WHEREFORE (διο). Because of the argument already made about the difficulty of the subject and the dulness of the readers.LET US CEASE TO SPEAK (αφεντες τον λογον). Second aorist active participle of αφιημ, to leave off or behind.OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF CHRIST (της αρχης του Χριστου). Objec... [ Continue Reading ]
The other four items are qualitative genitives with διδαχÂην (βαπτισμων, επιθεσεως χειρων, αναστασεως νεκρων, κριματος αιωνιου). The plural βαπτισμων "by itself does not mean specifically Christian baptism either in this epistle (Hebrews 9:10) or elsewhere (Mark 7:4), but ablutions or immersions suc... [ Continue Reading ]
IF GOD PERMIT (εανπερ επιτρεπη ο θεος). Condition of the third class with εανπερ (note περ indeed). See 1 Corinthians 16:7 (εαν ο κυριος επιτρεψη) and Acts 18:21 (του θεου θελοντος). It is not an idle form with the author. He means that he will go on with the argument and not attempt to lay again... [ Continue Reading ]
AS TOUCHING THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED (τους απαξ φωτισθεντας). First aorist passive articular participle (the once for all enlightened) of φοτιζω, old and common verb (from φως) as in Luke 11:36. The metaphorical sense here (cf. John 1:9; Ephesians 1:18; Hebrews 10:32) occurs in Polybius and... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO RENEW THEM AGAIN (αδυνατον παλιν ανακαινιζειν). The αδυνατον (impossible) comes first in verse Hebrews 6:4 without εστιν (is) and there is no "them" in the Greek. There are three other instances of αδυνατον in Hebrews (Hebrews 6:18; Hebrews 10:4; Hebrews 11:6). The present acti... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HATH DRUNK (η πιουσα). Articular second aorist active participle of πινω, to drink.HERBS (βοτανην). Old word from βοσκω, to feed, green plant, only here in N.T. Cf. our botany.MEET (ευθετον). Old compound verbal (ευ, τιθημ) well-placed, fit (Luke 9:62).IT IS TILLED (γεωργειτα). Presen... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IT BEARETH (εκφερουσα). Present active participle of εκφερω, conditional participle. For "thorns and thistles" see Matthew 7:16 for both words (ακανθας κα τριβολους). Roman soldiers scattered balls with sharp iron spikes, one of which was called _tribulus_, to hinder the enemy's cavalry.REJECT... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE ARE PERSUADED (πεπεισμεθα δε). Perfect passive indicative of πειθω, literary plural. Note Paul's use of πεπεισμα in 2 Timothy 1:12.BETTER THINGS (τα κρεισσονα). "The better things" than those pictures in Hebrews 6:4-8.THAT ACCOMPANY SALVATION (εχομενα σωτηριας). "Things holding on to s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE DESIRE (επιθυμουμεν δε). Literary plural again like πεπεισμεθα (Hebrews 6:9). He is not wholly satisfied with them as he had already shown (Hebrews 5:11-14). They have not given up Christ (Hebrews 6:4-8), but many of them are still babes (νηπιο, Hebrews 5:13) and not adults (τελειο, Hebrew... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE NOT SLUGGISH (ινα μη νωθρο γενησθε). Negative final clause with second aorist middle subjunctive of γινομα, "that ye become not sluggish (or dull of hearing)" as some already were (Hebrews 5:11).IMITATORS (μιμητα). See 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:14 for this word (our "mimi... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE PROMISE (επαγγειλαμενος). First aorist middle participle of επαγγελλω. Could swear by none greater (κατ' ουδενος ειχεν μειζονος ομοσα). Imperfect active of εχω in sense of εδυνατο as often with ομοσα (first aorist active infinitive of ομνυω) and ωμοσεν (he sware) is first aorist active indic... [ Continue Reading ]
SURELY (ε μην). By itacism for η μην (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p. 205). The quotation is from Genesis 22:16. (the promise renewed to Abraham with an oath after offering of Isaac).BLESSING (ευλογων). Hebraism (present active participle) for the Hebrew infinitive absolute and so with πληθυνων... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING PATIENTLY ENDURED (μακροθυμησας). First aorist active participle of μακροθυμος (μακροσ, θυμος, long spirit) illustrating μακροθυμια of verse Hebrews 6:12.HE OBTAINED (επετυχεν). Second aorist (effective) active indicative of επετυγχανω, old verb with genitive. God was true to his word an... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EVERY DISPUTE (πασης αντιλογιας). Objective genitive of old word several times in Hebrews (Hebrews 6:16; Hebrews 7:7; Hebrews 12:3). Talking back, face to face, in opposition.FINAL (περας). Limit, boundary (Matthew 12:42). Men may perjure themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SHEW (επιδειξα). First aorist active infinitive of επιδεικνυμ, to show in addition (επι-) to his promise "more abundantly" (περισσοτερον).THE IMMUTABILITY OF HIS COUNSEL (το αμεταθετον της βουλης αυτου). Late compound verbal neuter singular (alpha privative and μετατιθημ, to change), "the un... [ Continue Reading ]
BY TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS (δια δυο πραγματων αμεταθετων). See verse Hebrews 6:17. God's promise and God's oath, both unchangeable.IN WHICH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE (εν οις αδυνατον ψευσασθα θεον). Put this "impossibility" by that in verses Hebrews 6:4-6.THEON is accusative of general ref... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH (ην). Which hope. What would life be without this blessed hope based on Christ as our Redeemer?AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL (ως αγκυραν της ψυχης). Old word, literally in Acts 27:29, figuratively here, only N.T. examples. The ancient anchors were much like the modern ones with iron hooks to g... [ Continue Reading ]
AS A FORERUNNER (προδρομος). Old word used for a spy, a scout, only here in N.T. Jesus has shown us the way, has gone on ahead, and is the surety (εγγυος, Hebrews 7:22) and guarantor of our own entrance later. In point of fact, our anchor of hope with its two chains of God's promise and oath has... [ Continue Reading ]