Timothy to Hebrews - The Preterist Archive

PART
FIFTH,
THE LAYING HOLD OIST
THE NEW TESTAMENT SALVATION.
(chap. X. 19—xiii. 25.)
That portion of the epistle which consists of speculative reasoning
has now reached its conclusion.
What the author has now further
to say, is intended not so much to be comprehended, as rather
to be apprehended. The innermost experience of the innermost
life is the cognosccns. To lay hold on the salvation is not an act of
the head and the understanding, but the 7nost intensive act of the
life,—that act in which the man has the courage to declare himself
banlcrupt. Hence the author, from this place onwards, no longer
reasons, but addresses himself to the heart and the will of his
readers.
Seven lines of thought or sections can wathout difficulty be distinguished
in this part.
1. In chap. ix. 15-25, the author lays down the proper theme
of the admonition, that to ivhicli he admonishes.
2. In chap. ix. 26-31, he enforces this admonition by a frst
motive, namely, by calling to mind the greatness of the danger of
falling aivay, and the fearful consequences of this.
3. In chap. x. 32, xi. 1, he adduces a second motive, inasmuch
as he reminds the readers o^ their former faith.
4. In chap. xi. 2, xii. 3, a third motive, inasmucli as tlie author
shows how all the illustrious and celebrated achievements, even
under the old covenant, i)roceeded solely from this principle of
faith.
5. In chap. xii. 4-17—a fourth motive, inasmuch as the writer
shows that every thing which now terrifies Lis
that threatens th^ni, brings only blessing.
readers, the suffering
6. In cliap. xii. 18-29 mffth motive. The choice between Christianity
and Judaism is simply identical with that between salvation
and condemnation.
7. Chap. xiii. forms the conclusion, containing special exhortations
and references of a personal kind.