Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

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 12:1-29

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2

Looking to Jesus. I. WHAT WE LOOK AWAY FROM . For the idea in the verb is that of looking away from one thing to some other thing. We must always have some object before the eyes of our mind, and very often it is an object that will cause the natural man discomposure, doubt, vacillation in his practice. Looking round on your companions professedly in the path of faith, you may feel that they are doing anything but live the life of faith. You may see some backsliding,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2-3

What Christ was exposed to. I. PHYSICAL PAIN . He endured a cross. When the hour and. authority of darkness came upon him, he was left to those tender mercies of the wicked which are cruel. It was part of his victory to endure whatever men chose to inflict in the way of pain. All who afterwards had to endure crosses, all who were thrown to wild beasts, burnt, etc., knew that their Savior had been in exactly the same path. He did not choose the cross; it came in the way he had to take... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore - In view of what has been said in the previous chapter.Seeing we also are encompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses - The apostle represents those to whom he had referred in the previous chapter, as looking on to witness the efforts which Christians make, and the manner in which they live. There is allusion here, doubtless, to the ancient games. A great multitude of spectators usually occupied the circular seats in the amphitheater, from which they could easily behold the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:2

Looking unto Jesus - As a further inducement to do this, the apostle exhorts us to look to the Saviour. We are to look to his holy life; to his patience and perseverance in trials; to what he endured in order to obtain the crown, and to his final success and triumph.The author and finisher of our faith - The word “our” is not in the original here, and obscures the sense. The meaning is, he is the first and the last as an example of faith or of confidence in God - occupying in this, as in all... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 12:1

Hebrews 12:1. By a bold but rhetorical figure, the apostle, in the beginning of this chapter, represents the patriarchs, judges, kings, prophets, and righteous men, whose faith he had celebrated in the preceding chapter, after having finished their own labours, combats, and sufferings with honour, as standing round and looking on the believing Hebrews while running the Christian race. He therefore exhorts them to exert themselves strenuously in the presence of such spectators. But, above all,... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-2

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:1-29

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Hebrews 12:2-3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 12:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 12:1

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