Paul's

i

HEBREWS XIII.

Jesus, h that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting + covenant,

A. D. 64.

benediction

written a letter unte

h Is. 40. 11. you in few words.

Jno. 10. 11.
i Ze. 9. 11.
+ Or,

testament.

ki Pe. 5. 10.

Re. 1. 6.

21 k Make you per fect in every good work to do his will, working in you that! Or, doing. which is well pleasing Pb. 2. 13. in his sight, through m Ga. 1. 5. Jesus Christ; m to whom be glory for n 1 Pe. 5. 12 ever and ever. Amen.o I Th. 3. 2. 22 And I beseech p 1 Ti. 6. 12 you, brethren, suffer a ver. 7. 17 the word of exhorta-r Tit. 3. 15. tion for n I have

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is p set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24 Salute all them that a have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen. ¶ Written to the Hebrews from Italy by Timothy.

The general testimony of antiquity, the current tradition of the church, and the judgment of the most competent modern critics, determine this epistle to have been written by the apostle Paul; though some, both in former and latter times, have thought otherwise.

"It is evident, that this epistle was generally received in ancient times, by those Christians who used the Greek language, and lived in the Eastern parts of the Roman empire. In particular, Clement of Alexandria, before the end of the second century, received this epistle as St. Paul's, and quoted it frequently, and without any doubt or hesitation."-Lardner.

The title, To the Hebrews', determines the place, and points out the Jews that dwelt in Judea, a sense which the Holy Ghost pats upen the name Hebrews, see Acts vi. 1. The Hellenists means the Jews who dwelt among the Greeks in foreign countries. The Hebrews, It has been found difficult to determine those that dwelt in Judea. whether this epistle was first written in Greek or in Hebrew.

"The internal excellency of this epistle, as connecting the Old Testament and the New in the most convincing and instructive manner, and elucidating both more fully than any other epistle, or perhaps than all of them, added to other arguments, puts the Divine inspira. tion of it beyond doubt; we here find the great doctrines, which we have elsewhere been considering, stated, proved, and applied to practical

purposes, with peculiar animation, energy, and persuasion. It is supposed to have been written at the close of the apostle's first imprisonment at Rome, when he either was set at liberty, or daily expected

it."-Scott

A learned commentator remarks of St. Paul, the author of the foregoing epistles:-"His natural powers were vast, his character the most decided, and his education, as we learn from his historian, and from his writings, was at once both liberal and profound. He Was born and brought up in a city which enjoyed every privilege of which Rome itself cou.d boast, and which was a successful rival both of Rome and Athens in arts and sciences. Though a Jew, it is evident that his education was not confined to matters that concerned his own people and country alone. He had read the best Greek writers, as his tyle, allusions, and quotations, sufficiently prove; and, in matters which concern his own religion, he was instructed, by Gamaliel, one of the most celebrated doctors the synagogue had ever produced. Was it likely that such a man, possessing such a mind, cultivated to such an extent, could have been imposed on or deceived? The circumstances of his conversion forbid the supposition: they do more; they render it impossible.

"The whole history of St. Paul proves him to be one of the greatest of men; and his conduct after he became a Christian, had it not sprung from a Divine motive, of the truth of which he had the fullest conviction, would have shown him to be one of the weakest of men. The conclusion therefore is self-evident, that in St. Paul's call there could be no imposture, that in his own mind there could be no deception, that his conversion was from heaven, and the religion he professed and taught the infallible and eternal truth of Jehovah. The conversion of St. Paul is the triumph of Christianity; his writings, the fullest exhibition and defence of its doctrines; and his life and death, a glorious illustration of its principles. Armed with the history of Paul's conversion and life, the feeblest believer needs not fear the most powerful infidel."-A. Clarke.

CHAP. I.

A.D. cir. 60. driven with the wind

Ac. 12. 17. 1a JAMES, ba ser- b Tit. 1. 1. vant of God and of c Ac. 26. 7. the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelved De. 32. 26. tribes d which are e Ma. 5. 12. scattered abroad, f 1 Pe. 1. 6. greeting. g Ro. 5. 3. 2 My brethren, h | Ki. 3. 9. count it all joy. Pr. 2. 3. when ye fall into i divers temptations; 38 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Ma. 7. 7.

Mar.11.24.
Lu. 11. 9.
Jno. 14.13.
k Jer. 29. 12.

1Jno. 5.14.

1 Mar.11. 24.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, ch. 4. 3. that ye may be per-t fect and entire, want-n ing nothing.

5 h If any of you lack wisdom, i let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and k it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask faith, nothing wavering. For he

in

o

Or, glory.
Job 14. 2.
Ps. 37. 2.

and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 mA double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree trejoice in that he is exalted: 10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flowshall pass away. er of the grass he

11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth : so -also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

Is. 40. 6.
1Co. 7. 31.
1 Pe. 1. 24.
1 Jno.2.17.
Job 5. 17.
Pr. 3. 11.
He. 12. 5.
Re. 3. 19. 12 Blessed is the
1 Co. 9.25. man that endureth
Re. 2. 10. temptation: for when
he is tried, he shall
receive p the crown
of life, which the

1 Pe. 5. 4.

that wavereth is like 9 Ma. 10. 22.

8

wave of the seal

& 19. 23.

Lord hath promised A. D. cir. 60. the righteousness of to them that love him.

of firstfruits of his Lu. 6. 47. blessed in his ideed.

JAMES II.

A. D. cir. 60.

m Is. 1. 16.

Ma. 25. 36.
n Ro. 12. 2.
1Jno,5. 19.
a 1 Co. 2. S.

b Le. 19. 15.
De. 1. 17.
Pr. 24. 23.

Ma. 22.16.
Jude 16.