3. How shall we escape (ads seis expev§dueba). The rhetorical question expressing denial. We is emphatic. We, to whom God has spoken by his Son, and who, therefore, have so much the more reason for giving heed. ’Exdev&dpea, lit.
Cu. IL] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 395
flee out from. The English escape conveys the same idea, but contains a picture which is not in the Greek word, namely, to slip out of one’s cape, ex cappd, and so get away. Comp. French échapper. In Italian we have scappare “to escape,” and also ¢ncappare “to fall into a snare,” and incappuciare “to wrap up in a hood or cape; to mask.”
If we neglect (auerjoavtes). Lit. having neglected. Rare ia Ne 1... b. Comp Matt: xxii. 5; 1 Tim. iy.) 14.) The thought falls in with drift past, ver. 1.
Salvation (cwrnpiav). Characterising the new dispensa- tion, as the word (ver. 2) characterises the old. Not the teaching or word of salvation, but the salvation itself which is the gift of the gospel, to be obtained by purification from sin through the agency of the Son (ch. 1. 8).
Which (77s). Explanatory. A salvation which may be described as one which was first spoken by the Lord, etc.
At the first began to be spoken (apynv Aa Bovca ANaneio- Oat). Lit. having taken beginning to be spoken. Rend. which, having at the first been spoken. The phrase N. T.°.
By the Lord (6: rod xupiov). Const. with apyiv AaBodca, not with AarcicPar. It is the beginning, not the speaking which is emphasised.
Was confirmed (é€8eBaiwOn). It was sure (BéBatos) even as was the word spoken by angels (ver. 2), and it was con- firmed, proved to be real, by the testimony of ear-witnesses.
By them that heard (i760 trav dxovedyrwyv). We heard it (ver. 1) from those who heard, the immediate followers of the Lord. The writer thus puts himself in the second genera- tion of Christians. They are not said to have heard the gospel directly from the Lord. Paul, on the other hand, claims that he received the gospel directly from Christ (Gal. i. 11).
396 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cz. I.
4. God also bearing them witness (cuverripaprupovytos tod Geod). The verb N. T.°: ovv along with other witnesses : éml giving additional testimony : paptupetv to bear witness.
With signs and wonders (onpelows te kal tépacw). A very common combination in N. T. See Matt. xxiv. 24; Mk. xiii. 22; J. iv. 48; Acts ii. 43; 2 Cor. xii. 11, ete. See on Matt. xxiv. 24.
Divers miracles (vroixiAas duvdperwv). Rend. powers. No ‘doubt these include miracles, see Acts ii. 22; 2 Cor. xii. 12; but powers signifies, not the miraculous manifestations, as signs and wonders, but the miraculous energies of God as displayed in his various forms of witness.
Gifts (uwepiopois). Rend. distributions or impartations.
Of the Holy Ghost. The genitive is objective: distribu- tions of the one gift of the Holy Spirit in different measure and in different ways. Comp. 1 Cor. xii. 4-11.
According to his will (cata tHv adrod OérAnow). Oérnois willing: his act of will. N. T.°. Const. with distributions. The Spirit was imparted and distributed as God willed. The hortatory digression ends here. The subject of the Son’s superiority to the angels is resumed.
5. The writer’s object is to show that the salvation, the new order of things inaugurated by Christ, is in pursuance of the original purpose of creation, to wit, that universal dominion was to pertain to man, and not to angels. The great salvation means lordship of the world to be. This pur- pose is carried out in Christ, who, in becoming man, became temporarily subject to the earthly dispensation of which angels were the administrators. This was in order that he might acquire universal lordship as man. Being now exalted above angels, he does away with the angelic administration, and, in the world to come, will carry humanity with him to