Hebrews 12:3

εἰς ἑαυτόν. The MSS. vary between this reading (A, Vulg.) and εἰς αὑτόν, εἰς αὐτόν and εἰς ἑαυτούς.

3. ἀναλογίσασθε. Lit., “compare yourselves with.” Contrast the comparative immunity from anguish of your lot with the agony of His (John 15:20).

τὸν τοιαύτην κ.τ.λ. Who hath endured at the hand of sinners such opposition.

ἀντιλογίαν, “gainsaying” or “contradiction,” has already occurred in Hebrews 6:16; Hebrews 7:7. Three uncials (א, D, E) read “against themselves.” Christ was a mark for incessant “contradiction,”—“a sign which is spoken against”—(Luke 2:34).

ἵνα μὴ κάμητε ταῖς ψυχαῖς ὑμῶν ἐκλυόμενοι. The correction of the R.V., “that ye wax not weary, fainting in your souls,” will be reckoned by careless and prejudiced readers among the changes which they regard as meaningless. Yet, as in hundreds of other instances, it brings out much more fully and forcibly the exact meaning of the original. “That ye wax not weary” is substituted for “lest ye be weary” because the Greek verb, being in the aorist, suggests a sudden or momentary break-down in endurance; on the other hand, “fainting” is in the present, and suggests the gradual relaxation of nerve and energy which culminates in the sudden relapse. Lastly, the word in the original is “souls,” not “minds.” Endurance was one of the most needful Christian virtues in times of waiting and of trial (Galatians 6:9).