The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 165

ad,anoed ~uhjcct of discourse), es well BS of "the works of the Ll\w," as set forth by the eemrst warnings that follow against St. Paul, is not likely to have been intended. falling back, sC'em to neccssit.o.te the second The faith spoken of is not faith in Christ, of the above \"~ewe of the meaning of this but simply "faith towards God," which is, -~~ T~e ,u1ter has, indeed, in his mind of course, the foundation and necessary pre- Ins mtcntion of proceedin"' at once to the liminary of Christian faith. 'l'he rearnn for prrfect doctrine; for he hopes that what he the expression is to be found in the writer's thus exhorts them to do they will do, so as intention to specify only the first principles to be able to follow him; but exhortation, of the gospel, in which the Christian was rather than his own intention, is surely what still on common ground with the Jew (cf. the verse expresses. Not laying again the John xiv. I, "Ye believe in God, believe foundation of repentanoe from dead works, also iu mo"). The four fundamental doctrines and of faith towards God, of the dootrine of follow. (1) Of baptisms. Observe, the baptisms, ll.lld of laying on of hands, and of word is not ,86:irrnrµa, inva1fably used else- resurreetion of the dead, and of eternal where for Christian baptism, but ,Bairnrr.ubs, judgment. What was meant by ,-;. IT'ro•x•ia, and that in the plural, ,Barr,rrµ&v. In other etc., and .-ov .,-;is dpx;Js, etc., is here specified passages ,Ba.....,.10-µ.ol denotes the various lustra- under the new image of a foundation on tions practised by the Jews-" washings of which a snperstructure should be raised pots and cups " (Mark vii. 8) ; "divers wash- ( cf. for the same figure, 1 Cor. iii. 11, a fur- ings" (eh. ix. 10). Hence we may suppose ther instance of Pauline modes of thought). these to be included in the general ide11, and Of course no disparagement of the importance also the Jewish baptism of proselytes. On of this foundation is implied: it is nece,mry the other hand, the elementary doctrines of for the superstructure : it has in itself the the gospel being here spoken of, there can elements of the superstructure, which rises be no doubt the,t the doctrine of Christicm from it in the way of growth. What is baptism is in the writer's view, but only with meant is, " With us this foundation has been regard to the first simple conception of its already laid ; I will not suppose any need meaning, which it had in common with other for laying it anew : let us, then, go on to symbolical washings, the significance of contemplate and understand the building which was understood by enlightened Jews that rests on and rises from it." The fun- (cf. John iii. 10, "Art thou a master of damentals enumerated are six-two essen- Isrnel, and knowcst not these things?"). tial principles of the religious life, and four (2) The doctrine of layinr, on of hand,. heads of doctrine ; for the word li,liax;Js rules This also was o. Jewish rite, understood as ,Ba.,rr,o-µ,ovand tlie three sncceedinggenitives, signifying the bestowal of blessing and of Lut not µ.ETa.vofa.s e.nd 1rlo-.-."'s which precede. power from above (ef. Gen. xlvili. 14; Deut. These are the fnndamentals, or first princi- xxiv. 9; Mark x. 13), and was, e,s well as ples, of Christianity; but (as has been baptism, adopted into the Christian Church, intimated) so defined as to express no more, acquiring tl1ere a new potency. The o.posUcs hy tile language used, than what even en- practised it for conferring the girts of tho lightened Jews might occept and under- Spirit after baptism (Aets viii. 17; xix. 6), stand. Fully understood, they carry the for ordination (Acts vi. 6; xiii. 3; 1 'fun. Christian superstructure: but they are such iv. 14; 2 Tim. i. 6), and also for reconciling as a "babe" in Christ might rest content penitents (I Tim. v. 22), Bnd for healing with, without seeing their ultimate bearing. (Mark xvi. 18; Acts.xxviii. 8). Mentionc·d Tile principles first mentioned are repentance here immerlia.tely after "the doctrine of bap- an<l faith, the requisite qualifications for tisms," and in an enumeration of elementH baptism, the essence of John the Baptist's in which all Christians were concerned, we teaclting, and announced by Christ at the can hardly fail to understand special refer- commencement of his ministry as the first ence to the imposition of hands after lmp- Fteps into his kingdom: "The kingdom of tism, i.e. to confirmation. The two remaining God is at hand : repent ye, and believe the doctrines of (3) the resurreotion of the dead, gospel" (Mark i. 15; cf. also Acts xx. 21). and (4) eternal judgment, were also under- By the dead works, from which repentance stood an<l generally accepted by enlightened is to be, the Fatlli:rs generally understand Jews, and at the so.Ille time are necessary simply sinful works, which may be so called to be mentioned for u. complete account hecn uae of sin being a b ta te of spiritual of the foundations of the Christian faith. deatl.i, and having death for its wages (cf. These foundations are, ns has been seen- "dead in trespasses and sins," Eph. ii. l),or repentance and faith (qualifying for admis- as being in themselves barren and fruitless sion into theChurch),a.nd then the doctrine ( cf. .-o,s fno,s .-o,, d.pd.pp,ro,s .,-oii 0-1<0.-ovs, of remission of sins (expressed and conveyed Eph. v. 11). In an enumer<1tion of elemen- by baptism), of enahlin~ grace (expre:;se,l tary principles like this, the allusion, aup- and conveyed by confirmation), of the life pose<l by BOtue comtner.tutors, t,o tlie drBdness hereafter, and of final judgment. Of thc1e OB. VI. 1-20.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 159