Hebrews 10:1-14
THE ONE SACRIFICE AND THE MANY SACRIFICES... [ Continue Reading ]
THE ONE SACRIFICE AND THE MANY SACRIFICES... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΎΝΑΤΑΙ DEKL. δύνανται אAC. The plural is probably a mere oversight due to the previous προσφέρουσιν. 1. ΣΚΙΆΝ. The σκιά is the opposite to the εἰκών, and the two words sum up the whole of the preceding argument. ΤΩ͂Ν ΜΕΛΛΌΝΤΩΝ�. Of _the_ good things which Christ had now brought into the world (He... [ Continue Reading ]
CH. 10. The first eighteen verses of this chapter are a summary, rich with fresh thoughts and illustrations, of the topics on which he has been dwelling; namely (1) The one sacrifice of Christ compared with the many Levitic sacrifices (1–10). (2) The perfectness of His finished work (11–18). The rem... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΕΚΑΘΑΡΙΣΜΈΝΟΥΣ אDEK. The κεκαθερισμένους of A is probably a mere clerical error. The rec. has κεκαθαρμένους, L. 2. ἘΠΑΎΣΑΝΤΟ ΠΡΟΣΦΕΡΌΜΕΝΑΙ. The participle is classically used after παύεσθαι, Winer, p. 323. ΣΥΝΕΊΔΗΣΙΝ. “_Consciousness_.” ΚΕΚΑΘΑΡΙΣΜΈΝΟΥΣ. “_Having been cleansed_,” by these sacrifi... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΆΜΝΗΣΙΣ ἉΜΑΡΤΙΩ͂Ν. This view of sacrifices—that they are “_a calling to mind of sins yearly_”—is very remarkable. It seems to be derived from Numbers 5:15, where “the offering of jealousy” is called “an offering of memorial, _bringing iniquity to remembrance_.” Philo also speaks of sacrifices as p... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΔΎΝΑΤΟΝ ΓΆΡ. This plain statement of the nullity of sacrifices _in themselves_, and regarded as mere outward acts, only expresses what had been deeply felt by many a worshipper under the Old Covenant. It should be compared with the weighty utterances on this subject in the O.T., 1 Samuel 15:22; Isa... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΟΣ ΕἸΣ ΤῸΝ ΚΌΣΜΟΝ ΛΈΓΕΙ. The quotation is from Psalms 40:6-8. The words of the Psalmist are ideally and typologically transferred to the Son, in accordance with the universal conception of the O. T. Messianism which was prevalent among the Jews. It made no difference to their point of view... [ Continue Reading ]
ὉΛΟΚΑΥΤΏΜΑΤΑ. Lit., “_Holocausts_.” The word occurs here alone in the N. T. These “whole burnt offerings” typified absolute self-dedication; but the holocaust without the _self_-sacrifice was valueless. ΠΕΡῚ ἉΜΑΡΤΊΑΣ. “_Sin-offerings_.” An ellipse for θυσίας περὶ ἁμ. derived from the LXX. (Leviticu... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΔΟῪ ἭΚΩ. “_I am come_.” This 40th Psalm is one of the special Psalms for Good Friday. ἘΚ ΚΕΦΑΛΊΔΙ ΒΙΒΛΊΟΥ. The word κεφαλίς, here rendered _volume_, does not occur elsewhere in the N. T. It means the knob (_umbilicus_) of the roller on which the vellum was rolled. The word in the Hebrew is מְנִלָּה... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤᾺ ΝΌΜΟΝ. “_According to the Law_.” A whole argument is condensed into these words, which the context would enable readers to develop for themselves.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ ΕἼΡΗΚΕΝ. Lit., “_Then he has said_.” ΤῸ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ. Namely, Sacrifices, &c. ΤῸ ΔΕΎΤΕΡΟΝ. Namely, the Will of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΓΙΑΣΜΈΝΟΙ ἘΣΜΈΝ. “_We have been sanctified_.” As we have already seen, the word ἁγιασμὸς is not used of _progressive_ sanctification, but of consecration in a pure state to God’s service (Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 13:12, &c., and comp. John 17:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “This is the _will of God_, even y... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑ͂Σ ΜῈΝ ἹΕΡΕΎΣ DEKL. The reading πᾶς μὲν� is supported by AC and is possibly right, as ἱερεὺς may have been a correction to avoid the apparent error involved in the καθʼ ἡμέραν, and perhaps οἱ ἱερεῖς would have been a more natural and _accurate_ expression (as Bleek says) than πᾶς ἱερεύς, which in... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΔΕΞΙΑ͂Ι. Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 8:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΩΣ ΤΕΘΩ͂ΣΙΝ. The more usual construction of ἕως when no _definite_ time is indicated would be ἕως ἄν; but ἂν is frequently omitted, and especially in later Greek. 2 Peter 1:19 ἔως οὗ ἡμέρα διαυγάσῃ. Winer, p. 371. ὙΠΟΠΌΔΙΟΝ. Psalms 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΕΤΕΛΕΊΩΚΝ. Hebrews 7:11; Hebrews 7:25. ΤΟῪΣ ἉΓΙΑΖΟΜΈΝΟΥΣ. “_Those who are in the way of sanctification_” (Hebrews 2:11; comp. Acts 2:47).... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΈ. “_But_.” The A.V. inserts “whereof” in italics to make the connexion easier. ΤῸ ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΤῸ ἍΓΙΟΝ. “For holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21). ΜΕΤᾺ ΓᾺΡ ΤῸ ΕἸΡΗΚΈΝΑΙ. There is no direct completion of this sentence, but the words “again He saith” are found in... [ Continue Reading ]
ΑὝΤΗ Ἡ ΔΙΑΘΉΚΗ. Jeremiah 31:33-34 (comp. Hebrews 8:10-12).... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ ΜῊ ΜΝΗΣΘΉΣΟΜΑΙ ἜΤΙ. This oblivion of sin is illustrated by many strong metaphors in Isaiah 44:22; Isaiah 38:17; Jeremiah 50:20; Psalms 103:12; Micah 7:19, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΚΈΤΙ ΠΡΟΣΦΟΡᾺ ΠΕΡῚ ἉΜΑΡΤΊΑΣ. Since the object of all sacrifices is the purging of the soul from guilt, sacrifices are no longer needed when sins have been annulled (Hebrews 9:26). Those words form the triumphant close of the argument. To revert to Judaism, to offer sacrifices, meant henceforth fa... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΔΕΛΦΟΊ. Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 13:22. ΠΑΡΡΗΣΊΑΝ ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ΕἼΣΟΔΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. “_Confidence in the blood of Jesus, for our entrance into the Holiest_.” This right of joyful confidence in our access to God through Christ is dwelt upon in Ephesians 2:18; Ephesians 3:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EXHORTATION TO CHRISTIAN CONFIDENCE AND FELLOWSHIP... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΌΣΦΑΤΟΝ. The word rendered “_new_” both in A. V. and R. V. is substituted for καινὸς (_recens_) which is used throughout the Epistle, probably because ἐνεκαίνισεν (“_He dedicated_” or _inaugurated_, comp. Hebrews 9:18) immediately precedes. Πρόσφατος by its derivation means “_newly-slain_.” It may... [ Continue Reading ]
ἹΕΡΈΑ ΜΈΓΑΝ. Lit., “a great Priest” (as in Leviticus 21:10), by which is meant not only a High Priest, but also a Kingly Priest (Zechariah 6:11-13). ἘΠῚ ΤῸΝ ΟἾΚΟΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. See Hebrews 3:6; 1 Timothy 3:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΕΡΧΏΜΕΘΑ. We have seen throughout that the notion of _free access and approach to God_ is prominent in the writer’s mind. ἘΝ ΠΛΗΡΟΦΟΡΊΑΙ. See Hebrews 6:11. ῬΕΡΑΝΤΙΣΜΈΝΟΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. In verbs beginning with ρ the MSS. vary in their method of writing both the augmented and the reduplicated tenses. Thu... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ὉΜΟΛΟΓΊΑΝ ΤΗ͂Σ ἘΛΠΊΔΟΣ. “_The confession of our Hope_.” Here we have the same trilogy of Christian graces as in St Paul—Faith (Hebrews 10:22), Hope (Hebrews 10:23), and Love (Hebrews 10:24). ἈΚΛΙΝΗ͂. “_So that it do not bend_.” It must be not only “secure” (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14), but not e... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΠΑΡΟΞΥΣΜῸΝ�. “_For provocation to love_.” The word παροξυσμός (whence our “paroxysm”) is more generally used in a bad sense, like the English word “provocation” (see Acts 15:39; Deuteronomy 29:28, LXX.). And perhaps the writer here chose the word to remind them that the “provocation” at present... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ἘΠΙΣΥΝΑΓΩΓῊΝ ἙΑΥΤΩ͂Ν, i.e. “our Christian gatherings.” Apparently the flagging zeal and waning faith of the Hebrews had led some of them to neglect the Christian assemblies for worship and Holy Communion (Acts 2:42). Ἐπισυναγωγὴ only occurs in 2 Thessalonians 2:1, and is perhaps chosen to avoid... [ Continue Reading ]
ἙΚΟΥΣΊΩΣ ΓΆΡ. The word “_wilfully_” stands in contrast with sins of weakness, ignorance and error in Hebrews 5:2. If the writer meant to say that, after the commission of wilful and heinous sins, “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” this would not only be the most terrible passage in Script... [ Continue Reading ]
26–31. A SOLEMN WARNING OF THE PERIL OF WILFUL APOSTASY... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΟΒΕΡᾺ ΔΈ ΤΙΣ ἘΚΔΟΧΉ. All that is left for willing apostates when they have turned their backs on the sole means of grace is “_some terror-causing expectance of a judgement_.” They are “heaping up to themselves wrath against the day of wrath” (Romans 2:5). φοβερὸς means “_inspiring_ fear,” not “_fee... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΘΕΤΉΣΑΣ ΤΙΣ. Especially by being guilty of the sin of idolatry (Deuteronomy 17:2-7). Literally, it is “_any one_, on setting at nought Moses’ law.” ΧΩΡῚΣ ΟἸΚΤΙΡΜΩ͂Ν. The Mosaic law pronounced on offenders an inexorable doom. “The letter killeth” (2 Corinthians 3:6). ἘΠῚ ΔΥΣῚΝ Ἤ ΤΡΙΣῚΝ ΜΆΡΤΥΣΙΝ, i... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΟΚΕΙ͂ΤΕ. This word is parenthetic, and does not affect the construction. ΤΙΜΩΡΊΑΣ. The word for “punishment” in the N.T. is in every other passage κόλασις, which means, in accordance with its definition, and in much of its demonstrable usage, “_remedial_ punishment.” Here the word (though the diffe... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΜΟῚ ἘΚΔΊΚΗΣΙΣ. The Scripture warrant adduced in support of this stern language is Deuteronomy 32:35, and a similar phrase (“O God, to whom vengeance belongeth”) is used in Psalms 94:1-2. It is remarkable that the citation does not agree either with the Hebrew or the LXX., but is quoted in the same... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΟΒΕΡΌΝ. _Fearful_ for the deliberate apostate and even for the penitent sinner (1 Chronicles 21:13; 2 Samuel 24:14; LXX. Sir 2:18), and yet better in any case than to fall into the hands of man. ΘΕΟΥ͂ ΖΩ͂ΝΤΟΣ. Hebrews 3:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΜΙΜΝΉΣΚΕΣΘΕ ΔΈ. “_But keep in remembrance_.” Here, as in Hebrews 6:9-12, he mingles appeal and encouragement with the sternest warnings. The “former days” are those in which they were in the first glow of their conversion. ΦΩΤΙΣΘΈΝΤΕΣ. The word φωτίζειν “to enlighten” only became a synonym for “... [ Continue Reading ]
WORDS OF APPEAL AND ENCOURAGEMENT... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΜῈΝ … ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΔΈ. Distributive formula, used adverbially, Winer. ΘΕΑΤΡΊΖΟΜΕΝΟΙ. Lit., “_being set upon a stage_.” The same metaphor is used in 1 Corinthians 4:9 (“We became a _theatre_,” comp. 1 Corinthians 15:32). It was however fearfully _literal_ to many Christians in the Neronian and later... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΙ͂Σ ΔΕΣΜΊΟΙΣ AD Vulg. and many Fathers. This seems to have first changed by oversight into τοῖς δεσμοῖς, to which μου (אEKL) was perhaps added as an explanatory gloss. ἙΑΥΤΟΎΣ אA. ἑαυτοῖς DEKL, ἐν ἑαυτοῖς only a few cursive MSS. See the note. [ἘΝ ΟΥ̓ΡΑΝΟΙ͂Σ]. Omitted in אAD Copt. Aeth. Vulg. It.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΑΡΡΗΣΊΑΝ. Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 4:16. ἭΤΙΣ. “Seeing that it has” (_quippe quae_). ΜΙΣΘΑΠΟΔΟΣΊΑΝ. Hebrews 2:2; Hebrews 11:26; comp. Hebrews 11:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὙΠΟΜΟΝΗ͂Σ. Few graces were more needed in the terrible trials of that day (Hebrews 6:12; Luke 21:19; Colossians 1:11; James 1:3-4). ΠΟΙΉΣΑΝΤΕΣ. The meaning perhaps rather is “by doing,” or “by having done, the will of God ye may win the fruition of the promise.” The apparently contradictory expressi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΙΚΡῸΝ ὍΣΟΝ ὍΣΟΝ. A very emphatic phrase to imply the nearness of Christ’s return, “yet but a very very little while” (lit., “little, how very, how very.” Comp. Arist. _Vesp_. 213 ὅσον ὅσον στίλην = _quantillum;_ Arrian, _Indic_. XXIX. 15 ὀλίγοι δὲ αὐτῶν σπείρουσιν ὅσον τῆς χώρας). The phrase occurs... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΟΥ. This is found in most MSS. of the LXX., and especially in the Alexandrine which the writer seems to have used. See the note. 38. Ὁ ΔῈ ΔΊΚΑΙΌΣ ΜΟΥ Κ.Τ.Λ. The true reading here (though not in the Hebrew) perhaps is, “But _my_ righteous one shall live by faith” (as in א, A, H), and this is all th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΣΜῈΝ ὙΠΟΣΤΟΛΗ͂Σ Κ.Τ.Λ. “_But we are not of defection unto perdition, but of faith unto gaining of the soul_.” (The genitives are genitives which imply a property, as in 1 Corinthians 14:33, οὐ γάρ ἐστιν�.) “Faith,” says Delitzsch, “saves the soul by linking it to God … The unbelieving man lose... [ Continue Reading ]