‘Various Reapines.—Tischendorf reads rapapyvamev, on the authority of ABD J; which, says Ebrard, is nothing more than an Alexandrine orthography.
Exposition.—Ilwpap. Stuart remarks, that two senses have been attached to the word:—1, To fall, stumble, or perish. Chrysostom, Theophylact, Theodoret, and others, render the clause, “So that we may not stumble,” or “ fall.” And, 2. To suffer to flow from the mind; in proof of which he quotes from Clem. Alex. Pedagog., iii. p, 246, and he shows that Prov. iti, 21 really bears the same
VER. 1.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 259
Ver, 1.—Therefore [for this cause| the more abundantly ought we to attend [or, give heed] to the things heard [dy us}, lest at any time we should flow out [or, pass
away |.
Aia rodro, “for this cause;” as much as 61, “ there- fore,” “wherefore.” There is in the words an illa- tion from the precedent discourse, and the whole verse is a hortatory conclusion from thence. From the proposition that he hath made of the glory and excellency of the Author of the gospel he draws this mference, “ Therefore ought we,”—for the reasons and causes insisted on. And thus the word rapufjudper, “ flow out,” expresseth their losing by any waysor means the doctrine of the gospel wherein they had been instructed, and the benefits thereof. Seeing the gospel hath such a blessed Author, we ought to take care that we forfeit not our interest in it. But if we take rapafjudmev in the sense chosen by Chrysostom, to express the fall and perishing of them that attend not as they ought unto the word (which interpre- tation is favoured by the Syriac translation), then the word, “ there- fore,” “for this cause,” respects the commination or threatening included therein. As if the apostle had said, ‘ Therefore ought you to attend;’ that is, ‘ Look to it that you do attend, lest you fall and perish. I rather embrace the former sense, both because the in- terpretation of the word used by Chrysostom is strained, as also because the apostle doth evidently in these words enter upon an exhortation unto obedience, upon his former discourse about the person of Christ; nor without an especial regard thereunto had he
laid any foundation for such a threatening unto disobedience as is pretended to be in the words; of which yet further afterwards,
As? juts, “Ought we,’—the persons unto whom he makes the application of his doctrine, and directs his exhortation, Some think that Paul joins himself here with all the Hebrews upon the account of cognation and country, as being himself also a Hebrew, Phil. iii. 5, and therefore affectionately re- specting them, Rom, ix. 3; but the expression is to be regu- lated by the words that follow, ‘ All we, who have heard the gos- pel preached, and made profession thereof.’ And the apostle joins himself with them, not that there was any danger on his part lest he should not constantly obey the word, or [as if he] were of them whose wavering and instability gave occasion to this caution; but,
>
Mid rodeo.
Aei ipais.
meaning, “Do not pass by, but keep my counsel.” The translation, therefore, which he proposes for this verse is, “Lest we should slight them.” Ilapap. “* Allow
- them to flow past us;’ 7. ¢., ‘allow them to pass by our ears without being listened. to.’ Erasmus Schmid. Bos, in like manner. Any place which a river tlows past is said xapapfveiobas. Metaphorically, any thing is said in general rapagpueiodcs which is passed by and omitted through carelessness.” Woljius.—Ep.
260 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II.
1. To manifest that the duty which he exhorts them unto is of general concernment unto all to whom the gospel is preached,—so that he lays no singular burden on them; and, 2. That he might not as yet dis- cover unto them any jealousy of their inconstancy, or that he had entertained any severe thoughts concerning them,—apprehensions whereof are apt to render exhortations suspected, the minds of men being ready enough to disregard that which they are persuaded unto, if they suspect that undeserved blame lies at the bottom of the exhortation. The like condescension hereunto, upon the like account, we may see in Peter, 1 Epist. iv. 3.
These are the persons spoken unto, That which is spoken to them consists in an exhortation unto a duty, and an especial en- forcement of it. The exhortation and duty in the first words,—“ The more abundantly to attend unto the things heard;” and the enforce- ment in the close of them, “ Lest at any time we should flow out.”
In the exhortation is expressed an especial circwmstance of it, the duty itself, and the manner of its performance.
The first is included in that word, “ more abundantly ;” which may refer either unto the causes of the attendance required, or unto the manner of its performance.
In the words as they lie in the text, Aid rotro weprooorépwg ds? nas xpocexev, the word sepicoorépws, “ more abundantly,” is joined unto O rovro, “ therefore,” “for this cause,” and seems immediately to respect it, and so to intimate the excellent and abundant reason” that we have to attend unto the gospel. But if we transpose the words, and read them as if they lay thus, Ac? jmuig repsooorépws apo oéxew, then the word cepiooorépws, “more abundantly,” respects the following word zpoctyev, “to attend unto,” and so expresseth some- what of the manner of the performance of the duty proposed. And so our translators report the sense, “ We ought to give the more diligent heed,” or “give heed the more diligently.” The reader may embrace whether sense he judgeth most agreeable to the scope of the place. The former construction of the word, expressing the necessity of our attention to be intimated from the cogency of the reasons thereof before insisted on, is not without its probability. And this the meaning of the word agrees unto, whether we take it absolutely (for so, as Chrysostom observes, it may be taken, though of itself it be of another form) or comparatively, in which form it is. Take it absolutely, and the apostle informs them that they have abundant cause to attend unto the things spoken or heard, because of him that spake them; for concerning him alone came that voice from the excellent glory, “'This is my beloved Son, hear him.” So also in the other sense, the apostle is not comparing the manner of their attending unto the doctrine of the law (which cer- tainly they ought to have done with all diligence) and their attend-