514 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. XI.
Righteous (Sécavos). Abel is called righteous by Christ himself, Matt. xxiii. 35. Comp.1J. iii. 12. See on Rom. i. 17.
God testifying of his gifts (uaprupotyros emi rots Swpois avrod Tod Oeod). Defining more specifically the general was witnessed to. God bore witness by his acceptance of the gifts. ’"Emt marks the fact on which the witness was based.
Yet speaketh (érz rade). Comp. Gen. iv. 10. Still, although ages have passed since his death. Comp. ch. xii. 24. Not that his voice still cries to God (so Bleek and others), but that by his faith he still speaks to us in the O. T. Scrip- tures, though dead. Const. ére yet with Aare? speaketh; not with being dead, in the logical sense, “even being dead,” as Rom. iii. 7.*
5. Enoch. Gen. v. 21-24. Comp. Sir. xliv. 16; xlix. 14; Wisd. iv. 10.
Was translated (yereréOn). The verb used of Enoch’s translation, LX X, Gen. v. 24. In Acts vii. 16 of the trans- porting of the remains of Jacob and his sons to Sychem. In Gal. i. 6, of the sudden change in the religious attitude of the Galatians. In Heb. vii. 12, of the change in the priest- hood.
That he should not see death (rod px ideiv Odvarov). This may signify the purpose of his translation, but probably refers to the result. He was translated so that he did not see death. Comp. Matt. xxi. 82; Acts vii. 19; Rom. vii. 3.+
Was not found because God had translated him (ovx nupiaxeto Sidte weteéOnxev adtov o Beds). Cited from LXX, Gen. v. 24. For had translated rend. translated.
He had this testimony (uewaptipnra). Rev. properly preserves the force of the perfect tense, “he hath had witness borne to him.” ‘The testimony still stands on record.
* T. R. reads Aade?rat is spoken about. t See Burton’s New Testament Moods and Tenses, § 398.
Cx. XI] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 515
That he pleased God. Rend. hath pleased. Comp. LXX, Gen. v. 22, 24. Faith was exhibited by Enoch in walking with God (comp. A. V. Gen. v. 22, “walked with God,” and LXX, evapéornce pleased God). Faith creates close personal relation.
6. To please (evapecrijca). The aorist gives the sense of at all, stating the verbal idea without time, as a universal. proposition. Comp. Rom. viii. 8.
Cometh (mpocepyduevov). See on ch. iv. 16. Must (de). An essential obligation. In the nature of the case. That he is (rt €otw). Faith in God involves belief in his existence although he is unseen.
Is a rewarder (uicGarroddrns yiverat). Note the difference of the verb: not simply exists, but comes to pass as; proves to be, habitually, so that he who approaches God has, through faith, the assurance that his seeking God will result in good to himself. MucOazoderns rewarder, N. T.°. Comp. pucd- atroéoaia recompense of reward, ch. ii. 2 (note) ; x. 85; xi. 26.
Of them that diligently seek him (trois éxfntotvcw adrov). Lit. wnto them that seek him out. Comp. Acts xv. 17; Heb. xii. 17; 1 Pet.i.10. The verb is used of seeking God, Rom. iii. 11. God’s beneficent will and attitude toward the seeker are not always apparent at the first approach. In such cases there is occasion for faith, in the face of delay, that diligent seeking will find its reward. One is reminded of Jesus’ lessons on importunity in seeking God, L. xi. 5-10; xviii. 1-8.
‘¢ He hides himself so wondrously
As though there were no God;
He is least seen when all the powers Of ill are most abroad.
Or he deserts us at the hour The fight is almost lost,
And seems to leave us to ourselves Just when we need him most.
516 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XL
It is not so, but so it looks; And we lose courage then ; And doubts will come if God hath kept His promises to men.” Faber.