Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Hebrews 12:2 - 12:2
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Heb 12:2. Ἀφορῶντες) ἀπὸ denotes afar, as in ἀπέβλεπε, ch. Heb 11:26. He, says the apostle, sits at the right hand of the throne of GOD.-εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν, to the prince and finisher of our faith) By this appellation Jesus is distinguished from all those who are enumerated in ch. 11. He Himself is the only matchless example, the only rule and standard of our faith. He is called the Prince and Finisher of faith, because He Himself showed faith in the Father from the beginning to the end: ch. Heb 2:13. Our faith, first and last, has respect to Him: it is drawn from Him to its necessary consequence (following Him), and is confirmed: believers, from the first to the last, have looked and still look to Him: ch. Heb 11:26, Heb 13:8.-ἀντὶ, for) The faith of Jesus is hereby denoted. For the joy set before Him, namely, that joy which He was presently to experience, Act 2:28. With equal willingness, He meanwhile endured the cross. [-- For the joy, i.e. that He might obtain the joy.-V. g.] Christ had not such a mind as that the cross should not seem to be a matter of joy; comp. Heb 12:11. Thus προκίμενον and προκειμένης correspond to one another.-σταυρὸν, the cross) Now at last, Paul, after he had strengthened the faith of those to whom he is writing, expresses the name of the cross, which was hateful to many.-αἰσχύνης, the shame) which was very great in connection with the cross. Comp. Heb 13:13; 1Pe 2:24, note; Mat 27:35.-καταφρονήσας, despising) although it was a source of pain and grief: Psa 69:20-21.-ἐν δεξιᾷ τε, and at the right hand) after He was made perfect. At that Right hand there is joy, Psa 16:11, and glory. Joy and the cross are opposed to each other, and so also are ignominy (“the shame”) and sitting at the right hand of the throne of GOD.