God's su preme tion Christ (Heb. The identity of Silvanus is not certain. This postscript indicates that he was Peter's scribe. The preposition that is used, as well as the context, implies that he was more. If the epistle was dictated by the Galilean apostle the present Greek form of the epistle is probably the work of the amanuensis. Furthermore, if Silvanus or Silas is the one who accompanied Paul in his second missionary journey, the prominence of Pauline ideas and phrases is easily explained. The broad outlook of the epistle, the mention of "my son Mark" in the concluding verses, and, above all, of the church in Babylon, as the church which sends greetings, point to Rome as the place where this epistle was written. Tradition furnishes not the least evidence that Peter ever visited Babylon or that Christianity by the middle of the first century had penetrated the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates. As in later Christian literature, Babylon is beyond reasonable doubt a symbolic designation for corrupt Rome, even as "my son" is applied to Mark, not literally but symbolically. The conclusion which on the whole best satisfies these complex facts is that the central teachings in the epistle came originally from the lips of Peter, but that the letter in its present form is largely the work of Silvanus or Silas. Writing as he probably did at the beginning of the last decade of the first century, when the controversy between Jew and Gentile Christian, between Peter and Paul, was practically forgotten and when Paul's teachings had broadened and deepened the current of Christian thought, he unconsciously, if not deliberately, blended the teachings of the two great apostles and sent the epistle forth in the name of Peter as a practical message of hope and encouragement to the persecuted Christians in the distant provinces. § CLXVI. THE EARLY CHRISTIAN SERMON IN HEBREWS God, who in ancient days spoke to our forefathers in many forms and fashions through the prophets, has at the end of revela- these days spoken to us through a Son whom he appointed through heir of all things, as it was through him that he created the universe. He, reflecting the brightness of God's glory and 11-4) being the exact image of God's own character, upholds all things by his word of power. After he had secured our purification from sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, having become as far superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. Thou didst found the earth at the beginning, O Lord, They will all grow old like a garment, And thou wilt roll them up like a mantle, And thy years will never fail. of suffer 17, 18) For it was fitting that God, for whom and by whom all Signifithings exist, after he had brought many sons to glory, should cance perfect by suffering, the Pioneer of their salvation, for both Christ's he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one ing Father. It was necessary that he should resemble his (20.11. brothers in every respect in order to prove a merciful and faithful high priest in all things divine, and in order to atone for the sins of the people. For, inasmuch as he has suffered by his temptations, he is able to help those who are tempted. Therefore, holy brothers, you who share a heavenly Christ's calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high superipriest of our confession. He was faithful to those who ap- Moses pointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, inasmuch as the founder of the house enjoys greater honor than the house itself. For every house is founded by some one, but God is the founder of all things. Moreover, Moses was faithful in all God's house as an attendant, in order to bear witness to the things which are to be revealed; but Christ was faithful as a Son ority to (31-7) Our sympa over God's house, and we are that house, if we hold firm to the end the confidence and the pride in our hope. Inasmuch, therefore, as we have a great high priest who thetic has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly our confession of faith. For we have not a (414-16) high priest who is incapable of sympathizing with our weak high priest The fellow ship with God thus established (101924) Encour age ment from the past (32-36) Examples of the power nesses, but one who has been tempted in all ways like ourselves, yet without sinning. So let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in the hour of need. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy Presence by virtue of the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way which he has opened up for us by rending the veil, that is, of his earthly nature, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies bathed in pure water. Let us hold the hope which we avow without wavering, for he is faithful who gave us the promise. Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love and to good deeds. Recall the former days, when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle and much suffering. This was partly because you yourselves were being held up as objects of reproach and persecution and partly because you made a common cause with those who were thus treated; for you not only sympathized with the prisoners but you also accepted the confiscation of your own possessions cheerfully, knowing that you have for yourselves more valuable and lasting possessions. Therefore, do not cast aside your confident hope, for it carries with it great reward. For you stand in need of patient endurance, so that, after doing the will of God, you may receive what you have been promised. Now faith is the assurance that we will receive that for which we hope, the conviction of the reality of those things which we do not see. It was for this that the men of olden time were attested. Through faith we understand that the (111-9) world was fashioned by the word of God so that what is seen was made out of the invisible. of faith THE POWER OF ABEL'S FAITH By faith Abel offered God a more acceptable sacrifice Abel than Cain and thus was attested to be righteous. For God ( gave the attestation by accepting his gifts and through this faith, though dead, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken to heaven, so that he did not Enoch die and could not be found, because God had taken him (6). away. For before he was taken to heaven he was attested to be well pleasing to God; but without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for the man who draws near to God must believe that he doth exist and that he doth reward those who earnestly try to find him. By faith Noah, after having been taught by God about Noah things still unseen, reverently constructed an ark to save (1) his household; thus he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that depends on faith. ham (8-10, By faith, Abraham obeyed, when he was called to go Abraforth to a place which he would receive as an inheritance, and he went forth not knowing where he was to go. By 17-19) faith he came and made his home in the promised land as in a foreign country, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob who were co-heirs with him of the same promise. For he was waiting for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. By faith, when Abraham was tested he sacrificed Isaac and was ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the promise and had been told, It is through Isaac that your offspring shall be reckoned; yet he considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead. By faith, Moses was hidden for three months after birth Moses by his parents, because they saw that the child was beauti- (23-29) ful and they did not fear the royal decree. By faith Moses when he had grown up refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, preferring to endure ill-treatment with God's people rather than to have the passing pleasures of sin, because he considered reproaches with the Messiah to be richer wealth than all the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking for the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not because he feared the king's wrath, for he held on his course as one who saw him who is invisible. By faith he instituted the passover that the destroying angel might not touch the first Rahab (31) Other ancient heroes of the faith (32-34) Later mar tyrs for their faith (35-40) There brave and stand (121-8) born of the Israelites. By faith they crossed the Red Sea, as through dry land; but when the Egyptians made the attempt, they were drowned. By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with those who were disobedient for she had welcomed the spies peaceably. What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-they who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, proved valiant in war and put to flight foreign armies. Women received back some as though raised from the dead; others were broken on the wheel, refusing release that they might secure a better resurrection. Others again were tested by scoffs and scourgings; yes, and by chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tried by temptation, they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, enduring want, oppressed, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wanderers in the desert and among the hills, in caves and in holes in the ground. Through faith, these all were attested, but they did not obtain the promise. God had something better in store for us, so that apart from us they were not to attain full perfection. Therefore, surrounded as we are by such a great crowd fore be of witnesses, let us lay aside every handicap and the sin, which clings so closely to us, and let us run with patient endurance our appointed course, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith. He, for the sake of the joy which lay before him, patiently endured the cross, looking with contempt upon the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Therefore consider him who steadily endures all that hostility from sinful men, so as to keep your own hearts from fainting and failing. In your struggle against sin you have not yet shed your blood. Have you forgotten the comforting message that reasons with you as with sons? My son, do not think lightly of the Lord's discipline, |