Hebrews 4:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:2

For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them - This translation by no means conveys the sense of the original. According to this it would seem that the “gospel,” as we understand it, or the whole plan of salvation, was communicated to “them,” as well as to “us.” But this is by no means the idea. The discussion has reference only to “the promise of rest,” and the assertion of the apostle is that this “good news” of a promise of rest is made to us as really as it was made to “them.”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Hebrews 4:1-2

Hebrews 4:1-2. In this chapter, which is of the same nature with the foregoing, the apostle proceeds with his exhortation to the Hebrews, and all professing Christians, to faith, obedience, and perseverance; and enforces it by a most apposite and striking instance in the punishment which befel the Israelites, those ancient professors of the true religion, who were guilty of sins contrary to those duties. And the example, as has been often observed, was peculiarly suitable, taken from their... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Hebrews 4:1-13

Warning against unbelief (3:7-4:13)The writer warns his disheartened Jewish readers with some reminders from Israel’s experiences in the wilderness (see Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13; Psalms 95:7-11). Those experiences show that people who appear to be God’s people may be so unbelieving, bitter and complaining, that they cannot enjoy the inheritance God has promised (7-11). They should resist the tendency to unbelief and stubbornness, by encouraging one another to maintain their faith with... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Hebrews 4:2

unto us, &c . = we also were evangelized. Greek. euangelizo. App-121 . as, &c . = as they also (were). word . Greek. logos. App-121 . preached = of hearing. Greek. akoe . App-121 . mixed . Greek. sunkerannumi. Only here and 1 Corinthians 12:24 . The texts prefer the accusative case plural of this word, agreeing with "them", rather than the nom, singular agreeing with "word". There is the addition of one letter in the Greek Read "them, since they were not united by faith to... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Hebrews 4:2

For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they; but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard.This does not mean that the Jews had the same gospel preached unto them that Christians have received, but that JUST AS they received a good word about the promised rest, so have Christians. There is also here a plain indication of the source of that faith deemed so necessary to salvation, in that it is called a "word of... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Hebrews 4:2

Hebrews 4:2. Unto us was the gospel preached, &c.— For we are made partakers of the good tidings, as they also were: But the word which they heard, did not profit them, &c. The children of Israel had a promise of rest made to them; and so have we, as well as they. The word gospel signifies properly, as we have often observed, good news, or good tidings; which is the meaning of the word ευηγγελισμενοι here: but as that term is now appropriated by custom to the particular good tidings of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Hebrews 4:2

2. gospel preached . . . unto them—in type: the earthly Canaan, wherein they failed to realize perfect rest, suggesting to them that they should look beyond to the heavenly land of rest, to which faith is the avenue, and from which unbelief excludes, as it did from the earthly Canaan. the word preached—literally, "the word of hearing": the word heard by them. not being mixed with faith in them that heard—So the Syriac and the Old Latin Versions, older than any of our manuscripts, and LUCIFER,... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:1-14

C. The Possibility of Rest for God’s People 4:1-14The writer returned again from exhortation to exposition. He now posed the alternatives of rest and peril that confronted the new people of God, Christians. It seems that this section ends with Hebrews 4:14 rather than 15 since 14 contains the end of an inclusio that begins in Hebrews 3:1. The writer warned his readers so they would not fail to enter into their rest."Since Moses was unable to lead the Israelites into Canaan, the writer reflects... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Hebrews 4:2

What is the "good news" that both the Israelites and the original readers of this epistle had heard preached to them? It was probably the news about their inheritance and the possibility of entering into their rest. This seems clear from the context. This is not a reference to the gospel message. The good news the Israelites heard did not profit them because they refused to trust God but rebelled against Him. Likewise the good news of our inheritance and rest may not profit us if we fail to... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 4:1-13

The Supremacy of Christ. The OT. itself testifies to His supremacy as God's Son over its own chief personages: (a) first the angels, through whom the Jews believed that creation had been effected and the Law given (Heb 1:4 to Heb 2:18).He is also superior (b) to Moses, the founder of the national religion, yet only a servant, whereas He is a Son (Heb 3:1-6), He is superior (c) to Joshua. He has rest to give, which Christians are warned not to miss by unfaith-fukiess, as Israel missed the rest... read more

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