The Old Latin and the Vulgate, the Peshitto and Harklean Syriac, the Coptic
and fragments of the Sahidic and Bashmuric versions, together with the Armenian
and Ethiopic are available for the ascertainment of the text of the Epistle. [For remarks on these versions, see Westcott’s Com., Introduction.]
wy mee MY aE, eer spin ᾿ i sinh τν, η “ey ΕΝ ' ἥτε 14 bi ha un , iP oe 4
‘y i ΤΊ; [9.1 ἌΝ ͵ ᾿ f Υ̓́ i ἐξ ἵ i | | ! . ᾿ iI Ἵ ] ‘ Ἷ } i if . | = Ἱ] “J it Pr . ot i ty
| ͵ ᾿ i ὶ = 7 4 Ἰ a 4 Lane 1 } } op σσ ds i ῥῆ it ἢ of " y, | Y aa aie , Ἶ i ἡ νὴ ᾿ εὖ να μυ { { é b Γ ᾿ ¢ j LL ἊΝ ἡ. | ᾿ é om / ifs η) ή Μο sina 5 F ᾿ 4 ΤῸ ὃ i πα ο Feu) eg ‘th ὦ 1}, ῃ A ‘ ο vy at ᾿ 4 ‘ Hf ἫΝ ἱ Τ᾽ τ ἢ ὶ κκ ͵ ; ik ως η ἃ Μ : ο) ΕἾ) ἌΝ ὁ A ny ἳ . ἷ iv ps Π J a ἢ 7 ey η. a j "eG ain μή Be eg i | ΝΑ
hy | ΠΝ Daly BAYA! Santi, Aa ie κ RAP PH 1s
ἊΝ Bins ae ! ᾿ ΗΝ ἌΝ
Rayer yh ην. πλ,
ΚῊΝ ἡ;
vi
ἢ" ¥ Ἷ “δι (hits κι
1.
ῃ > a , ree ΤΕ] , πατρασιν εν τοις προφήταις, επ ἐσχάτων
I. "ΠΟΛΥΜΕΡΩΣ καὶ πολυτρόπως πάλαι ὃ Θεὸς λαλήσας τοῖς a Num. xii.
6,8; Eph. 1.10: Gal. iv. 4.
2 τῶν ἡμερῶν τούτων ἐλά-
1 The title should be simply ΠΡΟΣ ΕΒΡΑΙΟΥΣ. See Introd. 2T.R. with 47, and some versions; εσχατου with NABDEKLMP, 17, etc.
CHAPTER I.—Vv. 1-3. The aim of the writer is to prove that the old Cove- nant through which God had dealt with the Hebrews is superseded by the New; and this aim he accomplishes in the first place by exhibiting the superiority of the mediator of the new Covenant to all previous mediators. The Epistle holds in literature the place which the Trans- figuration holds in the life of Christ. Former mediators give place and Christ is left alone under the voice ‘‘ Hear ye Him”. With this writer, Jesus is before all else the Mediator of a better Coven- ant, vili.6. But ‘ Mediator’ involves the arranging and accomplishing of every- thing required for the efficacy of the Covenant ; the perfect knowledge of the person and purposes of Him who makes the Covenant with men and the com- munication of this knowledge to them; together with the removal of all obstacles to man’s entrance into the fellowship with God implied by the Covenant. This twofold function is in these first three verses shown to be discharged by Christ. He as Son speaks to men for God and thus supersedes all previous revelations; while, instead of appointing a priest who can only picture a cleansing, and accom- plish a ceremonial purity, He becomes Priest and actually cleanses men from sin, and so effects their actual fellowship with God.
Ver. τ. In sonorous and dignified terms the writer abruptly makes his first great affirmation: ‘‘God having spoken . spoke”. 6
6 ΄
θεὸς λαλήσας . . . ἐλά-
λησεν, for, however contrasted, previous revelations proceeded from the same source and are one in design and in general character with that which is final. In the N.T. λαλεῖν is not used in a dis- paraging sense, but, especially in this Epistle, is used of God making known His will. See ii. 2, iii. 5, v. 5, etc. God spoke, desired to be understood, to come into communication with men and there- fore uttered Himself in intelligible forms, and succeeded, all through the past, in making Himself and His will known to men. He had not kept silence, allowing men to feel after Him if haply they might find Him. He had met the out- stretched hand and guided the seeker. And this “speaking” in the past was preparatory to the final speaking in Christ ; “ God having spoken . . .spoke”’. The earlier revelations were the prepara- tion for the later but were distinguished from it in four particulars—in the time, in the recipients, in the agents, in the manner.