Πᾶς γὰρ ἀρχιερεὺς … γὰρ introduces the ground of the encouraging counsel of Hebrews 4:16, and further confirms Hebrews 4:15. [But _cf._ Beza: “Itaque γὰρ non tam est causalis quam inchoativa, ut loquuntur grammatici”; and Westcott: “the γάρ is explanatory and not directly argumentative”.] The connec... [ Continue Reading ]
μετριοπαθεῖν δυνάμενος : “as one who is able to moderate his feeling”. The Vulgate is too strong: “qui condolere possit”; Grotius has: “non inclementer affici”; Weizsäcker: “als der billig fühlen kann”; and Peirce: “who can reasonably bear with”. As the etymology shows, it means “to be moderate in o... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ διʼ αὐτὴν … ἀμαρτιῶν “and because of it is bound as for the people, so also for himself to offer for sins”. Vaughan recommends the deletion of the stop at the end of Hebrews 5:2. The law which enjoined that the high priest should on the Day of Atonement sacrifice for himself and his house (ἐξιλά... [ Continue Reading ]
οὕτω καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς.… “So even the Christ glorified not himself to be made a high priest.” [“So hat auch der Christus nicht sich selbst die Herrlichkeit des Hohenpriestertums zugeeignet,” Weizsäcker.] The designation, “the Christ,” is introduced, because it might not have seemed so significant a stat... [ Continue Reading ]
καίπερ ὢν υἱὸς ἔμαθεν ἀφʼ ὧν ἔπαθε τὴν ὑπακοήν [having been heard …] although He was a son He learned obedience from the things He suffered. The result of his being heard was therefore that he suffered, but in the suffering He learned obedience, perfect unison with the will of God for the salvation... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ τελειωθεὶς … αἰωνίου “and having [thus] been perfected became to all who obey Him the source [originator] of eternal salvation”. τελειωθείς (v. Hebrews 2:10) having been perfectly equipped with every qualification for the priestly office by the discipline already described. Several interpreters... [ Continue Reading ]
προσαγορευθεὶς … Μελχισεδέκ “styled by God High Priest after the order of Melchizedek”. “ προσαγορεύειν expresses the formal and solemn ascription of the title to Him to whom it belongs (‘addressed as,' ‘styled')” (Westcott). “When the Son ascended and appeared in the sanctuary on High, God saluted... [ Continue Reading ]
περὶ οὗ. “Of whom,” not, as Grotius (_cf._ Delitzsch and von Soden) “De quâ,” of which priesthood. It is simplest to refer the relative to the last word Μελχισεδέκ; possible to refer it to ἀρχιερεὺς … Μελχ. The former seems justified by the manner in which c. vii. resumes οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Μελχ. No doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
Complaint of their sluggishness of mind.... [ Continue Reading ]
καὶ γὰρ ὀφείλοντες.… “For indeed, though in consideration of the time [since you received Christ] ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the beginning [the elements] of the oracles of God.” διὰ τὸν χρόνον, _cf._ Hebrews 2:3; Hebrews 10:32; how long they... [ Continue Reading ]
πᾶς γὰρ … νήπιος γάρ ἐστι. “For every one who partakes of milk [as his sole diet] is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe.” The reference of γὰρ is somewhat obscure. It seems intended to substantiate the last clause of Hebrews 5:12 : “Ye cannot receive solid food, _for_... [ Continue Reading ]
τελείων δὲ.… “But solid food is for the mature, those who, by reason of their mental habits, have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.” τέλειος commonly opposed in classical and Biblical Greek to νήπιος; as in Polyb. 5:29, 2, ἐλπίσαντες ὡς παιδίῳ νηπίῳ χρήσασθαι τῷ Φιλίππῳ, εὗρον αὐτὸν τ... [ Continue Reading ]