VI. (1) THEREFORE. — Since “for the time ye ought to be teachers,” but have so perilously sunk down into the lower state of Christian knowledge and experience. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DOCTRINE. — Rather, _the doctrine of the first principles._ The margin gives the literal meaning of the Greek, _the... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS. — The meaning of these words has been much controverted. The order of the Greek has been thought to require the rendering _baptisms of doctrine_ (or, _teaching_)_;_ and it has been believed that the writer in this manner seeks to characterise Christian baptism as contras... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS WILL WE DO, IF GOD PERMIT. — There may be some with whom it will be impossible for him thus to press on to maturity of teaching and of Christian experience. There is a case excepted by God Himself from all efforts of the Christian teacher; in this case, though nothing can avail except the l... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE... — The connection of thought has been already explained (Hebrews 6:3); the general meaning will be examined below (Hebrews 6:6). It will be seen that the greater part of this long sentence is dependent on the word “renew” in Hebrews 6:6, “It is impossible to renew ag... [ Continue Reading ]
TASTED THE GOOD WORD OF GOD. — There is a change of construction in the Greek which suggests that the words rather mean, _tasted that God’s word is goody_ — tasted the excellence of God’s word, and of the powers, &c. God’s word was “spoken through the Lord” (Hebrews 2:3); the Hebrew Christians had h... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY. — Rather, _and_ (_then_) _fell away._ There is no doubt that the ordinary translation is altogether incorrect, the Greek admitting of one rendering only. At the same time, the suspicion sometimes expressed that this is one of the (very few) instances in which our translators... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE EARTH. — Rather, _For land which has drunk in._ Land which not only receives but also drinks in abundance of rain (Deuteronomy 11:11), in such a climate as is here thought of, must either “bring forth herbage” or be condemned as irretrievably barren. BY WHOM IT IS DRESSED. — Rather, _for wh... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THAT WHICH BEARETH. — Rather, _But if it bear thorns and briars it is rejected._ We are told that the presence of briars (_i.e.,_ caltrops) is a sure evidence of a poor soil, on which labour will be wasted. The words are partially a quotation from Genesis 3:18. The change of translation here is... [ Continue Reading ]
BETTER THINGS. — Literally, _the better things;_ that is, the alternative spoken of in Hebrews 6:7. He has not written in despair, but for warning only; believing that to them belongs, not the state which is “nigh unto a curse,” but that which borders on salvation (Hebrews 5:9).... [ Continue Reading ]
In expressing the ground of his hope he does not directly say, “For I have heard of your fruitfulness;” he implies this, and then, in accordance with the parable of Hebrews 6:7, he declares that God will surely bestow the promised reward. Herein lies his hope. Man’s work cannot in itself merit rewar... [ Continue Reading ]
FULL ASSURANCE. — Rather, _fulness_ (full productiveness) _of hope_ (Hebrews 10:22). His desire is that the zeal which they have manifested in works of love may be directed toward the attainment of the full harvest of Christian hope — may be shown until the very end (Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE NOT SLOTHFUL. — Rather, _that ye become not sluggish._ The same word is used as in Hebrews 5:11, there applied to apprehension of truth, here to the Christian hope and life; if the truth be not welcomed, there will be no vigour in the life. FOLLOWERS. — Better, _imitators._ (Comp. Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
The connection seems to be this: “You, like them, have promises — promises to which God has given all possible certainty; you, like them, can attain the fulfilment only through faith and patient waiting.” FOR WHEN GOD MADE PROMISE. — It is better to follow the words literally, _For when to Abraham G... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING. — The words of the oath itself, “By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord” (Genesis 22:16), are not repeated, because they are almost identical with the writer’s own words introducing the citation (Hebrews 6:13). It will be observed that one change is made — in the last word; for in Genesis we... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO, AFTER HE HAD PATIENTLY ENDURED. — Better, _and thus_ (thus being in possession of the promise and the oath of God), _having patiently waited_ (Hebrews 6:12) _he obtained the promise_ — the promised gift. Though some portions of the promise received a partial accomplishment during Abraham’s l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AN OATH FOR CONFIRMATION. — Rather, _and of every dispute in their case the oath is an end_ (is final) _to settle the matter. _... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREIN. — Since this is the case. OF PROMISE. — Rather, _of the promise._ The promise made to Abraham was substantially and really (see Hebrews 6:13) that which embraced all Messianic hope; of this promise not Abraham’s sons only, but all “they which are of faith” (Galatians 3:7; Galatians 3:29),... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO IMMUTABLE THINGS. — The promise and the oath. CONSOLATION. — Rather, _encouragement._ For us, rather than for Abraham alone, was the encouragement designed; for us, who (as men in danger of their lives flee to the sanctuary) “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” in the promi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH HOPE WE HAVE AS AN ANCHOR OF THE SOUL. — A beautiful image, introduced for a moment only to set forth the security of the soul, though tossed by the waves of trouble. This symbol of hope, so familiar to us in Christian art, is not mentioned in the Old Testament, but is found in Greek proverbia... [ Continue Reading ]
WHITHER THE FORERUNNER. — Rather, _Whither, as forerunner, Jesus entered for us, having become High Priest after the order of Melchizedek for ever._ The Jewish high priest entered the Holiest Place by himself — a representative but not a leader. Jesus has entered the true sanctuary (Hebrews 9:24) th... [ Continue Reading ]