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(2) Cleansing: Consecration requires as the beginning of its actual fulfilment cleansing. This is presented

( a ) Generally: kaqarismo;n tw'n aJmartiw'n poihsavmeno"

(1:3). ( b ) Individually: to; ai|ma tou' cristou' ... kaqariei' th;n suneivdhsin hJmw'n ajpo; nekrw'n e[rgwn eij" to; latreuvein qew'/ zw'nti (9:14).

( c ) As complete on the divine part: dia; to; mhdemivan e[cein e[ti suneivdhsin aJmartiw'n tou;" a{pax kekaqarismevnou" (10:2).

( d ) As extending to the scene of man's heavenly service: aujta; ta; ejpouravnia kreivttosi qusivai" para; tauvta" ( kaqarivzetai ) (9:23).

(3) Perfecting. The perfecting of men is wholly dependent on Christ's own perfecting (comp. Addit. Note on 2:10). Of this perfecting we see

( a ) The ground, in Christ's work: teteleivwken eij" to; dihneke;" tou;" aJgiazomevnou" (10:14).

( b ) The accomplishment, according to a purpose of God slowly fulfilled to our eyes: tou' qeou' peri; hJmw'n krei'ttovn ti probleyamevnou, i{na mh; cwri;" hJmw'n teleiwqw'sin (11:40).

( c ) The partial fulfilment in a vision of the heavenly city: proselhluvqate ... pneuvmasi dikaivwn teteleiwmevnwn (12:23).

In this connexion it is desirable to study together the four verbs which present typical views of Christ's work, kaqarivzein, teleiou'n, iJlavskesqai, aJgiavzein . The two former deal with man in himself in his present and final state: the two latter with man in his relation to God as devoted to and in fellowship with Him. Of these teleiou'n and iJlavskesqai have been discussed elsewhere (Additional Notes on Heb. 2:10; 1 John 2:2): aJgiavzein and kaqarivzein still require notice.

The sense of ‘holy’ ( a{gio" ) is derived from the highest application of the word to God Himself. God is spoken of as ‘holy’ under the aspect of His inviolable purity, majesty, awe-inspiring glory. Those who are devoted to Him that they may reflect His character are ‘holy’ ( a{gioi ). That is hallowed which is made to minister to the manifestation of His glory: Matt. 6:9 ( aJgiasqhvtw to; o[nomav sou ); comp. 1 Pet. 3:15.

Hence generally aJgiavzein , vDEqi , vyDIq]hi (unclassical, partly

represented by aJgivzein ), has two man's senses.

(1) To set apart for God: to separate from ‘the world.’
(2) To make conformable in character to such a dedication. Compare Lev. 20:26.

As applied to Christians there are therefore two distinct aspects of the words ‘holy,’ ‘hallowed’: the initial consecration which marks the destiny for which as Christians they are set apart—the ‘indelible character,’ in theological language, which is given by Baptism—and the progressive hallowing by which the divine likeness is slowly formed (comp. John 10:36; 17:19). The different tenses in which the verb is used place the different aspects of ‘hallowing’ in a clear light.

Thus the aorist marks the historic fact: Heb. 10:29 ( ejn w|/ hJgiavsqh ) (13:12); John 10:36.

The present shews the continuous process by which the divine gift is


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