Sporadic theological and historical musings by Edgar Foster (Ph.D. in Theology and Religious Studies and one of Jehovah's Witnesses).
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Hebrews 9:14 and the Eternal Spirit (Harold Attridge)-Hermeneia Series
1 comment:
Anonymous
said...
Too interpret this as referring to the holy spirit is not justifiable as the Holy spirit is not in view (as far as I can tell) The "eternal spirit" could also be a reference to [perhaps] everlasting life.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (see biblehub for full) (14) Through the eternal Spirit.--Better, through an eternal Spirit; for in a passage of so much difficulty it is important to preserve the exact rendering of the Greek, and the arguments usually adduced seem insufficient to justify the ordinary translation. By most readers of the Authorised version, probably, these words are understood as referring to the Holy Spirit, whose influence continually rested on "the Anointed One of God" (Acts 10:38). For this opinion there seems to be no foundation in the usage of the New Testament, and it is not indicated by anything in the context. The explanation of the words must rather be sought in the nature of our Lord, or in some attribute of that nature. ... 1Timothy 3:16, "in spirit." On the latter Bishop Ellicott writes: "in spirit, in the higher sphere of His divine life: the pneuma of Christ is not here the Holy Spirit, but the higher principle of spiritual life, which was not the Divinity (this would be an Apollinarian assertion), but especially and intimately united with it." (Another passage of great interest is 1Peter 3:18.) The attribute "eternal" is explained by Hebrews 7:18-19, "according to power of indissoluble life (He hath become priest), for of Him it is testified, Thou art a priest for ever." ... In the words which stand in contrast with these (Hebrews 9:13) we read of the death of animals which had no power over their own transient life: He who was typified in every high priest and in every victim, "through an eternal spirit," of Himself laid down His life (John 10:18), offering Himself to God in the moment and article of death,--offered Himself in His constant presence in the Holiest Place (Hebrews 9:24)
1 comment:
Too interpret this as referring to the holy spirit is not justifiable as the Holy spirit is not in view (as far as I can tell)
The "eternal spirit" could also be a reference to [perhaps] everlasting life.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers (see biblehub for full)
(14) Through the eternal Spirit.--Better, through an eternal Spirit; for in a passage of so much difficulty it is important to preserve the exact rendering of the Greek, and the arguments usually adduced seem insufficient to justify the ordinary translation. By most readers of the Authorised version, probably, these words are understood as referring to the Holy Spirit, whose influence continually rested on "the Anointed One of God" (Acts 10:38). For this opinion there seems to be no foundation in the usage of the New Testament, and it is not indicated by anything in the context. The explanation of the words must rather be sought in the nature of our Lord, or in some attribute of that nature. ... 1Timothy 3:16, "in spirit." On the latter Bishop Ellicott writes: "in spirit, in the higher sphere of His divine life: the pneuma of Christ is not here the Holy Spirit, but the higher principle of spiritual life, which was not the Divinity (this would be an Apollinarian assertion), but especially and intimately united with it." (Another passage of great interest is 1Peter 3:18.) The attribute "eternal" is explained by Hebrews 7:18-19, "according to power of indissoluble life (He hath become priest), for of Him it is testified, Thou art a priest for ever." ... In the words which stand in contrast with these (Hebrews 9:13) we read of the death of animals which had no power over their own transient life: He who was typified in every high priest and in every victim, "through an eternal spirit," of Himself laid down His life (John 10:18), offering Himself to God in the moment and article of death,--offered Himself in His constant presence in the Holiest Place (Hebrews 9:24)
Post a Comment