Some difficulty attaches to the first three verses, because the writer combines two thoughts: his own intention to pro- ceed from elementary to more advanced teachings, and his
* Surely not, as Liinemann, the gospel message as centring in the doctrine of justification by faith, which would be dragged in by the ears.
Cx. VI] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 441
readers’ advance to that higher grade of spiritual receptive- ness on which the effectiveness of his teaching must depend. The mistake in interpretation has been in insisting that the three verses treat only the one or the other thought. Ob- serve that 61d wherefore is connected with the rebuke in ch. vy. 11, 12; and that that rebuke is directly connected with the announcement of the doctrine of the Melchisedec priesthood of Christ. The course of thought is as follows: Christ is a priest after the order of Melchisedec (ch. v. 10). There is much to be said on this subject, and it is hard to explain, because you have become dull, and need elementary teaching, whereas, by reason of your long Christian standing, you ought to be teachers yourselves (ch. v. 11,12). For you all recognise the principle that baby-food is for babes, and solid food only for men, whose powers have been trained by habitual exercise (ch. v. 18,14). Wherefore, in order that you may be aroused from your sluggishness and have your perceptions brought up to the matured condition which befits men in Christ, and in order that I may, at the same time, complete the development of my theme, I propose that we together move forward to completion: I to the full exposi- tion of the subject of Christ’s high-priesthood, and you to that maturity of discernment which becomes you. This will require us both to leave the rudimentary stage of teaching concerning Christ.
1. Leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ (adevres Tov TAS apxfs ToD Xpiotod Adyov). Lit. leaving the word of the beginning concerning Christ. ’Adévres leaving or dismissing does not imply ceasing to believe in elementary truths or to regard them as important, but leaving them “as a builder leaves his foundation in erecting his building” (Bruce). The word of the beginning of Christ is practically =the rudiments of the beginning, ch. v. 12; that rudimentary view of Christ’s person and office which unfolds into the doctrine of his priesthood. Up to this point the writer has shown only that the permanent elements of the old covenant remain and are exalted in Christ. The more difficult point,
449 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Ca. VI.
which it will require matured perception to grasp, is that Christ’s priesthood involves the entire abolition of the old covenant.
Let us go on unto perfection (él rv TereLdTnTa pepo- peOa). Lit. let us be borne on to completeness. ‘The parti- cipial clause, leaving, etc., is related to the verbal clause as expressing a necessary accompaniment or consequence of the latter. Let us be borne on to completeness, and, because of this, leave, etc. This sense is not given by the Rey. Teredrns only here and Col. iii. 14. Rend. completeness. The com- pleteness is viewed as pertaining to both the writer and the readers.. He proposes to fully develop his theme: they are exhorted to strive for that full Christian manhood which will fit them to receive the fully-developed discussion.
Not laying again the foundation (7) wadw Oeuédov xata- Bardcpevor). Not explanatory of leaving, etc. The following words, describing the elements of the foundation, — repent- ance, baptisms, etc.,— simply illustrate in a general way the proposal to proceed to the exposition of the doctrine of Christ’s priesthood. The illustrative proposition is that a building is not completed by lingering at the foundation ; and so Christian maturity is not to be attained by going back to subjects which belong to the earliest stage of Christian instruction. He purposely selects for his illustration things which belong to the very initiation of Christian life.