PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Works of John Owen — Volume 20
John Owen · 308,868 words · 307 reading sections
Section 61
Thus by himself did Christ purge our sins, making an atonement for them by the sacrifice of himself in his death, that they pout never be imputed unto them that believe. And this part of this verse will afford us also this distinct bier. vation:—So great was the work of freeing us from sin, that it could no otherwise …
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Again, This is the only way for that end which is suited unto the wisdom of God. The wisdom of God is an infinite abyss, which, as it lies in his own eternal breast, we cannot at all look mto, We can only adore it as it breaks forth and discovers itself in the works that outwardly are of him, or the effects of it. Thus…
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VER. 8.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 117 was the “ bringing of us unto God,” into his love and favour here, and the eternal enjoyment of him hereafter. All these things, I say, doth the Scripture insist frequently and largely ‘upon, to set forth — the excellency of the love of Christ, to render it admirable and ami- able …
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And this may be cleared by other instances. Solomon placed his mother when she came unto him on his right hand,—a token of exceeding honour; but he himself sat down on the throne of the kingdom, 1 Kings 11.19. The church is said to be at the right hand of Christ, Ps, xlv. 9; which, as it prefers her above all others, …
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That, therefore, which in these words the apostle seems to have had respect unto was the high priest’s entrance into the holy place, after his offering of the solemn anniversary sacrifice of expiation. Then alone was he admitted into that holy place, or heaven below, where was the solemn representation of the presence …
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Neither is the comparison between the human nature of Christ and the nature of angels; for that absolutely considered and in VER. 4. | EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 123 itself is inferior to the angelical; whence, in regard of his participa~ tion of it, he is said to be made “ lower than the angels,” chap. ii. The apostle…
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But I see no reason why we should desert the proper and most usual signification of the words, nothing in the context persuading us so to do. Besides, this suits not the apostle’s design, who doth not prove from the Scripture that the Lord Christ was manifested to be more excellent than the angels, but that really he w…
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3. In this preference and exaltation of the Lord Christ there is a degree intimated: “ Being made so much more,” ete. Now our conceptions hereabout, as to this place, are wholly to be regulated by the name given unto him. ‘Look,’ saith the apostle, ‘ how much the name given unto the Messiah excels the name given unto a…
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Secondly, It may not be amiss to remark, that the Jews have always had a tradition of the glorious name of the Messiah, which even since their utter rejection they retain some obscure remem- brance of. The name which they principally magnify is puny, “Metatron.” Ben Uzziel, in his Targum on Gen. v., ascribes this name …
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this testimony by itself.’ Ver. 5—Unto which of the angels did heat any time [or, ever] say, Thou art my Son, this day have I be- gotten thee? Two things are considerable in these words:—1. The manner of - the apostle’s producing the testimony which he intended to make use of: “Unto which of the angels said he at any…
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132 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I. of appropriation unto him, is more excellent than any that was ever given unto angels, as a sign of their dignity, authority, and excellency. And these things, for the clearing of the apostle’s ar- gument, must particularly be insisted on. First, The words produced do peculiarly bel…
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(1.) That some things may be spoken in the psalm which no way respect the type at all. For when not the type, but the person 134 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I. or thing signified, is principally aimed at, it is not necessary that every thing spoken thereof should be applicable properly unto the type itself, it being …
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And this is the whole that was incumbent on the apostle to prove by the testimony produced He manifests him sufficiently to be more excellent than the angels, from the excellency of the name which he inherits, according to his proposition before laid down. There is, indeed, included in this reasoning of the apostle an …
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Kal réaw, “and again.” That is, in another place, or “again,” it is said to the Son what is nowhere spoken unto the angels. “Eya eooes,—l?-T7IN US yB2 “bom N17) 38>, Theprefixed > doth not denote a substitution or compari- son, but the truth of the thing itself. So it is said of Rebekah, TN? 7m, “ she was unto him,” no…
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For the first of these, we must not waive the difficulties that in- terpreters have either found out in it, or cast upon it. The words are taken from 2 Sam. vii. 14, and are part of the answer returned from God unto David by Nathan, upon his resolution to build him a house. The whole oracle is as followeth: Verses 11-1…
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The other two remaining reasons must be afterwards spoken unto. And for the present removal of this exposition, I shall only observe, that to affirm Solomon not at all to be intended in this oracle, nor the house or temple which afterwards he built, is to make the whole answer of God by the prophet unto David to be equ…
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VER. 5.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 143 the difficulty mentioned in the second interpretation of the words, excluding the Lord Christ from being directly in the oracle, upon that expression, “If he commit iniquity ;” for these words relating to the moral duty of Solomon in that wherein he was a type of Christ, —namely, t…
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The allegation of these words by the apostle being thus fully and at large vindicated, I shall now briefly inquire into the sense and meaning of the words themselves. It was before observed, that they are not produced by the apostle to prove the natural sonship of Jesus Christ, nor do they signify it; nor were they ur…
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2. Because it was to be very comprehensive. It was to contain, directly or by consequence, one way or other, the whole revelation of God unto us, and all our duty unto him; both which are marvel- lous, great, large, and various. Now this could not have been done in so narrow a room, but that every part of it, and all t…
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IV. God the Father is perpetually present with the Lord Christ, in love, care, and power, in the administration of his office as he is mediator, head, and king of the church. He hath taken upon him- self to stand by him, to own him, to effect every thing that is need- ful unto the establishment of his throne, the enlar…
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Tov xpardroxov, “the first-begotten,” “the first-born,” he before whom none is born, nor necessarily after whom any is so. Under the law there was a sac- rifice for the zparéroxos, “ first-begotten;” so called when as yet none were he- gotten after him, and very uncertain whether ever any should be so of the same womb …
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His preface, or the manner of his producing of this second testi- mony, is this: "Oray d: rdw siouydyn..... reve Which words have been exposed unto variety of interpretations: for if rédw be joined with sicwydéyy, which immediately follows, they are to be rendered, “And when he bringeth in again into the world;” if wit…
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3. They say that this bringing in of the first-begotten into the world denotes a glorious presenting of him in his rule and enjoy- ment of his inheritance. But, (1.) This proves not that the words must respect the coming of Christ unto judgment, to which end this reason is insisted on; because he was certainly proclai…
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(1.) This suits not at all with the purpose and design of the apostle, which is plainly to prove that the Lord Christ, then when he spake to us, and revealed the will of God, and in that work, was above the angels ; which is not at all proved by showing what befell him after his work was accomplished. (2.) It receives…
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But if we suppose that his person and eternal generation may be intended in this expression, we must make zpuréroxog, or the “ first- born,” to be the same with jovoyevgs, or “ only-begotten ;’ which may not be allowed: for Christ is absolutely called the “only-begotten of the Father” in his eternal generation,—his ess…
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Nor can the Lord Christ (which is affirmed in the last place) be called the Son of God and the First-born, because in him was that holiness which is required in the new covenant; for both all believers under the old testament had that holiness and likeness unto God in their degrees, and that holiness consists principal…
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1. Our first inquiry must be whence this testimonyis taken. Many of the ancients, as Epiphanius, Theodoret, Euthymius, Procopius, and Anselm, conceived the words to be cited from Deut. xxxii. 43, where they expressly occur in the translation of the LXX., Edppdvdgre ovpavel dua abrod nai rpocnuvncdrwoay ara ravTEes Ayye…
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But the matter of the psalm itself makes it manifest that the Holy Ghost treateth in it about God’s bringing in the first-born into the world, and the setting up of his kingdom in him. <A kingdom is described wherein God would reign, which should destroy idolatry and false worship; a kingdom wherein the isles of the Ge…
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I. That the authority of God speaking in the Scripture is that alone which divine faith rests upon and is to be resolved into: “ He saith.” It was the begetting of faith in some of the Hebrews, and the increase or establishment of it in others, that the apostle aimed at. That which he proposed to them as the object of…
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III. The whole creation of God hath a great concernment in God’s bringing forth Christ into the world, and his exaltation in his kingdom. Hence in the psalm from whence these words are taken, all the principal parts of it are called on to triumph and rejoice therein. The earth, and the multitude of the isles, the heav…
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This the law of their creation in general directed them unto, but in particular required not of them. It enjoined the worship of the Son of God in every condition, but that condition was not expressed. This God supplies by a new command; that is, such an intimation of his mind and will unto them as answers unto a vocal…
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Aéyet, “he saith;” that is, God the Father saith, or the Holy Ghost in the Scripture saith, as was before observed. Tods rirovpyovs. Aeirovpyds is “minister publicus,” “a public minister,” or agent; from Agiros, which is the same with dnecoros, as Hesychius renders it, “public.” He that is employed in any great and pu…
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TRANSLATIONS.— O oid», x. 7.2. Who maketh his angels winds.—Stuart, Craik, Ebrard. Who maketh winds his messengers, and flaming fire his minis- ters.—Campbell on Gospels, Dissert. viii. part iii. sect. 10.—Ep. 172 AN EXPOSITION OF THE é [CHAP. I. 3. Others grant that it is the angels of whom the apostle treats; but a…
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From what hath been said, I suppose it is made evident both that the psalmist expressly treats of angels, and that the subject spoken of by the apostle is expressed in that word, and that following, of ministers. Our next inquiry is after what is affirmed concerning these angels and ministers spoken of ; and that is, …
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II. We may hence observe, that the glory, honour, and exalta- tion of angels lies in their subserviency to the providence of God, _ It lies not so. much in their nature as in their work and service. The intention of the apostle is to show the glory of angels and their exaltation; which he doth by the induction of this…
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“O Spdvos cov, 6 Ocdc, cis rev wiava rod aiavoc. Ps. xlv. 7 is the place from whence the words are taken, “>? pbty porios 7892, The LXX. render these words as the apostle. Aquila,“ O Spovoc cov Oc¢ cig wiave ual err Océ, for 6 Ozds-—* Thy throne, O God, for ever and yet.” Symmachus, ‘O Spevos cov 6 Osdg wiavios zal @rr…
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The Targum wholly applies the psalm to the Messiah; which is a somewhat better evidence of the conception of the ancient Jews than the private opinion of any later writer can give us. And the title of the psalm in that paraphrase would make it a prophecy given out in the days of Moses for the use of the Sanhedrin; whic…
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It is, then, the true God that is spoken unto in this apostrophe, “Hlohim,” “O God.” This being granted, Erasmus starts a new interpretation of the whole words, though he seemeth not to approve of his own invention. “‘O Spévos cov 6 @eéc. It is uncertain,” saith he, “whether the meaning be, ‘Thy throne, O God,’ or ‘God…
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2. To this throne eternity is attributed. It is }) priy,_« for ever and ever.’ So is the throne of Christ said to be in oppo- sition unto the frail, mutable kingdoms of the earth: “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to esta…
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ae VER. 8, 9 ] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 185 more frequent in it than to denote that which is present and abiding by the preterperfect tense, as it doth in this place. 6. The consequence of this righteous rule in Christ is his “ anoint- ing with the oil of gladness;” wherein we may consider,—(1.) The author of the pri…
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From the adjunct of this unction,—he is “ anointed with the oil of gladness ;” which denotes triumph and exaltation, freedom from trouble and distress: whereas, after those antecedent communications of the Spirit unto the Lord Christ, he was a man of sorrows, ac- quainted with grief, and exposed to innumerable evils an…
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2. The danger that there is unto men unskilled and unexercised in the word of truth, when, without the advice, assistance, or direc- tion of others who are able to guide them and instruct their inquiry after the mind of God, they hastily embrace opinions which it may be some one text or other of Scripture doth seemingl…
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3. Our own concernment, security, safety, present and future happiness, lies herein. Our all depends upon the kingdom and throne of Christ. He is our king if we are believers; our king, to rule, govern, protect, and save us,—to uphold us against opposition, to supply us with strength, to guide us with counsel, to subdu…
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3. They are righteous, because they are easy, gentle, and not burdensome. The righteousness and uprightness here mentioned doth not denote strict, rigid, severe justice, extending itself unto the utmost of what can be required of the subjects to be ruled; but equity mixed with gentleness, tenderness, and condescension:…
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[3.] It is our wisdom to content ourselves with the laws of Christ in things that belong unto his kingdom. They alone, as we have seen, have those properties which make our obedience useful or pro- fitable; whatever we do else, in reference unto the same end with them, is needless and fruitless drudging. V. The righte…
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The translation of the apostle in all things material answereth the original in the psalm. Verses 25-28, 2) Kupie, ‘ Thou, Lord,” is supplied out of the verse foregoing, “I said, O my God.” 2722 YOST 22, “of old,” “before it was ;” that is, xar dpyes, or M72, “in the beginning.” And our translators needed not to have u…
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TRANSLATIONS.—Aizyu. Thou shalt remain.—Boothroyd, Stuart, Ebrard. Tu permanebis,— Vulgate. Du bestehest.—De Wette.—Ep. 198 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. 1. Jews to respect the time of the Messiah; it being he who was to be a light unto the Gentiles, and the salvation of God unto the ends of the earth. [3.] Also, “the…
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“ Some things,” he adds, “are applied unto others than they are 200 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I. spoken of, because of their subordination to him or them of whom they are spoken, Thus things that are spoken of God are applied unto Christ, because of his subordination to him; and of this,” saith he, “we have an inst…
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“ These words,” saith he, “being first expressly spoken of God, and here by this writer referred unto Christ, we must consider what in them makes to his scope and purpose, what is agreeable to the nature and condition of Christ, who certainly was a man; and such, certainly, is not he which the psalm speaks of about the…
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3. He adds, “That Christ might be spoken of in this place either in respect of his human nature or of his divine. If of the former, to what end should he make mention of the creation of heaven and earth? Obrist as man, and as made above the angels, made not er); 204 AN EXPOSITION OF THE _ [cmar. i heaven and earth. …
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These exceptions, then, being removed, before we proceed to the interpretation of the words, we shall see what evidence may be added unto what we have already offered, from the psalm, to evince and prove that this whole testimony doth belong unto him; which, were there no other (as there are very many) testimonies to t…
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Proceed we now to the interpretation of the words. The person spoken of and spoken unto in them is the Lord: 3) Kuper, “Thou, Lord.” The words are not in the psalm in this verse, but what is spoken is referred unto ‘?8, “my God:” “I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days;” comfort- ing himself, under …
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On this assertion he insinuates a comparison between this glorious fabric of heaven and earth and him that made them, as to durable- ness and stability, which is the thing he treats about; complaining of his own misery or mortality, For the heavens and the earth, he VOL. XX. 14 210 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I. dec…
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How the apostle proves his intendment. by this testimony hath been declared in the opening of the words, and the force of it unto his purpose lies open to all. We may now divert unto those’ doc- trinal observations which the words offer unto us; as,— I. All the properties of God, considered in the person of the Son, t…
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[2.] An tnstructcon how to consider the properties of God by faith for our advantage ; that is, as engaged in the person of the Son of God for our good. Absolutely considered they may fill us with dread and terror, as they did them of old who concluded, when they thought they had seen God or heard his voice, that they…
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1, Man was made for eternity. He was not called out of nothing to return unto it again. When he once is, he is for ever; not as to his present state, that is frail and changeable, but as to his existence in one condition or other. God made him for his eternal glory, ‘and gave him therefore a subsistence without end. H…
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[2.] This also will teach us how to use these earthly things, how dying persons should use dying creatures; that is, to use them for our present service and necessity, but not as those that look after rest or satisfaction in them, which they will not afford us, Use the world, but live on Christ. [3.] Not to despond un…
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220 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. I. speaks of another person;—‘“ The Lorp said unto my Lord;” say they, “The Lord said unto me.” And thereunto are annexed those imaginations about studying the law and waiting for the death of Saul, which in no case belong to the text or matter in hand. Others, therefore, to avoid this…
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Ans. Our cause is not at all concerned in these mistakes, whether of Jews or Christians. For the Jews, their chief enmity lies against the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ; and therefore, whatever testi- mony is produced concerning him, they presently imagine that it is for the proof of his divine nature. ‘This lies at t…
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Thus, setting aside the mixture of their follies and impieties, wherein we are not concerned, we have a sufficient suffrage from the Jews themselves unto our assignation of this prophetical psalm to the Messiah; which is enough to stop the mouths of their modern gainsayers, who are not able to assign any other person u…
910 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical edition (1850–1870); OCR text from Internet Archive. OCR may contain scanning/transcription errors. Verify quotations against page images when precision matters.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.