And upholding all things (dépav re ta wavra). Rend. maintaining. Upholding conveys too much the idea of the passive support of a burden. “The Son is not an Atlas, sus- taining the dead weight of the world” (quoted by Westcott). Neither is the sense that of ruling or guiding, as Philo (De Cherub. § xi), who describes the divine word as “the steers- man and pilot of the all.” It implies sustaining, but also movement. It deals with a burden, not as a dead weight, but as in continual movement; as Weiss puts it, “ with the all in all its changes and transformations throughout the aeons.” It is concerned, not only with sustaining the weight of the universe, but also with maintaining its coherence and carry- ing on its development. What is said of God, Col. i. 17, is here said or implied of Christ: 1a wdvra év att@ cuvértnxev all things (collectively, the universe) consist or maintain their coherence in him. So the Logos is called by Philo the bond (Secpds) of the universe ; but the maintenance of the coherence implies the guidance and propulsion of all the parts to a definite end. All things (ra mwavra) collectively considered ; the universe; all things in their unity. See ch. ii. 10; Rom. viii. 32; xi. 86; 1 Cor. viii. 6; Eph. i. 10; Col. i. 16.
384 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. L
By the word of his power (7@ pyjuare ths Suvduews avTod). The phrase N. T.°., but comp. L. i. 37, and see note. The word is that in which the Son’s power manifests itself. “Avrot his refers to Christ. Nothing in the context suggests any other reference. The world was called into being by the word of God (ch. xi. 8), and is maintained by him who is “the very image of God’s substance.”
When he had by himself purged our sins (xafapiopov TOV dmapTiav Troinadpevos). Omit by himself ;* yet a similar thought is implied in the middle voice, rocnodpevos, which indicates that the work of purification was done by Christ personally, and was not something which he caused to be done by some other agent. Purged, lit. having made purification. The phrase N. T.°. LXX, Job vii. 21. Kadapiouds purifica- tion occurs in Mark, Luke, John, 2d Peter, °P., and only here in Hebrews. The verb cabapifew to purify is not often used in N. T. of cleansing from sin. See 2 Cor. vii. 1; 1 J.i. 7,9. Of cleansing the conscience, Heb. ix. 14. Of cleansing meats and vessels, Matt. xxiii. 25,26; Mk. vii. 19; Acts x. 15; xi. 9. Of cleansing the heart, Acts xv. 9. The meaning here is cleansing of sins. In the phrase “to cleanse from sin,” always with ao from. In carrying on all things toward their destined end of conformity to the divine archetype, the Son must confront and deal with the fact of sin, which had thrown the world into disorder, and drawn it out of God’s order. In the thought of making purification of sins is already foreshadowed the work of Christ as high priest, which plays so prominent a part in the epistle.
Sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high (é«<0- icev ev SeEa THS peyadwovyys év tndois). Comp. Ps. cx. 1; ch. vill 13 x2 123.x Os) Nph a 20e eA noc 2 ee he verb denotes a solemn, formal act; the assumption of a posi- tion of dignity and authority. The reference is to Christ’s ascension. In his exalted state he will still be bearing on all
* The A. V. follows the T. R. d¢ éavrod, which is a gloss.
CaAlg THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 385
things toward their consummation, still dealing with sin as the great high priest in the heavenly sanctuary. This is elaborated later. See ch. viii; ix. 12ff. Meyadtootvn maj- esty, only here, ch. viii. 1; Jude 25. Quite often in LXX. There is suggested, not a contrast with his humiliation, but his resumption of his original dignity, described in the for- mer part of this verse. “Ev tynnois, lit. in the high places. Const. with sat down, not with majesty. The phrase N. T.°. LXX, Ps. xcii. 4; exii. 5. "Ev toils tipiotos in the highest (places), in the Gospels, and only in doxologies. See Matt. xxl. 9; Mk. xi. 10; L.ii. 14. °Epv rots érovpaviow in the heavenly (places), only in Eph. Seei. 3, 20; ii. 6; iii. 10; Wis, fo.