VER. 10.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 377
limited by sarnpizs. It denotes the chief or principal operator or worker of that Salvation, with especial reference unto the kingly or princely power whereunto he was advanced after his sufferings; as he is also absolutely a prince, a ruler, and the author or spring of the whole race and kind of believers, according unto the other senses of the word.
Teazi@out. This word is variously used and variously rendered: “to consum- mate,” “to perfect,” “to make perfect;” “ to consecrate,” “ dedicate,” “ sanctify.” Some would have it in this place to be the same with dyes sis WZav, “to bring unto glory.” But what is the precise signification of the word we shall clear in the exposition ensuing, when we declare what act of God it is that is here intended.
Before we proceed to the exposition of the several parts of this text, we must consider the order of the words, to prevent some mistakes that divers learned com- mentators have fallen into about them. Some suppose a hyperbaton in them, and that these expressions, “For whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory,” do intend the Son, the captain of salvation. The word ize, “him,” “it became him,” they confess to relate unto Ozov, “ God,” in the verse foregoing, and to relate unto the Father. In which order this would be the sense of the words: “ It became him,” that is, God, “to make perfect through sufferings the captain of their salvation, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who bringeth many sons unto glory.” But there is no just reason why we should arbitrarily thus transpose the words. And that separation of “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things,” from “it became him,” takes away one main foundation of the apostle’s reasoning, as we shall see. And the reason alleged for this ordering of the words is infirm, namely, that it is Christ who brings the many sons unto glory, not the Father; for it is also assigned unto him, as we shall see, upon many accounts.
Some refer the whole words unto Christ, to this purpose, “ It became him,” that is, the Son incarnate, “ for whom,” etc., “ bringing many sons unto glory, to be consummated” or “ made perfect by sufferings.” So Tena, and those whom he followeth. But this exposition of the words is directly contrary to the scope of the apostle, declared in the verse foregoing and that following. It leaves also wir@,
“him,” nothing to relate unto, nor allows the causal yap, “for,” to give an ac- count of any act of God before mentioned. And, besides, the whole of it is built on the corruption or mistake of one word in the Vulgar translation, “ consum- mari” for “ consummare,” and that but in some copies, as is acknowledged by the most learned Romanists, who here adhere unto the original; for taking that word actively, and the object of the act expressed in it being the captain of salvation, some agent distinct from him must needs be signified, which is God the Father.
Some suppose an éarznfuc in the words, and therefore in the reading of those, “in bringing many sons unto glory,” they supply, “by afflictions” or “sufferings:” “ Having brought many sons to glory by afflictions, it became him to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” So Cappellus. But this imaginary defect arose merely from a mistake, that the 7¢ zpéxov, or condecency here mentioned, hath a respect unto the things done,—that seeing the sons had suffered, it was meet and convenient that their captain should do so in an eminent manner. But the truth is, it respects only the doer of them; it was on his part requisite so to do the things mentioned.
1 BxPosition.—Teaeiaoa:. This word refers either to Christ’s consecration to office or to his exaltation to his reward. Turner holds it difficult to conceive how suffering could be the means of consecrating Christ to his priestly office, and that he must have been priest before his sufferings commenced, whereas the other view is in accordance with various parts of the New Testament, and w ith all the places in the epistle in which the word occurs, Conybeare and Howson hold that it
378 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. II.
Ver. 10.—For it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
There are in the words,—1. The causal connection unto the verse foregoing,—“ for.” 2. A design of God intimated as the founda- tion of the discourse,—which was, to “ bring many sons unto glory.” 3. The means he fixed on for the accomplishment of that design,— namely, the appointing unto them a “captain of their salvation.” 4, The especial way of his dedicating him unto that office—he “made him perfect by sufferings.” 5. The reason of this his proceeding and dealing with him,—it “became him” so to do. 6. An amplification of that reason, in a description of his condition,—“ him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things.”
1. A reason is rendered in the words of what he had asserted in . the foregoing verse, namely, that Jesus, the Messiah, was to suffer death, and by the grace of God to “taste of death for all” Why he should do this, on what account, what ground, necessity, and reason there was for it, is here declared. It was so to be, “for 1t became him,” ete.