Τοιγαροῦν καὶ ἡμεῖς.… “Wherefore, as we have so great a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, let us likewise lay aside every encumbrance and sin that clings so close and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to the leader and perfecter of faith, even Jesus, who for the joy set be... [ Continue Reading ]
ἀναλογίσασθε γὰρ.… The reason for fixing the gaze on Jesus is given. That reason being found in the τοιαύτην. This so great contumely and opposition endured by Jesus the Hebrews are to consider, “to bring into analogy, think of by comparing” with their own and so renew their hopeful endurance. τὸν …... [ Continue Reading ]
Οὔπω μέχρις αἵματος.… “Not yet unto blood have ye resisted in your contest with sin.” Bengel says: “a cursu venit ad pugilatum”. _Cf._ 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. But this is doubtful μέχρις αἵματος [Theoph., ἄχρι θανάτου, _cf._ Revelation 12:11.] Does this mean, Ye have not yet become a martyr church, s... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ ἐκλέλησθε.… “And ye have clean forgotten the exhortation, which speaks to you as to sons, My Son, etc.” καὶ introduces a fresh consideration. Calvin, Bleek and others treat the clause as an interrogation, needlessly. The παράκλησις is cited from Proverbs 3:11, and includes Hebrews 12:5-6. The on... [ Continue Reading ]
The Hebrews are reminded that their sufferings are tokens of God's fatherly love and care.... [ Continue Reading ]
The inference from the passage cited is obvious, εἰς παιδείαν ὑπομένετε, “it is for training ye are enduring (are called to endure), as sons God is dealing with you”. [προσφέρεται is common; as in Xenophon, οὐ γὰρ ὡς φίλοι προσεφέροντο ἡμῖν; and in Josephus, ὡς πολεμίοις προσεφέροντο.] Their sufferi... [ Continue Reading ]
With εἶτα a fresh phase of the argument is introduced. [Raphel _in loc_. is of opinion that εἶτα here as frequently in the classics is “nota interrogantis cum vehementia et quasi indignatione quadam”; but it gives a better construction if we take it in the sense of “further” as in 1Co 12:5; 1 Corint... [ Continue Reading ]
οἱ μὲν γὰρ.… The reasonableness of the appeal of Hebrews 12:9 is further illustrated by a comparison of the character and end in the earthly and heavenly fathers' discipline respectively. The earthly fathers exercised discipline for a few days in accordance with what commended itself to their judgme... [ Continue Reading ]
πᾶσα δὲ παιδεία.… Another encouragement to endure chastening: if it is allowed to do its work righteousness will result. “Now all chastisement for the present indeed seems matter not of joy but of grief, afterwards however it yields, to those who are disciplined by it, the peaceable fruit of righteo... [ Continue Reading ]
διὸ τὰς παρειμένας … “Wherefore” introducing the immediate application of this encouraging view of trials, “lift up” to renew the conflict, “the nerveless hands” fallen to your side and “the paralysed knees”. ἀνορθώσατε seems at first sight more appropriate to χεῖρας than to γόνατα (Vaughan) but it... [ Continue Reading ]
ἐπισκοποῦντες μή τις ὑστερῶν … “watching” “taking the oversight” (thoroughly scrutinising as in the case of sick persons,” Chrys.) addressed not to the teachers or rulers but to all. The object of this supervision is to prevent the defection of any one of their number. “As if they were travelling to... [ Continue Reading ]
μή τις πόρνος … specific forms in which roots of bitterness might appear among them. πόρνος is to be taken in its literal sense and not as signifying departure from God [but _cf._ Weiss]. Neither is it to be applied to Esau, in spite of the passages adduced by Wetstein to show that he was commonly c... [ Continue Reading ]
Οὐ γὰρ προσεληλύθατε … “For ye have not approached,” assigning a further reason for the previous exhortation. Your fathers drew near [Deuteronomy 4:11, προσήλθετε καὶ ἔστητε ὑπὸ τὸ ὄρος] to hear God's word. The word is used in its general sense, and the idea of drawing near as an accepted worshipper... [ Continue Reading ]
In this paragraph we have the climax of the Epistle. Its doctrine and its exhortation alike culminate here. The great aim of the writer has been to persuade the Hebrews to hearken to the word spoken by God in Christ (Hebrews 1:1; Hebrews 2:1-4). This aim he still seeks to attain by bringing before h... [ Continue Reading ]
The Christian standing and attainment are now described in contrast with the Jewish. Ye are brought into the fellowship of eternal realities. ἀλλά προσεληλύθατε, “but ye have drawn near” (already you have entered into your eternal relation to the unseen) to Σιὼν ὄρει, “in the twenty-three passages i... [ Continue Reading ]
βλέπετε (in the same sense and in a similar connection in Hebrews 3:12) μὴ παραιτήσησθε, “See that you refuse not” as those mentioned in Hebrews 12:19 did τὸν λαλοῦντα, “Him that speaketh,” _i.e._, God as in Hebrews 1:1 and the close of this verse; “for if those did not escape (punishment) when they... [ Continue Reading ]
A final appeal. The readers are warned against being deaf to God's final revelation, for if even the revelation at Sinai could not with impunity be disregarded, much less can the revelation which has reached them and which discloses to them things eternal and God in His essential majesty.... [ Continue Reading ]