Robertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 3:1 - 3:1

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Robertson Word Pictures - Hebrews 3:1 - 3:1


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Holy brethren (adelphoi hagioi). Only here in N.T., for hagiois in 1Th 5:27 only in late MSS. See Heb 2:11 for same idea. First time the author makes direct appeal to the readers, though first person in Heb 2:1.

Partakers (metochoi). See Luk 5:7 for “partners” in the fishing, elsewhere in N.T. only in Hebrews (Heb 1:9; Heb 6:4; Heb 12:8) in N.T.

Of a heavenly calling (klēseōs epouraniou). Only here in the N.T., though same idea in Heb 9:15. See hē anō klēsis in Phi 3:14 (the upward calling). The call comes from heaven and is to heaven in its appeal.

Consider (katanoēsate). First aorist active imperative of katanoeō, old compound verb (kata, nous), to put the mind down on a thing, to fix the mind on as in Mat 7:3; Luk 12:24.

Even Jesus (Iēsoun). No “even” in the Greek, just like the idiom in Heb 2:9, the human name held up with pride.

The Apostle and High Priest of our confession (ton apostolon kai archierea tēs homologias hēmōn). In descriptive apposition with Iēsoun and note the single article ton. This is the only time in the N.T. that Jesus is called apostolos, though he often used apostellō of God’s sending him forth as in Joh 17:3 (apesteilas). This verb is used of Moses as sent by God (Exo 3:10). Moffatt notes that apostolos is Ionic for presbeutēs, “not a mere envoy, but an ambassador or representative sent with powers.” The author has already termed Jesus high priest (Heb 2:17). For homologia (confession) see 2Co 9:13; 1Ti 6:12. These Hebrew Christians had confessed Jesus as their Apostle and High Priest. They do not begin to understand what Jesus is and means if they are tempted to give him up. The word runs through Hebrews with an urgent note for fidelity (Heb 4:14; Heb 10:23). See homologeō (homon, same, legō, say), to say the same thing, to agree, to confess, to profess.