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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:4

Verse 4 4.Ye have not yet, resisted unto blood, etc. He proceeds farther, for he reminds us, that even when the ungodly persecute us for Christ’s sake, we are then contending against sin. Into this contest Christ could not enter, for he was pure and free from all sin; in this respect, however, we are unlike him, for sin always dwells in us, and afflictions serve to subdue and put it to flight. In the first place we know that all the evils which are in the world, and especially death, proceed... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:5

Verse 5 5.And ye have forgotten, etc. I read the words as a question; for he asks, whether they had forgotten, intimating that it was not yet time to forget. But he enters here on the doctrine, that it is useful and needful for us to be disciplined by the cross; and he refers to the testimony of Solomon, which includes two parts; the first is, that we are not to reject the Lord’s correction; and in the second the reason is given, because the Lord loves those whom he chastises. (246) But as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 12:6

Verse 6 6.For whom the Lord loveth, etc. This seems not to be a well­founded reason; for God visits the elect as well as the reprobate indiscriminately, and his scourges manifest his wrath oftener than his love; and so the Scripture speaks, and experience confirms. But yet it is no wonder that when the godly are addressed, the effect of chastisements which they feel, is alone referred to. For however severe and angry a judge God may show himself towards the reprobate, whenever he punishes them;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore let us too ("we also," in the A.V., is wrongly placed), seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience (rather, endurance ) the race that is sot before us. Christians, still "fighting the good fight of faith," are hero regarded under the image of athletes in the palaestra, contending for a prize. It is a favorite image with St. Paul, not only, we may... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1

The cloud of witnesses. I. THE NUMBER OF THE WITNESSES . From many ages, of both sexes, and in all positions of life. Our attention is called, not merely to a cloud, but to so great a cloud. Birds gather together in clouds. And the cloud may be so great as to compel notice. Whether we shall be impressed by the number of the witnesses depends altogether on the spirit in which we consider them. If we are ourselves of a believing disposition, we shall quickly recognize faith in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1

The appointed struggle. I. THE FIGURE EMPLOYED . The particular form of it is unfamiliar, but the essence is familiar enough, and likely long to be so. We are led to think of the natural man, ambitious to triumph by virtue of physical or intellectual strength. His motive is self-regarding, yet it leads him to a measure of self-restraint; indeed, he will go extraordinary lengths in checking self-indulgence if only he may stand first when the struggle is done. A man may be very low... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-2

The Christian race. "Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so ," etc. The "wherefore" shows the connection of our text with the preceding chapter. There the writer has exhibited the power of faith in a host of illustrious examples. To the exercise of a like faith in the prosecution of the Christian race he now summons the Hebrew Christians. I. THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS HERE COMPARED TO A RACE . The Christian is represented as a runner competing for the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-3

The life of faith, and its supreme Exemplar. In these verses the apostle gathers up the practical lesson to be derived from his historical demonstration of the power of faith contained in Hebrews 11:1-40 . The figure of the passage is that of a race which the believer is required to run, the reference being doubtless to the foot-race in the Grecian games. I. THE CHRISTIAN RACE . ( Hebrews 11:1 ) Glance here at the points of analogy, or truths intended to be taught by this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto the Author and Finisher of our faith (rather, the Leader , or Captain , as in Hebrews 2:10 , and Perfecter of the faith , or of faith—faith's Captain and Completer), Jesus; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The idea is not, as implied in the A.V. and understood by Chrysostom and other ancients, that Jesus first inspires and then brings to its complete result the... read more

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