Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:6

ἐάν אBD1EM. The reading ἐάνπερ (ACKL) may be right, since the author uses it in Hebrews 3:14 and Hebrews 6:3.

6. ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ, “over His (i.e. God’s) house.” In the words “Servant” and “Son” we again (as in Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 1:8) reach the central point of Christ’s superiority to Moses. The proof of this superiority did not require more than a brief treatment because it was implicitly involved in the preceding arguments.

οὗ οἶκός ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς. This is a metaphor which the writer may well have learnt in his intercourse with St Paul (2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:21-22. Comp. 1 Peter 2:5). It is also found in Philo De Somn. (Opp. I. 643), σπούδασον οὗν, ὦ ψυχή, θεοῦ οἶκος γενέσθαι.

τὴν παρρησίαν. Literally, “our cheerful confidence,” especially of utterance, as in Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:35. The word rendered “confidence” in Hebrews 3:14 is ὑπόστασις. This boldness of speech and access, which were the special glory of the old democracies, are used by St John also to express the highest Christian privilege of filial outspokenness (1 John 3:21). Apollos, the probable writer of this Epistle, was known for this bold speech (ἤρξατο παῤῥησιάζεσθαι Acts 18:26), and evidently feels the duty and privilege of such a mental attitude (Hebrews 4:16; Hebrews 10:19; Hebrews 10:35).

τὸ καύχημα τῆς ἐλπίδος, “the glorying of our hope.” καύχημα means “an object of boasting,” as in Romans 4:2; 1 Corinthians 5:6, &c. The way in which the writer dwells on the need for “a full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11; Hebrews 6:18-19) seems to shew that owing to the delay in Christ’s coming his readers were liable to fall into impatience (Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 12:1) and apathy (Hebrews 6:12; Hebrews 10:25).

μέχρι τέλους βεβαίαν. The same phrase occurs in Hebrews 3:14. The word βεβαίαν agrees of course with παῤῥησίαν, so that τὸ καύχημα τῆς ἐλπίδος is almost parenthetical. The form of sentence is common enough in classical Greek, e.g. Hom. Il. xv. 344; Hesiod Theogon. 974; Thuc. VIII. 63 πυθόμενος … τὸν Στρομβιχίδην καὶ τὰς ναῦς�. The repetition of the phrase by a writer so faultlessly rhetorical is singular. It cannot however be regarded as a gloss, for it is found in all the best Manuscripts.

μέχρι τέλους. That is, not “until death,” but until hope is lost in fruition; until this dispensation has attained to its final goal. This necessity for perseverance in well-doing is frequently urged in the N. T. because it was especially needed in times of severe trial. Matthew 10:22; Colossians 1:23, and see infra Hebrews 10:35-39.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Hebrews 3:6

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