A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 27. Of confirming the Gospel to them that then lived.

ABout confirming the Gospel, this clause is added, a 1.1 to us. Hereby the Penman of this Epistle includes himself in the number of those to whom the Gospel is here said to be confirmed: as he did before in the number of those whom he ex∣horted to give diligent heed to the Gospel: and to beware that they let not slip what they had heard, and whom he told, that they should not escape, if they neg∣lected so great salvation.

From this expression, Confirmed to us by them that heard him, we may well in∣ferre that this Epistle was written in the Apostles daies: yea and by one of the Apostles.

Of the Author of this Epistle, see the Title, §. 4.

But on the contrary, it is by b 1.2 many hence inferred, that neither Paul, nor any other of the Apostles, was the Author thereof, because he saith, that it was con∣firmed to them by the Apostles. Whence they gather, that the Penman hereof received not the Gospel from Christ: which Paul did (Gal. 1. 12.) and all the o∣ther Apostles, Matth. 28▪ 20. Act. 1. 3.

Many Answers may be given to this Objection.

• 1. The two Greek pronouns of the c 1.3 first and ^d second persons plural, have so small a difference, and that in one onely letter, as one may soon be put for the other. e 1.4 Judicious Beza saith that he hath oft noted this mistake. If therefore the second person plural were here put thus, was confirmed f 1.5 to you, that scruple is clean taken away.
• 2. This phrase Unto us, may be referred to the Time as well as to the Persons; as if it had been thus translated, g 1.6 untill us, or to our daies: implying that the Gospel from Christs own preaching thereof, was confirmed by the Apostles to their very daies.
• 3. The Apostle may use the first person, as he was a member of that mysticall body, whereof they, to whom he wrote, were also members: and by virtue of that communion, include himself; though it did not in particular concern himself. Thus he puts himself in the number of those who shall be living at Christs last com∣ing, where he saith, WE shall not all sleep, (1 Cor. 15. 51.) yet he himself slept many hundred years ago. So 1 Thess. 4. 17.
• 4. The Gospel might be confirmed to Paul by other Apostles, though it was immediatly revealed unto him by Jesus Christ: Not that that confirmation wrought in him any greater assurance of the truth thereof: but that it established the Church more therein, by the mutual consent of other Apostles with him: to this purpose saith the Apostle, I communicated unto them the Gospel, &c. least by any means▪ I should run, or had run in vain, Gal. 2. 2.
• 5. The confirmation here intended may have reference to the miracles which were wrought by the Apostles. Thus might the Gospel be confirmed, not only to other believers, but also to the Apostles themselves: even by the miracles which they themselves and others also did. To this purpose tends the praier of the Apo∣stles, Act. 4. 29. 30.
• 6. The words do not necessarily imply that the Penman of this Epistle; or any other person was confirmed: but rather that the Gospel it self was confirmed. Hereof see §. 25.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• b 1.2

  C•…•…jetan. Calvin. Hosman.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• e 1.4

  Beza Annotat. major. in loc.
• f 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• g 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉