Secondly, In the manner of his pressing his exhortation two things oceur:—I1 His compellation of them, in these words, “ Holy brethren.” 2. His description of them by one property or privilege, “ Partakers of the heavenly calling.”
492 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [ CHAP. IIE.
1. In the former, two things also are observable: (1.) The appella- tion itself which he makes use of, “Brethren.” (2.) The adjunct of that appellation, “ Holy.”
‘(1.). This term of relation, “brethren,” is variously used in the Scripture; sometimes naturally, and that most strictly, for children of the same father or mother, Gen. xlii. 13; or more largely for near kinsmen (and among the Hebrews the descendants’ of the same grandfather are almost constantly so called; whence is that expres- sion of the brethren of our Lord Jesus Christ, who were descendants of his grandfather according to the flesh, Gen. xiii. 8, xxiv. 27; Matt. xii, 46, xiii. 55; Mark iii, 31; John ii 12, vi. 3, 5, 10; Acts i. 14): or, in analogy thereunto, for all the branches of one common stock, though a whole nation, yea, though of many nations. So all the Hebrews were brethren, Deut. xv. 12; and the Edomites are said to be their brethren, because of the stock of Abraham, Deut. xxi. 7. And in this sense, in another place, our apostle calls all the Jews his brethren; that is, his kinsfolk in the flesh, Rom. ix. 8. Sometimes it is used civilly, and that, [1.] On the mere account of cohabitation, Gen. xix. 7; [2.] Of combination in some society, as, 1s¢. For evil, Gen. xlix.5; 2dly. For good, Hzra ii. 2. And sometimes it express- eth a joint profession of the same religion; on which account the Jews called themselves brethren all the world over, Acts xxviii. 21. Lastly, It is also an expression of spiritual cognation, founded on that of our Saviour, “All ye are brethren,..... and one is your Father, which is in heaven,” Matt. xxiii. 8, 9. And herein is an allusion to the first, proper signification of the word. That men be brethren, properly and strictly, it is required that they have one father, be of one family, and be equally interested in the privileges and advan- tages thereof. This is the nearest bond of alliance that is or can be between equals, the firmest foundation of love. And thus it is with those who are brethren spiritually, as will afterwards appear.
Now, though the apostle stood in the relation intimated with the Hebrews upon a natural account, yet he here calls them brethren principally in the last sense, as spiritually interested in the same family of God with himself; although I am apt to think that in the use of this expression to the Jews the apostle had respect also unto that brotherhood which they had among themselves before in their ancient church-state. So Peter, writing to some of them, tells them that the same afflictions which they suffered would befall +4 & xbouy itv ddeAQsrnzs, “the whole brotherhood of them in the world,” 1 Epist. v. 9; that is, all the believing Jews. And whereas they had a particular and especial mutual love to each other on that account, our apostle warns them that they should not think that that relation or love was to cease upon their conversion to Christ, Heb. xiii. 1; "H o”adergia wevérw,—‘ Let that brotherly love continue which hath
*AdeAQol.
VER. 1, 2.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 493
been amongst you.’ But principally I-suppose he respects their new relation in Christ; which further appears from the adjunct of this compellation annexed, “ holy.”
(2.) “Holy.” This is the usual epithet wherewith our aposile adorns believers, Rom. i. 7; 1 Cor. 1. 2; 2 Cor. i. 1; Eph. 1,1; Phil.i.1. And in many places he joins their call- ing with it, which here he subjoins unto it. And this is peculiar to Paul. What he means by dy, “holy,” he declares, where he terms the same persons jyiaouévosr, “sanctified ones,” 1 Cor. i. 2; Eph. v. 26; 1 Cor. vi. 11; 1 Thess. v. 23; John xvii. 19. He ac- counted them holy, not upon the account of an external separation, as of old all the people were holy, but also of internal, real sanctifi- cation and purity. This he judged the professing Hebrews to be interested in, as being “ called by an holy calling.” And it may be, in the present use of this expression, he hath respect unto what he had before affirmed of believers, namely, their being d&yiaZéuevor, “sanctified,” or made holy by Christ, chap. ii. 11; considering that from thence he infers their relation unto Christ as his brethren, verse 12, and so becoming in him brethren to one another, even all of them ad<Agérns, “a brotherhood,” or “fraternity,” 1 Pet.v.9. And by this compellation of “holy brethren” doth the apostle manifest his high regard of them or respect unto them, looking on them as persons sanctified by the Spirit and word of Christ, and a dear affection for them as his brethren. By this treatment also of them he gives a great evidence of his sincerity in dealing with them; for they might not fear that he would impose any thing on them whom he honoured as holy, and loved as brethren. And hereby he smooths his way to his ensuing exhortation.