the image of the burning of the noxious growth of the land (Virg.
Georg.
1.84ff.) seem to be sufficiently expressive. Compare Heb. 10:26 f.; John 15:6. The warning found a typical fulfilment in the overthrow of Jerusalem and the old Theocracy.
(3)
Words of hope and encouragement
(Hebrews 6:9-12)
The spiritual dulness and sluggishness of the Hebrews had not yet checked their active exercise of Christian love. In this the Apostle found the assurance of better things (6:9, 10). And he grounded upon it his desire for a corresponding development of hope through long-suffering faith (6:11, 12). Thus in this brief section we have a view of ( a ) the Apostle's confidence; and ( b ) the Apostle's wish.
9 But we are persuaded of you, beloved, better things and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak; 10 for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and your love, which ye shewed toward His name in that ye ministered to he saints and still do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you may shew the same zeal that ye may attain unto the fulness of hope even to the end; 12 in order that ye may not become sluggish, but imitators of them that through faith and long-suffering inherit the promises.
( a ) The Apostle's confidence (6:9, 10). 6:9, 10. The Apostle guards himself against the supposition that he classes the Hebrews among those who had fallen away. The presence of active love among them was a sure sign that God had not left them.
6:9.
pepeivsmeqa dev
...
swthriva"
]
But we are persuaded of you, beloved
.... The order of the words is most significant. First comes
pepeivsmeqa
, which suggests a past conflict of feeling issuing in a settled judgment. Then follows the pronoun (
peri; uJmw'n
), which at once separates the Hebrews from the apostates who had been just described. Then a unique title of deep affection.
pepeivsmeqa
] Compare Rom. 15:14; and contrast Heb. 13:18
(
peiqovmeqa
); Gal. 5:10 (
pevpoiqa
). The form implies that the writer had felt misgivings and had overcome them. Chrysostom notices both the word and the plural:
oujk ei\pe nomivzomen, oujde; stocazovmeqa, oujde; prosdokw'men, oujde; ejlpivzomen
:
ajlla; tiv
;
pepeivsmeqa, kai; ouj peri; eJautou' tou'to movnon fhsi;n ajlla; peri; pavntwn, ouj ga;r ei\pe pevpeismai ajlla; pepeivsmeqa
.
ajgaphtoiv
] Vulg.
dilectissimi
(d
carissimi
). The word occurs nowhere else in the Epistle. The use of it in this connexion emphasises the affection which the stern language of the former paragraphs might seem to have obscured or negatived. The title generally suggests an argument: 1 Cor. 10:14; 15:58; 2 Cor. 7:1; 12:19. Compare 1 John 2:7 note.
ta; kreivssona kai; ejc. swt.
] There are but two issues: a better and a worse. The comparative is not used for the positive, but plainly suggests the contrast (cf. Heb. 7:7; 11:40). For the word (
kreivssona
), which is characteristic of the Epistle, see 1:4 note.
The exact meaning of ejcovmena swthriva" (Vulg. viciniora [d proximiora. Aug. adv. Cres. 3.74 haerentia ] saluti ) is somewhat uncertain. The phrase is parallel with and yet distinct from ( katavra" ) ejgguv" (Heb. 6:8). The construction e[cesqaiv tino" is used of local contiguity (Mark 1:38), and also of