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                    THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE


                     EDITED BY THE REV.
              W. ROBERTSON NICOLL, M.A., LL.D.

              _Editor of "The Expositor," etc._


                 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS

                             BY
                THOMAS CHARLES EDWARDS, D.D.


                           London
                    HODDER AND STOUGHTON
                    27, PATERNOSTER ROW

                           MCMIV




                            THE
                   EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS


                             BY
                THOMAS CHARLES EDWARDS, D.D.

  PRINCIPAL OF THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES, ABERYSTWYTH


                       _NINTH EDITION_


                           London
                    HODDER AND STOUGHTON
                    27, PATERNOSTER ROW

                           MCMIV




_Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury._




PREFACE.


In this volume the sole aim of the writer has been to trace the unity of
thought in one of the greatest and most difficult books of the New
Testament. He has endeavoured to picture his reader as a member of what
is known in the Sunday-schools of Wales as "the teachers' class," a
thoughtful Christian layman, who has no Greek, and desires only to be
assisted in his efforts to come at the real bearing and force of words
and to understand the connection of the sacred author's ideas. It may
not be unnecessary to add that this design by no means implies less
labour or thought on the part of the writer. But it does imply that the
labour is veiled. Criticism is rigidly excluded.

The writer has purposely refrained from discussing the question of the
authorship of the Epistle, simply because he has no new light to throw
on this standing enigma of the Church. He is convinced that St. Paul is
neither the actual author nor the originator of the treatise.

In case theological students may wish to consult the volume when they
study the Epistle to the Hebrews, they will find the Greek given at the
foot of the page, to serve as a catch-word, whenever any point of
criticism or of interpretation seems to the writer to deserve their
attention.

    T. C. E.

    ABERYSTWYTH, _April 12th, 1888_.




CONTENTS.


                                                  PAGE
    CHAPTER I.
    THE REVELATION IN A SON                          3

    CHAPTER II.
    THE SON AND THE ANGELS                          21

    CHAPTER III.
    FUNDAMENTAL ONENESS OF THE DISPENSATIONS        51

    CHAPTER IV.
    THE GREAT HIGH-PRIEST                           69

    CHAPTER V.
    THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF RENEWAL                    83

    CHAPTER VI.
    THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF FAILURE                    99

    CHAPTER VII.
    THE ALLEGORY OF MELCHIZEDEK                    113

    CHAPTER VIII.
    THE NEW COVENANT                               133

    CHAPTER IX.
    AN ADVANCE IN THE EXHORTATION                  183

    CHAPTER X.
    FAITH AN ASSURANCE AND A PROOF                 199

    CHAPTER XI.
    THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM                           213

    CHAPTER XII.
    THE FAITH OF MOSES                             233

    CHAPTER XIII.
    A CLOUD OF WITNESSES                           259

    CHAPTER XIV.
    CONFLICT                                       273

    CHAPTER XV.
    MOUNT ZION                                     293

    CHAPTER XVI.
    SUNDRY EXHORTATIONS                            315

    INDEX                                          331




SUMMARY.


I. THE REVELATION IN A SON: i. 1-3.

1. The previous revelation was in portions; this is a Son, Who is the
Heir and the Creator.

2. The previous revelation was in divers manners; this in a Son, Who is
(1) the effulgence of God's glory; (2) the image of His substance; (3)
the Sustainer of all things; (4) the eternal Priest-King.

II. THE SON AND THE ANGELS: i. 4-ii. 18.

1. The Revealer of God Son of God: i. 4-ii. 4.

2. The Son the Representative of man: ii. 5-18. (1) He is crowned with
glory as Son, that His propitiation may prove effectual, and His
humiliation involves a propitiatory death. (2) His glory consists in
being Leader of His people, and His humiliation fitted Him for
leadership. (3) His glory consists in power to consecrate men to God,
and His humiliation endowed Him with this power. (4) His glory consists
in the destruction of Satan, and Satan is destroyed through the Son's
humiliation.

III. FUNDAMENTAL ONENESS OF THE DISPENSATIONS: iii. i-iv. 13.

1. Moses and Christ are equally God's stewards.

2. The threatenings of God under the Old Testament are in force in
reference to apostasy from Christ.

3. The promises of God are still in force.

IV. THE GREAT HIGH-PRIEST: iv. 4-v. 10.

1. His sympathy.

2. His authority.

V. (A DIGRESSION) THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF RENEWAL IN THE CASE OF SCOFFERS:
v. 11-vi. 8.

Their renewal is impossible (1) because the doctrine of Christianity is
practical, and (2) because God's punishment of cynicism is the
destruction of the spiritual faculty.

VI. (CONTINUATION OF THE DIGRESSION.) THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF FAILURE: vi.
9-20.

VII. THE ALLEGORY OF MELCHIZEDEK: vii. 1-28.

1. Melchizedek foreshadows the kingship of Christ.

2. Melchizedek foreshadows the personal greatness of Christ.

3. The allegory teaches the existence of a priesthood other than that of
Aaron, viz., the priesthood founded on an oath.

4. The allegory sets forth the eternal duration of Christ's priesthood.

VIII. THE NEW COVENANT: viii. 1.

1. A new covenant promised through Jeremiah: viii. 1-13. The new
covenant would excel (1) in respect of the moral law; (2) in respect of
knowledge of God; (3) in respect of forgiveness of sins.

2. A new covenant symbolized in the tabernacle: ix. 1-14.

3. A new covenant ratified in the death of Christ: ix. 15-x. 18.

IX. AN ADVANCE IN THE EXHORTATION: x. 19-39.

X. FAITH AN ASSURANCE AND A PROOF: xi. 1-3.

XI. THE FAITH OF ABRAHAM: xi. 8-19.

1. His faith compared with the faith of Noah.

2. His faith compared with the faith of Enoch.

3. His faith compared with the faith of Abel.

XII. THE FAITH OF MOSES: xi. 23-28.

1. Faith groping for the work of life.

2. Faith chooses the work of life.

3. Faith a discipline for the work of life.

4. Faith renders the man's life and work sacramental.

XIII. A CLOUD OF WITNESSES: xi. 20-xii. 1.

XIV.