ADVICE, MEMORIES, PRAYERS, GREETINGS The Epistle concludes with various exhortations in regard to the social life (Hebrews 13:1), private life (Hebrews 13:4), the religious life (Hebrews 13:7), in which connexion the readers are exhorted to follow steadfastly the example and doctrine of their former... [ Continue Reading ]
DUTIES OF SOCIAL LIFE, viz. brotherly love, hospitality, and sympathy with those who suffer for Christ's sake.... [ Continue Reading ]
STRANGERS] Christian brethren from other places are meant: cp. Hebrews 6:10. ANGELS UNAWARES] cp. Genesis 18:19; Judges 6:11; Judges 13:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOURSELVES ALSO IN THE BODY] and liable therefore to the same sufferings: cp. Hebrews 10:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
MARRIAGE IS] RV 'Let marriage,' etc: the words are an exhortation.... [ Continue Reading ]
DUTIES OF THE PRIVATE LIFE, viz. chastity and contentment.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONVERSATION] i.e. manner of life. RV simply, 'be ye free from the love of money.' 7-16. Duty of steadfastly adhering to the doctrine of their departed teachers.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HAVE THE RULE] RV 'that had the rule.. which spake.' The words end of their conversation (see Hebrews 13:8) indicate that they were no longer living. RV renders, 'issue of their life.' 8. AY suggests that the 'end of their conversation' was Jesus Christ, but He can hardly be called the 'issue... [ Continue Reading ]
CARRIED ABOUT] RV 'carried away.' The strange doctrines seem to have been connected with the ritual of 'meats,' or sacrificial meals (Hebrews 13:10). 10-14. We Christians have certainly an altar, the Cross of Christ, but as on the Day of Atonement the blood of the sacrifice was carried into the Most... [ Continue Reading ]
Duty of obedience to present rulers. Watch FOR (i.e. in behalf of) YOUR SOULS] like sleepless shepherds who feel their responsibility to God for the flock. DO IT WITH JOY] i.e. watch with joy, feeling their duty to be a delight not a burden, for in the latter case the flock would suffer.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAY FOR US] The plural denotes that the writer identifies himself with the rulers of the Church, on whom some suspicion has fallen, and he therefore in their name protests their integrity.... [ Continue Reading ]
The singular number indicates that the writer stood in some special relationship to his readers from whom he is for the present separated for some reason not given. It seems not to have been imprisonment (see Hebrews 13:23), and the separation is regarded as only temporary. 20, 21. Prayer for the r... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD OF PEACE] i.e. the God who makes peace: cp. Romans 15:33; Romans 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Philippians 4:9, and see on Hebrews 13:14. BROUGHT.. FROM THE DEAD] The words refer not so much to the Resurrection of Christ as to His entrance into the heavenly sanctuary 'with the blood of the everlas... [ Continue Reading ]
WORD OF EXHORTATION] the whole Epistle. The apologetic tone indicates some doubt as to the manner of its reception (cp. Hebrews 13:18), and also a consciousness that the subject has been treated more briefly than it deserves ('in few words').... [ Continue Reading ]
_Our_ BROTHER TIMOTHY] The reference does not point conclusively to St. Paul as the writer, but indicates that he was intimately connected with the Pauline circle. “We have no other knowledge of Timothy's imprisonment. IF HE COME] Timothy is elsewhere at present.... [ Continue Reading ]
The salutation shows that the Epistle was not addressed to the rulers, but primarily to the whole community. THEY OF ITALY] i.e. those from Italy, those belonging to Italy. The phrase is most naturally taken to indicate that the Epistle was written outside Italy at some place where Italian Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Colossians 4:18; 1 Timothy 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:22; Titus 3:15.... [ Continue Reading ]