate love from obedience. Through his pronomian stance, he compellingly argues for the enduring relevance of the Torah’s commandments, presenting love not as a passive sentiment but as a call to active, faithful living in accordance with God’s Word. Balancing scholarly depth with accessible language, this concise yet impactful work is a valuable resource for both lay readers and scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of John 14:15 and its practical implications for Christian discipleship. I will certainly be using the book with my students.
—Julie O’Toole, Wellington Pacific Bible College

Dr. Benjamin Szumskyj’s “pocket guide” is a robust commentary on the Scripture, John 14:15, where he views the relationship of love toward God as an expression of keeping the commandments as the aim of the book. In expounding on the meaning of entolē (ἐντολή), he draws on a large periphery of biblical themes. This further clarifies Messianic scholar Tim Hegg’s explanation that the term “commandments” refers to the unity of Scripture, as reflected by the Hebrew word mitzvah (מִִצְְוָָה) in the singular, which encompasses the entire body of law. The book offers a Pronomian interpretation supported by Karen Jobes, where the first part of the verse is a third-class conditional in the present imperfective, followed by an unusual use of the future active indicative in the second part of the verse (instead of the imperative that would be expected). All this is to mean that there is a preference for tērēsete rather than tērēsate (keep, observe, guard, obey to mean an imperative (τηρήσατε in a majority of MSS) with a hint of promise, or as Benjamin would put it, “an obedient love” where obedience to Torah is geared to one’s love to Messiah and to “one another” in the community of the church (ἐκκλησία). Benjamin, in his inimitable style, navigates freely through connected themes with a multiplicity of Scriptures. An invaluable part of this commentary is its robust use of references, which also provide a heuristic for further study to both students and teachers.
—Pj de Marigny, Talbot School of Theology

Dr. Benjamin Szumskyj has a Ph. D. in Bible Exposition (Liberty University), two Master's Degrees (Divinity, Liberty University; and Biblical Studies, Moody Bible Institute), and three Bachelor’s Degrees (Education, Society & Environment, and Theology), two Graduate Diplomas (Christian Studies and Librarian Technician), and three Graduate Certificates (Biblical Counseling Institute Ohio; Institute of Jewish Studies; Christian Institute on Disability).

Dr. Szumskyj’s hobbies and interests involve reading and studying the Scriptures and Christian faith, writing, gardening and the self-sufficient lifestyle, walking, fishing, exploring new sites and vistas, and spending time with family. Located in Western Australia, he is happily married to wife Stacia, proud father to two sons, David and Noah, and his daughter Rebekah, in Heaven.

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