Hebrews 12:7

7 in disciplina perseverate tamquam filiis vobis offert Deus quis enim filius quem non corripit pater

Hebrews 12:7 Meaning and Commentary

Hebrews 12:7

If ye endure chastening
In faith, with patience, with courage and constancy, with humility and reverence: there are many things which may encourage and animate the saints to endure it in such a manner; as that it is but a chastening, and the chastening of a father; it should be considered from whence it comes, and for what ends; that it comes from the Lord, and is for his glory, and their good; the example of Christ, and of other saints, should excite unto it. The Jews have a saying ^F17, that

``the doctrine of chastisements is silence;''

that is, they are to be patiently bore, and not murmured at. The Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read the words as an exhortation; the former of these renders it, "persevere in discipline"; the Syriac version, "endure correction"; the Arabic version, "be ye patient in chastisement"; and the Ethiopic version, "endure your chastening": but then the word, "for", should be supplied in the next clause, as it is in the Syriac and Ethiopic versions, making that to be a reason, enforcing this,

for God dealeth with you as with sons:
chastening is owning of them for his children, and it discovers them to be so, and shows that they continue such; he does not chasten them but when it is necessary; and whenever he does, it is in love and mercy, and for good, and in the best time, seasonably, and in measure:

for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
no one can be named, not the Son of God himself; he had the chastisement of our peace upon him; nor the more eminent among the children of God, as Abraham, David, and others; nor any in any catalogue, or list of them, such as in the preceding chapter; not one in any age or period of time whatever, in any bodies, societies, or communities of them, either under the Old or New Testament.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 62. 1.

Hebrews 12:7 In-Context

5 et obliti estis consolationis quae vobis tamquam filiis loquitur dicens fili mi noli neglegere disciplinam Domini neque fatigeris dum ab eo argueris

6 quem enim diligit Dominus castigat flagellat autem omnem filium quem recipit

7 in disciplina perseverate tamquam filiis vobis offert Deus quis enim filius quem non corripit pater

8 quod si extra disciplinam estis cuius participes facti sunt omnes ergo adulteri et non filii estis

9 deinde patres quidem carnis nostrae habuimus eruditores et reverebamur non multo magis obtemperabimus Patri spirituum et vivemus