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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 12:1 - 12:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Therefore (toigaroun). Triple compound inferential participle (toi, gar, oun) like the German doch denn nun, a conclusion of emphasis, old particle, in N.T. only here and 1Th 4:8. There should be no chapter division here, since Heb 12:1-3 really is the climax in the whole argument about the better promises (10:19-12:3) with a passionate appeal for loyalty to Christ.
Us also (kai hēmeis). We as well as “these all” of Heb 11:39 and all the more because of the “something better” given us in the actual coming of Christ.
Compassed about (echontes perikeimenon). Literally, “having (echontes, present active participle of echō) lying around us” (perikeimenon, present middle participle of perikeimai, old verb as in Luk 17:2).
Cloud of witnesses (nephos marturōn). Old word (Latin nubes), here only in the N.T., for vast mass of clouds. Nephelē is a single cloud. The metaphor refers to the great amphitheatre with the arena for the runners and the tiers upon tiers of seats rising up like a cloud. The martures here are not mere spectators (theatai), but testifiers (witnesses) who testify from their own experience (Heb 11:2, Heb 11:4, Heb 11:5, Heb 11:33, Heb 11:39) to God’s fulfilling his promises as shown in chapter Heb 11.
Laying aside (apothemenoi). Second aorist-middle (indirect, from ourselves) participle of apotithēmi, old verb as in Col 3:8 (laying off old clothes). The runners ran in the stadium nearly naked.
Every weight (ogkon panta). Old word (kin to enegkein, pherō) like phortos, baros. Here every encumbrance that handicaps like doubt, pride, sloth, anything. No trailing garment to hinder or trip one.
The sin which doth so easily beset us (tēn euperistaton hamartian). “The easily besetting sin.” There are a dozen possible renderings of this double compound verbal from eu, well, and periistēmi, to place around or to stand around (intransitive). The Vulgate has circumstans nos peccatum (the sin standing around us). Probably this is the true idea here, “the easily encompassing (or surrounding) sin.” In this case apostasy from Christ was that sin. In our cases it may be some other sin. The verbal adjective reminds one of the ring of wild beasts in the jungle that encircle the camp-fire at night each ready to pounce upon a careless victim.
Let us run (trechōmen). Present active volitive subjunctive of trechō, “let us keep on running.”
With patience (di' hupomonēs). Not with impatience, doubt, or despair.
The race that is set before us (ton prokeimenon hēmin agōna). Note the article and the present middle participle of prokeimai, old compound (already in Heb 6:18, and also in Heb 12:2). Dative case (hēmin) of personal interest.