CHAP. Hebrews 5:11 to Hebrews 6:20. The writer, knowing how unprepared his readers were to admit that the Aaronic priesthood was inferior to that of Melchisedec and to that of Christ (who was the antitype of both), interrupts his argument by remonstrating with them on their spiritual ignorance (Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:1. It must be carefully marked that this chapter does not begin a new subject; still less is it implied that the first principles of the Gospel have been considered in previous Chapter s, and now the writer proceeds to doctrines that are more profound. It is all part of the argument begun... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:3. AND THIS WILL WE DO. Let us try to raise each other to the higher ground of matured intelligence. IF SO BE THAT GOD PERMIT (favour and help). Whether any of us have so far forfeited His grace as to be incapable of further progress, God only knows; the writer hopes the best (Hebrews 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:4. FOR. A reason for each of the previous clauses: ‘This will we do,' for the case is urgent; without further knowledge you may fall away. If God permit,' for the case may be even now hopeless, and certainly is so without His help. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE (see below) FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ONCE... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:4-7. These verses have deep significance and are difficult of interpretation. In the early Church a sect arose who gathered from them that those who sinned after baptism either generally or especially by joining in idolatrous worship under persecution, were to be finally and permanently ex... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:7-8. Awful as this teaching is, men accept it in the sphere of nature and recognise the equity of the arrangement. FOR LAND (not the earth) THAT BATH DRANK IN (not that drinketh in: the showers precede the fruitfulness) THE RAIN THAT COMETH OFT UPON IT (that keeps coming, not in drenching... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:9-10. After these solemn warnings comes the outburst of hope and love. BUT, BELOVED (only here in this Epistle), WE ARE PERSUADED (not the middle voice as often, ‘we have the inward confidence,' but the passive, we are led to the conviction, we are persuaded by evidence which Justifies t... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:10. FOR (and he has reason for this conviction) GOD IS NOT UNRIGHTEOUS SO AS TO FORGET YOUR WORK AND THE LOVE (‘labour of' [love] is without adequate support; it was probably taken from the parallel passage, 1 Thessalonians 1:3) WHICH YE HAVE SHOWED TOWARDS HIS NAME, IN THAT YE MINISTERED... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:11. BUT (though persuaded of better things and recognising your work and love) WE DESIRE (not ‘earnestly desire;' the preposition of the original indicates generally the object of the desire, not the intensity of it) THAT EVERY ONE OF YOU DO SHOW THE SAME DILIGENCE (the diligence you have... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:12. In this hope ye need to persevere, THAT YE BECOME NOT SLOTHFUL, BUT IMITATORS (a favourite Pauline word, see 1 Thessalonians 1:6, etc.) OF THOSE WHO THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE (generally ‘long-suffering') INHERIT THE PROMISES. ‘Become not slothful,' a more delicate and hopeful way of e... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:13. FOR WHEN GOD MADE (or, had made) PROMISE TO ABRAHAM, BECAUSE (since) HE COULD SWEAR BY NONE GREATER, HE AWARE BY HIMSELF. ‘Made promise' may be translated (as is done by De Wette and others)' had made promise,' with reference to previous promises, which were in substance repeated for t... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:13-20. The writer has sought to encourage the Hebrews by appealing to the Divine ‘righteousness.' He who _graciously_ made them fruitful would _righteously_ treat them according to their fruitfulness, and would complete what He had begun (Hebrews 6:10). He now proceeds still further to enc... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:14. SAYING, SURELY. The Hebrew of ‘surely' is equivalent to ‘ I SWEAR.' The unfamiliarity to the Greek translators of the Hebrew idiom for swearing has created various renderings of the Hebrew particles, and the meaning of the Greek particle has been misunderstood by the English translator... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:15. AND SO, in this way, HAVING PATIENTLY WAITED, believing and expecting the blessing amid all the trials and delays he was subjected to, HE OBTAINED what had been promised, not so much the birth of Isaac (Alford), who was born before the oath, nor yet the restoration of Isaac from the de... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:16. FOR MEN SWEAR (‘verily,' or ‘indeed,' goes out on external authority) BY THE GREATER: by one who is above themselves, and can punish the wrong-doer; AND FOR CONFIRMATION, WHEN ANY STATEMENT OF THEIRS IS CONTRADICTED THE OATH IS FINAL; the question, as a legal question, is settled. The... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:17. WHEREIN; better, ‘wherefore,' under which circumstances, in which case, on which principle, _i.e_ man having this estimate of the value of an oath. GOD, WILLING TO SHOW MORE ABUNDANTLY TO THE HEIRS OF THE PROMISE (those to whom under both economies the promises belong, see Hebrews 6:... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:18. THAT BY MEANS OF TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS, two distinct acts, things really done. Most understand by these two things the promise and the oath to Abraham; but the immutability He is said to _show by the oath_ (Hebrews 6:17); though no doubt He was also immutable in His promise, That qualit... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:19. WHICH (_i.e_ which hope, not which encouragement) WE HAVE. The hope spoken of in the previous verse is largely objective, _i.e_ it includes the object of our hope, the glorious things which the promise warrants us in expecting. In this verse it is largely subjective the affection or gr... [ Continue Reading ]
Hebrews 6:20. WHITHER AS FORERUNNER JESUS HAS ENTERED FOR AS, HAVING BECOME AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHISEDEC A HIGH PRIEST FOR EVER. ‘As forerunner' (not ‘the,' and not ‘a' forerunner, as if He were one of several. This absence of the article simply calls attention to the nature and purpose of His ent... [ Continue Reading ]