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Heb_6:13-15. Proof of the general truth that stedfast endurance leads to the possession of the promised blessing, from the special instance of Abraham. Calvin: exemplum Abrahae adducitur, non quia unicum sit, sed quia prae aliis illustre.
τῷ γὰρ Ἀβραὰμ ἐπαγγειλάμενος ὁ θεός ] for when God had given promise to Abraham. ἐπαγγειλάμενος we have, with de Wette, to take as in point of time anterior to ὤμοσεν . It has reference to the promises which God had already, Gen_12:7; Gen_17:5-6; Gen_18:18, imparted to Abraham, and which were then, Gen_22:16-18, not merely repeated to him by God, and confirmed by an oath, but likewise, in part at least, were fulfilled (see at Heb_6:15).
ἐπεὶ κατʼ οὐδενὸς κ . τ . λ .] because there was no greater or higher ( οὐδενός , masculine, not, as Hofmann supposes, neuter), by whom He could swear, He sware by Himself. Relation of the words, LXX. Gen_22:16 : κατʼ ἐμαυτοῦ ὤμοσα , λέγει κύριος , with the reason for this form of declaration inserted. Comp. Philo, Legg. allegor. 3:98 E (with Mangey, I. p. 127), where, with regard to the same passage of Scripture, it is said: εὖ καὶ τῷ ὂρκῳ βεβαιώσας τὴν ὑπόσχεσιν , καὶ ὅρκῳ θεοπρεπεῖ . Ὁρᾷς γὰρ ὅτι οὐ καθʼ ἑτέρου ὀμνύει θεός
οὐδὲν γὰρ αὐτοῦ κρεῖττον
ἀλλὰ καθʼ ἑαυτοῦ , ὃς ἐστι πάντων ἄριστος .