The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 169

<'eption) do show the so.me diligence unto the (" having pf\tiently endured," A.V.) cor• full a_s~urance (or simply fulness; for the responds witil ~,~ µarrpoBufdas in ver. 12, meanmg of 1r>..11poc/>opla., cf. eh. x. 22; 1 and expresses esecntio.Ily the same idea. Thess. i. 5 ; Col. ii. 2) of hope even to the The aorist participle µarcpo6uµ~<Tas does not in end (?'..e. e,ince the same diligence in this itself imply that the po.tience was previous regard as you have already shown in your to the obtaining; it expresses only that by works _of charity : "eand.em in spe et fide patiently enduring he obtained. Observe quam m amore," Bengel). also that Kai o!i-rw (cf. Acts vii. 8; xxvii. Ver. 12.-That ye beoome not slothfnl H ; xxviii. 14) denotes the consequence from (vw6pol, the same word as was used in eh. v. what has been previously stated; i.e. that ' 11, vw6pol T<iis a.1<oais. There, with regard to µ<tKpo9uf<fins eirl-rux• followed from the intelligence, they were accused of having Divine oath ensuring the fulfilment of the .already b0<'-0me so; here, where e. hopeful promise. Both hie eventually obtaining and view is taken of their prospects, the writer his po.tience in awaiting fulfilment were in delicatdy avoids implying that they were so consequence of the assuring oath. But then yet in regard to their desire of making how and when did Abraham himself obtain progress), but followers (i.e. following the the promise? Not even the temporal fulfil- example-surely a better English word ment in the multiplication of his seed and than imitators) of them who through faith the inheritance of the promised land, much and patience inherit the promises. The less the epiritu:i.l fulfilment in Christ, was present participle 1<7':f/povoµo6nwv does not during hie own life. Both he could but confine the sense of the expr~ssion to those see "afar off." In respect to the latter who are now so inheriting. Abraham being it is expressly said (eh. xi. 13, 39) that the presently adduced as an example, it refers patriarchs did not receive the promises- to all who at any time eo inherit, equivalent µ¾, >..a/3&11ns Tas e1royy,>..las: ovK irroµl<T<tV-ro to, "the inheritors of." The drift is-Faith T¾,v e1rayy,>..lo.v. What, then, is meo.nt by and patience are e,er required in order that µarcpo6uµf/<Tas brl-rux•? Bleek understands the Divine promises, however a.ssured, mny the time of the oo.th (Gen. x.xii.), when the be inherited: these qualifications (in opposi- promise was irrevoco.bly assured, to havo tion to your being vwepol) are what you waut been the time of obtaining. But more than for securing your own inheritance. this is suggested by the phrase, l1rl-rvx• -rijs Vers. 13-15.-Forwhen God me.de promise i1ray")'<>--ias ( cf. eh. xi. 33), as well as by real to Abre.he.m, because he could swear by no oli-rw, viz. the actual attainment or tho greater, he sware by himself, saying, Slll"ely blessing 11ssured to him by oath. There blessing I will bless thee, a.nd multi.plying I aro two other ways of explaining: (I) to will multiply thee. And so, having patiently identify Abraham with his seed, in whom, • endured, he obtained the promise. Abra- though not in his own person, he may be ham-the ancestor of the Hebrews, the first concei,ed to have obtained,-of which view recipient of the promises, the father of the it may be significant that 1r>..116ww Til <T1repµa faithful-is now appropriately adduced as uou of the LXX. (Gen. xxii. 17) is changed an example. He (Gen. xx;i. 16), e.e ie the in the Epistle to 1r>..116vvw <Te: (2) to rego.rJ case with you (Ps. ex.), was assured of hi■ Abraham, still alive in the unseen world, h!heriiance by the Divine oath; a.nd so he as himself enjoying the fulfilment of tho obtained it, but only through "faith and ancient promise. So Delitzsoh, who, dwell- po.tience." You have the like assurance, ing on the thought tho.t nothing lees than nut attended with the like conditions. And the blessing of Abraham extended to the then this Divine oath, the significance or whole world (cf. 1<>..11pav&µos Tov KO<Tµou, Rom. which is set forth in vers. 16-18, is me.de iv. 13) can be rego.rded as complete fulfil- o. link of connection between the hortatory ment, so.ye, " God's oe.th-eeo.led word of i;ection (eh. v. 11-vi. 20) and the coming promise is now fulfilled in Christ, and Abra- argument about Melchizedek. This is one ham, while living on in the unseen world, is instance of the artistic way in which, conscious of and enjoys that fulfilment, e.nd throughout ihe Epistle, the interposed hor- eo may be ea.id to have •• obtained the pro- tatory passages are so turned as to connect mise." This view derives some support from the divided sections of the argument. But eh. 11, 13-IG, where the longings of the what is said about Abraham (vere. 13, 14, pilgrim patriarchs is so beautifully reprc- 15) has been variously understood. It is ecutcd as reaching to a heavenly fulfilment. counecled with ver. 12 thus: "Be yo fol- On the other hand, the aorist l1rl-ruxe is lowers of them who inherit the promises against it, and hence view (1) may be ao- through faith and patience: for God, iii his cepted as a sumcicnt explun11tion of the 1n·omise to Abraham, swore by himself in expression (see bolow, or eh. xi. 39). With confirmation of it; and so (Kai olfr"') through rcgo.rd to the gencml drirt, it is obvious patience he obtaimid the promise. Be it how µo.1<p0Buµlo., ne well as 1rl<T-r1s, in respect here observed that µa.KpoBup.~<Tas in ver. 15 to the promise first made to him" in Ohnr• CU, VI, 1-20.] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBfiEWS. 1G3