The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 364

is in the LXX. We observe that the word has, were we justified in implying -i}µw,. "fo.int" (i,c>,_,Jov) is the some as was used in after '71"V<vµd.n,w (" our spirits," in opposition ver. 3. In the seventh and following verses to " our flesh," preceding). But Tw• this scriptural admonition is applied and ..-v,vµtf..,.uw seems evidently meant to be commented on. understood generally; and the expression Vere. 7, 8.-J'or ohastening ye endure ; (suggested probably by Numb. xvi. 22 and i.e. It ie for chastening that ye endwre. The xxvii. 16, " The God of the spirits of all reading ,ls 'lrat6dav vrroµlv<T•, supported by flesh") need imply only that, though God almost the whole weight of manuscripts is the original Author of flesh as well as (including all the uncials that contf\in the spirit, yet the latter, whether in man or text), of ancient versions, and commentators otherwise existing, has in a peculiar sense (Theophylact being the only certain excep- its parentage from him (cf. Gen. ii. 7, "The tion), is decidedly to be accepted instead of LORD Goo formed man of the duet of the ,1 .,,a,6,lav vrroµlv,T< (equivalent to" ifye the ground, and breathed into hie nostrils endure chastening") of the Textue Recoptue. the breath of life; and man became a Ii ving Moreover, it is required for the sense of the soul;" also Job =iii. 4, "The Spirit of passage in regard to the proper meaning of the LORD bath made me, o.nd the breath of the verb vrroµlv•T< ("endure"), which is "t.o the Almighty hath given me life"). Our submit to," or "endure patiently," not earthly parents transmit to us our carnal simply "to undergo." For to say, "if ye existence; our spiritual part, in whatever endure cho.stisement patiently, God dealeth mysterious way derived or inspired, is due with you o.s sons," has no meaning ; our to our Divine parentage; and it is in being treated as sons depends, not on the respect of this that we are God's -?hildren way we take our chastisement, but on our and accountable to him. But, as has bee.u being chastised at all. Tho use of the intimated above, it is not human epirit3 preposition ,ls to express purpose is common ouly that are here in the writer's view. in this Epistle ( cf. eh. i. 14, ,is o,a,covlav : God is the Father of all "the spirits," iii. 5, .ls µa;pTVp1ov: iv. 16, ,ls {Jof,B«av: vi. whethF>r in the flesh or not ; all are of 16, ,ls {3e{Jalo,,r,v); and the essential sense Divine parentage, for God himself is Spirit of 'Ira.lie/a is discipline or education. The -nv,vµa b ee&s (John iv. 24). Ch.rysostom drift is the same, whether we take ~.,,oµ,veTE explains thus: T,e ..-aTpl Twv .,,v,vµa.To,v• 1j.,.o, as an indicative or an imperative. Thus the TCiJv xapHrµ.&.Twv >..E"'(e,, -lfTo, -rWv t:VxWv next clause of the verse follows suitably: ( •/wxwv !), f/To, Twv /z.,ro,µa.Twv 6uvdµewv. God dealeth with you as with sons ; for what Ver. 10.-For they verily for a few days son is there (or, who ie a eon) whom his chastened us after their own pleasure ; but father che.steneth not l But if ye be with- he for our profit, that we might ba partakers out ohaatening, whereof all (i.e. all God's of his holiness. The a fortiori argnment is children, with reference to oh. xi.) have thus continued. The discipline of our been made partakers, then are ye bastards, eo.rthly Co.there was "for a few days," i.e. and not sons (ye are not your father's real during our childhood only, since which we children whom he cares for as such). have been left to ourselves; and even then Ver. 9.-Furthermore we have had fathers not necessarily for our greatest o.d vantage; of onr 11.esh which oorrected us (more cor- it wo.s only o.s seemed good to them (Ka"Ta. rectly, we once had, or, we med to have, the TO llo,coiiv auTo,s); it might be injudicious, fathers of our flesh as chasteners), and we or even co.pricious. But our heavenly gave them reverenoe: shall we not muoh Father's discipline we may trust to bo rather be in subjeotion unto the Father of always good for us, and with a definite spirits, and live l This introduces an a fortiori final purpose. Though there is here no argument. We o.re reminded of the days distinctly expressed antithesis to the '' few of our youth, while we were under parP.ntal days" of ordinary parental chastisement, discipline, o.nd bore with it submissively: yet one is implied in the last clause; for if much more should we submit to the disci- God's purpose in chastening us is to make pline of our heavenly Father, to whom we us parto.kers of his own holiness, we may are as children under tro.iuing all our life CQnclude that the discipline will be cou- long I Commento.tore differ as to what is tinued till the end be o.ttaiued; and thus exactly meant by the contro.et between "the also a further reason is implied why Chris- Co.there of our fles/1" o.nd "the Father of tians ehouhl not "faint" under even life- spirits (Tow ..-v,v,,.d.Tow)." Some (among long trials. modems Delitzsoh) find here o. support to Ver. 11.-Now no chastening seemeth for the theory of creationism as o.go.iust tra- the present to be joyous, but grievous ducio.nism; i.e. that the soul of encb in- (literally, not of joy, but of grief): neverthe- dividual, as dieti uot from the body, is a new leBB afterwa.rd it yieldeth the peaceable fruit crco.tion, not trnuemitted from the p{ll"ents. of righteousness to them whioh ho.ve been 'J.'his view would have more to go ou than it ueroillud thereby. This is t\ general sto.te-  THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [orr. xn. 1-29.