Quotes & Notes
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John Wesley's Notes:
For we are made partakers of Christ-And we shall still partake of
him and all his benefits, if we hold fast our faith unto the end.
If-But not else; and a supposition made by the Holy Ghost is equal to
the, strongest assertion. Both the sentiment and the manner of
expression are the same as Heb 3:6.
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:
* we are. Heb 3:1; 6:4; 12:10; Ro 11:17; 1Co 1:30; 9:23; 10:17; Eph 3:6;
1Ti 6:2 1Pe 4:13; 5:1; 1Jo 1:3
* if. Heb 3:6; 6:11
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Adam Clarke's Commentary:
For we are made partakers of Christ] Having believed in Christ as the
promised Messiah, and embraced the whole Christian system, they were
consequently made partakers of all its benefits in this life, and
entitled to the fulfilment of all its exceeding great and precious
promises relative to the glories of the eternal world. The former they
actually possessed, the latter they could have only in case of their
perseverance; therefore the apostle says, If we hold fast the beginning
of our confidence steadfast unto the end, i.e. of our life. For our
participation of glory depends on our continuing steadfast in the faith,
to the end of our Christian race.
The word upostasiv, which we here translate confidence, from upo, under,
and isthmi, to place or stand, signifies properly a basis or foundation;
that on which something else is builded, and by which it is supported.
Their faith in Christ Jesus was this hypostasis or foundation; on that
all their peace, comfort, and salvation were builded. If this were not
held fast to the end, Christ, in his saving influences, could not be
held fast; and no Christ, no heaven. He who has Christ in him, has the
well-founded hope of glory; and he who is found in the great day with
Christ in his heart, will have an abundant entrance into eternal glory.
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Family Bible Notes:
Partakers of Christ; united to him by faith, and entitled to his
favor, and the enjoyment of the rest provided by him for his people.
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People's New Testament Commentary:
Partakers of Christ. In fellowship with Christ, partakers of his
benefits and glory.
If we hold, etc. If we persevere to the end. The Israelites started
well, but did not persevere. The only final perseverance of the saints
is to persevere until the work of life is over.
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Robertson's Word Pictures:
For we are become partakers of Christ (metochoi gar tou Christou
gegonamen). Second perfect active of ginomai, "we have become," not the
equivalent of esmen (are). For metochoi see Heb 1:9; 3:1; 6:4. We have
become partners with Christ and hence (gar, for) should not be tricked
into apostasy. If we hold fast (ean per kataschômen). The same condition
as in verse Heb 3:6 with per (indeed, forsooth) added to ean. Jonathan
Edwards once said that the sure proof of election is that one holds out
to the end. The beginning of our confidence (tên archên tês hupostaseôs).
For hupostasis see Heb 1:3; 11:1. These faltering believers (some even
apostates) began with loud confidence and profession of loyalty. And
now?
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Albert Barnes' Commentary:
Wherefore in all things. In respect to his body; his soul; his rank and
character. There was a propriety that he should be like them, and should
partake of their nature. The meaning is, that there was a fitness that
nothing should be wanting in him in reference to the innocent
propensities and sympathies of human nature.
It behoved him. It became him; or there was a fitness and propriety in
it. The reason why it was proper, the apostle proceeds to state.
Like unto his brethren. Like unto those who sustained to him the
relation of brethren; particularly as he undertook to redeem the
descendants of Abraham, and as he was a descendant of Abraham himself,
there was a propriety that he should be like them. He calls them
brethren; and it was proper that, he should show that he regarded them
as such by assuming their nature.
That he might be a merciful and faithful high priest.
(1.) That he might be merciful; that is, compassionate. That he might
know how to pity us in our infirmities and trials, by having a nature
like our own.
(2.) That he might be faithful; that is, perform with fidelity all the
functions pertaining to the office of high priest. The idea is, that it
was needful that he should become a man; that he should experience, as
we do, the infirmities and trials of life; and that, by being a man, and
partaking of all that pertained to man except his sins, he might feel
how necessary it was that there should be fidelity in the office of high
priest. Here were a race of sinners and sufferers. They were exposed to
the wrath of God. They were liable to everlasting punishment. The
judgment impended over the race, and the day of vengeance hastened on.
All now depended on the Great High Priest. All their hope was in his
fidelity to the great office which he had undertaken. If he were
faithful, all would be safe; if he were unfaithful, all would be lost.
Hence the necessity that he should enter fully into the feelings, fears,
and dangers of man; that he should become one of the race, and be
identified with them, so that he might be qualified to perform with
faithfulness the great trust committed to him.
High priest. The Jewish high priest was the successor of Aaron, and was
at the head of the ministers of religion among the Jews. He was set
apart with solemn ceremonies--clad in his sacred vestments--and anointed
with oil, Ex 29:6-9; Le 8:2. He was by his office the general judge of
all that pertained to religion, and even of the judicial affairs of the
Jewish nation, De 17:8-12; 19:17; 21:5; 33:9,10. He only had the
privilege of entering the most holy place once a year, on the great day
of expiation, to make atonement for the sins of the whole people, Le
16:2, etc. He was the oracle of truth--so that, when clothed in his
proper vestments, and having on the Urim and Thummim, he made known the
will of God in regard to future events. The Lord Jesus became, in the
Christian dispensation, what the Jewish high priest was in the old; and
an important object of this epistle is to show that he far surpassed the
Jewish high priest, and in what respects the Jewish high priest was
designed to typify the Redeemer. Paul, therefore, early introduces the
subject, and shows that the Lord Jesus came to perform the functions of
that sacred office, and that he was eminently endowed for it.
In things pertaining to God. In offering sacrifice; or in services of a
religious nature. The great purpose was to offer sacrifice, and make
intercession; and the idea is, that Jesus took on himself our nature
that he might sympathize with us; that thus he might be faithful to the
great trust committed to him--the redemption of the world. Had he been
unfaithful, all would have been lost, and the world would have sunk down
to woe.
To make reconciliation. By his death as a sacrifice. The word here
used-- ilaskomai--occurs but in one other place in the New Testament,
(Lu 18:13,) where it is rendered, "God be merciful to me a sinner;" that
is, reconciled to me. The noun ilasmov-- propitiation) is used in 1Jo
2:2; 4:10. The word here means, properly, to appease, to reconcile, to
conciliate; and hence to propitiate AS TO SINS; that is, to propitiate
God in reference to sins, or to render him propitious. The Son of God
became a man, that he might so fully enter into the feelings of the
people as to be faithful, and that he might be qualified, as a high
priest, to perform the great work of rendering God propitious in regard
to sins. How he did this is fully shown in the subsequent parts of the
epistle.
{a} "merciful" Ge 19:15,16
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Jamieson-Faussett Brown:
For, &c.--enforcing the warning, Heb 3:12.
partakers of Christ--(Compare Heb 3:1,6). So "partakers of the Holy
Ghost" (Heb 6:4).
hold--Greek, "hold fast."
the beginning of our confidence--that is, the confidence (literally,
substantial, solid confidence) of faith which we have begun (Heb 6:11;
12:2). A Christian so long as he is not made perfect, considers himself
as a beginner [BENGEL].
unto the end--unto the coming of Christ (Heb 12:2).
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1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
(8) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the (k)
beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
(8) Now he considers these words, "If you hear his voice" showing that
they are spoken and meant of the hearing of faith, opposite which he
places hardening through unbelief. (k) That beginning of trust and
confidence: in the speech of the Hebrews, he calls "beginning" that
which is chiefest.
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Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:
Continuance in faith is necessary to salvation, and only those who
persevere to the end are indeed saved.
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William Burkitt's Notes:
That is, hereby we shall declare ourselves to be made partakers of
Christ and his saving benefit, if we persevere in the faith of the
gospel, of which we have begun to make a profession of Christianity,
either through fear or flattery, were never made partakers of Christ,
nor savingly united to him: No better evidence of our interest in
Christ, than what perseverance gives.
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Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:
The saints' privilege is, they are made partakers of Christ, that is, of
the Spirit, the nature, graces, righteousness, and life of Christ; they
are interested in all Christ is, in all he has done, or will do. The
same spirit with which Christians set out in the ways of God, they
should maintain unto the end. Perseverance in faith is the best evidence
of the sincerity of our faith. Hearing the word often is a means of
salvation, yet, if not hearkened to, it will expose more to the Divine
wrath. The happiness of being partakers of Christ and his complete
salvation, and the fear of God's wrath and eternal misery, should stir
us up to persevere in the life of obedient faith. Let us beware of
trusting to outward privileges or professions, and pray to be numbered
with the true believers who enter heaven, when all others fail because
of unbelief. As our obedience follows according to the power of our
faith, so our sins and want of care are according to the prevailing of
unbelief in us.
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