Hebrews 12:11

Hebrews 12:11. It yieldeth the peaceable fruit, &c.— "Though at first all chastening is in itself matter of grief, and not of joy, yet afterwards it produces quiet of mind, and such inward peace, in the progress of holiness and goodness, as abundantly compensates the grief at first felt by those who are exercised thereby; γεγυμνασμενοις ; not only corrected, but instructed and edified; setting themselves to search out the proper lessons, which afflictive dispensations are intended to teach." As it is plain from this word, that the apostle alludes to the Grecian games, possibly by the peaceable fruits of righteousness, he may refer to the crowns of olive given to the victors in the Olympic races, which was an emblem of peace.