Died (aroOvjone). Lit. dieth. According to the ordin- ance as it now stands in the law.
Without mercy (yapis oixripyov). The phrase N. T.°. For the noun see on 2 Cor. i. 8.
Under two or three witnesses (é7r duciv 4 tpiclv wdprvowy). As in LXX, Deut. xvii. 6. “Emi with dative signifying on condition of two or three witnesses testifying. Comp. 1 Tim. v. 1T, where the same phrase occurs with the genitive, before, in the presence of. Comp. also Deut. xix. 15.
29. Of how much (wdc). Not qualifying xelpovos sorer, but the whole clause: “by how much think ye shall he be thought worthy of sorer punishment.”
Punishment (tiuopias). N.T.°. Occasionally in LXX, frequent in Class. Originally assistance; assistance to one who has been wronged; punishment. With no sense of chastisement. It is purely retributive.*
Trodden under foot (catararjcas) Only herein Hebrews. °p. Frequent in LXX for spoiling, defeating, treating con- temptuously. The strong term is purposely selected in order to convey the sense of the fearful outrage involved in forsak- ing Christ and returning to Judaism.
* The distinction sometimes asserted between tipwpla retribution, and xddaous chastisement for the amendment of the subject, does not hold in N. T. Neither «éAaous nor kod gery convey any sense of chastisement. See Acts iv. 21; 2 Pet. ii. 9; Matt. xxv. 46; 1 J. iv. 18; nor is there a trace of this meaning of either nown or verb in LXX. See Trench, New Testament Synonyms, § VII, and Schmidt, Synonymik, § 167,1,3. The prevailing sense of xédagus in Class. is a check applied to prevent excess,
Cu. X.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 505
Hath counted an unholy thing (coon srynodwevos). ‘Hyetc- ac to count or deem means a conscious judgment resting on a deliberate weighing of the facts. See Rom. xii. 10; Philip. ii. 38. Here it implies a deliberate, contemptuous rejection of the gifts of the new covenant. The fundamental idea of xowwds is shared by all, public. Thus Acts ii. 44; iv. 82; Tit. i. 4; Jude 8. Out of this grows the idea of not sacred ; not set apart for particular uses by purification, and so (ceremonially) unclean or defiled, as Mk. vii. 2,5; Acts x. 14,28; xi. 8. In these cases it is not implied that the thing is defiled or filthy in itself, but only unclean through the absence of that which would set it apart. Comp. Rom. xiv. 14. Here the word ad- mits of two explanations: (1) that Christ’s blood was counted common, having no more sacred character or specific worth than the blood of any ordinary person ; (2) that in refusing to regard Christ’s blood as that of an atoner and redeemer, it was implied that his blood was unclean as being that of a transgressor. The former seems preferable. There was no specific virtue in Christ’s blood as blood; but a peculiar and unique virtue attached to it as the offering of his eternal spirit (ch. ix. 14), as the blood shed in ratification of a sacred cove- nant established by God, and as having sanctifying virtue. This view is further justified by the combination of blood and spirit, as sources of sanctification allied in the writer’s mind.
Hath done despite unto the spirit of grace (xal ro rvevpa THS Yapitos évuBpicas). "EvuBpilew to insult, N. T.°. The simple verb ofpifev in Matthew, Luke, Acts, and Pastorals. It will be observed that the work of the Holy Spirit does not receive in this epistle the emphasis which marks it in some other portions of the N. T.
30. We know him that hath said (oldapev yap Tov eirrevta). The retribution (tipapia) is certain, because assured by the word of God in Scripture.
Vengeance (éxdécnos). An unfortunate translation, since it conveys the idea of vindictiveness which does not reside in
506 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cz. X.