Tord hui 6 Abyos, “ we have much to say;” many things to speak or treat of. But not the multitude of the things only ati which he had to speak, but the weight and importance , gk oe also of them is intended in this expression. So the
Tlep) ob.
1 TRANSLATION.—I eyo. implies a course of declension, which our author suffi- ciently brings out by his translation. Conybeare and Howson render it more emphatically, “since ye have grown dull in understanding.”—Eb.
2
VOL. XXI. 35
546 AN EXPOSITION OF THE [CHAP. V.
* orandis sermo” of the Vulgar, intends not loftiness of speech, but the weight of the things spoken of. And when the apostle comes to insist particularly on the things here intended, they appear rather to be mysterious and important than many. However, I deny not but that the apostle intimates that there were sundry, yea many things of that importance to be declared and insisted on, on this_ occasion.
Some translations, as we have seen, supply the words by “forent,” some by “sunt.” The former seems to have apprehended that the apostle intended wholly to forbear treating on this subject, and that because it was so deep and mysterious, that, considering their condi- tion, it would not be profitable unto them, nor for their edification. Wherefore he lets them know, that although he could treat of many things concerning Melchisedec, and such as were necessary to be declared, yet, because of their incapacity to receive them, he would forbear. And sundry interpreters do so apprehend his mind. But this is no way consistent with his express undertaking to declare all those things unto them, chap. vii. Wherefore he only declares in general, that he hath many weighty mysteries to instruct them in, but would not immediately engage in that work, until he had spoken that unto them which was needful to prepare them unto a due attention. And his ensuing discourses, before he returns unto this subject again, are not reasons why he will totally intermit the handling of them, but a due admonition unto them for precedent negligences, whereby they might be excited to prepare themselves in a due manner for the receiving of what he had to declare.
The nature of the things treated of, with respect unto the capa- city of the Hebrews, is nextly declared: Adyos ducepug- veurog Aéyew. How variously these words are rendered we have seen before. It may be the things which Paul himself here calls ducepujvevra, are those which Peter intends in his epistle, calling them dvovéqra, 2 Pet. iii. 16, “things hard to be un- . derstood ;” which is the same with what our apostle here intends. The phrase, ducepujvevrog A¢yew, is somewhat unusual, and the sense of it not easy to be expressed to the full in our language. Aéyew seems to be for év r@ Aéyew, “in dicendo,” “in the speaking” or uttering of it: or, when it is spoken and uttered, it is “hard to be interpreted,” that is, to be understood. For the interpretation in- tended is not that of the apostle in speaking, but that which is made in the understanding of them that hear it. For he that hears a thing uttered, and considers it, makes the interpretation of it unto himself, as Jerome observes, Epist. ad Evagr. The apostle doth not, therefore, intimate,—1. That it would be any hard or difficult matter unto him to declare all things concerning the conformity between Melchisedec and Christ, which were necessary to be known unto the
Avoeppedveuros Abyewy.
VER. 11.] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 547
edification of the church; for what he had by revelation and in- spiration (as he had all that he wrote as a part of the church’s canon, or rule of faith and obedience) was no matter of difficulty in him to find out and express. It is true, that being called to be an apostle in an especial manner, not having conversed with the Lord Christ in the flesh, he was in vision taken up into heaven, and there heard immediately from him é&éjnra piuara & obn edv dvdpdarw Aarjous, 2 Cor. xii. 4,—“unspeakable words, that were not possible” (or “lawful”) “for a man to utter.’ The things and manner of Christ’s speech unto him were accompanied with such a glory as human nature unperfected cannot bear. But these things be- longed unto his own particular confirmation in his office and work, and not to the edification of the church in general. For what he received by revelation unto that end he freely and fully declared, Acts xx. 20, 27. Nor, 2. That his manner of the declara- tion of it would be obscure and hard to be understood; as some have blasphemously accused his writings of obscurity and intricacy. Nor can any pretence be taken hence against the clearness and perspicuity of the Scriptures in the declaration of divine truths and revelations. For it is of things themselves, and not of the manner of their declaration, that he speaks, as also doth Peter in the place before mentioned. Two things, therefore, are intended by the apostle in this expression :—1. That, in what he had to speak on this subject, there were some things in their own nature sublime and mysterious. In. divine revelations there are great differences in the matter of them. For the manner of their declaration in the Scripture, they thus far agree, that every thing is declared abso- lutely as it ought to be, with respect unto the end of the Scripture; that is, the glory of God and the edification of the church. But among the things themselves revealed there is great difference. Some of them are nearer and more exposed unto our understand- ings and capacities ; others of them are more sublime and mysteri- ous, and more exceed our comprehension. And such are the things intended by the apostle. Wherefore, 2. He doth not speak of these things only with respect unto their own nature, but unto our wnder- standings, which are weak and imperfect. It is a difficult matter for us in any tolerable measure to comprehend divine mysteries, when plainly propounded unto us, But yet neither are these things spoken positively in this place with respect merely unto the under- standing of them to whom they are delivered, but with respect unto a peculiar indisposition in the minds of some, hindering them in the discharge of their duty. This the apostle chargeth in particular upon these Hebrews in this verse; and then aggravates their fault, from its causes, nature, circumstances, and consequences, in those that follow to the end of this chapter and the midst of the next.