Hebrews Chapter 11:13-16 | |
13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. | 13. Secundum fidem mortui sunt isti omnes non acceptis promissionibus, sed quum procul eas vidissent et credidissent1 et salutassent et confessi essent quod hospites et peregrini erant super terram. |
14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. | 14. Sane qui haec dicunt ostendunt se patriam inquirere: |
15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. | 15. Et si quidem illius meminissent a qua exierant, habebant tempus revertendi: |
16. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. | 16. Nunc vero meliorem appetunt, id est, coelestem; quare non erubescit Deus vocari Deus ipsorum, paravit enim illus civitatem. |
13.
At the same time the expression
But if they in spirit amid dark clouds, took a flight into the celestial country, what ought we to do at this day? For Christ stretches forth his hand to us, as it were openly, from heaven, to raise us up to himself. If the land of Canaan did not engross their attention, how much more weaned from things below ought we to be, who have no promised habitation in this world?
15.
16.
1 Griesbach and most critics consider kai< peisqe>ntev as not genuine, and therefore exclude it from the text. -- Ed.
2 "These all" must be limited to Abraham, and those mentioned after him, for to them the promises had been made; and he speaks only of such. So Beza and Stuart. -- Ed.
3 Mention is made of "promises;" and then "heavenly country" is the only thing afterwards specified. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob had received many promises which were not fulfilled to them -- a numerous seed, the land of Canaan, the Messiah, the resurrection (implied in the promise of being their God) and the heavenly country. There is no reason why all these should not form the "promises" which they saw afar and embraced, though the promise of the heavenly country is alone afterwards, expressly mentioned, it being as it were the completion of all the other promises, and suitably referred to after the acknowledgment they made of being strangers and sojourners on the earth. Their faith embraced all the promises, while it had a especial reference to the eternal inheritance, which though they entered into rest, as to their spirits, they have not yet attained, and which shall not be attained either by them, or by us, until Christ's second coming, when we shall together be introduced into the heavenly country. See a Note on the 39th and 40th verses. -- Ed.
4 "But now they desire," etc. The historical present is used here instead of the past tense -- "But now they desired, etc." So Beza, Grotius, and others. -- Ed.
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