Hebrews 13:23

Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. OUR BROTHER TIMOTHY. So Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 3:2. IS SET AT LIBERTY - from prison. So Aristarchus was imprisoned with Paul. Timothy probably, after sharing Paul's imprisonment, was set free by the death of Nero. Birks translates [ apolelumenon (G630)] 'sent away'-namely, on a mis...

23._Know ye that our brother, etc. _Since the termination of the Greek verb γινώσκετε, will admit of either renderings, we may read, “Ye know,” or, “Know ye;” but I prefer the latter reading, though I do not reject the other. (293) The probability is, that he was informing the Jews on the other side of the sea of what they did not know. Now, if this _Timothy _was the renowned companion of Paul, which I am inclined to think, it is very probable that either Luke or Clement was the author of this Epistle. Paul, indeed, more usually calls him his son; and then what immediately follows does not apply to Paul; for it appears that the writer was at liberty and at his own disposal; and besides, that he was then anywhere rather than at Rome; nay, it is very probable, that he was going round through various cities, and was then preparing to pass over the sea. Now all these partic

22-25 So bad are men, and even believers, through the remainders of their corruption, that when the most important, comfortable doctrine is delivered to them for their own good, and that with the most convincing evidence, there is need of earnest entreaty and exhortation that they would bear it, and not fall out with it, neglect it, or reject it. It is good to have the law of holy love and kindness written in the hearts of Christians, one towards another. Religion teaches men true civility and good breeding. It is not ill-tempered or uncourteous. Let the favour of God be toward you, and his grace continually working in you, and with you, bringing forth the fruits of holiness, as the first-fruits of glory....

Verse 23. _KNOW YE THAT_ OUR _BROTHER TIMOTHY_] The word ημων, _our_, which is _supplied_ by our translators, is very probably genuine, as it is found in ACD*, ten others, the _Syriac_, Erpen's _Arabic_, the _Coptic, Armenian, Slavonic_, and _Vulgate_. _IS SET AT LIBERTY_] απολελυμενον. _Is sent away_; for there is no evidence that Timothy had been imprisoned. It is probable that the apostle refers here to his being sent into Macedonia, Philippians 2:19, in order that he might bring the apostle an account of the affairs of the Church in that country. In none of St. Paul's epistles, written during his confinement in Rome, does he give any intimation of Timothy's _imprisonment_, although it appears from...

KNOW YE THAT OUR BROTHER TIMOTHY IS SET AT LIBERTY - Or, is sent away. So it is rendered by Prof. Stuart and others. On the meaning of this, and its importance in determining who was the author of the Epistle, see the Introduction section 3, (5) 4, and Prof. Stuart’s _Introduction_, section 19. This is a strong circumstance showing that Paul was the author of the Epistle, for from the first acquaintance of Timothy with Paul he is represented as his constant companion, and spoken of as a brother; 2 Corinthians 1:1 note; Philippians 1:1 note; Colossians 1:1 note; Philippians 1 note. There is no

CONCLUDING EXHORTATIONS EXPOSITION As in St. Paul's Epistles, practical directions as to conduct conclude the treatise, such as the readers may be supposed to have especially needed. They are urged to evince and confirm the faith which was the subject of Hebrews 11:1, and to maintain their communion with the world invisible spoken of in Hebrews 12:1, by attending especially to those daily duties which they might be in danger of forgetting. By perseverance in a life consistent with profession faith is not only evidenced, but also kept from faltering. In the course of these hortations (Hebrews 12:10), being suggested by one of them, there is introduced a ye

KNOW YE THAT [OUR] BROTHER TIMOTHY IS SET AT LIBERTY,.... This is the same person to whom the Apostle Paul wrote two epistles, and whom he often calls his son, though sometimes his brother, as here, 1 Thessalonians 1:1 of him he says, that he was set at liberty, or "dismissed"; either by the apostle, by whom he was sent into some parts, upon some business; or rather was loosed from his bonds, having been a prisoner for the sake of Christ and the Gospel; and, it may be; a fellow prisoner with the apostle, at Rome, as Aristarchus and others were; and this very great and useful person being known, very likely, to the Hebrews, since his mother was a Jewess, and he himself was well reported of by the brethren at Lystra and Iconium, Acts 16:1 it was a piece of good news to them to hear of his release:...

Hebrews 13:1. _Let brotherly love continue._ It is supposed to be there already; let it continue, not only love of a common kind, such as we are to have to all men, but that special «brotherly love» which Christians bear to one another as members of one family. «Let brotherly love continue.» Hebrews 13:2. _Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares._ Abraham did so, and Lot did so; they thought they were entertaining ordinary strangers, and they washed their feet; and prepared their food but it turned out that they had entertained angels. Some people will never entertain angels unawares, for they never entertain anybody. May we be given to hospitality, for that should be part of the character of saints....

CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The practical walk (Hebrews 13:1)_ 2. The call to separation (Hebrews 13:7) 3. Conclusions (Hebrews 13:17) Hebrews 13:1 No comment is needed on the simple exhortations with which this concluding chapter of this Epistle begins. Brotherly love stands in the foreground. Hospitality and loving kindness to prisoners and those who suffer adversity is especially enjoined. The great high priest in glory sympathizes with such a condition of His saints and we too are to be sympathizers as well as intercessors with Him. The life is to be clean and undefiled. Walking in faith there should be

A postscript. The readers are asked to give patient attention to the foregoing epistle, which is described as a word of exhortation,-' thus clearly indicating its practical aim. Their patience is all the more necessary as the argument is in few words_ i.e._ highly condensed, and difficult at times to follow. They are informed of Timothy's release from prison, and of the writer's intention to visit them in his company. Greetings are sent from the Italian Christians. This is the only definite clue which is afforded us of the destination of the epistle, and unfortunately it can lead in two directions. The writer may be sojourning with an Italian church, whose members offer their greetings to brethren elsewhere; or he may be addressing an Italian church, whose exiled members join with him in his salutations (_cf._ Exp. Jan. 1917). A second and briefer doxology brings the epistle to a close....