1._Therefore, leaving, etc. _To his reproof he joins this exhortation, — that leaving first principles they were to proceed forward to the goal. For by _the word of beginning _he understands the first rudiments, taught to the ignorant when received into the Church. Now, he bids them to leave these r... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Of the doctrine of baptisms, etc. _Some read them separately, “of baptisms and of doctrine;” but I prefer to connect them, though I explain them differently from others; for I regard the words as being in apposition, as grammarians say, according to this form, “Not laying again the foundation of... [ Continue Reading ]
3._This will we do, etc. _A dreadful denunciation follows; but the Apostle thus fulminated, lest the Jews should indulge their own supineness, and trifle with the favor of God; as though he had said, “There ought not in this case it to be any delay; for there will not always be the opportunity for m... [ Continue Reading ]
4._For it is impossible, etc. _This passage has given occasion to many to repudiate this Epistle, especially as the Novatians armed themselves with it to deny pardon to the fallen. Hence those of the Western Church, in particular, refused the authority of this Epistle, because the sect of Novatus an... [ Continue Reading ]
6._To renew them again into repentance, etc. _Though this seems hard, yet there is no reason to charge God with cruelty when any one suffers only the punishment of his own defection; nor is this inconsistent with other parts of Scripture, where God’s mercy is offered to sinners as soon as they sigh... [ Continue Reading ]
7._For the earth, etc. _This is a similitude most appropriate to excite a desire to make progress in due time, for as the earth cannot bring forth a good crop in harvest except it causes the seed as soon as it is sown to germinate, so if we desire to bring forth good fruit, as soon as the Lord sows... [ Continue Reading ]
9._But we are persuaded, etc. _As the preceding sentences were like thunderbolts, by which readers might have been struck dead, it was needful to mitigate this severity. He therefore says now, that he did not speak in this strain, as though he entertained such an opinion of them. And doubtless whoso... [ Continue Reading ]
10._For God is not unrighteous, etc. _These words signify as much as though he had said, that from good beginnings he hoped for a good end. But here a difficulty arises, because he seems to say that God is bound by the services of men: “I am persuaded,” he says, “as to your salvation, because God ca... [ Continue Reading ]
11._And we desire, etc. _As he blended with exhortation, lest he should altogether grieve their minds; so he now freely reminds them of what was still wanting in them, lest his courtesy should appear to have in it any flattery. “You have made,” he says, “your love evident by many acts of kindness; i... [ Continue Reading ]
12._But followers, _or _imitators, etc. _To sloth he opposes imitation; it is then the same thing as though he said, that there was need of constant alacrity of mind; but it had far more weight, when he reminded them, that the fathers were not made partakers of the promises except through the unconq... [ Continue Reading ]
13._For when God made a promise to Abraham, etc. _His object was to prove, that the grace of God is offered to us in vain, except we receive the promise by faith, and constantly cherish it in the bosom of our heart. And he proves it by this argument, that when God promised a countless offspring to A... [ Continue Reading ]
16._For men, etc. _It is an argument from the less to the greater; if credit is given to man, who is by nature false, when he swears, and for this reason, because he confirms what he says by God’s name, how much more credit is due to God, who is eternal truth, when he swears by himself? Now he menti... [ Continue Reading ]
17._God, willing, etc. _See how kindly God as a gracious Father accommodates himself to our slowness to believe; as he sees that we rest not on his simple word, that he might more fully impress it on our hearts he adds an oath. Hence also it appears how much it concerns us to know that there is such... [ Continue Reading ]
18._That by two immutable things, etc. _What God says as well as what he swears is immutable. (Psalms 12:6; Numbers 23:19.) It may be with men far otherwise; for their vanity is such that there cannot be much firmness in their word. But the word of God is in various ways extolled; it is pure and wit... [ Continue Reading ]
19._As an anchor, etc. _It is a striking likeness when he compares faith leaning on God’s word to an anchor; for doubtless, as long as we sojourn in this world, we stand not on firm ground, but are tossed here and there as it were in the midst of the sea, and that indeed very turbulent; for Satan is... [ Continue Reading ]